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Do you always use them? Or do you consider them unnecessary weight? Or do you only bring depending on conditions?

I've always brought one along. It seems to me that their primary function is abrasion resistance, like a liner sock. (But I don't wear liner socks).

I only use one when I'm car camping. If I have to carry it more than 30 feet, it's staying at home.

gregorpatsch wrote:Do you always use them? Or do you consider them unnecessary weight? Or do you only bring depending on conditions?

I've always brought one along. It seems to me that their primary function is abrasion resistance, like a liner sock. (But I don't wear liner socks).

They do help protect the tent floor from whatever is on the ground below it. Sometimes I use one, sometimes I don't.

I never use them. To much extra weight. I have used my tent heavily, and since I take good care of it, there's no sign of wear where a footprint would protect it. ( I have placed my tent on sharp volcanic rocks and as long as your careful your tent will be fine with out one IMO.)

Same here, never use them.

yeah...we never use them. We just make sure the ground we are pitching the tent on is suitable for the bottom of our tent.

Those manufactured 'footprints' are a rip-off. I use a piece of plastic drop cloth purchased at the local paint store. They're 9ft x 12 ft, 1 mil thick, about $5/each - cheap. Cut them into 4 pieces, and each pice will last about 7-10 days. Besides taking some of the abrasion, its a good way to keep water vapor in the ground from condensing on the bottom of your tent. And they're extremely lightweight, too.

aemter wrote:I only use one when I'm car camping. If I have to carry it more than 30 feet, it's staying at home.

Same here. Or other situations when weight doesn't matter (i.e. rafting trips). If you use an UL tent, it kind of defeats the purpose of saving weight.

space blanket. I've never used one for emergency warmth, but they make a fine drop for your tent and weigh nothing.

I always use one, I like how it keeps my tent dry and clean on the bottom. Mine has a tear in it, I'm assuming that tear would be in my tent had I not used the tarp.