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Make a Tyvek Groundcloth for Your TentSave money (and weight) with this tent-saving DIY trick.Photos & Text: Steve Howe
The form of Tyvek used for vapor barriers in building construction is heavy, and stiff. Look for Type 1443R Tyvek, which is used in disposable clothing for hazardous waste use...and high-tech kite making. You buy it by the linear yard.
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READERS COMMENTS
Page 1
If you situate your groundsheet in this manner, where it extends beyond the outside of the tent, and it rains, it will just serve to funnel rainwater underneath your tent (not good). The groundsheet should be slightly smaller than your tent floor.
— Rich
Is the type 1443 water-proof/resistant?
— Kevin
Tyvek comes in all sorts of lengths. I have an 8' roll right now I got from a building site (for free) and you can buy it at a building supply store or ask for it on free cycle.
— Clayton
I bought a 9' tall roll for my home project... worked great for a footprint. Also, I learned the hard way that the footprint should be smaller than the tent fly so that water doesn't roll off the fly and get caught by the footprint, pooling under the tent. that was a bad night!
— Jooop
Run the Tyvek ground cloth through a wash cycle. It will soften it up considerably.
— fatport
You don't show or comment on whether tyvek 1443 (or regular tyvek) is strong enough to accept tent pole holes either for fast minimal pitching in general, or just to put up the fly before the tent when it is raining. Do you need to carry (pre-knotted) cord to do that?
— Doug
Must not extend past tent or rainfly, I agree. I use an emergency blanket as my footprint. Cheap, small, light and multi purpose. Less than $4 available everywhere, and packs to wallet size.
— Justin
Must not extend past tent or rainfly, I agree. I use an emergency blanket as my footprint. Cheap, small, light and multi purpose. Less than $4 available everywhere, and packs to wallet size.
— Justin
Must not extend past tent or rainfly, I agree. I use an emergency blanket as my footprint. Cheap, small, light and multi purpose. Less than $4 available everywhere, and packs to wallet size.
— Justin
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