Tent Footprint vs Tarp - Which is better?

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Tent Footprint vs Tarp

Has anyone ever told you that your tent is better off with a footprint? No...your probably thinking what the heck is a footprint? Haha...well its not like your tent is walking away and leaving a print on the floor!

Basically a footprint is a piece of material that you can put under your tent, which protects it from the elements. Its a similar material to what the base of your tent is made from, and looks and feels quite similar to the same material as the base of your tent.

Why should you use a tent footprint?

Like i said before a tent footprint is used to protect the tent base from the elements. When you pitch your tent you are pitching it generally on grass, underneath the grass might be sharp or rough objects you cannot see. Overtime of doing this, the base of your tent will get damaged by general wear and tear, by rubbing these objects.

By putting a footprint beneath the base of your tent it just gives it an extra layer , so in theory the footprint gets damaged before the base of your tent does.

Another great benefit is that its stopes moisture from getting to the base of your tent. As most campers are aware, after a night of camping you generally wake up to very wet grass. This is the same underneath your tent. Putting a footprint underneath your tent, means its just the footprint that gets wet and not the tent  base.

What's the difference between a tent Footprint and Tarp?

There are a few slight differences between tarp and a tent footprint. Firstly the footprint is designed purely for the protection of a tent. So if you was to buy it from your tents manufacturer it will fit underneath your tent perfectly. Obviously tarpaulin wasn't designed for your tent, so there is a possibility that it might not fit. It may be to small or it may be too big, you may then have to either buy two pieces of tarpaulin or cut it down, if it bothers you that much that is.

Tent footprints will also have proper hoops made, so that you can peg it down. Its very important to be able to peg it down for two reason. One it keeps it secure and doesn't blow away if it gets too windy. The second is that even if it doesn't get blown away, the flapping is going to be really annoying. You will already know that tents, makes flapping noises when its windy. Why make this worse by not fixing your footprint down?!

Not all tarpaulin comes with holes so that you can fix it to the ground. I know there are a lot of tarps you can buy, that do now come with little ringed holes in the corners, so its a good idea if you are going to buy tarp to buy one of the ones that do. Just pop your tent pegs through the hole and hammer it in the ground to fix it securely! If you want more info on tent footprint or tarp check this page! http://campingfootprint.com/tent-footprint-vs-tarp/

So which is better?

Well for me the price of tarp makes tarp the no brainer, but realistically its up to you. If you can get tarp with the holes to fix it to the ground and your not bothered about the overhang from the tarp potentially. then go for tarp, it does exactly the same job as a footprint and is half the price.

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