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hi

what is the purpose of a footprint for a tent, and is a footprint the same thing as a ground sheet

Does the footprint cause any excess moisture on the bottom of the groundsheet or does it stay dry?

Thanks

We wouldn't camp without our footprint.  As well as keeping the bottom of the tent clean and mainly dry it acts as extra insulation underfoot. 

We've erected our tent at sites where the ground is damp, sandy, grassy, muddy, etc.  The footprint bears the dirt and the bottom of tent is always clean to put away.

Just got back from two weeks in Bude. Wonderful but waterlogged pitch! After choosing the driest (or least sodden) part of our pitch we used our footprint to protect the tent. After two weeks of on and off rain the ground was turning to liquid in places (mainly door entrance) - it was like walking on a feather bed! However (and this is the point) not one bit of mud or water entered our tent and when we took it down a quick wipe over with a dry cloth and the ground sheet was like new ( well cleanish anyway and not wet). We were able to pack th tent away stress free until next year!

The footprint did ot fare quite so well by the time we had peeled it of the ground there was at least half inch of mud attached to the bottom and it stank!!!!!!! we started to clean it up but gave up and binned it! BUt we will be getting another.

They are worth their weight in gold!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I use a footprint not only to keep the groundsheet clean but also it provides insulation - we used to get damp airbeds and tired allsorts to keep them drier - using the footprint meant we were not dirextly on top of the ground and have noticed no damp airbeds so it has other benefits too!

Kitten x