The last couple years we have rented a snow trekker. With it can the blue trucker tarp that Duane sells for a floor. I found it to be waterproof but pretty slippery and as we came and went the floor had a tendency to slide around. I'm buying a new tent this year and am wondering what everyone else uses for a floor. Mostly it will be used where harvesting pine boughs is not an option.

What does everyone else use to separate the ground from you?

When we first stared camping we used a regular poly tarp and also found that to be slippery, soon after we stopped using a floor. We camp directly on the ice and have a tarp under our sleeping area but push it to the back of the tent during the day for extra room. Our last trip we camped 5 days in the same spot and only had minor melt issues. We bring in small twigs and branches and put them on the ground around the stove and entry to help with the slippery ice caused by the melt.
Our sleep setups consists of the tarp at the bottom, a blue roll-up foam pad, an exped downmat and then our bags (rated -10) and even at -30 I slept like a baby.

Like Gadfly I just use a regular blue poly tarp which I fold back so it's really just under my sleep stuff and gear pile. I don't walk on it much, and really just stand on it in my socks before or after my boots. Around the stove and under my cooler (which I sit on) is just open packed snow.

I couldn't stand the blue trucker tarp even though it was durable and waterproof-way too slippery/slide-y. I use a couple military half shelters which are made out of waterproofed canvas. Keeps me dry and doesn't slide on the snow/ice. You can find similar material sold for tarps at Menards.

tg

I use a heavy duty canvas tarp. It's not slippery.

There are lots of interesting options that I've seen over the years. One floor I saw was made of the inter locking exercise pads that are put down for kids to play on. He had two small kids and that worked out great for his circumstance.

Another camper I know lines his floor with yoga mats.

Lined most of the floor with thermacell foam lads (not stove/door area), with a canvass sheet over that. Then use my tent footprint in the sleeping area with another set of pads on top of that to sleep on.

quote awbrown: "I use a heavy duty canvas tarp. It's not slippery.


There are lots of interesting options that I've seen over the years. One floor I saw was made of the inter locking exercise pads that are put down for kids to play on. He had two small kids and that worked out great for his circumstance.


Another camper I know lines his floor with yoga mats."

If you get these get the larger ones not the 12 or 18" square ones. The larger ones are a thicker too.

I'm leaning towards a tarp or two over the sleeping area and leaving the stove/door area open. Maybe spreading some sticks/bark around for a bit of traction. Hauling in a pile of exercise mats or pads seems less than ideal but one or two might be the answer. Hopefully many upcoming years of winter camping will allow me to fine tune this issue.

quote RainGearRight: "I'm leaning towards a tarp or two over the sleeping area and leaving the stove/door area open. Maybe spreading some sticks/bark around for a bit of traction. Hauling in a pile of exercise mats or pads seems less than ideal but one or two might be the answer. Hopefully many upcoming years of winter camping will allow me to fine tune this issue."

i only tarp the sleeping area like you said. i do bring a small (actually identical to stove footprint) piece of foam to kneel on when loading the stove and to keep my tootsies dry/warm when i'm putting on or have taken off my boots. stove area can definitely get slick if you have snow/ice underfoot. traction is a good idea to keep from falling-especially next to a hot stove.

We put cheap tarp down first, then light weight yoga pads over most of the floor (comfy)...by the door few super light weight mats that have texture on bottom so don't slip and thin carpet on top ... keeps you from slipping on ice build up inside.

I use this from Drymate. It packs down to the size of the blue tarp from Snowtrekker Tents. Its about the same weight too. Doesn't slide either.
For hunting season, I use this on top of the blue tarp, and winter camping with snow on the ground, I just use the Drymate.

The material is same or similar to gun cleaning mats. Just like the Cabelas gun cleaning mat.

http://www.drymate.com/shop/hunting-outdoors/tent-mat/

I have stayed in Hot tents with nylon ripstop tarps on the floor- slippery.

500 denier nylon cordura not slick but heavier

Heavier yet Canvas tarp then 2 layers of ridgerests pads than canvas tarp comfortable and non slip.

Best was a supplex nylon base with enclosed 1/4" closed cell foam and reflectex and a ripstop top. Light but bulky and very warm.

A waterproof floor cuts down on the moisture level in the tent- as you are not releasing the moisture in the snow into the tent

I use a canvas drop cloth meant for painting. I bought it at Menard's years ago and we use it under our sleeping bags at night. No slippery poly tarp for us! During the day, we roll everything up and setup chairs (it's a large tent). The stove does not have anything under it, we've always camped on land. Here's what I'm talking about:

https://www.menards.com/main/paint/drop-cloths-plastic-sheeting/canvas-drop-cloths/trimaco-12-x-15-medium-weight-canvas-drop-cloth/p-1444445226736.htm

quote DanCooke: "I have stayed in Hot tents with nylon ripstop tarps on the floor- slippery.


500 denier nylon cordura not slick but heavier


Heavier yet Canvas tarp then 2 layers of ridgerests pads than canvas tarp comfortable and non slip.


Best was a supplex nylon base with enclosed 1/4" closed cell foam and reflectex and a ripstop top. Light but bulky and very warm.


A waterproof floor cuts down on the moisture level in the tent- as you are not releasing the moisture in the snow into the tent
"

good point about a water proof floor Dan. One of my reasons for loving a hot tent is the ability to dry out all the wet/frozen gear. Counter productive to release extra moisture in the tent.

If a guy could have some heavy duty grommets on the trucker tarp a few pieces of May or carpet for traction might be something to try.

editted...nevermind-i think i misunderstood your idea RGR. putting sometging between the snow and tarp might help