Footprint at a glance
- Brand footprint
- Typically 5 to 9 oz
- Polycryo
- 1 to 2 oz
- Cut it
- Slightly smaller than the floor
What a footprint protects
Tent floors take the worst abrasion in the whole shelter: grit, roots, pine needles and whatever you're kneeling on. A footprint is a sacrificial layer between the floor and all that. On a tent with a very light floor, say 15D or under, it's close to essential if you want the tent to last several seasons.
The cheap alternatives
The brand version costs a surprising amount and weighs more than it needs to, typically 5 to 9 oz. The alternatives are well established: polycryo window film, sold as heat-shrink insulation, cut to shape and weighing an ounce or two, or Tyvek housewrap, which is tougher and a little heavier. Both cost a few dollars.
Why it must be cut smaller
Cut it slightly smaller than the tent floor, and this matters more than it sounds. A footprint that sticks out past the floor edge collects rain running off the fly and channels it into a puddle directly under you, which is the opposite of the intended effect.
What this means when you're choosing
- Polycryo or Tyvek instead, which cost a fraction and weigh less
- Whether the tent needs the branded one for a fly-only pitch
- That whatever you use is cut inside the floor edge
The common mistake
Letting it stick out past the tent floor
An oversized footprint catches runoff from the fly and funnels it between the sheet and the tent floor, so you end up sleeping on a puddle. Trim it in an inch all round.
Common questions
Do I need a tent footprint?
On a light floor, 15D or thinner, it's worth having. On a tougher floor it's optional, and plenty of people skip it and simply choose their pitch carefully.
Is polycryo as good as a proper footprint?
For puncture and abrasion protection, close enough, at a fraction of the weight and cost. It's less durable over many nights, but it costs little to replace when it tears.