Floor or No Floor ...

[footslogger]

...THAT is the question !!

Would be interested in hearing from PCT veterans in regard to their experiences with "floorless" shelters.

Am considering going the "floorless" route and carrying a piece of tyvek as a ground cloth.

Thanks in advance ...

[Magnet_]

I think you'd be fine with a sheet of Tyvek south of Kennedy Meadows. Most nights we slept out under the stars on our ground cloths. I'd probably want a floor north of there, mainly so that I'd be totally enveloped by my shelter and protected from the mosquitos. I can't offer my opinion for northern CA or OR & WA as I never got up there. I'd suspect you'd want a floor for better water protection from the rain up north.

[footslogger]

I think you'd be fine with a sheet of Tyvek south of Kennedy Meadows. Most nights we slept out under the stars on our ground cloths. I'd probably want a floor north of there, mainly so that I'd be totally enveloped by my shelter and protected from the mosquitos. I can't offer my opinion for northern CA or OR & WA as I never got up there. I'd suspect you'd want a floor for better water protection from the rain up north.

================================

Well ...at the moment I'm considering a tarp style tent that has mesh around the lower edge and it curls under such that a small tyvek groundcloth would pretty much form a weather/bug seal. I'm thinking that should address most if not all of the issues.

Any comments ??

[cburnett]

I see many people cowboy camp so I guess a ground sheet would be useful. I was also thinking I might be able to place holes in the groundsheet to make a quick sun shade for afternoon breaks.


hey what are peoples favorite materials for groundsheets?

tyvek, plastic, sil nylon, mylar....

casey

caseyonpct.blogspot.com

[SunnyWalker]

I was thinking of switching to a tarp and using my poncho as the ground cloth inside the tarp. I guess the "head hole" might let in rain water though. I think I might give it a try. I like the tarps that you use your trek poles to keep it up.
-SunnyWalker

[George]

Just my style, but I like the 'sealed floor' of a small one man tent under me. I guess a tarp may be lighter, but by the time you add a groundsheet maybe there's not such a difference in weight between the two types of 'accomodation'. I like the added heat retention of a joined floor in cold weather, plus the fact that it keeps bugs etc out. You'll be able to sleep without any cover at times along the trail, but I like to have the option of getting myself well covered when needed and you could find that further north!

[OverDose]

I used a Contrail with a floor and really enjoyed having the floor. It's really all personal opinion but it seemed much easier to keep the bugs out (mosquitoes) when I got further north. It even kept some mice out that would have gotten in otherwise. The weight difference is so minimal that I would go with the floor version.
If you don't get a floor you should just get a tarp. They are much lighter and are the same idea as a floor-less tarp tent.
It might have been overkill but i carried a piece of tyvek for all of my cowboy camping needs and I used it as a ground cloth, didn't really need it for that though. Good luck hopefully you'll find just what you need.

[Oubliet]

I use my BD Beta Light and piece of Tyvek for a ground cloth in the Sierras every year, and they've always been adequate.

If I had a full tent, I'd likely use a ground cloth underneath it, anyway, to protect the tent bottom, so for me, this is a lighter way to go.

it holds up in inclement weather well. Last summer, it weathered a long hail and rainstorm well in the Emigrant Wilderness.