Spent $120 on a lightweight tent footprint - ended up using a $2 trash bag instead

I went out to the Sierra last fall and bought an official footprint for my tent. Thought it would save my floor from rocks and all that. First night out I forgot it at home, so I grabbed a heavy duty trash bag from the camp store. Honestly it worked just as well and weighed less. Has anyone else found that the cheap fix is better than the fancy gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

aaronlee1mo ago

Garbage bags are fine for one trip but they tear way easier than actual tent footprints. I had a sharp rock poke right through one on the second night out and then my tent floor got soaked from condensation under it. A proper footprint spreads the weight out and doesn't get brittle in the sun after a couple days. Plus the cut to shape thing is nice so you don't have to fold a bag all weird to fit under your tent.

williamt441mo ago

Fair point about the rocks. I've had that same thing happen with a contractor bag on a rocky site in Colorado. The weight distribution thing is real too, a proper footprint doesn't let a pebble dig in the same way a thin plastic sheet does. Condensation underneath is a nightmare I don't wish on anyone, sucks waking up to a damp bag. The fold is annoying but I just cut my footprint a few inches shorter than the tent floor so it doesn't stick out and catch water. It's one of those things where a few bucks saves a lot of hassle long term. Your mileage may vary but I'm with you on spending the extra.