A tent footprint is a ground cloth made from waterproof material that lays between your tent bottom and the ground. It acts as a protective barrier under your tent, absorbing damage and preserving your tent floor. The footprint creates an extra barrier between you and the ground, protecting your tent floor from abrasion and punctures. It also helps keep your tent clean and dry by preventing water from seeping into your tent and drenching your things. A tent alone should keep you dry, so the real question is whether a footprint is necessary given the extra cost and weight. Here are some reasons why you might need a tent footprint:
- Protects your tent floor from abrasion and punctures caused by grit, tiny rocks, sand, and twigs that accumulate on preexisting tent sites.
- Prevents water from seeping into your tent and drenching your things.
- Helps keep you slightly warmer by creating an additional layer under your tent that decreases the amount of heat you lose.
- Serves other purposes, such as a gear sorting station, a rain tarp, or additional protection in windy conditions.
Its important to note that most tent footprints are matched to a specific tents floor dimensions, so you dont want it to be larger than your tent floor and reach out past the tent rainfly, because rain will accumulate and puddle along the edges.
