I've tarped it a fair bit, and I use floorless tents too.. However, you've more or less hit the nail on he head - site selection is important. You can't expect to drop a floorless tent down in the middle of a hog wallow and not get dirty, if that's you're style of camping, stick with something with a floor <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> My personal preference is often without a floor, and definately so if you count a hammock as a "floorless" shelter.

Now, on the other hand usually, if I'm in a floorless shelter I do NOT set up on "mud" - I will usually pick a grassy site. gravel or sand is ok too. You can carry a 4 foot by 7 foot piece of poly painter's tarp. - just a light sheet of plastic can huck down if it is dirty, and you don't have to care if it gets holes in it. Yes, it is different. you do have to think about it a bit more. and yes, it's possible you might get your pad a bit dirtier. On the other hand I find it's sometimes *easier* to keep clean in a floorless shelter. Doncha hate bringing dirty boots into a bathtub floor? no worries if the floor is just grass or plain old ground. Ditto snowy boots when you're on snow. The other key bit is I don't find a bathtub floor will usually keep out a full on deluge running under it, you're still gonna get wet if you're *that* far off on your site selecton