[pct-l] tent footprints

[Bill Burge]

Yeah, and we tried to make a tyvek footprint for our Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 and it weighed MORE than the factory footprint from Big Agnes.

So we carry the factory one...

BillB


On Apr 9, 2011, at 7:31 AM, Peter Shaw wrote:

> I'm not a UL hiker nor ever likely to be. Having said that I found the
> footprint one of my most convenient pieces of gear. I carried the luxury of
> a two-person Big Agnes SL2 tent in 09. The neat thing about their design was
> that the poles could be set up attached to either the inner tent or the
> footprint. I would use the footprint and then I could easily move the
> structure around to find the best site. I would then feel for nasty objects
> and easily get to them and remove them. Then I'd stake down the footprint
> and assemble the inner tent and then the fly if I wanted it that night.
> Using this method, I could also put the fly on first and then the inner
> tent. That way if it was raining I could keep the inner tent completely dry.
> I practiced this at home beforehand but in '09 the weather was very
> cooperative and I never had to put the tent up in the rain. If it was really
> windy, having the poles and footprint staked down securely before starting
> on the rest of the tent made it very easy. Also, if the weather was really
> nice and I cowboy camped, then I would just stake down the footprint. 
> 
> In the mornings, only the footprint was wet on the bottom and that could be
> easily dried out once the sun was out. My tent never had any signs of wear
> or punctures or anything like that - for that matter neither did the
> footprint. I did get the tent replaced in Bend because the inner zipper had
> failed (I love REI for their return/replacement policy). The same tent is in
> my bag for the CDT this year. The only hole I've ever had was from a critter
> chewing through the wall because I foolishly left a bag of trail mix in the
> tent when I slack-packed part of the Trans-Catalina trail on Catalina
> Island.
> 
> I personally thought the few ounces for the footprint was well worth it.
> 
> Peanut Eater
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of ned at mountaineducation.org
> Sent: Friday, April 08, 2011 2:57 PM
> To: PCT MailingList
> Subject: [pct-l] tent footprints
> 
> 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...
> 
> 
> 
> "Just remember, Be Careful out there!"
> 
> Ned Tibbits, Director
> Mountain Education
> 1106A Ski Run Blvd
> South Lake Tahoe, Ca. 96150
>    P: 888-996-8333
>    F: 530-541-1456
>    C: 530-721-1551
>    http://www.mountaineducation.org
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