Tent carpet - alternatives?

[Squidsister]

Hi wondering what others use for tent carpets? We currently have proper tent carpets that I bought a number of years ago for our previous tent. They have been great but:

1. don’t fit our new tent so I have to fold edges over
   
2. we only go camping in summer so not really cold at night
   
3. they are so bulky and take up too much room in the car!
   
   Our car is so jam-packed I am looking carefully at our camping kit and trying to decide what is essential, and what I can reduce the size of. I also would like to spend less time setting up / packing away (and more time relaxing and drinking gin).
   I think that carpets in the bedrooms are probably not necessary as it’s never been that cold when we go (August in south of England) - and the kids are older now so I am not so worried about them at night.
   
   For the main living area I would like something underfoot as I hate the feel of plastic under my feet, but would like something that folds up smaller than my current tent carpet (and looks nicer!) but is not slippy....
   What do you all use?
   Thanks!

[MerryGrinchmas1]

We use a big fold up picnic blanket. Doesn't take up too much room and can take it on outings with us too

[Polkasquare]

A rag rug

[2Kidsinatrenchcoat]

A big old wool blanket

[Doyoumind]

I also use one of the picnic blankets that folds up. It doesn't stay neatly in place but it's good enough for us and a lot cheaper than getting the official carpet.

[Morfin]

Waterproof fold up picnic blanket, I put a non slip mat between the tent and blanket which helps a bit.

[Jeremyironsnothing]

I used to take a couple of the cheap ikea picnic blankets until we bought our carpet. They folded flat and didn't take up much space.

[tattychicken]

Picnic blanket. You can get extra large ones on eBay

[NotMeNoNo]

Cut them down to size?
Buy cheaper carpets or something about the right size from another tent.
Get some velcro straps or old belts to roll them up tightly so less bulky
Buy tent socks/slippers
Use a picnic blanket as a rug over the middle area where you walk most.

[NannyR]

I use the cheap rag rugs from IKEA. I bought a tent carpet to fit my tent but I've only used it a couple of times - grass and muck stick to it like velcro and it's difficult to brush clean and because it's so big, it's difficult to take it out of the tent to give it a good shake without having to move chairs, tables etc.
The rugs are so much easier to keep clean.

[InTheWings]

I hate the tent carpets sold by the tent manufacturers.

We don’t take rugs or carpets at all, but if I did I would look at the flat cotton rugs often on sale in The Range, IKEA etc.

I would also look at sticking non slip rug backing to them as rugs in slippery plastic sound like a skid hazard.

[Squidsister]

Yes NannyR that’s the problem too, the tent carpet is so big and unwieldy, you can’t shake it out or wash it!

I think I just need something for the middle area where the kids sit - not the sides where we store things. I’ll have a look at rag rugs, thanks.

[Jumbojem]

Foil backed picnic blanket. Fills the main living space but easy enough to shake out, chuck over a hedge/fence to dry out if got damp and can go in the machine on a delicate wash (washing instructions say no but done mine a few times, it cost less than £20 so easily replaced if does disintegrate).

[june2007]

ground sheet if nothing on ground otherwise just don,t have it,s not a necessity.

[BiddyPop]

I usually have a foil backed picnic blanket in the bedroom (very cheap from Lidl, rolls up and ties with Velcro for small packing, and has a carrying handle).

I know a few who bring the foam play tiles from kids playrooms for flooring.

For just inside the front door, I had bought a proper doormat - to stand on changing shoes etc. Rule is all shoes come off at the door. Unfortunately DH saw it when I needed to dry it after a wet end to Cub camp last year, and adopted it for the front door at home so I need to buy a new one....

I have used a large cardboard box before- transported food in it to camp, flattened out as a mat for the duration, thrown in the recycling bin on site as I leave. Just make sure there are no staples or sharp bits in it once flattened.

[hillbilly]

We use 2 rag rugs for the area just outside the sleeping pods and they work well. The rest of rent area is just the groundsheet and only really used for storage.

[DocOfTheBay]

If you don’t like plastic underfoot just take slipper socks or some comfy slipper type shoes to wear in the tent.

[latticechaos]

@MerryGrinchmas1

We use a big fold up picnic blanket. Doesn't take up too much room and can take it on outings with us too

Same here, plus cheaper to replace so I don't get so stressy about spillages!

[EasilyDelighted]

Big Lidl picnic blanket here too plus a rubber backed doormat in the porch.