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My uncle swore by a cheap tarp for ground cover, but a week in the Smokies proved him wrong.
He gave me his old 8x10 foot poly tarp, saying it was all I needed under my tent to stay dry. After three nights of steady rain, the water pooled on top and seeped through the seams, soaking my sleeping bag. What's a better, breathable ground sheet that won't break the bank?
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karenh562mo ago
My uncle gave me the same advice about using a blue tarp from the hardware store. I mean, it works great for covering a pile of firewood, but it turns your tent floor into a swimming pool. I switched to a piece of Tyvek house wrap, the kind builders use. You can get a scrap for almost nothing, it's tough, and it actually lets moisture through so you don't wake up in a puddle.
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seth_singh201mo ago
And that Tyvek doesn't soak up water like a sponge either, big difference.
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joel_jones2mo ago
Tyvek lets water through? That sounds backwards.
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the_lisa2mo ago
My tent floor was a literal pond last time I used a tarp.
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