[pct-l] tent footprints

[Diane Soini of Santa Barbara Hikes]

I use a thin plastic polycro sheet. It keeps the bottom of the tent  
clean and dry. It probably also buffers the sharpness of any small  
things I set my tent on. It's not needed, but I like having a clean  
tent and it's easy to dry the plastic sheet and just shake off the  
dirt. Also, if I want to sleep under the stars, I set out the plastic  
sheet and sleep on top of it.
On Apr 9, 2011, at 5:51 AM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Maybe I'm missing something, here, but what is the purpose of an  
> extra piece of fabric placed underneath a tent's waterproof tub  
> floor? Certainly in the winter or on snow it is not necessary as  
> protection from sharp objects like pine cones and needles or rocks.  
> In the summer, it makes sense, but I thought tents were constructed  
> with durable floors and you wouldn't need such an added item and  
> weight...