Thread: Tyvek tent footprint - alternatives?

Originally Posted by RV1

I've searched, and this comes up from time to time in the forums: Tyvek house wrap for a lightweight tent footprint or groundsheet for fly camping. Not the easiest stuff to find if you just want a couple of square meters. Stupid question perhaps, but does it need to be Tyvek branded stuff? I'd guess some of the NZ brands of building wrap will be similar bonded PE material. Has anyone had success using non-Tyvek branded stuff?

Make your own! Get a piece of nylon the size you want - old tent from refuse station shop etc or even a thin bedsheet and waterproof it. Use a mix of silicon sealant and Turps mixed to be a paintable consistency. Paint one side then when dry turn over and paint the other side. This will be more waterproof than any building wrap

Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

Make your own! Get a piece of nylon the size you want - old tent from refuse station shop etc or even a thin bedsheet and waterproof it. Use a mix of silicon sealant and Turps mixed to be a paintable consistency. Paint one side then when dry turn over and paint the other side. This will be more waterproof than any building wrap

Thanks Moa Hunter - watched a number of videos of people in the States doing just that, and I considered it, but am trying to save weight and I think a DIY silnylon is probably heavier than house wrap. Agree that it will be more waterproof...

Originally Posted by RV1

Thanks Moa Hunter - watched a number of videos of people in the States doing just that, and I considered it, but am trying to save weight and I think a DIY silnylon is probably heavier than house wrap. Agree that it will be more waterproof...

I waterproofed the integral floor on a Fairydown double skinned alpine tent. The nylon floor leaked like a sieve as the coating had crapped out and gone crumbly. Last time I used it was mid June, erected in water - I could see water on the ground in between the grass. Totally dry in the morning and... no water sticks to that coated surface, one shake and it's dry. I thought it would be heavy but once all the solvent dries out it's not weighty at all

Originally Posted by RV1

Thanks Moa Hunter - watched a number of videos of people in the States doing just that, and I considered it, but am trying to save weight and I think a DIY silnylon is probably heavier than house wrap. Agree that it will be more waterproof...

I waterproofed the integral floor on a Fairydown double skinned alpine tent. The nylon floor leaked like a sieve as the coating had crapped out and gone crumbly. Last time I used it was mid June, erected in water - I could see water on the ground in between the grass. Totally dry in the morning and... no water sticks to that coated surface, one shake and it's dry. I thought it would be heavy but once all the solvent dries out it's not weighty at all