Woke up to a wet sleeping bag, never trust a footprint again

Used to think a footprint under the tent was optional, just extra weight. Last month up near Lake Almanor it rained hard all night and the ground seeped right through the bathtub floor. Woke up at 3am with my whole back soaked and the thermometer reading 41 degrees. Spent the next two hours shivering in my car trying to warm up before daylight. Now I always lay down a cheap polycro sheet underneath, costs like 12 bucks at REI. It adds nothing to the pack and it saves you from that miserable damp feeling that ruins an entire trip. I also started checking the site slope before pitching, even a 2 degree tilt makes water pool at the head end. Has anyone else had a night like that or do I just pick terrible campsites? I need to know if I'm the only one who skipped this basic step for years.

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ellis.robert1mo ago

Remember that polycro is actually a groundsheet for under the tent, not a footprint that goes inside. A lot of folks mix those up. I used to run a blue tarp under mine for years, but it held water against the floor once the ground got saturated. Switched to polycro last spring and it does breathe better, but it tears easy on pine needles, so clear the site first. Also check the weather forecast next time, rain at Lake Almanor in summer happens when a cold front dips down, and a 2 degree tilt is enough to channel water right under your pad.

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