Serious question, my $12 tarp outlasted the $90 tent footprint, so why do I keep buying the expensive one?

Ivan Rodriguez · 2026-10-18T09:55:03.741884+00:00

Two summers ago I grabbed a cheap blue tarp at a hardware store in Fresno for a rainy trip near Shaver Lake. It went under the tent, took all the rocks and mud, and it's still in my truck. The $90 footprint I bought the year before got a hole in one trip. Last month I set both up in the yard to compare and the tarp did the same job for a fraction of the cost. Am I missing something about why footprints cost so much, or are we all just paying for the logo and a stuff sack?

Free To Speak

Loading…

Serious question, my $12 tarp outlasted the $90 tent footprint, so why do I keep buying the expensive one? | Camping Gear Reviews - Free To Speak