John Nelson

My Tyvek footprint weighs 5.8 ounces. That's not trivial. Anything that weighs 5.8 ounces in my pack better serve an important purpose.

NoReg

I've never used one in decades of camping. They are completely unnecessary unless you do a lot of camping on highly abrasive surfaces, lava rock or something. I've done a lot of camping in and around mountains and never damaged a tent. So it is a perfect item to leave at home. People who buy this kind of stuff probably get sucked into buying new tents before the old one ever wears out anyway. And people who like me keep tents a long time probably realize they can be repaired easily enough, and are too cheap to pop for the doily

Obviously there is not all that much special about a piece of flat cloth, though one that fits under the tent will not collect water back, and one that attaches nicely is a convenience. 90% of footprint use could probably be covered with a piece that fit like a welcome mat just under the entry. That area gets some wear before one gets the mats and bags laid out, and during entry etc... Once one is lying on a bag on a mat the pressure is well distributed. Or the same size piece could be tossed over a protruding rock, root, etc...

Footprints are for people who always order a second pair of trousers with a suit. Come to think of it...

zoltani

I've got a footprint for my tent and I feel it is worth the extra few ounces and $30. A few advantages I have experienced are as follows:

- When you are out for months at a time you don't have many chances to clean the tent. A footprint will save the tent bottom from getting dirt ingrained in the fabric which can reduce the life (and especially waterproofness) of the tent. Not to mention reducing the risk of abrasion.

- My tent body is completely mesh. Try setting that up in a downpour without getting the inside soaked. The footprint allows me to set up the "fast fly" option then climb inside the fly and set up the tent body without it getting soaked. Without the foot print it is near impossible to set the fly up before setting up the tent body.

- On my last tour my footprint would get wet from moisture on the ground, but the tent bottom would still be dry. This was nice because the footprint and tent are packed separate and therefore you do not get the other tent components wet and dirty (corresponds to the first point i guess) when packed.

Anyway, do what you want, footprint or not, your tent will work and serve you well. In my opinion it is cheaper to ruin a $30 footprint and replace than replacing my $250+ tent. So i guess i'll take that extra pair of trousers.

Cyclesafe

When my tent was discontinued I bought a second footprint for half off. I use the old footprint regularly, the new one is still in its original packaging.

I'm gonna think this through. I've slept probably 240 nights in the tent and I just now replaced the zippers and guylines. I really want a new bling tent (Hilleberg Allak), but I just can't justify it when my old one is still good. Maybe if I didn't take care of it so well....

stevage

I vote for no footprint. Because I'd never heard of one before this thread. Seems to me a floor *and* "footprint" is a daft idea. If the problem is floors wearing out, a replaceable floor seems like the right answer.

Not that I've ever had a floor wear out.

staehpj1

What did the zipper replacement cost you? Or did you do it yourself?

Cyclesafe

Zippers for both the fly and tent body were $40. Labor was "free" because my wife spent two evenings doing the job. Sierra Designs wanted $140 to install OEM zips bringing it including shipping to about $160. My zips are much better than OEM, because I want something else to wear out before I throw the tent away.