Not sure I understand, as my footprints are both black both sides.
My Icarus one has a "Vango nameplate" in one corner, so this goes face up. My Kampa one just goes with the hem face down.
Not much help, sorry!
------------- 2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights
Although your footprint is not a thermal protection device, the idea of the shiny side on any such material is to reflect heat back from where it came from. So if the ground is cold - shiny side up.
If you ever camp on a volcano! - shiny side down.
------------- Talking to myself is sometimes the only intelligent conversation I get!
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Ive seen inbuilt groundsheets with silver up sometimes, down on others! lol
The thermal element to the equation could work both for and against I would think whichever side up. I genuinely wouldnt want to say which is best. I would tend to think on more of a purely practical level... which side is best able to cope with feet trampling over it, or best able to handle the odd bit of stone under it and the associated abrasion etc etc.
------------- (Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!
Summer Solstice wild camp.
Chilled in a Field, July.
Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...