Everything to know about a Tent Footprint

A tent footprint, sometimes referred to as a groundsheet, is a piece of material that lays underneath the floor of a tent and protects it from abrasion and tears. It also provides a layer of moisture protection to keep water from soaking through the tent floor.

While some tents do not require a footprint, many do. Let’s highlight what to look for to determine if you do or do not need one for your tent. Plus, we will discuss how to use one and a few alternatives that will spare your wallet.

Do you need a tent footprint?

While not always necessary, it is best practice to use a footprint to prolong the life of your tent floor. For some tents, a footprint is optional, but many backpacking tents require their use due to thinner and lighter materials, meaning a higher risk of damage.

You can also find out what the manufacturer recommends. Or you can check online to see if they sell a footprint for your tent. Chances are, if one is made specifically for your tent, then it is recommended. Below are some of the more popular backpacking tents where a footprint is recommended.

Read my post on backpacking tents vs camping tents if you aren’t sure of the difference.

For help deciding for yourself if your tent needs a footprint, there are three main factors to look at:

1. What material is your tent floor?
2. How thick is it?
3. What are the ground conditions like?

1. What material is your tent floor?

The material your tent floor is made from is probably the biggest determining factor of whether you need a footprint. Most tent floors are made from nylon, but tents like those from Zpacks and Hyperlight are made from DCF (dyneema composite fabric).

DCF (formerly cuben fiber) is very strong while being very light. By weight, it is up to 15 times stronger than steel! A tent made from DCF should not require a footprint. However, as strong as DCF is, enough abrasion will eventually wear a hole in the fabric. Given how expensive all things DCF are, use a tent footprint to prolong its life.

2. How thick is your tent floor?

The thickness of fabric is measured in denier. Essentially, the higher the denier, the thicker the fibers or threads are that were used in its manufacturing. Lightweight nylon tents, like those commonly used for backpacking, have a lower denier, typically ranging from 10D to 30D. Standard camping tents have a higher denier, from 210D and up. Any nylon tent floor less than 30D will require a footprint.

Personally, I still use a footprint with my Tarptent Protrail even though it has a 30D floor. There is no harm in keeping the bottom of my tent clean and dry.

Unfortunately, some tent manufactures do not list the denier of the fabrics used in their tents, like Big Agnes. If you cannot find the denier of your tent floor, contact the manufacturer to see what they suggest. However, if you have a lightweight tent, it is safe to assume a footprint should be used.

3. What are the ground conditions?

Ensuring that your tent is set up in a location free of sticks and rocks is of the utmost importance, not just for protecting your tent floor, but for comfort, too. That said, having a tent site that is free from all debris is rare.

Unfortunately, unless you are pitching your tent in a site you are familiar with, you will not know what the ground conditions are until you are ready to set up camp. A tent footprint will help ease the uncertainty by providing that extra layer of protection.

With or without a tent footprint, best practice is to take your time and find the best tent site available.

Benefits of tent footprints

If you are still undecided, here are the benefits from using a tent footprint:

1. Protects your tent floor from damage
2. Keeps the underside of your tent floor clean
3. Keeps the underside of your tent floor dry
4. Easier to clean

It is obvious the use of an additional layer underneath your tent floor provides extra protection, but a footprint will also keep the bottom of your tent floor clean and dry. This prevents you from packing a wet and dirty tent in your backpack.

Additionally, a footprint will be easier to shake off debris and you can store it in your backpack’s exterior mesh pocket for quicker drying.

RidgeTrekker Quick Tip: I recommend a backpack with a front mesh pocket. Check out some additional tips for help in choosing a hiking backpack.

How to use a tent footprint

Using a tent footprint is not complicated. Follow these 3 simple steps:

1. Lay out your tent footprint.
2. Set up tent on top
3. Ensure footprint is tucked underneath tent

First, lay out your tent footprint in a relatively clean and flat spot. Some footprints can be staked, so do that now if you wish. Being able to stake your footprint is beneficial, especially on windy days. Otherwise, use rocks, sticks, or some of your gear to weigh it down when needed.

Once in place, begin pitching your tent on top. It may take some practice to get your tent centered. Once your tent is setup, you should be able to grab any side of your footprint and adjust it as needed (remove stakes if necessary). If you have a freestanding tent, you can lift it and center it over the footprint.

Once satisfied with the positioning, make sure any exposed footprint is tucked underneath the tent floor. This prevents water from building up on the footprint, which can flow underneath your tent floor, getting it wet and potentially soaking through to the interior. If you are using a footprint designed for your tent, it will already be slightly smaller than the floor.

Alternative Tent Footprint Options

Footprints specifically designed for certain tents can be expensive, so using an alternative option is common. The most used alternative footprints are:

If weight is your primary concern, the table below breaks down the weight by ounce per square foot based on material and thickness (when applicable).

Tyvek

Tyvek is cheap and maybe even free if you can find a scrap piece at a construction site. Tent footprints made from Tyvek are extremely durable and waterproof, but they can be on the heavy side.

You can buy Tyvek footprints from some companies, like Zpacks, or find them on Etsy. Some even have grommets for staking. If you get your hands on some scrap or don’t mind buying it in a roll, you can make one yourself! Just cut it to size.

Polycro

Polycro is another popular option for a tent footprint. It is durable, ultralight, and cheap! It isn’t as strong as Tyvek, but to most backpackers, the weight savings are worth it.

As for negatives when using polycro:

• It doesn’t breathe, leading to condensation on the ground side.
• Can shrink when temperatures are hot enough
• More difficult to lay out (a slight breeze will have you fighting to keep it down).

DCF (Dyneema Composite Fabric)

DCF is another material option for a tent footprint. While it is ultralight, it is also expensive. You can save by making your own, but the benefits are not great. It may be stronger than polycro, but the extra strength hardly justifies the huge price difference.

Tarps

Last, a tarp can be used for a footprint, even the blue tarps at the hardware store. There is a wide variety of tarps available, all with various materials and purposes.

Depending on the material, tarps can be cheap or expensive, light or heavy, and durable or weak. Some may or may not be waterproof. Because of the variety, use your best judgement in determining if a tarp will work for you.

How to choose an alternative tent footprint

There are two things to look for when choosing an alternative footprint.

Material

First, decide what material you want to use. This will determine the durability of the footprint and its ability to protect the floor of your tent. It also determines how heavy your footprint is going to be.

Dimensions

Next, you need to have a footprint that is sized appropriately for your tent. Having something too large is okay if you can cut it down to the right size. Too small and only a portion of your tent floor will be protected. If you do cut it to fit, do so just under the size of your tent floor or close enough so you can easily fold the excess under.

Is it worth it?

So, do the benefits of a tent footprint outweigh the cost of a few ounces? That is for you to decide. However, it is never a bad idea to carry a footprint along on your backpacking trips. After all, what’s a few ounces compared to the longevity of what is likely your most expensive piece of hiking equipment?