How to Use Tent Footprints, Groundsheets and Tarps to Stay Dry (Video)
Quick answer: Put a footprint, groundsheet or tarp under your tent to protect the floor and stop ground moisture from being pressed through it overnight. The key is size: the groundsheet must be smaller than your tent floor. If it sticks out past the edge, rain running off the fly lands on it and flows underneath you. Fold any excess under so it can't catch water.
Your tent floor may be waterproof, but long-term exposure to wet ground combined with the pressure of sleeping campers can still force water through the fabric, leaving you wet and cold by morning. Adding a simple groundsheet can make all the difference. In this video, Seth from Next Adventure shares how to use footprints, groundsheets and tarps the right way.
Footprint, groundsheet or tarp: what's the difference?
- Tent footprint: Fabric cut to fit a specific tent design, usually with attachment points that clip to the tent's poles or corners.
- Tarp groundsheet: A basic tarp works as a groundsheet under almost any tent and is an affordable option.
- Tyvek: A piece of Tyvek can be cut to fit custom tent shapes and odd sizes, and it is light and packable.
Bonus: the fast-pitch option
One advantage of a footprint designed for your tent is that many tents let you leave the inner tent body at home and pitch just the rain fly over the matching footprint. It's a lighter, more open setup for trips where bugs aren't a concern.
The pro move: keep it smaller than your tent
Make sure your footprint or groundsheet is smaller than the tent floor. If it extends past the tent body or the rain fly, rain rolls off the fly, lands on the exposed groundsheet, and runs underneath the tent, soaking you from below.
The fix is easy: fold any extra material under so no edge sticks out past the tent. Water dripping off the fly then lands on the ground instead of the groundsheet, so it never travels under your tent. You stay drier and look like a pro.
Gear to keep your shelter dry
Tents, footprints and tarps are available in person at the Next Adventure Grand Avenue store in Portland's Central Eastside. These repair and rain essentials are available online:
- Gear Aid Seam Grip WP Field Repair Kit Patch leaky seams and small holes
- Noso Repair Patch Quick fix for tears in fabric
- Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Pack Cover Keeps your pack dry at camp
- Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket (Men's) Stay dry while you pitch in the rain
- Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket (Women's) Stay dry while you pitch in the rain
Tent Footprint FAQ
Do I really need a tent footprint?
Not always, but a footprint or groundsheet protects your tent floor from abrasion and helps stop ground moisture from being pressed through the floor overnight, especially on wet Pacific Northwest ground.
Should a footprint be bigger or smaller than the tent?
Smaller. If the groundsheet sticks out past the tent floor, rain running off the fly collects on it and flows underneath you. Fold any excess under.
Can I use a regular tarp as a footprint?
Yes. A basic tarp works fine as a groundsheet; just fold it so it stays within the edges of your tent floor.
What is a fast-pitch setup?
Many tents let you pitch just the rain fly over the matching footprint and leave the inner tent at home, saving weight on trips where bugs aren't a concern.
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