What goes under your tent?

**Ranga** · 2nd January 2013, 07:33 PM

After a few attempts at using a tarp under our JetTent, I'm less than satisfied. It protects the floor, but water and dirt still manages to get under and stay there. Hence, when packing up the tent, it still relatively dirty (but not as much as setting up directly on the ground, I 'spose).

I refuse to put our Cgear mat under there, as it's better served for walking on, and too bloody expensive to go under the tent. I thought those square camping mats with the holes in them that join together might be the go (they would add a bit of comfort also), but they're a bit too bulky.

So, I'm figuring some shade cloth might do the trick - keep the dirt off the tent, but let water drain away.

Any suggestions?

**oldyella 76** · 2nd January 2013, 08:21 PM

For years now we have had shade cloth to put under our tent. It is light and easy to shake the sand out of. Does not take much room. We have it a bit larger to cover the area near the door.
Regards Lindsay.

**Tank** · 2nd January 2013, 09:54 PM

I would go for the shade cloth, as above is light and folds up small easy to keep clean, if you get it twice the size of the base of the tent you can double it up for extra insulation, cheap as chips, Regards Frank.

**justinc** · 2nd January 2013, 10:03 PM

x3 for shade cloth. i got given an old outdoor 'sail' from someones deck, it was uv damaged but perfect for matting under a tent. it is heavier than shadecloth, a bit like trampoline material.

jc

**p38arover** · 2nd January 2013, 11:21 PM

Shade cloth - out the front as well so I don't walk dirt into the tent.

**loanrangie** · 3rd January 2013, 01:26 PM

Another one for shade cloth , we went camping Melbourne cup weekend 2011 and it ****ed rain for 2 days. I have a large piece of shade cloth that i put under the tent and sunroom which helped a lot with drainage.

**Blknight.aus** · 3rd January 2013, 01:53 PM

We use a doubled over piece of 75% shade cloth, it extends out about a meter past the normal entrance side of the tent and that works for feet wiping duties.

When you put it down we stretch ours out using the tents floor pegs on one side to anchor it and then if we think its going to be blowy before we peg the other side of the tent down we pull the shade cloth tight then peg it down inside the fold so the peg only goes through the bottom side of the fold and the top layer covers the peg.

**alittlebitconcerned** · 3rd January 2013, 05:23 PM

Our setup... First layer Austalia, second layer shade cloth, third layer tent.

**stallie** · 3rd January 2013, 07:23 PM

I bought a eyelet maker off ebay (hammer cutter, little metal jigger and 50 odd eyelets) and put in a bunch of eyelets in the corners of a large piece of shade cloth for tent pegs to hold down. All the benefits of the above. Get it bit enough (or another piece) for the vestibule too.

You can also keep it out when on the move and clip to the roofrack of the car and a tree for a lightweight shade cloth for lunch. Much cheaper than those pull out awnings....

**Landy Smurf** · 3rd January 2013, 07:40 PM

We use shade cloth too as stallie does we also use eyelets so it does not tear the shade cloth plus the it is easy to use as a sun shelter as you can tie rope through the eyelets. I would like to try the mats with holes that clip together but as you said they can get a bit bulky plus I think they are a bit expensive where as shade cloth is fairly cheap.

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