So you’ve just made a hefty investment in a quality tent and you are looking for a way to ensure that it stays well protected for as long as possible. Here’s a smart idea – buy a groundsheet. These tent accessories were made to protect the floor of your outdoor home against everything that nature may throw at it. They may not be as cheap as you’d hope, but they are certainly worth it. When faced with a damage of any kind, you will only need to replace the groundsheet instead of the entire tent. How’s that for convenience?
Tent groundsheets also help with waterproofing your tent, they act as a barrier in wet conditions, act as a wind or weather break, prevent vegetation underneath your tent, prevent condensation and offer an emergency shelter when you need it. Here are some of the options you will come across when shopping for a tent groundsheet.
Made to Fit
Manufacturers design these tent groundsheets to specifically fit under their tents. In most cases, they also fit under the awning. They are typically made of mesh, and there are also some made of solid fabric. The major benefit of them is that you can buy one with confidence and rest assured it will perfectly fit your model of tent.
Mesh Style
Mesh style tent groundsheets are not designed to fit a specific tent and they come in various sizes. It can be challenging trying to establish what groundsheet will fit your tent best but this also gives you some freedom to set it up as you want to. These are typically made of a heavier-duty shade cloth-type material and their biggest benefit is that this design allows the grass underneath to breathe and allows moisture to fall through. Therefore, in case it starts raining, this type of groundsheet will not start pooling. The only drawback of mesh style tent groundsheets is that they are not as durable as the ones made of solid fabrics and they can also be a bit hard to clean.
Solid Style
Solid style tent groundsheets are not made to fit but they do come in different sizes, which means you can easily find one that suits you. They aren’t as popular as mesh style ones due to the restrictions that are now placed upon them in camping and caravan parks, however, they offer much more protection. They are a bit easier to clean and provide a solid defense, but they also have some drawbacks. For instance, they don’t allow grass to breathe, can increase the chance of condensation, and in case it rains – they will collect the water underneath your tent floor.