Tent Footprint Vs Tarp – Which Should You Get?

Millions of people buy tents and go camping every year. Now you’d expect to get quite a lot of use out of your backpacking tent but quite often, you find that after just a few trips, your tent may have some small holes in the floor, which is the most likely place for wear and tear. 

Tents these days are made to be light and portable, thus using thinner materials and when camping on rocky, tough ground, the floor of a tent takes the most punishment. In order to ensure your tent lasts longer, it’s recommended to add an extra layer between your tent and the ground, either a camping tarp or a tent footprint. This not only protects the tent floor but adds extra benefits like additional warmth and moisture protection. 

In this article, we are going to discuss what tarps and footprints are plus their pros and cons, so you can decide which one is best for your next camping trip. 

Do You Need an Extra Layer On The Floor?

If you want to ensure your tent lasts a long time and get the other added benefits of an extra layer between your tent and the floor is highly recommend. 

Here are the benefits of having an extra layer; 

• Protects the tent floor from damage and ensures it lasts longer 
• Acts as a moisture barrier to make sure you stay dry 
• Adds an extra layer of warmth when camping on the cold ground 
• Increases comfort so you don’t feel any uneven ground as much

What Is a Tent Footprint?

A tent footprint is a piece of waterproof material usually made of some sort of polyethylene or polyester. The t