Tent Ground Tarp - canvas or polyethylene?

[Scott B.]

I recently purchased a Kodiak Canvas tent, and am getting ready to use it.

Even though it has a fairly heavy bottom and probably does not need one, I would like to use a ground tarp - to protect the tent from sharp edges, keep the mud off of it, etc.

Kodiak makes a poly tarp and Springbar makes a canvas one (which is heavier than the poly.)

I have always used poly with my lightweight nylon tent.

Is there an advantage to the heavier canvas tarp, or is a poly one sufficient? (I realize a blue tarp is an option, too, but they don't quite fit the footprint of the tent.)

Thanks.

[Honu]

I got a 10x14 kodiak recently
I am going to get the canvas one from springbar want to use it inside for my dogs nails though

another option is shade cloth you can get it in any size pretty much also its cheap and tough shakes off easy and still provides puncture protection and its silent

I dont like poly below me cause it can have a crunchy noise sometimes

[barlowrs]

I have not used anything with my Kodiak and it has stood up just fine. Though its probably not a bad idea to use something, as stated above, the canvas would probably be my choice for noise. (Love the tent btw, just make sure you pack a few good hammers for stake driving abilities).

[dirty Bakers]

We use a poly tarp under and painter drop clothe inside.

[Honu]

never thought of a painters drop cloth for inside is it thick enough to lay flat ? or does it catch at all when walking ?

might have to look into that

[loren85022]

We use a poly under an awning. Best feature is the cleanup. We toss it on a wrought iron fence and water blast - clean as new!

[Scott B.]

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

I decided to get the poly tarp from Kodiak. A few dollars more than a "blue tarp", but it is sized to the tent and has stake loops in each corner - which I think are a good idea. (We shall see!)

I did speak with Kodiak's customer service, and he said you don't really need a ground tarp with this style tent. As I mentioned, I would rather use one.

Anxiously awaiting my first night in the tent (12 days to go!)

[Honu]

cool would love to hear your thoughts when you get it ? is it crunchy under etc..

[maxingout]

We always used a blue tarp under our tents in Saudi Arabia because of the scorpions.

When we put a canvas tarp under our tent, we almost always had one or two scorpions hanging on to the canvas and had to shake them off when we folded the canvas.

The blue tarp never had scorpions underneath it. Apparently the smooth blue plastic tarps are slick enough that there is nothing for the scorpions to grab on to, and so they never stuck around under the tarp. We used the blue tarp to have scorpion free tent camping.

I wonder what the experience is with people in the American southwest. Do people find scorpions under their plastic blue tarps?

[Honu]

I hate scorpions
interesting about the plastic ? I have seen them around camp not under the tent area yet ?