Rant: I heard a group of hikers at REI saying 'you don't need a footprint under your tent' and I almost lost it

I was browsing the clearance section at the REI in Denver last Saturday and overheard these three guys telling a new camper that tent footprints are a scam for saving money. I mean, maybe it's just me but I spent $35 on a generic footprint for my tent and it saved my floor from a sharp rock on my second trip out near Estes Park. That guy's advice would have shredded a $200 tent floor over a cheap piece of Tyvek. Has anyone else had to bite their tongue listening to bad gear advice from know-it-alls in the store?

2 comments

2 Comments

nathanbennett17d ago

I once saw a guy at a campsite try to start a fire with a shoe lace.

lisa83917d ago

Hold on, did he actually think shoelaces are made of fire-starting material? That reminds me of a buddy who swore he could light a wet newspaper with a magnifying glass and a piece of string. Spoiler alert: he just ended up with a soggy mess and a burnt string. We spent the next hour trying to dry out his phone after he dropped it in a puddle chasing a squirrel. Camping logic is weird man, people get desperate and creative at the same time.