A footprint is a seperate ground sheet the same shape and size of your tent, these are very handy at keeping your underside of your tent clean and free from squashed worms etc. Any tent manufacturer should supply them but you really need the same footprint as your tent or it would be pointless I didn`t use to have one but it makes packing the tent away a much cleaner task.
Depending on tent, you can sometimes get cheaper ones the same size, but mostly get them to fit exact tent. We just put our tent away lovely and clean and sometimes have to wash or sweep footprint, depending on what weather has been like. If you get one too big for tent, ( which our friend did in a sale!) tuck it under to fit or else water will sit under tent.
Yes, I had to ask 'What is a footprint'' too.
The footprints made by the tent brands for their specific tents can be expensive, and not always readily available. So some folks make up their own with groundsheet type material, cut slightly smaller all round. This is so that rain cannot collect on the edge and run under, between footprint and groundsheet.
Benefits:
* Helps protect the tent's own groundsheet from stones, mud etc. Some groundsheets are sewn in so not easily replaceable. Even a zipped in groundsheet would be difficult to source. The footprint takes the strain and is regarded as the sacrificial layer. A bit like underwear
* Helps pitching as you can see where the tent will "sit" on the pitch.
* Helps unpacking and repacking the tent, as you've a clean surface to work on. Doesn't really matter about the underside. We hose ours off on the line, but that's it.
* All told, well worth having, but not crucial to have the specific tent footprint, so long as it's 3cm smaller than the tent perimeter all round.
------------- Mike
My advice is worth no more than the price paid for it
As Mike has mentioned a footprint is just a piece of material that the tent sits on. This keeps your groundsheet clean and protects it from abrasion, rips and tears that may occur on rough ground. The footprint should be covered completely by the tent to prevent rain from pooling underneath your groundsheet.
You can buy them specifically made to measure produced by the tent manufacture. A cheaper option is to make your own sourced from a DIY shop or online etc.
As an example, when you place the footprint down it will look like the picture below, then you pitch your tent on top of it.
Some excellent explanations above, and all points pretty much covered.
I'd just like to add....
We recently camped (twice) on a hardstanding pitch. (The tent field was closed... It was winter... I'm 'ard as nails!!) After the second trip, I took home a nice clean tent, or more accurately,a heavy and wet tent, but with a nice clean underbelly.
All I had to do, was to lay out the footprint (as opposed to a full tent) in the garden, quick hose/brush. Job done.... except.... horror of horrors... when I threw the footprint over the washing line, there they were..... dozens of 'em... twinkling like stars in the night.... the daylight shining brightly through my black footprint... HOLES!! Pin holes, mostly, but holes nonetheless!
Imagine my relief, when I replaced the footprint with a new one for a tenner (actually, at that price, I bought two!).
This post would not have been so light hearted, had I have found the same damage to my Sewn in Groundsheet... effectively ruining a none-too-shabby tent!!
Ok, I was on hard, rough ground, but just one similar stone, undetected on a grass pitch, could result in the same outcome.
Thoroughly pre-check your pitch (REGARDLESS OF SURFACE) for loose/sharp stones, twigs, stray tent pegs, wine bottles, T Bones, abandoned children etc, or indeed, any other potentially damaging items, THEN lay down a footprint.
I've already vowed, when we return to the same hardstanding next winter (Yes, I will) I will lay down the previously damaged footprint first, then BOTH the replacements, before even considering getting the tent out of the car!
I may be thick... but not as thick as to make the same mistake twice!!
Mucker makes a good point about checking your pitch area for old tent pegs, twigs etc. I'm sure you would spot an abandon child but worth checking anyway. Once you lay down the footprint you can do one last check to ensure you have no strange bumps (could be that small abandon child) before pitching your tent.
Mucker maybe you could use the "pin prick" footprint as some 70's starlight lighting effect, just shine a torch or lantern through the holes...
Quote: Originally posted by whippetlover22 on 16/4/2013
So I take it, it has a different use to a groundsheet?
To a Zip-in or Sewn-in Tent groundsheet?
No.
It's the same... in principle.
It may be thinner/cheaper material, but it will be waterproof.
As daft as it sounds, it keeps your groundsheet clean and dry, but is so much easier to clean than the underside of your whole tent.
If it's particularly wet/muddy, when you strike camp, have a large bin liner handy.... roll it up, bung it in the liner, chuck it t' back yard, and sort it one night after work, when you can be ar5ed... or the day before your next trip, if you're a real slob!! :-) It just needs to be dry,and all/any lumps of mud brushed off. It doesn't necessarily need to be washed/scrubbed. Just lay it "soiled" side down each time,so the top stays nice and clean, against your Tent groundsheet.
Quote: Originally posted by Sillygoose on 16/4/2013
Thanks for that info. I presume you buy them separately so. Will have a look online.
Drying the cheapo tarp that I use as a primary groundsheet?
Never done before, and I am unlikely to start now!
Self-confessed slob here.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I'm lucky in that a few years ago when they were doing some refurb work at my work they covered the whole area in heavy duty waterproof plastic sheeting while they worked....Kept my eye on progress and near the end of the contract asked boss refurb man what they were going to do with the sheeting.."Bin It" hes says..."How about I take it home" says I...
Result...I have never had to buy a footprint for any of my tents for years....Just cut this sheeting to size...mark each of them for the various tents I have...
Valid points already been made as to what a footprint is and the benefits of using one...I think I like one down for the added comfort it brings underfoot...When added to a carpet over the top of it and the G/sheet....
Jelboy.
------------- Campers of the storm,Into this world are born
If the footprint of the tent is not rectangular in shape, like my previous tent the Khyam Freelander that has gone to tent heaven, I would buy the tent-specific footprint groundsheet as I am no good at making a DIY footprint groundsheet to match the tent's footprint.
With my current tent, the Hypercamp Escala 4, I can easily get a cheapo 4m x 3m tarp to use as a primary groundsheet as its footprint is a rectangle.
Definitely worth using an additional groundsheet for comfort and for extra protection for the ZIG/SIG/inner tent's groundsheet/etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
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Topic: Stupid Question - what is a footprint?
I didn`t use to have one but it makes packing the tent away a much cleaner task.
