Even if you looked at the weather forecast before camping, it’s not a fact that the rain won’t catch you by surprise. Therefore, you should worry in advance about how to keep yourself and your equipment dry. The best way to protect your tent from getting wet is to install a right size tarp for under tent.
Why do I need a tent tarp
A tarp under your tent is not necessary if everything is fine with the tent floor; however, it has its advantages.
Helps keep you dry
Heavy rain or hail can turn your camping into a nightmare – moisture will seep through the tent floor, and you will have to spend the night in damp and cold. The tarp is additional protection so that moisture does not get into your tent.
And even if you have secured your tent well enough, and you have a sleeping bag and a mattress, it is still better to prevent the tent from getting wet than to deal with the consequences and damaged camping gear later.
The tarp is very light and can carry it in your backpack and other camping gear. It will protect you from the wet and dirty ground if you set up a tent after the rain.
And if the rain started when the tent is already installed, then the edges of the tarp will direct water around the perimeter of the tent and prevent water from seeping through the tent floor.
However, using a tarp does not guarantee that the tent bottom will always remain dry if you have chosen the wrong place for camping. Therefore, when choosing a place for camping, always:
- Look for a place on a hill so that rainwater flows down from there. It is better to set up a tent on a hill rather than under a hill or on a hillside.
- Before installing the tent, clear the place you have chosen of stones and sharp branches so that they do not scratch the bottom of your tent.
Protects the tent bottom
The tarp provides additional protection for the tent bottom so that it does not wear, puncture or scratch. You will need a tent tarp if your camping trip is in a rocky area.
If you regularly put a tarp under your tent’s bottom, then you will not only be able to protect it from sharp sticks, stones, and other sharp objects, but also extend its service life.
Helps keep your tent clean
If you put a tarp under your tent, then your tent will be much cleaner because the tarp prevents dust and dirt from getting to the tent floor.
Other advantages of using tarp
Other advantages of placing a tarp under your tent include:
- In the cold season, the tarp is an additional layer of insulation between the cold floor and you, and therefore allows you to keep more heat in the tent.
- By placing a tarp under the tent’s bottom, you will protect yourself from colds, and save your electronic devices.
- With a tarpaulin under the bottom of the tent, you will feel more comfortable sleeping in a tent.
- Let it be cold and damp outside, your camping tent will always be warm and cozy.
Disadvantages of camping tarp under the tent
Like any equipment, camping tarpaulin also has its drawbacks. And here are some disadvantages that you should be aware of before you go to choose a tarp.
Additional weight and bulk
Of course, additional equipment adds both bulk and weight to your backpack. Also, depending on your tent size, the tarp can be quite bulky, and you may have difficulty packing equipment. And if all this is not important for car camping, then it can be hard for you during a camping trip.
Increased cost
Even if you selected an inexpensive tarpaulin option, it’s still an additional expense. If you have chosen a special camping tarp, it may cost you dearly. However, you can save a little by making your tent footprint out of a painter’s tarpaulin or Tyvek. It will cost you a little cheaper.
Added hassle
Proper installation of the tarp under your tent is an additional step to installing the entire tent. It is not difficult to set up a tent, but it also takes some time. And if before that, you also install a camping tarp, then it may seem to you too long a process.
After all, some tent tarps come with grommets so that you can attach them to the ground. And how well and correctly you install the tent footprint will depend on how you spend the night in the tent.
The tent footprint vs. tarp – what is the difference
Both the tent footprint and the tarp have one function in common – protecting your tent from the weather.
The tent print is a plastic ground cover that you put under the tent to protect the tent’s bottom from friction and wear.
Tarps can be of different sizes, but the basic rule is that the tent’s tarp should be either strictly according to the size of the tent’s bottom or slightly smaller.
A tarp is a sheet of waterproof material that is made of canvas or plastic. Most often you can get a tarp with grommets and rope that securely fix the tarpaulin and protect your tent from moisture. The tarp also needs to be chosen a little smaller than your tent.
The tarpaulin can also be additionally used to shelter from rain, wind, and snow. Or you can cover your tent with a tarp to protect it from the weather.
The tarp is much heavier than the tent footprint, however, if you can use the tarp as a tent footprint, then you cannot use the tent footprint instead of the tarpaulin.
First of all, because the tent footprints do not have grommets, you will not be able to install them as a tarp. In addition, the tent footprints are strictly designed for the size of the tent bottom, and they simply will not cover the entire area of the tent’s upper part.
And if you are faced with a choice, it is better to choose a tarp because it can perform the functions of a tent footprint, and it costs a little cheaper.
How to put a tarp under a tent
It is very easy to install a tarp under the tent. As mentioned earlier, the tarp already comes with grommets through which you have to thread the rope.
Insert the tent rods into the grommets, pull the cord, and then secure the cord in the right place.
To fix the corners of the tarpaulin on the ground, you can use tent poles. Next, set up your tent over the tarp the way you usually do.
Make sure that the tarp does not extend beyond the edges of the tent and that it is well tucked in at the edges of the tent.
Very important:
- Choose a tarpaulin 2-3 inches (5-7.6 cm) smaller than the size of the tent. So, no puddles form under your tent or near it.
- Before installing the tent, try to clear the area of stones and other sharp objects.
What size tarp for under tent
If you are buying tent footprints for the first time, you will probably prefer the thickest, most durable, and airtight tarp. However, the best tarp will be a light, breathable, and moderately thin tarpaulin.
How to choose a ground tarp for tent camping
Once you have decided that you need to buy a tarp, then you need to study some details that are important to know. For example, what tarp size do you need?
What is the tarp size for tent protection
The tarp will be able to bring maximum benefit only if it fits you perfectly in size. Too small a tarp will not be able to provide adequate protection for your tent. A large tarp will give you a lot of trouble, as it is additional weight and volume.
Sometimes camping enthusiasts argue about what the tarp size should be. Some argue that the tarp should be slightly smaller than the tent bottom, others say that the tarp size should be much larger than the size of the tent day. But still, the ideal size tarp is the size of the tent itself.
Too large a tarp will accumulate water and create puddles under your tent, and too small a tarp is not able to provide adequate protection.
If you have a tent that has a unique shape, it is better to buy custom-sized tarps. Manufacturers make decking for such tents, which are ideally similar there.
Cut size vs. actual size: it’s important!
When buying a tarp, you may encounter the fact that the tarpaulin will be smaller than indicated on the package.
Don’t worry – these are not defects and not a mistake. The fact is that manufacturers indicate the cut size on the packaging, and you get a camping tarpaulin of the actual size.
The cut size is the size of the material from which the tarpaulin is made. However, during the production of the tent ground cloth, any seams and hems will be made.
But the actual or finished tarp size is the size after stitching the material.
Calculation of the tarp size for use over/under the tent
Most often, a tarp for a tent is used above or under the tent, to protect against moisture and bad weather. Therefore, we want to give you some useful tips on choosing the size of a tarp for a tent so that you can use it as efficiently as possible.
What is the tarp size to use over the tent
With a tarp on the tent, you will feel more protected, besides there will be additional storage space for camping gear. However, not everything is so simple.
With a tarp that is too large, the following problems may occur:
- In case of rain, such a tarp can collect too much rainwater, and this threatens to collapse the tarpaulin on your head.
- In case of strong wind, the tarp will work on the principle of a sail, so it will be difficult to fix it in one place.
- You will have to make some effort to carry such a tarp and install it.
To make the tarp fit you perfectly, choose a tarp 4 feet longer than the length and width of the tent. Below you will find a table of recommendations on the tarp size for use on the tent top.
What is the tarp size to use under the tent
The tarp that you use under the tent should be as close as possible to the size of the tent bottom. Because too much tarp can cause rainwater, dust, and debris to fall under your tent walls.
However, a tarp that exactly matches the size of your tent will not work either. It is better to take a tarpaulin that will be several inches smaller than the bottom of the tent.
The best solution would be to measure the bottom of the tent, take a tarpaulin 8-12 inches long and bend the edges of the tarpaulin under the tent. So, you can provide better tent protection.
Whatever you do not work on calculations, below you will find a table of size recommendations.
Simple tent footprint ideas: DIY tent ground cloths
Buying an expensive tarp for a tent or wearing a bulky tarp is a great alternative – you can make a tent ground cloth with your own hands.
Materials for a DIY tent ground cloth
If you decide to make a tent ground cloth yourself, then first you need to decide on the type of material that you will use. Two materials are best suited for this purpose:
- Painter’s tarpaulin. These are lightweight and economical plastic tarp sheets that are suitable for working in any environment. The only drawback of the painter’s tarp is its low strength, so you will have to change such an earthen fabric of the tent quite often.
- Tyvek. This is a heavy-duty synthetic fabric that will cost you a little more than a painter’s tarp, but it will also last longer. Tyvek is a lightweight, waterproof, and abrasion–resistant fabric that is perfect for making tent ground cover.
Now that you have decided on the material, you need to cut out a sheet of the right size. To do this, simply put your tent on the material, outline its contours, and then cut out the sheet of fabric you need.
Adding grommets
If you are used to doing everything professionally, then you can add grommets to the resulting tent footprint. This way you can easily fix the tarp or Tyvek on the ground.
Also, the tent ground cloth becomes multipurpose equipment – you can cover your tent with it in case the weather deteriorates badly.
Adding grommets to your tent footprint is also quite simple – you need to purchase a special set of gaskets with 3/8 grommets, and a cutting tool with which you can fix the grommets on the tarpaulin.
FAQ
Should you put a tarp under a tent?
The tarp under the tent will protect your tent from the penetration of rainwater and dirt during bad weather, as well as allow you to extend the service life of your tent and protect the tent bottom from abrasion if you are camping in a rocky area.
How thick should a tarp be for under a tent?
There is no defined minimum thickness of the tarp you are using. Conditionally speaking, it should be thicker than 2 mm. If you want to use a thick tarp, then keep in mind that it will also be bulky and heavy.
What size tarp do you need for a tent?
The size of the tarpaulin depends on the size of your tent’s bottom. However, you can use a simple formula to calculate the ideal size of the tarpaulin. To do this, measure the size of the bottom of the tent and take the tarpaulin 8-12 inches long, then simply fold the edges of the tarpaulin under the tent.
How do I know what size tarp I need?
You can measure the size of the tent bottom and use the table we provided above to calculate the size of the tarpaulin you need.
Conclusion
The tarp is camping equipment that allows you to protect the tent bottom from abrasion and moisture penetration, thereby prolonging the tent’s life. Installing a tarp does not take much time, and the benefits of using a tarp under a tent are very great. Wonder what is A tent vestibule, read
My name is Olivia Kellison. I have been camping with friends and on my own for a long time. For me, camping is a great way to escape everyday life’s chaos. I started this blog because I have always had a passion for the great outdoors, and here I am gladly sharing what I know with other outdoor enthusiasts. It does not matter whether you are an experienced adventurer, or just planning your first trip, my blog will be of great help to you.