Bushwalk Australia

Is 1200mm PU coating on a tent floor sufficient for Tassie conditions?

If you're careful where you put the tent and use Tyvek as an underlay, you can get away with any waterproof barrier within reason.
With the nallo2 (forgot the base thickness but you can look it up), we use Tyvek then tent then a space blanket inside the tent, shiny side up. It's surprising how much body heat reflects up off the space blanket when it's cold.
And thermorests of course.

how many degrees would you guess the space blanket adds on an average night? (As if there was such a thing...)

I don't know, because I always use it. So I don't know the difference. I was surprised that I could actually feel reflected body heat when sitting in the tent.
They are a bit heavy though. But they also act as an ext4ra barrier in the tent - if there was condensation it would run down the walls and likely under the space blanket - an extra level of protection.
And of course it is in out pack so we can use it as a tarp as we did at Louisa River, or use it as a picnic rug for lunch on the side of a track as has been done, etc.

e use Tyvek then tent then a space blanket inside the tent, shiny side up. It's surprising how much body heat reflects up off the space blanket when it's cold.

Great idea Adam! Totally off topic but I wonder why no tent manufacturer makes a thermoreflective tent. It could work wonders for not only keeping a tent warmer, but also cooler in summer if designed properly.

The Thermarest Neo-air sleeping pad has a reflective layer in it, so at least someone is paying attention.

Making a tent with reflective foil layer (RFL) is an interesting idea. I wonder why no-one has tried it.

photohiker wrote:The Thermarest Neo-air sleeping pad has a reflective layer in it, so at least someone is paying attention.

Making a tent with reflective foil layer (RFL) is an interesting idea. I wonder why no-one has tried it.

It would be very noisy.

It wouldn't need to be like a noisy space blanket, just a proper reflective coating on the inside of the fly would keep warmth in.

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photohiker wrote:Making a tent with reflective foil layer (RFL) is an interesting idea. I wonder why no-one has tried it.

Like this?

It was displayed at an outdoor show in the US recently. It's the only time I've seen a tent with a reflective layer.

I must try Adam's trick with a space blanket on the floor of the tent and see if it makes a noticeable difference.

That looks a tad hard core for me - but it's on the right track!

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Interesting.

The US WildFire fire-fighters are issued with a personal refuge shelter that includes a RFL

FWIW the RFL does not need to be facing outside - it's just as effective if it faces inside, so you don't need to have a tent that looks like it was stolen from NASA.

Any tent with a RFL would be dark inside, so you could sleep in

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Lol - yes I have a yellow tent, they are great for making you think it's a really nice day until you stick your head out!

The RFL needs to face whatever you are trying to block. So to keep the heat in it is better to face in, not out. That's my understanding anyway.

sthughes wrote:The RFL needs to face whatever you are trying to block. So to keep the heat in it is better to face in, not out. That's my understanding anyway.

Sorry sthughes, but that is a misconception. The RFL reflects yes, but it works just as well (within a percent or two) when the reflective surface faces the other way. This is because highly reflective surfaces have very low emissivity. If you think about it, the Sisalation on our houses is all applied shiny side in these days for a couple of reasons: 1) the OHS people didn't like the UV exposure on the installers, 2) dust buildup under tiles etc on top of the RFL reduces its reflective qualities and therefore the effectiveness of the RFL. Turn it over and the dust problem goes away.

alliecat wrote:

photohiker wrote:Making a tent with reflective foil layer (RFL) is an interesting idea. I wonder why no-one has tried it.

Like this?

It was displayed at an outdoor show in the US recently. It's the only time I've seen a tent with a reflective layer.

I must try Adam's trick with a space blanket on the floor of the tent and see if it makes a noticeable difference.

Two person tent for Minime!

photohiker wrote:

sthughes wrote:The RFL needs to face whatever you are trying to block. So to keep the heat in it is better to face in, not out. That's my understanding anyway.

Sorry sthughes, but that is a misconception. The RFL reflects yes, but it works just as well (within a percent or two) when the reflective surface faces the other way. This is because highly reflective surfaces have very low emissivity. If you think about it, the Sisalation on our houses is all applied shiny side in these days for a couple of reasons: 1) the OHS people didn't like the UV exposure on the installers, 2) dust buildup under tiles etc on top of the RFL reduces its reflective qualities and therefore the effectiveness of the RFL. Turn it over and the dust problem goes away.

Ahh I c - cool. I do believe I knew that deep deep down somewhere in my brain's archives

Another reason for the Sisilation thing is because any RFL relies heavily on the film of air over it. Hence if you put it on face out then put put claddding, tiles etc hard up to it you are screwing up the whole concept.

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Oh oh yes - the topic - now lets see..

Ah 1200mm rated floor. I have a tent with a 3000mm floor and always been lucky/careful to not pitch anywhere too wet, so couldn't really say. Second tent (Microlight) with 5000mm (I think) floor - don't think twice about it, I could pitch it in a pool of acid I reckon. So to answer the question - no idea.
Edit - actually the Microlight has a 10,000mm floor. I'm wrong again

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