Hi again

Has anyone had any success getting hold of the Gossamear Gear Large Polycryo ground sheet in the UK or equivalent? Thought I had sourced it on eBay but it didn't turn out to be quite what I was expecting....!

Thanks
Vicky

A good alternative, which works well, is Wickes secondary glazing film. Surprisingly tough and costs just a few £.

As Gordon says , the Wickes stuff. It's Polycryo.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Seasonal-Secondary-Glazing-Film-6m2/p/210014

I've read about polycro but I haven't used it and still don't get what it is. I assume it is simply a lightweight but tough plastic sheet? Any other uses for it, other than secondary glazing? Could it be fashioned into a bothy bag??

I used a foil space blanket under the tent for several years on the Challenge. Weighs nothing, small volume, surprisingly durable but can crackle a bit at the edges when the wind picks up.
They are easy to source from most outdoor shops if you run out of other options.

If you want a silent emergency blanket, then the Adventure Medical Kit ones are very good and quite tough. http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/first-aid-emergency-c5/emergency-rescue-c6/survive-outdoors-longer-emergency-blanket-p14

I've been using a cut down one for a groundsheet protector for a few years

As mentioned by Gordon, and available at Wickes and Homebase. Stormguard draught excluder, secondary glazing film. 6sqm piece that is 4'11" by 13'0". Just bought some today from Homebase in Berwick upon Tweed - £8.99.

Ahh what a small world Brian, I was in that very same store in Berwick on Wednesday afternoon buying that exact same item.

The Wickes stuff is good for a trip or 3.
Al used it in the TS last couple of Challenges.
Yeah, OK, maybe not the same stuff.

If you want something a tad heavier and more robust, have a look Bob's site and the TYVEK double Groundsheet.

Tyvek Double Groundsheet £17.99

They also do a single and an XL double.

Bit more robust than the Wickes stuff, BUT a bit more expensive.

Not sure how available it is in the UK, but Stateside I use straight Tyvek, the same stuff we use to wrap houses in during construction. A bit heavier than most other options, but i only need a small bit as a groundsheet.

It may not be the most lightweight option, but I have yet to have an issue with it.

The Wickes Window Film is Polycryo and makes a splendid porch groundsheet for Trinnie Trailstar. Thanks for reminding me, Andy. I have just made another (after shredding my first on last year's Challenge in a frenzy of Hiking Boot madness trying to flick away an invading army of slugs... It's not tough enough to repel flailing hiking boots...

One packet from Wickes is enough to make two porch groundsheets for Trinnie (for about a fiver, from memory). You need to be a trigonometric titan to work out the corner angles & side lengths if you want a bit of a gap all around...

For a small consideration I can divulge the maths and method of production. A beer in Montrose should suffice!

Groundsheet? I have yet to use one on the challenge although always do in the US. In Scotland, I haven't come across rock strewn or pinecone-laden pitches so don't feel the need for the extra protection. But I also don't use a tarp (using a double walled tent instead) and I bring my pack into my tent at night. That's why I love the challenge, everybody does their own thing and we all seem to get there in the end!

Poundland - small groundsheet with peggable corners...I only meant to use it for one trip but still going strong 3 years later...

Hi all,
My Duomid porch groundsheet is garden rubble bag. Very cheap, several to a roll, already a near perfect size (when opened out) and mine is a very fetching blue colour. Pity I couldn't buy a blue Duomid to match.

Thanks all for the suggestions - some great ideas. We've gone for cutting up a double emergency bag as suggested by Robin as it allowed us to have one piece that covered most of the tent footprint rather than two separate pieces for a similar weight as the Polycryo.

It's not an essential bit of kit for us as the inner base is robust but I guess it's our one luxury to create a bit more warmth and maximises the use of our porches. :)