TimothyH

Anyone happen to use a Nemo Hornet Elite tent?

Do you feel it requires a ground cloth or footprint or do you forego?

I know the manufacturers all say it should be used but would like to gauge real world experience.


-Tim-

Tourist in MSN

I am not familiar with that specific tent, but I generically almost never use a foot print.

I usually carry a heavy duty large shopping bag that I cut into a long narrow sheet of plastic that I can put down on gravel or rock under the tent if the ground surface is not very good. But 90 percent of the time the ground where I am putting my tent is soft enough I do not worry about it. I live in Wisconsin, a lot of my camping is in Wisconsin, Minnesota or Michigan, so we usually have soft grassy areas to put tents. If I lived in Utah or some place like that, I probably would use a footprint more often. Last spring I camped in West Texas and I put down that sheet of plastic every night due to concern about thorns.

ricrunner

I always use a footprint, tent lasts longer, it is black builders plastic, exactly the size of my tent and the reason is, you don't know what the ground is going to be like in any o f the places you camp at night. It is sensible thing to do. If you are a weight weeny, and worry about every micro gram or ounce, then maybe not, but my footprint weighs very little anyhow, so do not worry about it.

djb

to me this fits into the common sense area.
I've always carried a cut out piece of plastic to the shape of my tent floor, a bit smaller, and have it with my tent, so the times an area is stoney, thorny or whatever, I know it is helping avoid small holes getting in the tent floor--so next time there is an overnight thunderstorm and water is flowing under my tent, it wont be coming in and getting my stuff wet.
The slight weight is not an issue to me, but as I'm not wealthy and brought up to take care of my things so that they last and don't have to be replaced or work less well due to being abused, I've always had a homemade ground sheet with my tent.

as a bonus, I sleep perfectly well in a tent during a huge rain storm knowing that I've done my best to keep holes from being in my tent floor.

I don't think I've ever weighed my homemade footprints, but especially for a smaller tent, I really can't imagine a plastic sheet weighs much, I dunno--75 grams? 100 grams? I cut them smaller than the floor, so that there is less chance of it sticking out and collecting rain that will get inbetween the floor and sheet, makes it a bit smaller also.

boomhauer

I use a ground cloth just for the rolling up my tent in the morning.
I hate stuffing that thing in the bag.
I have other uses for the ground cloth other than to put under my tent.
I take daytime naps, cover my bike in a rain storm, etc...

TimothyH

Thanks guys.

I'm new to camping and appreciate the voice of experience.


-Tim-

djb

Tim, genera rule for where you place your tent is to NOT set up in a dip, or depression, as it will full up with water in a storm. Looking at the ground and imagining where water will flow works petty good, and you'll learn from a mistake and remember it.
also before putting tent down, pick up or clear away obvious sharp things, twigs, rocks, bottle caps, glass, again it's common sense, to take care of tent floor.

indyfabz

I use a 4'x8' blue plastic tarp from Walmart or wherever. Camped in too many places with unavoidable rocks, sticks burrs, etc. If you do find a debris-free place to pitch, you can string the tarp up between tree for protection from the rain or cover gear on a picnic table. Or your bike.

TimothyH

Thanks again guys. Based on the feedback, I've ordered the footprint for this tent from the manufacturer for now.

I've also ordered two yards of 1.1oz silicone coated polyester and 2 yards of 1.6 oz silicone/polyurethane coated nylon to experiment with. Something to do on a rainy day.


-Tim-

robow

Sorry, I didn't see this earlier but many backpacking enthusiasts will use a free piece of Tyvek for their ground cloth if they are going to use one, many choose not to use a ground cloth. This stuff is tough, lightweight and often times free or cheaper than a commercial ground cloth and you can cut it to your desired size.

indyfabz

Good decision. That's a UL tent. I have a BA Fly Creek UL2. Seems very fragile, but the floor is still without breaches.

Doug64

I believe you will find the sil-nylon very useful. I use sil-nylon for my tents' footprints and for lightweight tarps. I've always used a footprint for all of the reasons posted above. It is much easier to clean a muddy ground cloth than a tent bottom.

My wife doing a little housecleaning. The gray and yellow sil-nylon footprint was made a little larger than my tent's footprint. The extra material is tucked under the tent except under the vestibule. This keeps shoes, and smaller items dry in case of rain, and makes it a cleaner/drier operation when trying to put my shoes on in the middle of the night. I sewed nylon loops along the sides and corners allowing it to be used as a tarp if needed. I'm in the process of making a footprint for our new tent. The tent manufacturer's footprint got poor reviews and costs almost $50.

robow

Spoke to a friend today who is quite the backpacker and told me that Tyvek is soooo old school. Now, every one is using Polycryo, even lighter in weight, very tough, packs smaller and is cheap. He passed along this link.
https://www.gossamergear.com/collect...nt=30496353228

djb

I've always scratched my head at the prices of manufacturer made tent footprints. Seems like a goofy thing to have to pay for an extra, and not cheap either. We bought a 3 person tent a few years back, a budget priced MSR that is heavier than the nicer models, but has all the good design features, ie pole design, nice double doors, proper vestibule sizes and pretty good ventilation---and it came with the MSR footprint included, which seemed to me to be a logical idea for thier customers to be happy.
While this one was a durable tent floor type matierial , given that the light stuff like tyvek and the new kid on the block has been used by folks for a long time (Ive just used plastic bought in bulk at a hardware store, the lighterish weight stuff) Im really surprised they dont include at least a purpose made light stuff piece.....it would cost them so little to make.

TimothyH

Using it for a floor in the vestibule is a great idea. Thank you.


I saw that. $10 for a two pack.


-Tim-

robow

I guess you can buy 1.5 ML thickness Polycryo at your Walmart as well in the form of Duck Brand Max Heavy Duty Shrink wrap. It's not quite as tough as Tyvek but guess it works. From what I've read today is that it can tear more easily at the edge so guys use the tape that comes in the kit and fold over the edge all around so it doesn't tear as easily. Anyway, for about $10 your floor is protected no matter which way you go. In the past I've rarely bothered with tent footprints with lesser expensive tents but I've got a new Nemo Dagger 2p that will see its first use in 3 weeks and may end up picking up some cheap floor insurance myself.

3speed

gracehowler

I purchased polycryo at the hardware store as "window wrap", worked well for us on a ten day trip last fall, same tent. I have always used Tyvek, but it is heavy and sort of defeats the point of an ultralight tent. Poly is light and requires lots of TLC, but to me, TLC is easier that the weight penalty.
R

TimothyH

Got the tent today.

Set it up in the backyard with footprint underneath.

Pretty slick little contraption.

Things sure have changed since I set up a cub scout pup tent 45 years ago.


-Tim-

J.Higgins 

Ask him if that Polycro makes noise when you roll over on it. Curious...

robow

I guess it's not nearly as loud as Tyvek. Of course Tyvek can be quieted down to some degree by sticking it in your washer and running it thru a couple of cycles. Tyvek can melt in a dryer if heat is used so is not advised.
Was up at Walmart and picked some up for about 8 bucks so we'll give it whirl here in a couple weeks and post back.

gracehowler

I certainly did not notice noise.
R

fietsbob

Under my tent for a moisture barrier I just use a piece of plastic sheet ..
make it slightly smaller than the floor of the tent, so rain water will not flow on top of the plastic sheet..

cheap and cheap to replace.. when it gets holes in it..





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