This is another in a series of gear questions because I am getting back into this wonderful activity after many years away. I tried coming back a year or two ago and got sidelined by medical issues. I'm 71 so it takes me a bit of time to recover but I am slowly building up my miles with day hikes while carrying close to the load I will carry on my first backpacking trip.

A young friend who backpacks recently told me nobody uses tent footprints anymore. He didn't say why.

I just bought a Nemo Dragonfly 1 and was going to order the footprint for about $40 but in view of his comment I wanted to ask here what folks think about the need for one. The floor of my new tent does not appear to me to be especially rugged but perhaps they make them stronger these days.

Any thoughts would be welcomed.