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Subject Topic: Making a footprint? Post Reply Post New Topic
24/4/2014 at 7:54pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
View callmechar's Profile View Profile   Reply to callmechar Reply   Quote callmechar Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2009

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Just received my new tent, the Vango Isis 600. The footprints are so expensive for what is really just a bit of tarp. Has anyone ever made a footprint? Is it best to buy the original?


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24/4/2014 at 8:09pm
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 Outfit: 
View Bob61's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bob61 Reply   Quote Bob61 Quote  
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The footprint of my tent is almost square so luckily I was able to buy a good quality tarp which fitted it pretty well. I can't remember how much I paid for it but it was certainly a lot cheaper than the tailor made footprint.


24/4/2014 at 10:00pm
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
Joined: 01/7/2012

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As I think you've already guessed... correctly...
You won't actually NEED a footprint. As long as the pitch is clear of "sharps" and stones etc, the SIG will be fine, and last as long as the rest of the tent.
However, it will get dirty underneath... and this is where a footprint comes in handy, of course.
A wet and/or muddy tent-bottom ideally needs towelling offscrubbing before putting it in the bag/car. A footprint, depending on what you use, can be folded small, chucked in a bin bag, in the boot, and sorted out later, in the comfort of your garden.
With that in mind, anything that will make a barrier between ground and groundsheet, will do the job...be it a tent-specific footprint, or some very thin, polythene sheeting (the modern version of decorators dust sheets?), Builders tarps, wheelie bin liners laid side by side (Well, ok, that last one's not the best idea, but you get my drift!).

The proper footprint will be slightly smaller than the tent base, and have pegging points, so will be perfect... hence the price.
Home made ones are cheaper for a reason... but will still do the job.
Whatever you use, make sure it doesn't protrude beyond the tent's edges, as rain can drip onto it, and trickle between your "footprint" and tent groundsheet, leaving puddles with nowhere to go!.

None of the above applies if you are pitching a tent on a hard standing pitch. Depending on exactly what that hard standing is made of, you may need one or more thick and sturdy footprint(s).

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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


24/4/2014 at 10:18pm
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: Nevada3 Evo 600DL Andorra Elzas
View hlk01's Profile View Profile   Reply to hlk01 Reply   Quote hlk01 Quote  
Joined: 21/5/2005

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We've never bought an official footprin but use tarps from Lidl or B&Q. If you Get the size that is nearest and fold under the bit thats too much. All ours have grommets so we use those grey grounsheet pegs to anchor them.
I think the most we have ever paid is £8. This weekend we are using my old Elzas and the best fit for that is a 5 x 4 folded in half lol. I havent even bothered to cut it because then I might have to do somthing about the cut edge.

Tip: when packing it away fold the underneath dirty side inwards.

-------------
Christine

2014
April -
BunRoy Fort William 3 sleeps
April / May
Invercaimbe Arisaig 4 sleeps
Bleatarn Brampton tbc July


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24/4/2014 at 10:33pm
 Location: None Entered
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View yoda888's Profile View Profile   Reply to yoda888 Reply   Quote yoda888 Quote  
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Use cheap tarps all the time, cut to size and if this means losing some of the eyelets new ones made by double sticking some gaffer tape at the appropriate points and poking through with a Philips screwdriver to create a neat pegging point. Loads of sellers on eBay with lots of size options.


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24/4/2014 at 11:45pm
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View Bob61's Profile View Profile   Reply to Bob61 Reply   Quote Bob61 Quote  
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Just a couple of pointers about thin polythene sheets. Many moons ago I tried thin polythene sheets and spent the first half hour of pitching battling against the wind as first one side flew up and then the other. After that I didn't bother any more until this year when I decided to get a quite heavy tarp which should stay put long enough to get pegs stuck into it.

I wasn't the only one...quite recently while sitting on a campsite I noticed a couple of large white polythene sheets floating across the campsite about 100 foot up in the air...they are probably still up there somewhere.

Unless you have several people in your party to hold down all sides I wouldn't try using lightweight polythene for footprints.


25/4/2014 at 6:10am
 Location: Derby.
 Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings
View Mucker1884's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mucker1884 Reply   Quote Mucker1884 Quote  
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Good point, Bob.

To be honest, I haven't used one, but had read of others using them, hence my mention. I'd also read that they are so thin and cheap, that you could simply throw them in the bin when you pack up, and use a new one each time you go. Not sure how true that is... nor how the green brigade would view it!!
I'll stick to "proper" one's myself... even if they're not the exact tent-specific size.
Waiting for a sale, then getting the nearest (sized) one (well, two, actually, seeing as they were only a tenner apiece!!) is my usual method!

-------------
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


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New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


25/4/2014 at 6:44am
 Location: Australia
 Outfit: None Entered
View spinyeel's Profile View Profile   Reply to spinyeel Reply   Quote spinyeel Quote  
Joined: 24/6/2010

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Shade cloth works really well.

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If there's no camping in heaven. I'm not going!


25/4/2014 at 8:01am
 Location: WARRINGTON
 Outfit: KARMA CANVAS 4MTR BELL TENT.MAJOVE 5
View stewey's Profile View Profile   Reply to stewey Reply   Quote stewey Quote  
Joined: 11/6/2005

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hi callenshar..yes made onwe for the 4mtr bell tent.. I bought an oversized tarp.. lay it on the floor then put the bell tent on top and cut around it..leaving enough overhang to tuck it uner the tent when erected .. just to make sure the tarp wouldn't rip I put gaffer tape all round the tarp to give it a bit of an edge

-------------
camperman


25/4/2014 at 8:04pm
 Location: Dewsbury West Yorks
 Outfit: Vango Kura 800dlx
View jason johnson's Profile View Profile   Reply to jason johnson Reply   Quote jason johnson Quote  
Joined: 18/7/2010

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I made one for our Kura. It's a sort of t shape so I got 3 blue Diamond groundsheets, 1 long one for the main body of the tent and 2 smaller onesffor the sleeping pods, worked out the distance from the back end of the tent and put grommets through so that everything was joined in the right spot and held at the joins by only a couple of pegs


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26/4/2014 at 9:02am
 Location: Ross on Wye
 Outfit: Cabanon Biscaya 320
View jandjstott's Profile View Profile   Reply to jandjstott Reply   Quote jandjstott Quote  
Joined: 25/3/2008

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We bought a garden furniture cover from Lidl for about £8. 5mtr X 4mtr reinforced plastic with eyelets all round. Very strong and sturdy. We have used it on several different types of hardstanding (small, medium and large stones)as well as grass and it keeps the ZIG of our groundsheet clean as well as ensuring the stones from the hardstanding cause no damage. There has been no damage to the footprint either from any type of stones as it is so strong.

They don't always have them at Lidl but well worth keeping an eye out for them. Didn't bother to cut mine to size but tuck the excess under the ZIG.


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26/4/2014 at 6:34pm
 Location: The Love Shack
 Outfit:  BearLake 6 and a hot water bottle.
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We have always used a footprint groundsheet,the main reasons being

1)It keeps the underneath of the SIG clean.We just peg out the footprint when we get home and just give it a mop over.

2) It gives added protection to the SIG regarding small stones etc.

Have a look on Amazon, they have plenty of cheap tarps.

Just remember to make sure it is at least 2 to 3 inches less than the overall tent size or you will find water collects on the top of it underneath the SIG.

Happy Camping.

Sue.

-------------
Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed    


29/4/2014 at 3:26pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit:  Karma 5M belltent Static caravan
View Glamper Wendy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Glamper Wendy Reply   Quote Glamper Wendy Quote  
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We bought a large cheap tarp to make one for our bell tent..I cut it into a circle and hemmed it on the sewing machine then brough a eylet maker kit off ebay..Does the job perfectly.

-------------
Camping Tip #26: In an emergency, a drawstring from a parka hood can be used to strangle a snoring tent friend...or husband!!



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