DIY Tent Footprint

So you just bought yourself a fancy new tent and you see that there is a matching footprint that goes along with it. "Hold on a minute," you think to yourself, "I just spent my hard earned money on a tent, and I need to spend more money on something that goes underneath it?" Well, the answer to the question of whether or not you need a footprint is a hard one to answer. Some people will adamantly tell you, "Yes! You Need it!" (e.g. Marc Wiltse), but others say that they've never used one or only use one when they know they are going to be pitching a tent on gravel.

As for myself, I have camped both with and without a footprint. The purpose of a footprint is both to minimize the amount of potential moisture that seeps through the bottom of the tent and to reduce the amount of wear and tear on the tent (it's much cheaper to replace a footprint than an entire tent). Although I could purchase the recommended footprint for my tent for about $30 (or $20 if it's on sale), I decided to go the cheaper route and make my own for under $4. As a matter of fact, with the amount of material I bought I could make quite a few footprints. Here are some simple instructions for how you too can make a footprint for your camping adventures.

DIY High Visibility Tent Stakes

Although I made some of my own stakes, I also have some DAC V stakes that came along with my Sierra Designs Lightyear 1 tent. The problem with these (and most other stakes that are not some bright color to begin with, including the ones I made) is that they can be hard to see and easy to misplace or trip over. So, a very simple solution to this conundrum is to take some bright nail polish and paint the top of the stakes. A note of warning, if you are taking it from your significant other, make sure to ask to borrow the nail polish first to make sure that you don't run in to any trouble when you go up to her and say, "Look at my cool stakes!"

Materials

• Bright nail polish
• Tent stakes

Instructions

This is a hard one. Take nail polish. Apply to stakes. Wait for it to dry.

Oh wait, there is no next step.

DIY V Tent Stake

What does a guy that has access to a machine shop, an extra piece of aluminum angle iron, and free time do? Make tent stakes of course! Although these stakes are nothing out of the ordinary, and by no means the prettiest things out there, the next time I pitch my tarp I can proudly say that I will using stakes that were custom made by me. I based the design of these the simple and effective Sierra Designs V Tent Stakes making a couple small adjustments to fit my purpose. While making them I documented the measurements and machining process, so if you feel inclined to make your own, the steps are below.