Is there much to be gained in terms of waterproofing from going for a footprint groundsheet over plain tarpaulin sheet? Tarp is obviously cheaper but is it any less waterproof? Is the hydrostatic head much different?
I asked a similar sort of question recently although more concerned with what weight of tarp to get. General consensus was that the tent branded footprints were actually no different to the bog standard DIY shed type tarps other than being 3 times the price !
Regarding waterproofing, it shouldn't really make any difference as the tents own groundsheet should be more than enough to keep the water out not the footprint.
I have always made my own footprints from tarps and find them great (mainly keeping the tent clean on wet ground) . It is important to make sure your home made footprint is a couple of inches smaller than the dimensions of your tent, so that any rain doesn't run down your tent and hit the footprint, it hits the grass.
We have a footprint for our tent, (only because it was a bargain! and our tent isn't a regular shape) and to me there doesn't seem any difference to a regular tarp.
As others have said as long as it's slightly smaller than the tent, it should do just fine.
I like having a footprint as it makes it really easy to get the tent in exactly the right place, lay down the footprint and move it around until it is in the perfect spot then put the tent on top. My footprint is filthy on the underside but the mud and dirt are not rolled up with the tent so not a problem.
A tarp cut the the correct size is just as good as a footprint IMHU.
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Topic: Tarp v`s Footprint - HH?
