Awesome! Have fun on your next trek!

I used a Polycryo sheet on the JMT (purchased from a gear manufacturer, so the proper stuff). It was often windy setting up camp, and handling the thin plastic was a pain. I put smallish stones on the corners to hold it down. Sometimes when adjusting the sheet it would tear, and I soon ended up with multiple smaller sheets of Polycryo. I then went to Tyvek, more weight but so much easier to use

Apart from protection from sharpies under my air mat, the ground cloth keeps the mud off my dcf tent floor, keeping it clean for packing. With clear plastic it is very hard to tell which is the dirty side. No such problem with white Tyvek! Just fold it in half, dirt to dirt.

Now I’m retired with a few $$$ spare, I might try the lighter dcf solution.

A 1/8” foam mat is also about the same weight as Tyvek, but bulky to pack.

Thanks for keeping this discussion going!

DCF is suspect in the long haul for longevity fwiw.

Peter + Don: I ask this out of sheer curiosity. Is there any real point to go cuben fiber/dyneema over polycro? This is a novice speaking, but it seems like they serve almost the same exact purpose (works well as ground cloth or tarp) but the latter is far, far cheeper. Even though cuben fiber has good tear strength it is very susceptible to abrasion. So, it seems (purely from an outside perspective) an unnecessary expense esp if it won’t last. I don’t have the inside perspective of using it and especially of using it for extended use/miles. So, I’m glad to hear feedback from those who have put heavy use. For me, it seems that polycro does the same thing for a tiny fraction of the cost, and when it’s life is lived it’s not a big deal at all to replace.

Neither is procreating, eating meat, driving by yourself, wearing clothes made with petrochemicals, or commuting to work. Choose your poisons carefully. 🙂

Using a wash machine may not be good for the environment.

Sounds good in theory esp for winter. Give it a whirl!

I was thinking of using a fine coating of spray adhesive to hold the layers together and then tape or melt the edges.