San Gabriel Mountains Discussion Forum

calicokid · Joined: 27 Feb 2008 Posts: 83 Location: Monrovia, CA

I have a REI half dome 2 tent plus the foot print for about 2 years. Last two camping trips, I noticed some wet spots between the tent floor and the footprints. Both time the weather was dry, no dew at all.

It seems that water seeping through the footprint from the ground. The other theory is condensation, but the rest of the tent was dry except a few spots were damp.

Anyone experience similar problems?

Thanks
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I went out to the country so i could examine the simple things in life. Henry Thoreau

EnFuego · Posted: Thu Oct 08, 2009 11:38 am Post subject:

I have experienced this myself on some trips. On my last trips to the Sierra's, i had no problems the first or third nights, but on the second night, I had soem moisture between my footprint and tent floor. I was using a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1.

During dry conditions, mountaure on the foot print is basically the result of condensation caused from damp ground and/or a drop in temperature.
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There is no place for me in this world, Chanchito, I don't belong out there and I don't belong here. So I'm going into the wilderness, probably to die. I hope to see you again Chancho, maybe in the next life.

phydeux · Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 57 Location: Suburbiaville, CA.

Don't even bother with a footprint. Those things are one of the biggest rip-offs in outdoor gear. Instead, go to your local hardware store (Home Despot, Lowe's, etc) and get a plastic painter's dropcloth. Its waterproof plastic, so no worries about condensation coming up through it. Get a slightly thicker one (1 mil thickness works great!) and it'll take some abuse from the small rocks and sticks that inevitably lodge under your tent. They're 9 ft x 12ft, so you can cut one into 4 pieces. When one piece wears out, just throw it out and use another piece.

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"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former" - Albert Einstein