View Full Version : tent groundsheet - Issue 58 ponchos or alternative
I want to get a new groundsheet for a family sized tent, something wateproof (obviously) but also something that isn't a hard plastic crackly and stiff material.
Part of the inside is always left as open ground for wet clobber, cooking etc, and I did wonder about three issue 58 ponchos (which are relatively cheap) might make up a reasonable floor covering, possibly even with the liners to make a warm comfy floor covering.
Rolling out the three ponchos would also be a lot easier to manage that one large stiff sheet, like it is now. Especially as I only use half of it.
Is this a daft idea, is the poncho material not really waterproof when you are standing on it.
Any better suggestions for groundsheet material.
Thanks,
Graham
Shambling Shaman
30-06-2008, 10:32
I used some damp proof stuff that I got for my laminate floor
I used some damp proof stuff that I got for my laminate floor
Interesting, I shall see if I can have a look at that.
Graham
rancid badger
30-06-2008, 11:03
I want to get a new groundsheet for a family sized tent, something wateproof (obviously) but also something that isn't a hard plastic crackly and stiff material.
Part of the inside is always left as open ground for wet clobber, cooking etc, and I did wonder about three issue 58 ponchos (which are relatively cheap) might make up a reasonable floor covering, possibly even with the liners to make a warm comfy floor covering.
Rolling out the three ponchos would also be a lot easier to manage that one large stiff sheet, like it is now. Especially as I only use half of it.
Is this a daft idea, is the poncho material not really waterproof when you are standing on it.
Any better suggestions for groundsheet material.
Thanks,
Graham
Hello there graham,
I wouldn't go with 58 Patt poncho's myself, for a start; you've got the hood to think about. It will have to go somewhere; either above or beneath the poncho itself. In either case, it will present a lumpy surface.
Given some of the conflicting opinions on the piece of kit I would probably use, I'm almost loathe to suggest it but here goes:
I.P.K. (individual protection kit) sheets are a good size, pretty much waterproof, VERY cheap, come with a set of extremely useful, hollow alloy pegs and a long length of terylene cord which has a myriad of uses.
There are, as I say, conflicting opinions as to how safe these are, because someone suggested that they were impregnated with lead. I have used these sheets for their original design purpose ( shelter trench, roof covers) as well as for a dozen or two other applications. There are no warnings printed on the packaging of these things relating to lead, neither can I find anyone from the Royal Engineers (from Lt.Col., down over!) who has heard anything about lead content in I.P.K.'s
I wouldn't eat food or drink water, that had been in contact with the sheet but neither would I if it had been in contact with a poncho or ordinary tent ground sheet!:yuck:
To be honest though; I'd stick with a plastic tarpaulin, unless you use some sort of padding material, anything you use will be both cold and as hard as the ground you are camped on.
that's my £8.40's worth ( inflation-terrible thing!) I'm sure someone will be along with a better alternative or telling us you'd be better off melting them down for fishing weights (because of the amount of lead in them)
R.B.
Hello there graham,
I wouldn't go with 58 Patt poncho's myself, for a start; you've got the hood to think about.
I.P.K. (individual protection kit) sheets are a good size, pretty much waterproof, VERY cheap, come with a set of extremely useful, hollow alloy pegs and a long length of terylene cord which has a myriad of uses.
To be honest though; I'd stick with a plastic tarpaulin, unless you use some sort of padding material, anything you use will be both cold and as hard as the ground you are camped on.R.B.
Well, I was going to cut the hoods off and sew up the material, at £7.50 they seemed a reasonable but, but IPKs (which I had never heard of) seem to be available for as little as £5.00 so maybe this would be the way to go.
The cold and and hard ground isn't the issue, its the physical feel and noise of the plastic tarpauliny stuff I can't stand, plus it covers the whole floor space, so I fold some of up and end up have to manipulate about twice as much material as I actually need.
I shall certainly consider the IPK option.
Thanks,
Graham
rancid badger
30-06-2008, 11:28
Well, I was going to cut the hoods off and sew up the material, at £7.50 they seemed a reasonable but, but IPKs (which I had never heard of) seem to be available for as little as £5.00 so maybe this would be the way to go.
The cold and and hard ground isn't the issue, its the physical feel and noise of the plastic tarpauliny stuff I can't stand, plus it covers the whole floor space, so I fold some of up and end up have to manipulate about twice as much material as I actually need.
I shall certainly consider the IPK option.
Thanks,
Graham
You can get them cheaper than that I'm sure, although thinking about postage, it will boost the price a bit. Shop around Graham!
cheers
R.B.
You can get them cheaper than that I'm sure, although thinking about postage, it will boost the price a bit. Shop around Graham!
cheers
R.B.
I've already found them at £3.00, that is an amazingly small amount of money for this.
Thanks,
Graham
rancid badger
30-06-2008, 14:15
I've already found them at £3.00, that is an amazingly small amount of money for this.
Thanks,
Graham
Do you mind me asking where this was? I think I might be in the market for some replacements myself!
cheers:D
R.B.
Do you mind me asking where this was? I think I might be in the market for some replacements myself!
cheers:D
R.B.
http://www.genuinearmysurplus.co.uk/pages/products/detail/rowid=28
Graham
Just to say that I have now ordered three IPKs, even if they aren't exactly what I want, at under £15.00 inc P&P with the pegs and cord that I can use for other things, it seemed a risk worth taking.
None the less I'm still interested in other ideas that I should be considering should this prove to be the wrong choice for me.
Graham
Where'd you find ponchos for £7-50?
Where'd you find ponchos for £7-50?
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=123&products_id=840
Graham
IPK is the way ahead. I think without going overly technical, you have the best thing and they are light and pack up small, yet are very robust. I've looked through my Combat Engineering best book and cannot find any information on lead coating of IPKs. They are meant to be covered in top soil anyway to create overhead protection from flying shrapnel, bullets and rogue land rovers driving over the top!
They are meant to be covered in top soil anyway to create overhead protection from flying shrapnel, bullets and rogue land rovers driving over the top!
Thanks, good to know, however, I think if I have to deal with the above, I will be complaining to the camp site owner.
Graham
http://www.endicotts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=123&products_id=840
Graham
Thanks matey...I think- spending in Endicotts always costs me a lot more then I wanted to spend!:lmao:
Thanks matey...I think- spending in Endicotts always costs me a lot more then I wanted to spend!:lmao:
Well if it helps, they aren't doing mail order at the moment. Not starting again until Thursday, but with a large back log to clear.
As I discovered today, when trying to order some stuff for my holidays next week :-(
Graham