[pct-l] Tent Ground Cloth

[steve_peterson at sbcglobal.net (Steve Peterson)]

I tried using space blanket(s) as ground cloths. First, not all space blankets 
are created equal. I shredded two without much difficulty (less than 10 
nights)--once a tear starts, it's game over. One of the ones I shredded was the 
  one that comes in the orange box (MPI is the company).  I recently found an 
apparently tougher brand (Stansport), but haven't tried it for a ground sheet. 
But it's not orange.

These days I use spinnaker fabric--lighter and tougher, but not orange and not 
colorable (so far as I can determine). But not all spinnaker fabrics are created 
equal, either, of course.

--Steve

Marshall Karon wrote:
> Why? Why Velcro? Why fix it to the bottom of a tent? Just leave it 
> separate. Use Tyvek. Packing will be far easier if you don't attach 
> anything to your tent. I actually use a 1.5 oz Mylar space blanket on 
> the inside. If I'm careful, it doesn't rip. Sure, it is noisy and if you 
> are a slope you slip. The bottom of the silnylon tent wears well. Works 
> for me.
> 
> 
> Marshall Karon
> Portland, OR
> ----- Original Message ----- From: <Hiker97@aol.com>
> To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
> Cc: <Rattlesnake5648@Yahoo.com>; <carolwbruno@yahoo.com>
> Sent: Saturday, September 10, 2005 7:06 PM
> Subject: [pct-l] Tent Ground Cloth
> 
> 
>> I am thinking of using a SpaceBlanket as a tent ground cloth.  It  
>> would have
>> international orange on one side.  I would Velcro it to the  bottom of my
>> tent (with silicone seam sealer) with the orange side toward the  ground.
>>
>> This way I could use my freestanding tent as a signal if I picked it 
>> up and
>> pointed/waved it toward someone.  The SpaceBlanket is a little  
>> heavier than
>> Tyveck, but I think it might be worth it.
>>
>> I am still thinking about this.  Anyone have an opinion????  I  think 
>> I got
>> this idea from this list, but I cannot remember because I am  old.
>>
>> Your hiking buddy, Switchback
>> Safety First and Signaling Hiker