Bike Forums - Ground Sheet for Tent

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Quote:

Originally Posted by staehpj1 (Post 17605170)

I guess that would be one option, but isn't what I do. I just am careful where I camp. I have done the Southern Tier, followed the Santa Fe Trail, toured the southern half of the Sierra Cascades route, done a dirt road tour in Colorado among other trips, and done some backpacking in the Sierras all without a single puncture to my Thermarest NeoAir. I used no ground sheet and on a lot of that I was using a light bivy. I do frequently sleep on improved surfaces like in road side picnic areas or pavilions, but I also camp on dirt, rock, or grass quite frequently.

On the Trans America (my first tour) I did get a puncture (or maybe more than one, I forget) in my Thermarest, but at that point I didn't know what goat head thorns were. I was using a pretty heavy duty ground cloth at that time. What I take from that is that care in choosing where you put your tent or bivy is way more important for avoiding pad punctures than whether you use a groundcloth.

Worst case patching a thorn hole in a Thermarest isn't a big deal other than that you will probably wind up sleeping with a flat pad one night unless you get up and patch it during the night.

If you absolutely must camp on top of thorns, a half length NeoAir on top of a foam pad might be your best bet if you want more comfort than just the foam pad.

Thanks.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN (Post 17605326)

Thanks.

You are welcome.

One other thing that I neglected to mention. If you do not already know what goat head plants look like and where they grow, look at some pictures on line. The plants these thorns come from look pretty harmless, small and low lying, often a just little green in the cracks in the pavement. Also once on tour pay attention to where you find them. As you get more and more familiar with them you will get better at avoiding them both your sleeping pad and your tires. In goat head country check your tires for thorns every time you pull off of the pavement before getting underway again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tourist in MSN (Post 17605123)

So, this summer when I camp in thorn country, to protect my Thermarest I should leave my Thermarest at home and instead bring a non-inflatable closed cell pad? I planned to bring the regular foot print for the tent instead of something thinner.

In US, even in thorn country, I would still bring a Thermarest. Next time in Africa, I would not bring a Thermarest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodysroad (Post 17594267)

When camping in a tent along the way: 1. do you use a ground sheet and 2. do you put it inside or under the tent? Many years ago I always put it under the tent to protect the floor from sharp objects, and thought it protected the interior from rain water; then I read an article saying that it should go inside as placing it under the tent will work to trap water between it and the tent floor, increasing the probability that water will get into the tent. Anyone have thoughts or preferences?

The article is wrong. That's the most idiotic thing I've ever heard about tents. Putting the ground sheet inside the tent is like putting on a condom after finishing sex. By then it's too late. The ground sheet is there to protect your tent floor from punctures. Your tent floor is either waterproof or not. There are no degrees of waterproofness. If it's waterproof, you can set up your tent in a shallow pond and stay dry. If it's not waterproof, you'll get wet no matter how you set it up. Seam seal your floor before your trip. I've woken up with part of my tent submerged in a puddle on numerous occasions and I've never gotten wet.

A ground sheet will not protect your tent or your matt from goatheads. If your area has hazardous plants, inspect your site before pitching your tent.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yan (Post 17607609)

...There are no degrees of waterproofness....

There actually are. Different fabrics have different allowable hydrostatic head figures. Many use shelters made of newer silnylon fabric which is "waterproof" in falling rain, but not under high hydrostatic head, like body weight on a tent floor. Just something for Tarptent users to be aware of.

Here's a sample quote from a tent manufacturer:

The measure of hydrostatic head (or height of water column) up to which the fabric will remain watertight. The minimum specified by UK and European norms is 1500 mm and the majority of tents offer a hydrostatic head in the 1500–3000 mm range (which is adequate for most applications). The exceptionally high 7000 mm offered by crux tents means not only greater water-resistance but also greater resistance to UV, ensuring our tents a longer life.