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| | Groundsheets
A
groundsheet is one of a backpacker's most useful items, one which can contribute
considerably towards his / her comfort, and yet one which is probably the most
overlooked of all items. A groundsheet should have the following properties:
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It
should be waterproof so that it prevents dampness from getting through to
your mattress, sleeping bag and other equipment that you lay out on top of
it. It can also be used to cover your backpack if you go out on a day walk,
thus protecting it from rain, crows, and - to a lesser extent - baboons and
field mice. You can also use it to sit on in wet weather when taking a rest.
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It
should be large enough to accommodate your mattress and your backpack. This
will allow you to sleep next to all your equipment so everything is close at
hand and out of the dirt. Alternatively, if your cave has lots of drips or
is very exposed to the weather, you can pull one half over yourself to
provide some extra shelter for yourself.
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It
should have eyelets in the corners. When pitching a tent, the groundsheet
can then be held in position underneath the inner of the tent using ordinary
tent pegs. The eyelets, along with short lengths of nylon rope, will also
allow the groundsheet to be used as a roof or bivouac.
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It
should be light enough that its advantages far outweigh its weight!
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It
should not become statically charged, otherwise you will end up carrying
everything that clings to it!
Finding
a groundsheet, or the material to make one, that fits the above description, is
quite difficult. A popular choice is to simply use an army-issue poncho,
although these are usually smaller than the most desirable size.
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