Tyvek for a shelter floor?

I've used Tyvek for tent floors and find it to be reasonably light, tough as nails and inexpensive.

If you get a new piece, wad it up a few times then run it through the washing machine a couple of times.

I have used Tyvek ground cloths for a few years in pyramid shelters. I think it works great. I once used it in the winter, and the temp rose enough to let the ground thaw out. This essentially created a mud pit in the mid. I still stayed dry and mud free sleeping on the tyvek.

Is Tyvek sold in reasonably sized pieces? I have thought of using it for a groundcloth too.

"Is Tyvek sold in reasonably sized pieces?"

Harry Shires sells it on the tarptent website under 'extras'.

$12 in various sizes.

I use Tyvek for a ground sheet, works great, tough as nails and pretty light- I added grommets in the corners so I could shock cord the corners out- only added a few grams and the ground sheet stays put

I use the 1443 soft structure tyvek for my SMD Wild Oasis. Lighter and much softer than the house wrap stuff. No printing on it either so you're not providing free advertising for DuPont. Available by the yard: http://www.amazon.com/E-I-DuPont-Tyvek-Kitemaking-Material/dp/B001TO4QVA

2 skin tent user here.

I'm looking at making a groundsheet protector, what is the pro/con of cutting this to only be under the inner vs cutting to be including of a porch up to the outer?

Surely, you'd not have it right up to the outer so rain goes into the ground and not run over this material?

If you have it though just inside your outer, what are any downsides of this being beyond your inner?

You can cut your tyvek to generally follow the perimeter shape of your fly — but 3-5 inches smaller all around. That will give you some ground cover for your vestibule/porch area.

The way I do it, however, is to cut the ground sheet about 3 or so inches smaller than my inner tent all around. I then cut a separate piece for the vestibule area to serve as a "mud mat" and a place to keep my pack and stuff off the potentially moist ground. I cut the piece about 3-4 inches "deeper" than the vestibule to tuck the extra material underneath the inner. The "mud mat" gets dirty and worn much more quickly then the rest of the ground sheet, so cutting separate pieces makes it easier and cheaper to replace.

Useful suggestions. Thanks.

As an idea, what about using a single large piece groundsheet+vestibule PLUS a strip for your "mudmat". You'd then as your groundsheet protect got damaged, identify a section(s) of it which was in better condition and then cut that to become your next "mudmat" ?

Also – does this idea reduce condensation off wet ground at all? Its an issue I'm trying to resolve, as well as extend nights of my tent's groundsheet, as well as improve a bit of insulation.

Certainly doable, Nigel, although I don't see the purpose of "double layering" the vestibule ground. You can size your "mud mat" to be "almost" the same shape and size of your vestibule if you wish. Just be sure it's not too big as to get hit by wind-blown, slanting rain.

As for condensation, the ground sheet / mud mat will serve as a barrier against the wet ground — thus keeping the outside floor of your inner tent dryer and cleaner. In fact, it's the main reason why I use ground sheet / mud mat.

So what about attaching to the inner and/or outer, making holes in and attaching, one approach to keep "pitch as one" is make hole and strengthen the holes (how?) and attach either elastic to peg with the outer, or peg directly the ground?

Sounds good in theory to attach and set up the inner and the ground sheet as one. But I think the saving in time and effort during set up will likely be offset by the annoyance of having to separate the two when striking camp. Why? Because the ground sheet can be very dusty, wet or both (muddy) depending on weather and humidity. You may then want to separate the two so you can loosen off / dry out the groundsheet. If the two are attached (and not easily separable), packing a dirty/muddy ground sheet with the inner is a bad idea. Of course, some of this is subjective,depending on how fastidious (or not) you are.

It should be just a little smaller than your tent floor, or a little bigger and rolled under. That small roll can keep any water running *under* the tyvek rather than between that and the floor. I just cut a square for a door mat which doubles to sit on or a tent stake wrap. You can also use polycro for a footprint and save weight and noise.

You can buy it by the foot on eBay.

resurrecting this old thread as I'm about to buy some Tyvek and experiment myself.

Problem. There are so many types of Tyvek. The mention of Tyvek 1443r, I searched and brings up this thread

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=22974

which implies it is not sturdy? What's the current Tyvek type to use under a shelter?

My interest is partly to extend the life of the shelter, whilst tent sellers seem to argue its not required, my last tent after only 12 nights was showing signs of wear already, so I've formed my opinion, but also just to make the vestibule area a bit less soggy/dirty and so make a footprint a little smaller than the flysheet. Might reduce condensation too? Well worth an experiment as the fabric is low cost.

Is the 1443r the right choice or is there a better choice?

Nigel
for a groundsheet look for the HomeWrap Tyvek.
The 1443r is soft/fabric Tyvek , breathes well so suitable for a bivy or a tent canopy where heavy rain is not in the cards.
Franco

The 1443r stuff is available by the yard on Amazon. I can't find Homewrap anywhere in small quantities (about TT Notch in size) ,there were some OLD threads in BPL of folks selling the spare after MYOG. I should a "wanted" in Geardeals?

I got a part roll thats I believe 5' wide I will check tomorrow. Would you be ok with it folded and stuck in a large envelope?

Sure. 5'= 60 inches, I'll need 120 inches of length to be sure I have enough and then some scraps to glue over any holes which form in use. The actual shelter is 108 inch x 76 inch diamond shape so if I laid two 60" side by side I'd be cutting off some triangles and gluing down the middle.

This from TT is my footprint to cut+glue to shape.

PM me your required $

So thanks to Mark I have some Tyvek homewrap.

It is very noisy, crisp-packet type noise.

What is the "wad it up" mean and why run it through washing machine? Is that to remove the crispy noise?

Also, how do I make a single piece from multiple pieces, i.e stick together? Is it silicon sealant like I just used my silnylon flysheet?

"Also, how do I make a single piece from multiple pieces"

Practically any kind of strapping tape, packaging tape, or sealing tape will work.

–B.G.–

You can also buy Tyvek tape at your home improvement store. Never used it so I can't comment on how well it works. After the washing machine routine the material is nice and soft.

You are welcome

I like the 1443r because it is fabric-like and lightweight.
I had the issue of protecting tent floors from sharp rocks before and we resloved it by putting our cheap closed-cell foam sleeping mats under the tent floor. Will greatly reduce wear and tear on the tent. Plus those mats are dirt cheap and there is no work involved replacing them. Of course you have to carry the mat outside your pack, as it will have a "dirty side", but this is normal practice in cool/moist climates.