ground cloth preference

Right now, for use with a tarp, I just use a 4'x7' piece of 2 mil(?) plastic dropcloth. I don't anchor it. I sloppily fold it, and then stuff it into a small stuffsack.

It works, but I'm planning to switch to a bivy (used with the tarp) with a silnyon bottom, and with an extra coating of thinned silicone caulk on the inside for increased waterproofing and reduced slipperiness.

I too use 2 mil plastic sheeting. I don't anchor it with anything but my stuff. I fold mine up and carry it in an external mesh pocket on my pack.

Surprisingly happy with GG Polycro I got with a box of stuff from gear swap.

Folds down so small. Kinda hard to fold down until you figure out how to do it right. Always give air a way to escape with each fold and push air out with each fold. They are back in their original ziplock. Nice.

I use my multi purpose ULA Rain Wrap as a groundsheet. It's made of Silnylon so it's pretty durable. It has a loop at each of the 4 corners, which allows me to stake it. I use 1 gram titanium stakes to stake it down.

-Sid

I used to use a 5'x7' piece of tyvek but it was too heavy. I suppose it would be okay for a long backpacking trip where durability is a requirement.

Lately I have been using a AMK Heatsheet blanket. Its much lighter and I suppose it might reflect some body heat, I have no idea…….

I do not stake my ground sheet down. I see no point in doing so.

Joseph

I use a 3ftx7ft piece of 4mil plastic sheeting for myself, bigger if sharing a tarp.

cheers

The "groundcloth" that I use is the one sewn into my TarpTent Moment.

'Nuf Sed.

+1 on the GG Polycryo….I was surprised at its durability.

I used to use a tyvek sheet but switched to GG Polycro. I've been very happy with the switch. I'm still on my first sheet after multiple trips in the Smokies and one 6 night trip to Glacier NP. If it's windy I might put rocks on the corners but that's it.

Polycro when not sleeping in a bivy.

+2 on the GG Polycryo…. They simply work GREAT, are super light, and I get about 20+ nights out of each mimimum with some care. You can use some light packaging tape to combime two singles to make a larger size ground cloth that still weighs less then most other options.

+3 on the polycro. If I want a larger piece, or don't want to pay for shipping I buy the heat shrink film used to insulate windows. It's the same stuff. Here's an example but I just use the brand available at my local hardware store.

Another vote for the GG Polycryo. To carry it, I just shake the dirt off, fold it, and put it in the outer mesh pocket on my pack. In camp, I usually use 4 rocks on the corners to hold it in place so the wind doesn't disturb it. I either cowboy camp or tarp camp so I'm sleeping directly on it rather then through a tent floor.

And it is very durable. On my recent PCT thru-hike, I used 1 from Mexico to the Oregon/Washington border that only had a few duct tape patches to fix a few holes (most of the damage happened early on in the deserts of S. California). It could have gone all the way to Canada but since I had an extra one in my bounce box and I thought it would be nice to have a new one for wet Washington. The one I used for Washington finished with no holes.

Tyvek, cut to shape for both my Evolution 2P and Tarptent Sublite. I fold them (dirty side in) and stuff them into the bottom cylinder of my LuxuryLight pack; along with the tent and NeoAir, all wrapped around my NF Beeline.

I do stake the ground cloth down. I have installed grommets in the Tyvek and the stakes hold both the ground cloth and tent. I have found that a brisk wind will blow my ground cloth right out from under the tent.

This year I switch from Tyvek to the poly. I was skepitcal at first. But even with primarily desert use it has held up well.

Where do you guys get your Tyvek? I need a Tyvek sheet but not sure where to find it.

Any ideas?

AntiGravity Gear sells sheets for a decent price. I just bought some a couple of weeks ago.

http://www.antigravitygear.com/proddetail.php?prod=TYVEK

Do you know any contractors or see any construction in your area? If they are wrapping a house in Tyvek just ask. There will be scraps all over the place that you can put to use.

I still like Polycro since it is so light. I give Tyvek to anyone that does not have a footprint since I can get is now and again.

Elena:

I got mine from Joe at zpacks.com. He just got back from the CDT and is planning to reopen soon.

There are a couple of sellers on eBay.

I got Tyvek from Henry Shires at TarpTent….

Scott, i agree, I also use the window wrap/polycro material when i go hiking. i'm buying Tyvek for my S&R training, since people look a bit scornfully at the size of my gear : ) so i need something more substantial, plus i'd like to make a stuff sack for my crampons.

yes, lots of construction here! i need to be brave and just ask…

Thanks everyone for ideas!