ground sheet in the sleeping area YES but in the play/sitting area i prefer just grass, i find that if its wet you just walk grass and dirt in to ground sheet, but with grass it does not show and i have never got wet in that area even in the pouring rain and it smells better, maybe im just alone in that, let me know if i`m not please.
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Quote: Originally posted by scotty7367 on 07/5/2006
ground sheet in the sleeping area YES but in the play/sitting area i prefer just grass, i find that if its wet you just walk grass and dirt in to ground sheet, but with grass it does not show and i have never got wet in that area even in the pouring rain and it smells better, maybe im just alone in that, let me know if i`m not please.
Nope Scotty, I'm with you for exactly the same reasons!
SIG are a must if going anywhere abroad prone to sudden very heavy rain/thunderstorms when the rain can't drain away quickly enough cos the grounds so hard and dry. Year before last went to Ardeche and one day it rained so hard that any tent without SIG had a good few inches of water in the living area resulting in everything getting wet especially feet. Tents with SIG kept dry though as it didn't rise high enough to breach the edges.
There are 2 main problems with SIGs that are common ( that I can see anyway ). One is they can be damadged and are difficult to replace if beyond repair ( new tent ). It can make cleaning difficult as it cannot be removed from the tent. Both these problems can be overcome very easy by putting down a tarp first and we cover the inside as well. We don't do this because we are worried about getting the SIG dirty or damamdged, we also do it because it makes it more comfortable for us. Having covering on the inside of the tent not only protects the groundsheet but makes it extremely soft and warm. We went over to a SIG tent about 3 years ago and I can honestly say that I have never had either problem. I have definitiely never had the wind lift up the groundhseet and if it did, it just shows you how much draught it is keeping out. Definitely for the Montana, if the wind was lifting up the groundhsheet by that much it means it isn't pitched properly ( too loose ).
Going round displays, I have seen damadged SIGs on tents, but thats basically because people really don't care what they do to the display models. I have also seen tents with rips everywhere ( not SIG tents ).
I think the argument is whether you like them or not. If you weigh up the advantages and disadvantages, they are on evens with the advantages and disadvantages of seperate groundhseets. It really is as simple as that, you either like them or you don't. Everyone has their own method of camping and none of them are wrong.
------------- Steve
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First time with my Khyam Tourer 400 and am I glad that it's a loose lay. It was rather rainyat times, hence rather muddy and I've got it all to clean, yet. The ground sheet is outside waiting my attention. The tent will stay wrapped until my next outing as it's dry and clean.
I tuck the mud walls inwards and put the ground sheet on top of them so it's almost like a SIG without the disadvantages.
The bedrooms are SIG with mesh doors so they are insect free and in 4 days, pitched next to a stream, I only saw one creepy crawly in the tent and I just helped him on his way to the outside.
Very satisfied withe the Tourer 400. I put it up by myself which I wasn't too sure I could do but it was relatively easy. The only trouble I had was extending the bottom poles and lining up the "catch" with the hole.
H
I'll second this... although it's a bit academic - not having not used our tent in anger yet. But the Indi 8 also has a GS that can lay on the tucked-in mudwalls & SIG inner/bedrooms with separate mesh screen door and airflow through the window/vent. Bug-free sleeping - I hope...
I believe tents with sewn in ground sheets are warmer.
They keep the small critters out (Hedgehogs, mice, squirrels etc..)
Also, saw a tent with 9 people in get flooded, standing water on the site flooded though, they got back everything was soaked. We were glad of the built in ground sheet then.
I would have said they aren't as cool in the heat but event built in ground sheets, most tents todays have very good ventalation.
sewn in wins hands down for me. We were more than happy with the Outwell XXL...it kept us completely dry in monsoon weather a couple of years ago in August !....it's draught free and feels really cosy.
It's up for sale now though as we're downsizing now the family is flying the nest. Check out For Sale board if interested.
cheers
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We very rarely use a GS for the living area, just throw down a couple of rubber backed picnic rugs. With a full draught valance all round there are no problems with draughts either.
I would not have a sig but make sure the tent has mud-flaps to keep the rain and wind out. if the weathers bad your groundsheet can end up filthy and a loose sheet can simply be taken out and washed down.
First time camping with a SIG last week and verdict was - it was great! We were able to sit in the living area until very late at night - snug as a bug in a rug and even better than when we had a caravan awning! Put some cheap B&Q tarps underneath so it all kept clean and it was brilliant, even in heavy winds when the tent took a bit of a beating, we all kept warm.
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Just bought a Gelert Alaska 8 with SIG's on the bedrooms, but also came with non-sig on the outer tent... plus side is that the outer can be pitched quickly if it rains and then the shaped seperate groundsheets go in place in side the tent... then hang the bedrooms with the SIGs and it covers both worlds.
Other advantage is that the living area is a separate groundsheet that can be folded and taken out for a shake if it gets to dirty..
Well i used to have a tent with a SIG but i found it a bit too stuffy myself. I have now bought a Khyam Tourer 200 with has SIG for the bedroom and a non-SIG for the bottom/base. Not had chance to try it yet so hope it keeps the bugs out. I am going to be camping in October for a fortnight so that should give it a good test.
this is a matter of opinion but having experianced both in recent years on hot days you may feel a bit stuffy at night but i think for all round comfort and security i would go for a sig only neg is taking it down in the rain no right or wrong answer so just get the one that suits your circumstances.........pegwil