Tried a budget tarp from Amazon as a footprint and it ripped on the second night

I set it up at a site near Mt. Hood last weekend and woke up with a puddle under my tent, so now I'm wondering if the real cheapos are even worth the $12 savings over a proper ground cloth, has anyone else had a tarp fail like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

cora_scott771mo ago

Did you put the tarp directly under the tent floor? Tarps work fine as footprints but only if you fold them smaller than the tent itself. If water pools on top it just runs right under your tent.

troy8321mo ago

Wait didn't you read the other reply about folding it smaller. A buddy of mine used a blue Walmart tarp under his tent in the Gifford Pinchot forest. He cut it exactly to tent size. First rain funneled all the water between the tarp and the tent floor. He woke up in a literal pool. His sleeping bag was soaked. He had to hike out a day early and dry everything in his truck. So yeah cheap tarps can work but you really need to fold them smaller or the water finds a way in.