Old timer told me to use a tarp under my tent, not a footprint

Back in 2018, a guy named Jerry at a campsite in Colorado told me to ditch my expensive footprint and just use a cheap tarp under my tent. He said it's lighter, cheaper, and works the same. I figured he was just some old guy set in his ways, so I ignored him. Then last summer, I ripped my footprint on a sharp rock and had to use a tarp as a backup. That tarp held up fine for three more trips, and now I feel dumb for spending $40 on the branded footprint. Has anyone else had old advice like that turn out to be right after you fought it for years?

3 comments

3 Comments

ray_martinez821mo agoTop Commenter

Wait, you're telling me I could've saved forty bucks by listening to some random guy at a campsite?

michaeld481mo ago

Dude exactly, I had the same thing happen to me last summer. Some older guy in a camper van told me to skip the pricey campground and just pull off on a forest road nearby. Saved my whole trip budget and honestly had way better views than the crowded spots.

ruby_henderson361mo ago

@ray_martinez82 yeah, best travel advice comes from strangers in vans.