For those that use these how durable is this material? How many uses do you get out of one? Would I be able to pick up a similar material at Home Depot?

I purchased my two-pack of GG polycro ground cloth in November 2009 and still have them. They've seen pretty regular use.

The material will tear if you set up directly on sharp rocks, but even after that it is still somewhat usable.

Jim:

I used to use el cheapo 0.2 mm painters cloth (very thin plastic sheeting) for groundsheet. Thanks to Tom Kirchner, I've since "graduated" to GG polycro. I like the latter for being even lighter and more compact than painters cloth -- and yet more durable! They won't last forever, but you can certainly reuse them multiple times. Well worth a try.

Forgot to mention... I keep reading that GG polycro "is the same stuff" as UV protector sheeting sold at most all hardware stores. But I've never been able to confirm that. Even after asking multiple times, no one has ever given me a link to a specific store webpage. Maybe this time??

Anyway, the two confirmed sources for polycro are Gossamer Gear and Mountain Laurel Designs.

Same experience as Evan...

I used it over top of snow where it was a bit slippery but not a huge deal. Once I tried tyvek I never used polycro again though :)

How much did the painter's cloth weigh? You have any extra polycro you'd be willing to sell? I was going to add the polycro sheets to my order (also ordering a 1/8" thinlight), but it made the shipping charge jump from $8 to $17. Ridiculous for shipping two items that weigh less than 1/2 lbs.

Added: Looks like I'll have to hit up MLD for it.


Steve, where do you get your tyvek from? I bought some a year or two ago but can't remember where I got it.

Edited by catalyst81 on 01/15/2011 12:20:41 MST.

Jeff:

Call either GG or MLD and ask for cheaper shipping. Their website algorithms don't do well for tiny orders -- but the folks are pleasant to deal with and flexible.

The painters cloth for my two-person tent came to about 3 oz. The equivalent in polycryo is about 2 oz. Not a huge difference simply because we are comparing two very light weight alternatives -- but as mentioned, I like the polycryo's because they also fold up more compactly and are more durable.

Just noticed that I've been spelling the name wrong: they're polycryo sheets :)

Edited by ben2world on 01/15/2011 12:30:59 MST.

Once I figured out how to open it up (that last fold is a real beyotch) I learned to love this lightweight and surprisingly durable groundsheet. Wish I could fold it half as compact as it starts out.

The trick is to wet fingers and squeeze a corner between thumb and forefinger and rub back and forth until it separates.

I used to use tyvek but have been using a polycro groundsheet for the past 3-4 months with maybe 12-15 nights on it and it looks good as new. It is definitely more durable than you think it would be.

You can find the same thing at home depot as a heat shrink film used for windows.

Jeff,
BPL member Thom Darrah hooked me up. He's a good guy (thanks again Thom)! You might try to PM him and see if he has any extra or knows a good place to source it. I think he made some tyvek bivies awhile back as well.

I looked into this last year and found more than a few people comparing GG's sheets to the film used to weatherize leaky windows -a type of heat shrinkable film. I ended up ordering a package from Amazon with free shipping once combined with other items which yielded two sheets large enough for out two tents-Alps Zephyr 2 and Coleman Cobra. Very light, puncture resistant, durable.

The polycryo sheets should last quite a while if you'll just take a bit of extra time to clear your campsite of small pointy things before setting up. I don't really use mine anymore but they worked out well for the year or so that I did. Nowadays I just lay my bivy out with similar care. I never even unfolded the second GG cloth.

I also know someone who went Tyvek after using the poly sheets and hasn't looked back. Ultimately it's personal preference.

I have used both the window covers and GG polycro. Can't say for certain, but the material looks the same, weights approx the same thing when the same size, and seems to be similar in durability. Love them. Durability is good. My first sheet had around 60 nights before it was noticeably worn, but still serviceable. It hasn't been retired yet, though I normally use a slightly wider one so it's not gotten a lot more use. This is compared to me destroying emergency blankets in a couple of nights, and less than a week destroying the lightest painters drop I found / tried (I think they were 1mm, though they might have been 2mm).

Tyvek is nice. I think more durable that polycro and more breathable, so there is less chance that it will be soaked on the bottom in the morning. On the other hand, Tyvek is heavier, much more bulky, and not as waterproof. for me it's polycro all the way, but I understand why some people really like Tyvek.

--mark

Edited by verber on 01/15/2011 13:44:11 MST.

Polycro sheets still seems like the most affordable, long term solution next to buying a roll of painters cloth and cutting them as needed. I've always used 1-2mm painters cloth cut down to just wider than pad size. Depending on the trip location or how judicious I am in clearing the ground, they withstand a few bag nights before springing pinholes.

I've checked out the Z-Packs cuben ground sheets but couldn't believe the cost, it was then that I fully realized the expense of cuben. To their credit they do add a bathtub edge so it's more than a straight cut.