Locus Gear floor recommendations

What a coincidence – I’m looking at the same setup (maybe Khufu though) and had the same questions and I’m from the valley, haha. That led me to this thread: Material Testing

It doesn’t answer the question specifically, but if I understand correctly, ripstop silnylon performed the best per Lawson Kline’s abrasion testing. I’d assume in the Sierras, granite abrasion is going to a primary concern for floor material longevity, though Lawson said he testing was pretty subjective.

If you haven’t already, I’d suggest emailing Yuki or Jotaro. Jotaro has been a lot of places with his equipment and probably has some good input for floors vs. granite, wet ground, etc.

I’d like a good answer for this as well, though!

Thanks for chiming in Central Valleyite. I did see that thread from Lawson. I also had e-mailed and got a response from Yuki….I'll paste it. I don't know how to edit to make it bold, but I ask two questions and Yuki's responses are below. I didn't know what to make of Lawson's thread and Yuki's input in terms of real world experience. Leaning to the PU Taffeta for a bit more durability and waterproofness.

–>Can you comment on the characteristics of each floor type? I have two kids who will probably be a bit tougher on a floor than adults. We also pack in the Sierra, which can have more rocky terrain, So I imagine I'd want something a bit tougher.

In the order of toughness is,

PU Ripstop Nylon > PU Taffeta (non Ripstop but thicker than Sil >= Sil Nylon (ripstop)

*PU coated fabrics are mat finish and Sil is slippery.

In the order of durability on the stony ground is,

PU Ripstop Nylon > PU Taffeta (non Ripstop but thicker than Sil >Sil Nylon (ripstop)

In the order of waterproofness is,

PU Ripstop Nylon (waterproof with seam tape) = PU Taffeta (waterproof with seam tape) >Sil Nylon (water resistant 3000mm in Hydro static head, which is the best as Sil, and no seam taped)

–>Is one of the floors more water proof than another? And which is tougher, without needing a ground sheet?

PU Ripstop Nylon version, but heavy.

I think you would probably be fine with the sil floor without a ground cloth. Maybe you could throw in a polycro groundsheet for when you think you might have to set up on granite.

I have been using my lunar duo with a silnylon floor for years without a ground cloth and it doesnt show any real signs of wear. It is my go to tent when it is just me and one or two of my daughters. We rarely have to set up on granite, but sites are often very heavily conpacted gravel.

If I had rambunctious kids, I might be a little more concerned.

I dont think you need to worry about waterproofness for any of them really. AGain, my silnylon floor has held up just fina through many wet, boggy camp sites.

Terry – what denier is the floor of your tent? The Locus Gear silnylon is 30D. If yours is also 30D, that's good to hear it holds up well.

Terry, for reference, I'd like to know the denier as well as your floor. We have boys and they're generally respectful around the gear, but well…they're boys.

I'm still leaning PU Taffeta for a little more waterproofness and kidproofness. It's about 5 oz weight penalty for the Taffeta, but a polycro groundsheet in 96"x96" for the Khafra mesh floor is going to be close to 5oz from what I can tell.

Anyone think of a specific reason not to get the Taffeta?

Travis did you find out anything further or make a decision? I'm very interested as well, looking to order a Hapi and wondering – 30D floor material + tyvek or polycro groundsheet, or stronger floor with no groundsheet?

I actually haven't made a purchase, but am leaning toward he middle of the three options for durability and waterproofness/resistance and hopefully avoid a groundsheet. Tyvek for a big mid would be rather heavy. Even a polycro groundsheet might be a bit big and bulky.

Missed these replies earlier. My go-to shelter has a 30D silnylon floor. I have never used a footprint and there are no notable signs of wear nor have I had any water issue with it despite seeing a lot of rain. After making sure the site if free of pokey things, I honestly don't think about it beyond that.

My backup shelter is a duomid with the MLD innernet which also has a sil floor. I don't know the denier of that one, but seems similar to 30D.

Terry thanks for sharing your experience. That's what I've heard from many users of 30D sil, but it seems so many folks use either polycro or tyvek groundsheets with them it makes me wonder why.

Travis – its been months since your last post but curious what you finally decided on & how its worked out for you…? I'm considering a Khafra and at the same decision point regarding the inner floor. Any info on what you learned appreciated – thanx peter

I'm obviously not Travis but I have a Khafra in cuben fiber that I am happy with. I got a 4/5 inner with PU taffeta floor. I would not recommend getting a full inner based upon my experience with the 4/5. The 4/5 allows you to leave ample space between the outer and inner walls. Plus, I have small porch area where I keep our poles, pack, and shoes. I went with the heavier fabric because I didn't want their notoriously slippery silnylon. Mr. Yoshida tested a cuben floor over the summer but I'm not sure what the results were. I would really like to get an inner with a 1oz cuben floor. I've thought about asking Joe Valesko if he'd make a Hexamid bug tent with a wider floor for 2 people. That would be about perfect, leaving an enormous front porch. Still, with stakes and everything it comes in at around 2.75# which is very good for a three person shelter. I should write a review but can't figure out how to post pics.

Hey, thanks for reply. I also would prefer to avoid the slipperiness of silnylon ( good for snow, bad for me ) so thinking along your lines… especially as the tent's large footprint may at times require some creative site selection involving less than flat areas. And pics always a good thing, some one's Khafra in lime green, alas a color no longer available.