Depends for me on what kind of ground I plan on sleeping on. If I know and the ground doesn't call for it, I'll leave the footprint at home and vise versa. If I'm unsure of what to expect, I'll take it along. Most of the time I take it just because I'm going to new placs most of the time and it really doesn't take up that much space anyway. Plus, I was worried about this when I started using it, my footprint doesn't collect water between the tent and it when it does rain. At least not yet. Luckily the fly goes out enough where the water is unable to get onto it.

I'm am considering very much now looking into a hammock since I'll be moving back home to Idaho in June and it doesn't rain as much there as it does up here in Alaska. I just can't find a decent, compact sturdy hammock. Then again, I haven't been looking too hard yet either. Any recommendations/suggestions by anyone would be welcomed though. I'm assuming it'll be lighter than my tent and maybe more compact as well.