Making a tent footprint from a cheap tarpaulin
Background If you already know what a footprint is and why you might want one you can skip this section. A footprint is an extra groundsheet that provides extra protection on rough ground, especially for lightweight tents with delicate groundsheets. They’re also useful if your existing groundsheet is getting a bit leaky. For some tents that pitch inner first they can also give the option of pitching outer first (very handy in the rain!) or without the inner at all. Why a cheap tarpaulin? The footprint is sacrificial – it’s being used where you expect some damage. Cheap tarpaulins are waterproof, tear resistant and as light as ordinary groundsheet material. I’ve not found anything that offers better value. ‘Proper’ groundsheet fabric is 80g/sqm or more, and around £7/m. My cheap tarp is about the same weight, and cost that for 3.7m x 2.4m. What you need a cheap tarp big enough for one or more footprints scissors a marker pen that will work on the tarp a straight edge a tape measure an iron some greaseproof baking paper an ironing board, or flat surface and a cotton tea towel, fo