How to Protect Tent from Gravel

You would usually prefer to set up your tent somewhere flat and clear of any debris when you go camping. But there are times when you might encounter not-so-ideal conditions, such as gravelly terrain.

Gravel not only feels uncomfortable to walk or sleep on but can also cause damage to the bottom of your tent. Gravel can abrade your floor’s waterproofing and scratch or even puncture your tent floor. As such, the best way you can avoid these issues is to use a ground cover for your tent. The following are some materials that you can use as a tent groundsheet:

In this article, you will find eight materials you can use as a ground covering for protecting your tent’s base. We are confident that you will find at least one of these items helpful if you face such an issue yourself.

Materials You Can Use to Protect Your Tent from Gravel

Tent Footprint

The most common way you can protect the bottom of your tent from abrasions, punctures, or other kinds of damage is by using a tent footprint. Tent footprints don’t usually come with the tent when you purchase one. Still, they are something to consider if you plan on camping somewhere with rough terrain, including rocky, sandy, or gravelly areas.

Tent footprints are typically made of durable fabric for protection against the ground. They are also generally waterproofed to keep your tent dry. They also provide some insulation, are relatively easy to clean, lightweight, and easy to pack. The only downside to footprints is that they don’t offer much cushioning. But if you’re only concerned about protecting your tent from damage, then tent footprints will serve you well.

Foam Puzzle Mats

An excellent way you can protect your tent from gravel is by using foam puzzle mats. Puzzle mats are usually used for children to play on because they are soft and relatively thick. But these properties also make foam mats great as ground covering for your tent’s bottom.

You can place these foam pads underneath your tent to protect the floor from abrasion by gravel. A great plus with foam mats is that they also provide comfort for your feet; instead of walking on bumpy ground, you can walk on a cushioned surface.

Foam puzzle pads are also easy to assemble and disassemble because these mats are made up of interlocking tiles. And depending on your tent’s floor size, you can also add or remove tiles to increase or decrease the area covered by the mat. Puzzle mats are also lightweight, making them relatively easy to carry with you.

Heavy-Duty Polyethylene Tarp

Heavy-duty polyethylene tarps make a good substitute for tent footprints when it comes to protecting your tent from rough surfaces. Heavy-duty tarps are usually made of several layers of polyethylene sheets, making them relatively thick and highly durable.

Polyethylene tarps are also waterproof and can help keep the bottom of your tent dry. You can also use these tarps to shield your tent from wind and rain in case you don’t have a rainfly with you. Heavy-duty tarps also have reinforced perimeters to prevent tearing and ripping.

Other advantages of heavy-duty tarps include being washable, reusable, and portable.

Perforated Plastic Flooring

Another great ground cover for your tent floor is perforated plastic flooring. Perforated flooring tiles have small holes in their surface to allow water to pass through. They also have a raised base, making them excellent for use in wet areas such as bathrooms and pools.

This also means that these tiles are great for when it rains during your camping trip. The plastic pads keep your tent off the ground and don’t absorb water, keeping the bottom of your tent dry. At the same time, the tiles protect your tent from gravel and provide a comfortable surface for you as well.

A downside of perforated tiles is that they are relatively heavy. So, these tiles would be more suited for car campers than backpackers as it is easier for a vehicle to transport them.

Canvas Tarp

Canvas tarp has many properties that make it versatile and is used in various areas such as agriculture, construction, industrial, and machinery. These properties also make canvas an excellent material for protecting your tent from gravel.

For example, canvas has high resistance to tearing, so it should work well to protect the bottom of your tent from rough terrain. Canvas tarp is also made of water-resistant material while being breathable at the same time. So, you can keep your tent floor dry and prevent moisture build-up, which prevents mold or mildew growth on your tent.

Canvas tarps are also a more environmentally friendly option than heavy-duty tarps. While heavy-duty tarps are typically made of polyethylene or polypropylene, canvas tarps are made of cotton or linen duck fibers. You can also use canvas to protect your tent from the elements if you don’t have a rainfly with you.

Canvas Painting Drop Cloth

A canvas painting drop cloth is also another viable option for protecting your tent base from a gravelly surface. Canvas drop cloths are usually made of dense and thick cotton duck material, making them highly durable. Canvas cloths are also typically reinforced at the seams with double stitching, so they can last for a relatively long time.

Since painters usually use canvas drop cloths, the material is made to be highly absorbent, so it catches and traps paint drops. This property of drop cloths could potentially be a problem when you’re out camping, and it suddenly rains. While a light shower should pose no problem, heavier rains could result in the canvas absorbing a lot of water and make your tent floor feel damp. But there are canvas clothes that come with a rubberized backing that can prevent water from seeping through.

An advantage of canvas painting drop cloths is that they are easy to wash and even machine-washable, making them easily reusable.

Outdoor Carpet or Rug

Outdoor carpets or rugs are excellent for camping as you can use them to cover the ground your tent will be on. Outdoor mats are relatively thick, and unlike regular carpets, are lighter and easier to clean. You won’t have to worry about gravel or debris from scratching or scuffing the underside of your tent floor.

Camping carpets are also soft and can provide a comfortable surface for you to walk or even sleep on. And although you will be placing the rug underneath your tent, it can still provide you with some level of insulation.

The only downside with carpets is they might absorb water when it rains while you’re camping and could cause the bottom of your tent to feel damp.

Sponge Foam Rubber

If you want to avoid any risk of your tent being damaged by gravel, then sponge foam rubber is just the material for you. Foam rubber is soft but stiff and is highly durable as well.

Sponge foam also comes in varying thicknesses, so you should go with the thickest you can find to put more distance between your tent and the ground. With this kind of material, you could even protect your tent from some level of puncturing.

Sponge foam rubber also provides you with excellent cushioning, so you can walk over and sleep on it with a high level of comfort. Foam rubber also has high resiliency, returning to its original shape even after long-term use. You can use foam rubber for a long time.

The only downside to sponge foam rubber is that you won’t be able to pack it if you’re a backpacker. As such, this material is more suited for a car camper since a vehicle can carry it to a campsite much more easily.

Conclusion

There are a lot of different materials you can use to protect your tent floor from debris and rough terrain. Of course, such items will add more weight to your pack, and, depending on the material, you might even need a vehicle to transport them. Still, the extra weight is worth bringing with you if it means getting your tent to last for a much longer time.