Have you ever considered adding a tent footprint beneath your tent, but aren’t sure you need one? Well, we at Life inTents think that a tent footprint can be a vital part of your tent setup and even a necessity.

In this guide, we start by explaining why you need a tent footprint and then offer advice on how best to use a tent footprint. Let’s get started!

Why You Should Use a Tent Footprint

But is it necessary to use a tent footprint? Some campers argue that a footprint is unnecessary beneath a tent with a bathtub-style floor base, or for backpackers who need to be mindful of their carry weight, and depending on their preferences, tent style, and specific requirements, they may be right.   

But if you want to decide for yourself, here are a few good reasons why you should use a footprint as part of your camp gear and campsite setup. 

A Tent Footprint Protects Your Tent Floor

Placing a tent footprint between the ground and the base of your tent extends the life of your tent. A tent footprint provides an extra layer and barrier, preventing abrasive objects like rocks, sticks, and other debris from puncturing the tent. Even if you pitch your tent on soft sand, over time, the grit can wear at your tent’s base, harming the integrity of the material. 

A Tent Footprint Keeps Your Tent Dry

A well-made tent will keep you warm and dry inside. However, moisture and condensation are often inevitable. With a tent footprint beneath, you prevent ground moisture from seeping up and add an extra waterproof layer to ensure your tent is good and dry. 

Keeping a canvas tent dry is critical, as it prevents mold and mildew from developing. Many canvas tents, like bell tents, offer a built-in waterproof floor that will keep you dry. However, we highly recommend taking it a step beyond this by adding a tent footprint as an extra barrier. 

A Tent Footprint Adds Insulation and Warmth

Adding a tent footprint beneath the tent itself keeps it dry and free of dampness. But a footprint can also make the inside of your tent warmer. For winter camping folks with four-season tents, adding a tent footprint is a must! That extra insulative layer will help keep the earth’s cold temperatures out and trap warm air in – simple as that!

A Tent Footprint Marks Your Pitch Area

Pitching a tent, especially something like a large canvas bell tent, can be cumbersome. The last thing you want to do is have to tug its corners to shift a few feet, after miscalculating how much room you need. So before you pitch that tent, lay out the footprint (which is ideally the same size as the tent floor) to mark the space within your campsite. It will save a lot of headaches! 

A Tent Footprint Makes Breakdown Cleanup a Breeze

Not only does using a tent footprint make pitching easier, but it also makes breakdown a breeze! Cleaning a tent after a long camping trip is necessary for its care and preservation, and doing so properly can take time. However, when you use a tent footprint beneath, the base of your tent is easier to clean. Simply give it and the footprint a good shake and wipe it down with a wet cloth. A tent footprint may also minimize the mud and dirt tracked into the tent while it’s in use too. 

How to Use a Tent Footprint

Find Your Foundation and Clear the Area

Unfold and Stretch Out the Tent Footprint 

With your foundation clear, you can now unfold and stretch out the footprint. Whether you use a basic tarp, moving blankets, or groundsheet shaped to your tent’s size, stretch it out tight so that it creates an even surface, but do not extend beyond the edge of your tent’s floor (as this can create space for puddles). 

Stake Down the Tent Footprint

With the tent footprint stretched out good and tight, it’s time to stake it down. Grab your hammer and secure each stake around your tent. Slip them through metal grommets, if your tent has them, at a 45-degree angle. Before staking the footprint beneath a bell tent (totally optional, by the way), start by securing the 3 pegs beneath the door. 

Work your way around the tent, pulling the footprint taught as you secure each peg or stake, minimizing wrinkles inside your tent. If your tent is designed with a vestibule porch with an overhang, you can extend the footprint to create space for taking off muddy shoes and storing camp gear.

Continue Setting Up Your Tent

And that is how to use a tent footprint! Finish setting up your tent and voila! You’re ready to enjoy the day in nature and then hit the hay in a nice, warm, dry tent. 

Setting up your tent with a footprint is easy. It also requires minimal extra effort for many rewards and advantages, like extra warmth and even a soft underfoot inside your tent.

Additional Tent Footprint Tips for the Best Setup

Whatever kind of tent footprint you choose, you need to choose the best one for your style of tent. Here are a few extra tips to keep in mind when choosing the right tent footprint:

Choose an Appropriate Size Footprint

Make sure you choose the correct size tent footprint. To prevent water accumulation, it should fit slightly smaller than the floor of your tent, without any overhang. Most tent brands offer a specific footprint for each model. However, if not, just check your tent specifications and compare them to the footprint size you are considering. 

Fold Tarp Footprints Under Your Tent Correctly

A basic all-purpose tarp is an affordable footprint option. However, you’ll find them cut into standard square or rectangular dimensions, meaning extra effort to ensure a proper fit beneath your tent. Tarp overhang can result in funneled water if not folded beneath properly. So how do you fold in these overhanging sections? By folding the tarp under itself toward the ground, not over toward the tent. 

When You Should Not Use a Tent Footprint

For those planning on setting up a tent long-term, there are several options, including building a deck. In this scenario, you would not want a tarp between the tent and the deck as it could stop water from escaping from under your tent. This will cause pooling, which will form mold and damage the underside of your tent. 

Find Your Tent Footprint

Used correctly and staked properly, tent footprints can be a vital part of your camping gear. Not only do footprints keep your tent interior warm and dry during your camping trip, but they safeguard your tent’s base from sharp and abrasive objects, which minimizes general wear-and-tear and keeps it lasting for years to come. So care for and protect your family camping tent with a simple yet effective tent footprint.