Tarptent Tyvek footprints

Eric which tarp tent you have?

Jonathan,

I have the Moment DW and Scarp 2.

I’d like to spray the Tyvek with a DWR to keep it from absorbing water. Any reasons why this is not a good idea?

I should have asked, when doing a live chat with Henry, if these footprints are the same shape as the floor but I will assume they are, given TT’s usual excellent quality products. As mentioned above I need to sew on attachment points for the side and end pole areas. This includes the “Pitch-Loc” carbon fiber struts where they touch the ground and maybe even sew loops to match the side fly stake loops for use in extreme winds.

From experience I know that a footprint should not be used when expecting heavy rain as ground water can often find its way between the footprint and the tent floor – not a good situation. (Don’t ask…)

Just make sure it doesn’t stick out further than the tent

FWIW, I got TT’s Tyvek for my Rainbow (2009 vintage) and it is indeed shaped like the tent floor, not that that says much, the Rainbow’s floor being perfectly rectangular and all.

I’d be surprised if DWRing the Tyvek causes any problems.  I’d also be surprised if it helps at all.

I’ve used a lot of Tyvek on buildings, and it doesn’t absorb much water – if any. Also I doubt the DWR will do anything, it will probably not bond with or absorb into the Tyvek.

If it’s the house wrap Tyvek, the DWR is probably neither helpful nor harmful. If it’s kite Tyvek which they used to make the Tarptent Sublite in Tyvek out of — that stuff soaks up a ton of water and turns into heavy heavy stuff, when it wets out, which in a heavy downpour it absolutely positively 100% ain’t waterproof enough.

Let’s just say that the Tyvek Sublite bathtub floor turns into a mighty fine bathtub.

If it’s the house wrap Tyvek, the DWR is probably neither helpful nor harmful. If it’s kite Tyvek which they used to make the Tarptent Sublite in Tyvek out of — that stuff soaks up a ton of water and turns into heavy heavy stuff, when it wets out, which in a heavy downpour it absolutely positively 100% ain’t waterproof enough.

I’m not familiar with either the Sublite or kite Tyvek, but even if it does absorb water and even if DWR would stick to it, it would still surprise me to no end if the DWR made any difference.

I’ve owned lots of stuff with DWR on it, and all of it struggled to be beneficial even for beading up light drizzle, at least beyond a wearing or two.  I’ve never met the DWR that would do diddley smashed into the wet ground by a 200-lb adult.

The Tyvek Sublite was advertised as having : water resistant fabric.

It was meant for the desert , low precipitation areas or where humidity is high (it does breath very well) not as the do it all tent. Maybe TT did not explain that very well or it was assumed that it was obvious.

Yes, I did indeed understand what the Tyvek Sublite was for. But storms that roll in despite forecasts do not care one whit about your tent’s water resistance.

I was camping with a huge group on the coast, and climbed in the car after the drop on the forehead woke me up. Left the tent up, and between the hours of midnight and 6 am, the tent filled with water. It weighed a few pounds (dry it weighs about 14 oz). Other tents were leaking so there were about a dozen of us waterlogged and heading to the cafe for a hot breakfast with trunks full of wet sleeping bags.

I take the Tyvek Sublite on one night trips when I basically want privacy or bug protection.

Got the Tyvek and will only use it for car camping. Too heavy and much too bulky for backpacking (IMHO).

I’ll stick with my plastic painters’ cloths.