Groundsheets. Useful? Or a waste of money?

Are ground sheets useful? Or a waste of money? Also known as a footprint for your tent, they are sometimes used with swags as well. In this video we look at 5 different types of ground sheets including Tarp ground sheets, Mesh ground sheets, Multimat, Canvas ground sheets, and PVC groundsheets. You''ll learn how to use one, and which ground sheet to choose.
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[@firetofork]

With the benefit of years of experience, I have discovered that ground mats do absolutely nothing if you drink 50 beers and leave them in the car. But, if you do remember to use it, they make a great spot to stand and piss from at 2am without covering your feet in sand or mud.

[@Alex.G]

And if you chose a mesh one, you can even piss THROUGH it and the misso will be none the wiser. Unless you drank a lot of coffee...

[@firetofork]

@@Alex.G you’re a wise man mate

[@OOHYEH]

Speaking from experience Harry !!!!

[@motorhead69ification]

I highly recommend a good piss jug. Never leave the tent !!!

[@NathanKingOverland]

@@motorhead69ification Those don't work for me. Never found one with a large enough opening.

[@bradmatthews7124]

Great video. Been using a cheap blue tarp as a ground sheet since I bought my first A frame 2 man tent in 1980. For every reason you have cited I have benefitted from using a tarp. None of my tents bottoms or sleeping mats have ever suffered from rips or punctures. You will get a ton of mileage out of a $10 investment.

[@fakenews7266]

I use Tyvek for my tent's footprint and it is not only light but breathable and after 6 years of use it is still keeping out the water 😉

[@eunlawon5290]

Thank you for in-depth explanation. That was helpful. Thank you for sharing 🙏✌️

[@sipapito]

I just found the negative and positive sounds very annoying if you listening with AirPods, but very informative thanks from Germany.

[@outbackswagging1269]

Nice one mate, been thinking of a ground sheet lately, thanks for the info bud

[@ncradock2007]

on a side note its nice to see these types of vid's coming back.

[@Alex.G]

Thanks Nick, I'm going to be more regular with this type of video

[@DonsShed]

Love the video mate :) I usually use a Mesh mat nowadays, but originally started with a Plastic Tarp. Cheers, Don (Dons Shed and Xplor Overland)

[@technopsychobedlam]

Good discussion. In the end the main thing I look for is keeping the swag clean for rolling up. I choose swags with a high PVC tub bottom to address moisture on the ground. So I go with mesh most times.

[@Alex.G]

Yeah same, and protecting the tent floor. I find the PVC base of the swag pretty tough, but just a small twig will puncture a thin tent floor

[@NathanKingOverland]

I want one of the magic mesh ones. Great video.

[@BenMitro]

Great coverage of the topic - thanks.

[@Alex.G]

Thanks mate cheers for watching 🙂

[@lordbarry4178]

The thing with using tarps for ground sheets is during heavy rain; puddles can form on the tarp, under swag

[@lizzaangelis3308]

You can address this by cutting your ground sheet to size of your tent and a little smaller so that the floor of your tent completely covers the ground cloth. Or you can fold it under the tent so that it is not exposed. This will solve most of those issues

[@riveness]

Or you fold up to ensure it does not rntend beyond the rain cover. Groundsheet will reduce condensation dramatically

[@ncradock2007]

we use a shade cloth type on under the awning of our camper just cause you dont have to clean it. and feels better then walking on dirt

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

Another type are the mesh foam mats that seem to be mostly used by caravanners and motorhomers. Similar in many respects to ordinary mesh (shade cloth) but usually quite expensive. We have settled on the shade cloth style with heavy duty edging and eyelets (as you showed on this vid). They seem to do just about everything we need and we managed to pick them up sub $50 which makes them great value. Awesome review, you covered the subject really well.

[@Alex.G]

I'm sure I've not heard of the mesh foam mat before 🤔 with you on the mesh team for sure. Thanks for the comment Marc

[@WesternAustraliaNowAndThen]

@@Alex.G I think you have to be an old fart like me to know such things LOL Article on the different types as a ref: www.caravansplus.com.au/guides/camping-mats-which-one-is-right-for-you-a-34.html

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Nice video and channel! New follower here. All the best, Crow✌️

[@4x4CampingandAdventures]

Haha that intro 😂😂😂 it’s like I walked on my parents getting on it. Back away slowly

[@Alex.G]

😂 so good!

[@ryantilley-general.shenanigans]

Alex could have easily cropped it out or not used the scene, but he left it in and im glad he did. It's the subtle hints of comedy that keep me coming back again and again. Well done to you both.

[@KOTW.Adventures]

🤣😂 comedy gold!

[@4x4CampingandAdventures]

@@ryantilley-general.shenanigans haha mate I remember the video and I’m not even sure why I have a emu export box 😂 I was drinking pale ales that night

[@paolagiraldo3675]

Very informative thanks

[@Jasbones]

I love you! So helpful!

[@louiskudlak2256]

Informative buddy 👍👍

[@Alex.G]

Cheers Louis 👍

[@user-qh7vh2qk4p]

Ty

[@murphtahoe1]

That helicopter mesh looks pretty cool, but I can’t find it in California. Might have to hit up Amazon in Australia.

[@lachlanmcewan808]

I have mesh and it works great for outside, what would you recommend for inside. Carpet, blanket, picnic mat. Just for tearing bottom.

[@camouflage962]

there is no "one groundsheet serving all purposes" I reckon. I use a heavy canvas made for volcanic ashes/sharp,y edged gravel covering the surface, a regular one for sandy, grassy and forest like environments... etc

[@suarezgce]

your tent is very nice.. could u post the link pls...tnks

[@mickg9563]

Personally never used a ground sheet under my tent or swag. I have used an old tarp under a Gazebo to push longer grass down and make it more comfortable but never under the tent. I normally take an old floor mat with me and roll that out next to where Im sleeping so I can take my shoes etc off there and not get crap into what ever Im sleeping in. Normally sleep in the back of my 4x4 now.

[@lizzaangelis3308]

It does help to protect your tent and make it last longer.

[@lizzaangelis3308]

DuPont Tyvek it’s fairly cheap can be cut down to size and does not fray

[@blakerudler5266]

Can you peg the swag down through the green shade cloth style mesh?

[@Alex.G]

Yeah I guess you could! A smaller peg would cause less damage, and you'd want to try and get it through the same spot every time to reduce wear on the mat

[@lbjezzaberveling3397]

Lol Sweating like a gypsy with a mortgage. Funny stuff.

[@toddmillar4041]

Well he can't say sweating like a pedo at a Jamboree

[@Jacobtheunwise]

Tarps better if everyway just use a extra big tarp. An the breathing bit doesn't matter I've tested it an the grass will be the same about of dead as it would be with mesh

[@Jacobtheunwise]

An by far tarp is the cheapest

[@jamesbushy9031]

Um and if it rains u have a swag pool

[@Jacobtheunwise]

@@jamesbushy9031 either way you're going to have a swag pool if ya sitting in a low spot

[@jamesbushy9031]

@@Jacobtheunwise not realy were im frm mate

[@stuartkcalvin]

C-Gear is the way to go. An Australian company.

[@eroffroad5438]

At 0:23 i don't think anyone saw old mate stick his head in, just got away with that one.

[@user-qh7vh2qk4p]

Black canvas it is. Wayyy cheaper buying from fabric shops

[@stuartkcalvin]

1:10 "moist" is a now disallowable word.

[@jrm4561]

So, at Intents, you sleep in swags, not intents...?

[@4x4CampingandAdventures]

Nice

[@mikec.8556]

Your ground sheet is not supposed to extend past the dimensions of the tent smart guy

[@Alex.G]

Correct, but if you're using a mesh type one it can extend wherever you want it to.

[@steveb3791]

ummmmmm.................. you didn't include the ground mats myself & my mates use I think it's called caravan matting, ( it's a rubber matting with holes in it ) I bought mine at Clark Rubber, they have it on a big roll and you pay by the meter also at Bunnings I think, even Aldi sells a version of this stuff this stuff is better than all the rubbish you reviewed, just a bit bulkier & heavier. got to admit I haven't seen too many other campers using it give it a go!

[@Alex.G]

I had never heard of this stuff until I released this video! Only when someone else mentioned it in the comments did I look it up 🙁