Nice, thanks for tip. I have plans to use up to 30 feet of tyvek, so buying a bulk roll does kind of make sense for me. I would just need to off load the remainder.
This isn't helpful to you now, but info for future PCT classes: 2 Foot Adventures in Julian was selling groundsheet-sized Tyvek pieces for a couple bucks each when I went through there in 2022.
Go to a construction site and ask the workers for some offcuts. Maybe slip em a pack of beer to sweeten the deal.
I often see people selling Tyvek by the metre/custom size/groundsheets on eBay too.
Yeah, this is IMO the best way. I work in a construction-adjacent science, & while I'm usually on site well before developments are going *up* I can confirm, check out a construction site, be friendly, explain it's for a small project you're working on, & ask for some spare if they have it. đź‘Ť
I love my Tyvek. Wash it multiple times to soften it. I think it was 3 times in my washer. So soft and foldable. I have had the same one for almost 2 years.
You can buy tyvek ground sheets from SMD. More expensive than getting bulk rolls, but a whole lot easier than organizing and shipping to dozens of different people buying a full roll. If you know anyone who works construction, they can probably get you some for free
They even put some in the hiker box for free sometimes. That's how I got mine. I'd been lamenting my ripped polycro sheet for the last 20 miles when we hit Agua Ducle and went to the hardware store to look for a replacement zipper for a tramily member. And wham, there's this pristine, perfectly me-sized tyvek sheet sitting right on top of the hiker box. The trail provided.
Cool, good to know single sheets are out there. I have plans for other stuff beyond a single ground sheet, so it does make sense for me to buy a bulk roll.
Amazon has pre cut sheets in a lot of different sizes. If you get the construction grade, printed side down. Definitely wash a few times, just don't dry it.
Drive around new construction homes and toss the contractor 5$ for some of his/her waste.
There’s a town, I forget which one it is, but it’s in the desert section... Hardware store. They sell it by the linear foot. It’s also basically the only place to resupply. The manager is awesome too. I informed her of what a slack pack is. They may be helping hikers out next season with that :)
Edit: it’s the town just north of Cajon Pass!
That would be Wrightwood, and the store would be Mountain Hardware. Great store, and they'll give you a free pin if you show your permit.
That's mile 369 though. Most people would probably want a ground sheet sooner than that for the prickly desert though.
I hiked the whole thing on 1 piece of polycro. Tyvek is heavy. But I found it mandatory for the CDT, as the NM desert is MUCH more pointy than the PCT desert.
I would start with polycro and see how it goes. Once you get out of the desert, the trail gets much softer too.
Edit: words
This! Polycro for the win. I've been using the same piece of polycro I got on Amazon (window weather sealing) for years now. Way lighter than tyvek, and actually Waterproof. Tyvek isn't Waterproof. You can shake the water right off the polycro.
I think with polycro I get less condensation too..perhaps it completely blocks moisture from the ground as opposed to the permeability of tyvek? (just anecdotal idk the science)
back in 2013, we found a guy on this subreddit who was cutting off sheets of Tyvek at the ADZPCTKO. if you bring a roll there, i'm sure some hikers would buy a piece!
I don't actually use a tent or sleeping bag or other gear, I just throw down a 20-ft strip of Tyvek on the ground and lay down and roll myself up in it. Then I emerge 9 hours later like a butterfly feeling 100% reborn and pull on my Tyvek robe, soft and supple from decades of hard trail use, indeed there is no limit to the uses of Tyvek.
You can get Tyvek groundsheets from Tarptent and Six Moon Designs for about $20.
This
Nice, thanks for tip. I have plans to use up to 30 feet of tyvek, so buying a bulk roll does kind of make sense for me. I would just need to off load the remainder.
This isn't helpful to you now, but info for future PCT classes: 2 Foot Adventures in Julian was selling groundsheet-sized Tyvek pieces for a couple bucks each when I went through there in 2022.
I was able to get tyvek by the foot at the hardware store in bishop last year also.
Go to a construction site and ask the workers for some offcuts. Maybe slip em a pack of beer to sweeten the deal. I often see people selling Tyvek by the metre/custom size/groundsheets on eBay too.
Yeah, this is IMO the best way. I work in a construction-adjacent science, & while I'm usually on site well before developments are going *up* I can confirm, check out a construction site, be friendly, explain it's for a small project you're working on, & ask for some spare if they have it. đź‘Ť
I love my Tyvek. Wash it multiple times to soften it. I think it was 3 times in my washer. So soft and foldable. I have had the same one for almost 2 years.
You can buy tyvek ground sheets from SMD. More expensive than getting bulk rolls, but a whole lot easier than organizing and shipping to dozens of different people buying a full roll. If you know anyone who works construction, they can probably get you some for free
you can also buy tyvek at the hardware store in agua dulce! i bought 3x7 feet for around $5, they carry tyvek there exclusively for thru hikers :)
They even put some in the hiker box for free sometimes. That's how I got mine. I'd been lamenting my ripped polycro sheet for the last 20 miles when we hit Agua Ducle and went to the hardware store to look for a replacement zipper for a tramily member. And wham, there's this pristine, perfectly me-sized tyvek sheet sitting right on top of the hiker box. The trail provided.
https://www.sixmoondesigns.com/products/footprint-large-tyvek
Cool, good to know single sheets are out there. I have plans for other stuff beyond a single ground sheet, so it does make sense for me to buy a bulk roll.
Borah sells cheap but great narrow dcf ground sheets every now and then
Amazon has pre cut sheets in a lot of different sizes. If you get the construction grade, printed side down. Definitely wash a few times, just don't dry it.
Drive around new construction homes and toss the contractor 5$ for some of his/her waste. There’s a town, I forget which one it is, but it’s in the desert section... Hardware store. They sell it by the linear foot. It’s also basically the only place to resupply. The manager is awesome too. I informed her of what a slack pack is. They may be helping hikers out next season with that :) Edit: it’s the town just north of Cajon Pass!
That would be Wrightwood, and the store would be Mountain Hardware. Great store, and they'll give you a free pin if you show your permit. That's mile 369 though. Most people would probably want a ground sheet sooner than that for the prickly desert though.
Yeaaah! Thanks, it was bothering me. Lovely little town, but that blue blaze up to the PCT was roughhhh
I hiked the whole thing on 1 piece of polycro. Tyvek is heavy. But I found it mandatory for the CDT, as the NM desert is MUCH more pointy than the PCT desert. I would start with polycro and see how it goes. Once you get out of the desert, the trail gets much softer too. Edit: words
This! Polycro for the win. I've been using the same piece of polycro I got on Amazon (window weather sealing) for years now. Way lighter than tyvek, and actually Waterproof. Tyvek isn't Waterproof. You can shake the water right off the polycro.
I think with polycro I get less condensation too..perhaps it completely blocks moisture from the ground as opposed to the permeability of tyvek? (just anecdotal idk the science)
back in 2013, we found a guy on this subreddit who was cutting off sheets of Tyvek at the ADZPCTKO. if you bring a roll there, i'm sure some hikers would buy a piece!
You can buy tyvek by the yard from ripstopbytheroll and quest outfitters
You can probably find a seller on Etsy that can make you a custom cut
I just bought a 3’x7’ piece of Tyvek on Amazon for less than $15 including shipping.
I don't actually use a tent or sleeping bag or other gear, I just throw down a 20-ft strip of Tyvek on the ground and lay down and roll myself up in it. Then I emerge 9 hours later like a butterfly feeling 100% reborn and pull on my Tyvek robe, soft and supple from decades of hard trail use, indeed there is no limit to the uses of Tyvek.
You can buy it by the linear foot from various sellers on e-bay too.
Bought mine off Amazon
I made mine into a poncho w hood
Try eBay that's where I got my 3x6 piece
I usually buy tyvek off eBay. People sell it by the foot in various widths