While I do use light waterproof ripstop under my tent, it's purpose is more for protection from sharp and abrasive things that could damage the floor. In fact it probably sucks water between it and the tent floor sometimes. (It depends on your tent but if you use something under it, keep it well inside the drip line of the fly.) If the floor gets really wet or when it's cold I'll add a silver mylar space blanket on the inside.

Most of the water that gets in my tent is my fault rather than the tent's. If I never went in, it would be perfectly dry I'm sure.

What helps the most is to find the right place to set it up. Give it a fair chance to do it's job. The ground ideally should direct water away from, not under your tent. I know it's tough to find spots like that and little rises are tempting but uncomfortable. I'll live with the possibility of a little extra moisture sometimes when by spine starts demanding I sleep in a shallow depression.

Posted by db on April 12, 2001 at 00:29