Tents Floors for Floorless Shelters

[Slugz]

I have a SO Courthouse, Redcliffe and Tipi that I wanted to make.some floors for.
Before just buying ones they have available already made for them ( except Courthouse).......

Anybody have any suggestions for material to use? Lightweight, waterproof, durable.

 

[AM_Hunter]

I made one out of a standard tarp, sewed the corners and added little aluminum pipes and some guy line to stake out the tarp and made it into a bathtub floor. Weighed about 17oz, wasnt too heavy or bulky. Worked well in Colorado 1st Season in my Cimarron. Haven't used it since though.

 

[HbDane]

Buddy of mine made one from some material he bought off Bearpaw (I believe). They literally sold custom cut sheets. The way he did it wasn’t pretty but it worked for him

 

[FoggyScope]

Tyvek is what many people use. I use a sheet just larger than my sleeping pad but you could buy a larger sheet and make a full floor. You should check out the diy gear threads lots of good ideas about materials and sewing in there if you want to do something more like what you would buy made from nylon or dyneema.

 

[Dave0317]

Being this is in the Lightweight Zone category, are you backpacking these in? If so, I can’t imagine I would want anything more than a small sheet of tyvek to cover a small area.

If you are staying near the truck, I would aim for durability and maybe even a little cushion. Like a section of old carpet to lay down on the ground.

 

[Slugz]

Tyvek is what many people use. I use a sheet just larger than my sleeping pad but you could buy a larger sheet and make a full floor. You should check out the diy gear threads lots of good ideas about materials and sewing in there if you want to do something more like what you would buy made from nylon or dyneema.

I ran Tyvek for a little.and just got.too annoyed with the noise. Target would be something as durable.with out the noise.

 

[Slugz]

Being this is in the Lightweight Zone category, are you backpacking these in? If so, I can’t imagine I would want anything more than a small sheet of tyvek to cover a small area.

If you are staying near the truck, I would aim for durability and maybe even a little cushion. Like a section of old carpet to lay down on the ground.

Fly in weight planning.

 

[FoggyScope]

I ran Tyvek for a little.and just got.too annoyed with the noise. Target would be something as durable.with out the noise.

Fair enough, i just put a boot or something on each corner to keep it from flapping, but havent had a problem inside a shelter with that. Have you tried washing it in a washing machine? I understand this takes out a lot of the noise as it pre crinkles it.
I think youre looking for dyneema. Its what companys make lightweight tents and floors out of. 1oz is normal tent floor material or you can get thicker stuff from the same site. https://ripstopbytheroll.com/products/1-0-oz-dyneema-composite-fabric-ct2k-18
It can have some noise to it too, so if thats a big issue nylon or poly fabric is what you want, which is what most tents are made from. Using any real fabrics takes some skill. Unless youre handy with this id be googling "tent footprint" and buying one.

 

[Dave0317]

Fly in weight planning.

Gotcha. That’s cool. I should have guessed from the profile pic!

 

[Slugz]

Gotcha. That’s cool. I should have guessed from the profile pic!

All good!

 

[diamond10x]

Piece of Tyvek the length of sleeping pad and wide enough for my pad and to put my feel down on. Do this for all of my hunts here in AK when I'm in my floorless tents.

 

[Isildur]

Floor less is the only way I've went archery elk hunting. Spent nights in the teens. Your sleep system is more important than shelter for archery elk season IMHO.

 

[robertmpalmquist]

It’s not as durable as tyvek but weighs waaaay less. I use polycro sheets I cut to fit. Super cheap. The same film people use on their windows. Duck brand from Home Depot. Can get a large role. Will last you a trip or few/season depending on how abused it is.

 

[Slugz]

I'm going back and forth between a cheap Walmart tarp and Tyvek.

 

[rayporter]

the cheap tarp works for me

i have tried a painters drop cloth, too. cheap, compact, larger. maybe more slippery????

 

[Slugz]

the cheap tarp works for me

i have tried a painters drop cloth, too. cheap, compact, larger. maybe more slippery????

Agreed. I keep coming back to those. Thats what I run in the big wall tents.

 

[Slugz]

Any body know what SO uses for their ground sheets?

 

[Beendare]

FWIW, Moisture will wick through Tyvek....I don't get what many like this as a ground sheet.

The sil poly or sil nylon in a little heavier weight- like 1.6oz or 1.9 oz works but its slippery as heck and needs strips of diluted silicone for non slip

 

[Kakashi]

When I made my own tent last summer, the biggest thing that I wanted and needed was a floor that would not allow rain OR bugs in. Bugs suck! I'll go hardcore UL anything. anywhere, but I need my privacy from the critters and bugs while sleeping…

Enjoy those floorless non attached thingys!

 

[Pilsner]

I ran Tyvek for a little.and just got.too annoyed with the noise. Target would be something as durable.with out the noise.

Run the tyvek sheet through teh washing machine and then dry it on the fluff/no heat cycle. Presto! noise gone.