Why does nobody talk about tent footprint sizing before you buy?

Spent 2 summers in a 6 person tent near Lake Tahoe with rain pooling under the floor every storm, figured it was just bad luck. Then a park ranger pointed out my footprint was sticking out 4 inches past the tent edge, so water just ran underneath instead of shedding off. Anyone else learn this the hard way or am I the only one who skipped that part of the setup manual?

2 comments

2 Comments

kelly3851mo ago

Took me three soaked trips to realize my footprint was basically acting like a welcome mat for every rainstorm in Yosemite. I set it up the same way you did, a little wider for "extra protection," and got a free indoor pond for my trouble. Now I fold the edges under the tent like I'm tucking in a kid who might kick the blankets off. The ranger who finally pointed it out to me said he sees it every single summer, so you're not alone, but we're definitely the ones who skipped the fine print. Honestly, the footprint should come with a warning label that says "tighter is better, not bigger.

nancyn691mo ago

Ugh, same thing happened to me last year with my 3 person tent in the Sierras. I had the footprint cut to fit, but then I got lazy and just let it hang out a bit wider for extra protection... big mistake. Every morning I woke up to a damp sleeping bag and a puddle right in the corner. Took me way too long to realize the water was just sliding off the tent and landing right on the exposed fabric. Now I always trace the outline on the ground before I set it up, and I double check it's tucked in tight. It's one of those dumb little things that makes a huge difference.