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Topic: Groundsheet experts required here!!!

sleepysundays

03/7/2007 at 4:53pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: None Entered

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We are about to purchase a tent and i am totally confused about the whole groundsheet thing. I can see from reading the posts that most people tend to have an additional groundsheet if their tent has a sewn in one to protect it but the question is what to use and how to peg it in. Do you peg it separately or in the same holes as the tent? and do you buy one to fit under the whole tent or just part of it? Lastly, what kind of sheet do you buy as i have seen there are a whole new range of materials that have different feels and prices. We are not going to be camping for weeks on end mainly festivals and weekend trips.

This is where i saw the different sheets

http://www.practicalcaravan.com/product/sep05.html

I hope someone can clear up my confusion.

Thanks

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alan29

03/7/2007 at 5:00pm
Location: Wirral
Outfit: Swift Freestyle 520 on seasonal pitch

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I can't think of a single tent that comes with no groundsheet. The question is it sewn in, zipped in or separate and pegged down. (I expect someone will correct me.)
All three methods have their fans based on their own experiences.
Alan

sleepysundays

03/7/2007 at 5:03pm
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I know the tents we are looking at have sewn in groundsheets but i have seen a lot of people talking about using another groundsheet in addition to the sewn in one to protect the tent.....or maybe i am misreading it.

patricia1960

03/7/2007 at 5:20pm
Location: scotland
Outfit: outwell hartford xl 2006

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Some people use a footprint basically a shaped groundsheet that your tent sits on to protect the sig. Any groundsheet would do as long as it doesnt overlap or you will get water under your tent.

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sleepysundays

03/7/2007 at 5:25pm
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Ahhhh that must be what i mean.....a footprint. So i can use anything? Does it matter about the size or how it is attached?

Jan P

03/7/2007 at 5:35pm
Location: Herefordshire
Outfit: pennine pathfinder 2003

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We used to put a nasty cheap decorating dust sheet under ours so it was clean to lift. If the dust sheet was ******** it went in the bin if not hang it on the line and use it again.

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nigel16

03/7/2007 at 6:13pm
Location: Hayle Cornwall
Outfit: Honda CRV Bailey Bordeaux + tents

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We have a proper Vango footprint forour Diablo 900 but strangely it is actually bigger than the groundsheet of the tent. Quite useful to guage the best way to pitch the tent but also anoying as you have to fold the surplus under the tent SIG as mentioned above. We also have a Monty6 and bought a couple of cheap tarps from B&Q and cut them to size. Whemn pitching, we peg the 4 corners of the footprint, pitch the tent on top of it and then remove the ffotprint pegs once the tent is pitched. the footprint should be 3 or 4 inches smaller than the SIG to avoid water collecting between the two.

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Nigel

March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle

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Batchy Boy

03/7/2007 at 7:40pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Vango Aspen 700DLX 2007

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The groundsheets that are listed on your link are breathable groundsheets that are mainly used on tents without sown in groundsheets as they let the grass breath to prevent yellowing. It is pretty pointless putting these under a tent that has a sown in groundsheet as it just defeats the object, although i have one that goes inside my tent with a sown in groundsheet as they are nice and soft to walk on in bare feet. I have just copied this that Bundys wrote on another post that i think explains the footprint groundsheet pretty well.
A footprint is a 'custom' fit waterproof groundsheet made to the same size & shape as a tent - not a necessity but a blessing for those that have tents with SIG's (sewn in groundsheets). Just put it down on the ground first then pitch your tent on top of it. it is a secondary groundsheet if you like, and protects the bottom of your tent from getting dirty or punctured and is also a good guide for getting your tent in the right position. Unfortunately those with sigs can't pack their groundsheet away separately from their main tent so need to keep the sig clean to avoid any dirt transferring to the tent on packing it. People that have tents with 'loose' groundsheets needn't bother as the loose groundsheets are easy enough to clean separately and also replace if damaged. Footprints are available from the manufacturers of many of the newer tents with SIGs, however you could just use a tarpaulin but ensure that none of the edges of a tarp or footprint stick out around the tent or you may get water trapped underneath between the two layers.

Hope this clears afew things up for you
Neil.

TENPIN

05/7/2007 at 11:55pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: vango aspen 700 dlx 2006

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I agree with Neil who obviously likes to ensure his SIG is fully protected.

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