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Post by itrainmonkeys on Feb 19, 2009 17:38:09 GMT -5
Hey guys......anyone want to help me out?
Never really knew the best way to water-proof a tent floor. I read in another thread somebody saying not to just lay a tarp down because it causes a puddle to form in the middle/underneath the tent floor. Makes sense.
So what's the best thing to do? Get a tarp that's the exact size of the tent floor? Pull a MacGyver and fashion something out of duct tape and seran wrap?
help me out inforoosters. i'm open to ideas. Hopefully it don't rain....but I want to be prepared so i'm not sleeping on damp floors.
You can get a "footprint" for many tents, which is essentially just a tarp that's custom cut and riveted to your own tent's exact specs. They tend to be overpriced, but if you're using it on a regular basis, it's probably worth the investment. Otherwise, you can just use a regular tarp and fold it under your tent, making sure not to leave any edges out that could collect water and, yes, allow for puddling and pooling under your tent.
That said, I'd never discourage someone from pulling a MacGyver!
Post by rideincircles on Feb 19, 2009 19:56:18 GMT -5
To me it doesnt seem like it would work, it wont stop a puddle around the tent area from getting in. Best bet is an air mattress to sleep on, and nothing touching the walls of the tent from the inside. Its also good to spray the tent with scotchguard or a water repellent. Or just do what I did and put your tent underneath a 10x 20 canopy.
Really the only thing that stops water from coming through the floor is a top quality tent. The high buck tents don't leak. My Kelty Vortex 4 has had an inch of water all the way around it and nothing got in. Spend the money, you won't be sorry. Kelty, Northface, Eureka, Mountain Hard Ware, MSR....
or do what I do and dont even bring a tent, i have acquired several ez up tents over the years and i usually take 4 of them, i just put some rugs down, and at night I sleep on a cot ($40), a cot is best as it keeps you off the ground without having to air up a mattress, and being off the ground in the mornings keeps you as cool as a cucumber( for a short amount of time)
but if you're dead set on a tent then i highly recommend www.steepandcheap.com ; they sell one item at a time and right now they are selling a $300 big agnes tent for $120+shipping and it comes with a footprint
I havent had any problems putting a tarp down and folding the edges under. I dont have a hella expensive tent....I think we spent $100 on it its a Coleman but again no leakage.
Yeah, I can't say I've ever had anything more than a tarp folded under my tent (REI half dome) for all the Bonnaroo deluges in the five years I've been and I've never had an issue.
