Best lightweight footprints?

I suspect that Tyvek might actually weigh more. But there are different thicknesses of Tyvek, so I could be wrong. It's certainly cheap and MYOG, though, which has it's appeal.

Personally, I don't believe in footprints. (To be totally honest, I think they are a moneymaking scam.) That's what the tent floor is for. If you get a pinhole, seal it when you get home. A little drop of SeamGrip or SilNet (depending upon fabric), and you're done. Heck, even if you bring it with you a tube of SilNet weighs, what, 2oz? And, really, who destroys a tent floor before they wreck the tent in some other way? So, for the ultimate in weight savings, don't bring a footprint at all (the Henry Shires method).

Dean and I think alike on this issue. A footprint simply isn't needed. Don't waste your money, time, and energy.

No footprint here.

I have never carried a footprint but I'm doing a 20 day hike this summer and was just thinking of 20 straight days in a tent on granite might do some damage so trying to figure out the best way to bring the most lightweight option.

I'd totally agree that the footprints sold by the major manufacturers are rarely needed, usually overpriced and undoubtedly much to heavy.

However, a Cuben floor is much more susceptible to abrasion damage. In my experience, the best "in between" option is a (DIY) Polycro groundsheet. Cheapest option is Duck brand window film kits available at Walmart, and likely elsewhere. There is even a heavy duty version…twice as thick…if you are so inclined.

I made groundsheets for my Duplex from both thicknesses. The one made with heavy duty film weighs just under 3 oz while the standard weight version is half that. IMO cheap, light insurance for Cuben floored shelters.

Yea… I've been doing this for about 40 years and have never carried a foot print…

But another way to go might be to ditch the tent… take only the poles, fly and foot print… some tents are set up to make this easy… or to save even more weight… take the poles, fly, and home made/lighter foot print like those above…

Billy

Depending on the breed of dog, those dog claws can do some damage to a tent floor. So, consider a dog sleeping pad. That is typically your oldest human sleeping pad that is cut in half.

–B.G.–

Take only photos. Leave footprints (…at home).

Only reason to consider is if you'd ever do the thing where you use just the footprint+fly, cause in that case the matching footprint would serve some structural purpose. (But that's not something I'm likely to do personally.)

Agree

Every floored shelter I've had I've eventually sold .. so I cut a little DYI panel (not the entire shape). If worried about wear, how about a light piece of polycro sized just larger than your sleeping pads where weight is concentrated but far smaller than the tent floor? Maybe an extension to the entrance?

I would rather bring a poly sheet that costs $10 to take the wear than wear out a tent. I've used the Duck window film (Amazon.com) and am happy with it. 3 ounces for a little protection works for me.

Guess I've not drunk my full cup of the ultralight kool aid.

Here's my favorite footprint:

Want to see it again? :-)

We like our Tyvek Big Agnes Fly Creek UL3 footprint because it provides a "floor" under the vestibule, and the Tyvek gets dirty, not the tent floor, so clean up at home is easier. Someday we might pitch the fly and footprint only.

Re: "I have never carried a footprint but I'm doing a 20 day hike this summer and was just thinking of 20 straight days in a tent on granite might do some damage so trying to figure out the best way to bring the most lightweight option."

Then, as others have said, a sheet of polycro is rather light as well as dirt cheap. It's a perennial favorite here. And it would work fine for granite, which I suppose is more of an abrasion threat than a puncture threat. Stepping on your floor on granite is, I think, what you're worried about?

Re: "Guess I've not drunk my full cup of the ultralight kool aid."

Well, there's kool aid and then there's KoolAid. I'm quite willing to point out the unfortunately-named "stupid light" when I see it but this one is not, I think, so much an ultralight issue as just a backpacking issue. Footprints are scams, full stop. Well, for 99% of users. It's a way to wring a few more dollars out of some victim who just paid $450 for a tent and is now anxious not to destroy their investment. If the floor is so remarkably more fragile than the rest of the tent that it needs a footprint, well, it shouldn't be. That's not a good design. I didn't use footprints back when I was non-UL, either. Heck, I still have my old Half Dome- somewhere- but no footprint for it. Of course, nowadays I just use a floorless mid (usually with a bivy) and thus avoid the issue.

I might buy the idea in especially odd situations like camping on a scree field or something. Or (why?) someplace with a lot of glass debris. In which case I'd take a cheap piece of polycro. Otherwise… no.

So, drink up!

Instructions for making a Tyvek footprint

The author made one for a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2, and states the finished weight at 3 ounces, compared to 5 oz for Big Agnes’s footprint. You could probably save even more weight by using “pebble grommets” instead of metal ones.

Obviously, the lightest and cheapest footprint is the one you leave at the store, but to the question, is Tyvek lighter than brand name footprints, the answer appears to be yes.