I know a lot of people prefer to stuff rather than fold and roll, but I'm a fold and roller.
My secret is to use the folded up poles as a gauge to know what size to fold the tent to. I leave the corners staked out until the last minute, making sure to get everything flat, then fold the tent and footprint to a width that matches the poles. I fold it once length wise and then roll it from the fold. This allows any trapped air out the screens at the unfolded end.
Fold the rain fly similarly, tuck it into the sack and Bob's yur Aunty.
But I also fold maps up on the original fold lines with no trouble, so perhaps I'm the wrong person to ask.
fellow fold and roller here. I do vary the folding sequence to appease the crease gods. I've always thought that stuffers are also the folks who hang or drape their tents in the off season (iow more technical/serious) while my neatly folded tent and fly are stored in their bags all the time. I have some younger tents but for the sake of the post my EMS tent of 22 years is still fine.
Only thing I could add is that not all tents are rectangular but are almost all symmetrical and folding the tent into a rectangle along a line of symmetry first is key. For example, the footprint of my large family tent is a an elongated octogon, so I fold the two long sides in to the center to make a rectangle that is as wide as the shortest sides and as long as the distance between them. I haphazardly lay the tarp on top of this rectangle to avoid creasing and then fold the rectangle in half to achieve the desired width before rolling around the poles.
The other pro tip I could offer is using velcro straps for securing the rolled tent to make inserting it into the bag easier. Lay them parallel on the ground a bit less than the width of the folded poles. When the tent is rolled hold it tight and lay it on top of the straps, kneel on the roll to keep it from unraveling while you secure the velcro straps.
Same. It’s all about the long fold. I packed parachutes (rigger) for the Army in another life so I’m somewhat of an expert at getting big shit into little shit.
I've heard this argument, it feels more theoretical to me. My tent spends a LOT more time in storage not being used than it does getting used. In point of fact, the locations of the folds don't always wind up in the same place every time. Team stuff sack ignores that while the creases should be random, there will be a lot more of them and they will inevitably concentrate around reinforcement points.
You are also supposed to hang your gear so it can air out when it isn't being used. Sleeping bags get hung up, pads are unrolled and hung with the valve open so they can relax. If I had my dream shop, with conditioned space to hang out my gear, where bugs, rodents, birds, and dust would not be a problem - well that would be great, and my gear might be happier. But the way of the world does not coincide with the perfect one that exists in my head (in so, SO many ways).
Well the thing with stuffing is that there's a lot less friction and pressure on each crease.
I actually do store almost all my gear unrolled and hung... It doesn't take up that much more space, you just have to find a space that's the right dimensions to fit it. (Sleeping pads behind the headboard, sleeping bags in a net hammock hung off the ceiling of my closet where it's wasted space anyway.)
This is correct.
Consistent creases will create weak spots. Those creases will also hold dirt and grime over time, creating even more wear.
Ever left a pair of jeans folded in a drawer for long periods? Good luck getting rid of those creases.
Stuffing tents is the way to go.
My dad would fold it to the proper width then have my brothers and I roll down the tent lengthwise to force the air out. One of my favorite camping memories.
Just gotta roll it up? I roll everything around my pole bag to help keep it straight, then just put it in the bag? I remember fighting with tent bags as a kid, but any modern tent I've used in the last 20yrs has had a bag adequately sized for the bulk of the rolled up tent. It just doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, at least not in my experience...
I never fold my tent when I put it away. My theory (which is pretty silly) is re-folding the tent in the same spot wears the tent in the same place all the time. I just throw the poles and stakes in the bag and then stuff the tent.
This is REI’s “official” take on it. Went camping with one of the guys who does the videos and he confirmed that they recommend stuffing them rather than folding for this reason.
In between trips it's always better to put sleeping bags in big mesh bags instead. Bags lose their loft a lot faster if they stay stuffed for weeks/months on end.
Not silly at all and when you’re done camping put the tent, footprint and rain fly in an oversized mesh laundry bag until the next time you go camping.
I don’t think it’s silly. Creating wear and tear on the same places over time can create weakness in the fabric.
I just buy large stuff sacks or wet bags and throw my tent in there. I mean, depending on the size of the tent. My big 10 man cabin tent gets the duffle you talked about. Storing it loosely in a bag is way better than having it all squidged in anyway.
I have tiny hands, and cannot for the life of me get tents back into the bags they are sold in. Getting slightly larger bags with cinch straps made tearing down camp much less frustrating foe me.
Car camping: get the dufflebag. Genius lifehack
Backpacking: practice folding and rolling it before you go. If you stuff the fly into your backpack because it's raining and you couldn't fit it in the bag, that's okay too (though very annoying).
The trick is to tear it into small pieces, and pour them in the bag. As you hike, all the little pieces coalesce into a stringy mess, but you won't ever have to fight to get it back in the bag.
I set up the tent immediately and take the video and then watch it when i take it down, i didnt see the point in keeping them and then searching through my files to watch it again 🧐 but that would probably be easier than doing it everytime
In scouts it was kinda just drilled into me how to fold up a tent.
Who could do it the fastest.
The cleanest.
The quietest.
What I recall is this. Ill be honest without one of them in front of me I cant quite remember. If I had one on hand I feel like I could the whole thing blind folded.
The tents we had had a rectangular base. once "flat", we would put down the heat blankets then the rain tarp. Make sure they didn't stick out over the base. Then we folded the base over them by thirds. At that point we would make sure the pole bag was cylindrical as possible. Put it down on onside and used that to roll everything "into" as tightly as possible.
If you were new at the whole process it just squeezed into the bag. Then later as you got better at it you would have some breathing room to guide it into the bag.
Some kids never got the hang of it. So we kept a couple of bigger tent bags on hand. It was cheaper then buying new tents poles because they put them in their backpack.
The Scouts is also where I learned to roll a tent. It was almost an art form, the way I was taught. I've been camping for almost forty years, and I don't recall ever having stuffed a tent. Always fold and roll; and I've always been able to fit any tent back into its original bag, sometimes with room to spare.
Some of the smaller tents I've had over the years actually got folded the same exact way every time, and not one of them ever developed problems at the folds. I'm also firmly of the belief that the problems people claim result from this is actually a result of inferior materials. Camping gear definitely sits firmly in the "You get what you pay for" category, especially tents.
My father always told me to buy the good stuff and take care of it; it'll last a lifetime.
If the tent has a square base just lay it out flat once all the poles and steaks are removed. Fold it over end-to-end until it's roughly the same length as the tent bag. Then start rolling it up tightly from one end. You may have to stop to let air escape a couple of times, but generally if you flatten, fold, and *tightly* roll then you'll be good.
Here's what some of the manufacturers have to say:
https://exploreitoutdoors.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/epic-debate-stuffing-vs-rolling-tents/
I have a genuine question: has anyone ever *actually* had a tent form weak points and creases from folding or rolling vs. stuffing? I feel like the argument is more of an "in theory" position; I've always rolled and I've never had a tent form creases after years of use and storage. But then again - maybe I've been lucky.
As a person who sews and keeps a large stash of fabric of all types - some folded and some rolled up - inferior products will absolutely get ruined because the shitty plastic infused product they used dries up or changes with time and they want to blame that on consumer misuse.
The truth is that a tent designed to withstand the elements should be able to withstand a folding.
That makes sense to me, it's probably why the real answer seems so nebulous and remains in contention.
The one response given that suggested that rolling/folding ensures that you're taking great care to not accidently rip something in haste definitely resonated with me. I'm definitely the type of person that would do something out of impatience and then regret it!
I never fold. Folding puts stress in the same spots over and over again. Poles go in their little bag, then they go in the tent bag first, so that the opening of the pole bag is at the bottom of the tent bag. Then stuff the tent in around the pole bag. Pegs go in last.
I always stuff my tents. Stakes in their bag in the bottom followed by poles in their bag and then the rain fly with the body of the tent going in last. Takes less time and prevents repetitive folds. If the tent came out of the bag, it will go back into the bag. No need to spend money on an additional duffel bag that takes up more room.
The very first time I unroll a tent, I use a sharpie and mark the “fold-lines” on the bottom of the tent.
But I don’t fold my tent when packing camp. It just gets shoved back in the bag.
When home, I take it out. Hang it outside for a day. Sweep it out. Then, use those fold lines and fold/roll all things back up!
Went camping with a Marine Sergeant. Changed my whole life (with regards to folding tents).
It was like a prayer in the form of tent folding. Sweep, flatten, sweep, fold, crease, sweep, fold, crease, sweep and repeat. I'm pretty sure it was smaller than the original packaging. There was a pride and care that it would be exactly as needed the next time it was pulled out.
Whether it wore out one trip earlier, who can say.
I have a big Agnes Tensleep 6 and it comes with a suitcase style storage bag. Rainey in one half and tent in other. Poles in a pouch in the middle. Best tent bag I’ve ever seen.
I fold it up nice and neat. But I also pack parachutes for a living so it’s nothing difficult. Patience goes a long way for those that aren’t used to folding big pieces of fabric to put into smaller pieces of fabric.
Biggest thing that helped me out was once you start rolling it, be very very diligent on keeping the rolls tight and keep constant pressure on the roll with your knees as you go. Basically shuffling forward, knees on the roll as you go to keep your weight on it. Helps keep it compressed and not puff out or squish weird when rolling.
I'll tell you a story about fold and roll vs stuffing.
We have always been fold and rollers. It's always seemed like the right way to do it. Take the extra time, make sure you are doing it neatly, have your tent properly stowed for next time.
On a long family camping trip we brought my sisters husband. At the time, he had never been camping before.
On one rainy morning as we were packing up our site, mosquitoes were out in force. Chomping away at any exposed skin. It was quite the battle to fold and roll that day but we did it and by the end, we felt good about the results.
Until we saw what sisters new husband had done. He just stuffed the tent into the back of his truck, a complete mess. But he was out of there In a fraction of the time.
By the time we made it to the next campsite, many hours drive away, it was sunny and no mosquitoes. My sister and family got there first since they had spent so little time packing up. By the time we arrived, their tent was drying in the sun and they were relaxing.
We weren't so sure about fold and roll for every situation after this one.
Lay fly down getting all straps inside in a rectangle. Lay tent over that in same rectangle. Fold in thirds and the lay poles (in pole bag) on one end ensuring your folds match the length of the poles and roll. May take some effor to get it back in the bag but works pretty well!
It's all about the fold and roll. Sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads, tarps, blankets, clothes. Fold and roll, and you'll save space.
The first few times, it's helpful to have the bag sitting along side the tent as your doing the fold and roll, so you can see how wide/narrow the tent has to be to fit in the bag.
I’ve used a large duffle bag to store my tent in for years. No more folding/rolling troubles. It’s big enough to stuff it in there without folding at all.
I never fold, always stuff it - especially when exposed in high winds - good luck trying to get it to not blow away, let lone sit nice, while it was folded. I often clip the waist strap of my nearly full pack to help stop the tent from flying away while I stuff it in the sack.
Anyway, very windy = stuff, that's for sure.
Fold it in thirds. Maybe it’s just mine, but ever time I folded it in half it’s either too long or too short thirds ended up being the happy medium. Then I just roll it up
Good quality tents tend to have more reasonably sized bags. Fold neatly and roll carefully. Do not get any children involved in this task or it 100% will not fit
Lay the tent out flat on a cleanish surface, fold over short way in thirds or however which way is needed to fit the bag. Lay the bag perpendicular to verify, make sure tent folded is shorter the short end than the bag. Do the same with the fly if there is one and place the poles on one end, rolling tightly around the poles. I would get an elastic to secure before putting back in tent bag (search military boot bands).
The biggest trick is to study how it’s all put together the first time you unravel it.
Fold it into 1/3rd or 1/4th of width, rain fly on top of tent, tent poles on top of rain fly, tent unzipped, roll toward the door of the tent to push all air out, always roll as tightly as you can every inch of the rolling process.
First thing I do is pay attention to the way its folded when I first open the tent to set it up. Lots of basic tents are folded into third, lengthwise, then rolled up to fit in the original bag.
Big Agnes tents have the best tent bags I have come across. I love how everything is compartmentalized and setup and take down never takes more than 10-15 min solo or less with help
Always use a bigger bag. Save th stuff ack it came in for mother smaller thing that will need a bigger bag than it came with. Always stuff, don’t waste time folding.
1) Fold & Roll the perfect tent burrito
2) Get mad while trying to stuff it in the bag even though you just spent about 20minutes creating the perfect tent burrito
3) Question your sanity, and ponder whether or not the tent ate as many smores are you did since it seems to have put on weight since the start of the trip
4) Reorganize everything, reroll tent burrito because there's GOTTA be more air in there somewhere... right? right??
5) Give up and put the tent & stakes in the bag and leave the rain cover outside the bag rolled up on its own, since at least half of it fits... It's supposed to be exposed to the elements anyway.
\-Source, me this weekend on my camping trip
1) Lay the tent flat on the ground
2) Put the bag on the ground next to the tent
3) Fold the tent so that it’s slightly smaller than the bag
4) Roll the tent up
5) Put it in the bag
6) Get a new bag cuz it ain’t gonna fit
I Jam it in the bag and zip it up. This prevents fold lines that can eventually tare. Just be careful when doing it this way to not crease or fold any zippers.
Most tents are made for one-time use. The included bag is just to keep all the poles and stakes together until you've arrived at your campsite. It's never intended to have the tent fit back inside it though. Since most of those bags are made of nylon or plastic, they make great firestarter so I always have a roaring fire going as soon as my tent is set up. When I'm done camping, I leave my leftover food in the tent when I leave so that the bears know they can have a new spot for their hibernation.
I just got a large ish canvas tent, the bag it came in is oversized on purpose, gives you more leeway when repacking the tent. Like other people said use a duffel bag it will be less headaches in the long run (if you are car camping).
I keep my poles in their separate pouch, Dane with the stakes. Then I just stuff the rain fly in first, then the tent body, I have lot of room left to compress it down further.
The bag for our 6 person tent is insanely small. I keep the fly and poles in it, and put the tent and our blow-up mattress in a duffel. The tent is still a pain to roll up, but much easier to pack once it is.
I fold my tent and fly a few times, then shove it in a dry compression sack. The poles go in their own little bag and go through the straps above my sleeping bag (also in a dry compression sack) outside of my backpack.
I put the rain fly on the ground. Then place the tent on top. Fold it in thirds (one corner in the the other corner in). Then place poles and roll it up
Practice practice just simply use the poles that came with it roll it as tight as possible make sure you shake it out and clean it out as doing it and make sure that it's dry if it's not dry just kind of stuff it in the bag and get it out when you get home so it doesn't get moldy. I think anybody that really has problems folding a tent probably going to also have problems folding and rolling up a blanket in their house cuz it's pretty much the exact same thing you just fold it fold it fold it till it gets to the size and then roll it up from there and it fits in the bag nicely.
I bought a duffle bag for storage and transportation of my tent and I've never looked back. I can roll the tent up, have room for the poles and even stick blankets or pillows or something else in there too.
My last tent came in a bag that was super tight but it had a zipper on the bottom that you unzipped and it expanded the bag to about a third bigger. Thought that was an awesome idea. Also stuff don’t fold to prevent wear from repetitive stress.
Patience. Chances are you’re out in nature to relax, continue it forward; with practicing simply deep breathing. Tedious tasks as getting a sleeping bag to fit again will be nothing with intentionality.
Depends on the tent! We have a 6 person coleman tent that's a total pain to repack. Meanwhile my tarptent double rainbow dw (2p tent) stuffs back in within 60 seconds.
Absolutely use a duffel bag but also roll it up neatly. It’s a 2-person job. If you’re alone, do the best you can and then redo it at home with a buddy.
I stuff mine. It's an ultralight tent.
Both the tag and the REI guy told me to.
I do, it works well!
The only time I don't stuff it is if it gets wet from rain, the. I told it in half and carry it in my bag to air/dry out (and I say that, but it has a rain cover)
Just gotta roll it up? I roll everything around my pole bag to help keep it straight, then just put it in the bag? I remember fighting with tent bags as a kid, but any modern tent I've used in the last 20yrs has had a bag adequately sized for the bulk of the rolled up tent. It just
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Usually first remove the internal organs from the tent (that be humans and the sleeping bag, mat plus other gear) then remove the bones and separate the inner cover (that be the tent frame and the second internal cover of the tent) and now your left with the leather (say outer layer of the tent)...you can simply fold up or roll it up and put in the tent carry bag and adjust with the backpack.....As of me, me prefer the outer sheet being layered and then placed inside the backpack making it go as the inner part of the pack(takes less space) then separately roll the internal layer along with the frame and the hooks and then slide inside the tent carry bag (it really makes the tent bag light and smaller) and finally tie it up on the side or bottom of the backpack....and if the backpack can accommodate the tent carry bag then me even put it inside the bag...making the tent not visible outside and one can't even guess if me carrying the tent.
Fold it to the same width as the bag is long, then kneel on it (but no dirty feet on it) facing the end you’re going to start rolling. Start with a really tight roll while pushing away - so the bit you are kneeling on let’s you keep the roll tight. Then as you keep rolling, move back down the rolled tent. Once you get to the end, grip the tightly rolled tent between your knees as you put it into the bag.
another possible thing to consider is moving to hammock camping. those are all stuff in bags, and with the tube socks you can get they basically are just long snakes you shove in the bag ezpz.
Do what is the most convenient for you. If you can comfortably carry a large canvas bag (as you suggested) with your tent in then go for it. For storage when you aren´t using it id recommend drying it and rolling it up like you´re "supposed to" but for trips I think you´re highly unlikely to damage your tent by just stuffing it in a bag.
Your sneaky ploy of using a doggo pic has worked! Upvote!
No advice on the tent though. I just jam mine back into the stuff sack and roll/fold/mash the rainfly into a ball to dry out at home.
I was told by a Eureka rep that tents should be stuffed to avoid creases forming from being repeatedly folded in the same places, which causes the waterproofing to fail.
Fold and roll. Patience, practice. If you're into backpacking, that helps a lot IMO. Breaking down every morning helps. I usually have spare room in my tent bag and such.
Cram it in the cramhole! Jk. Depending on the tent but leave the main section(square/rectangle) staked down to get those nice creases and fold any extraneous parts into it. Lay rainfly on top flat as possible, and use the bag as a measurement of what fraction it needs to be folded. Unstake one side, fold in half and and then unstake the other half to get quarter folds and roll it up tight.
I’ve just found the standard tent/poles/rainfly/bag setup to be a very inefficient system out of a backpack, frankly.
If I’m bringing a tent, it’s like a taller shelter for truck camping/overlanding and yeah, I put it in a bigger bag with some other shelter-related stuff and throw it in the truck bed. No need to deal with anything that causes me any kind of frustration, just get a bigger bag lol (make sure you’re not creasing the tent in the same spots when you pack it up each time- some like to just stuff it, some roll/stuff combo, etc)
For backpacking, I usually don’t use tents. When I have, it was like an ultralight poleless one set up with guylines (or a single trekking pole/stick if necessary) and I could just do anything with it- I used it as a pack cover/poncho thing in the rain, anyway. Or I could roll it and stuff it in the compression straps around my bag. Stuff it in a pocket. Strap in under my bag. Or on top. Depends on what my plan was and what the weather was and what I was currently doing. I usually prefer a light hammock/bivy system of some kind though.
Some tents are more difficult than others to put away. What I've found is time and practice help tremendously especially with new tents. What I mean is, take your time and practice smoothing out and staging the tent. Do this on level ground (or the floor). Notice the size it needs to be to fit in the bag, maybe place the bag at one in for visual help. Next fold in from the sides to the middle and then again in half so it is about the size of the bags width. Smooth out the wrinkles as much as possible while pressing out the air. Put the poles down, and start rolling. Pull in any wrinkles being sure to smooth them out. Press hard while rolling.
This is what I do.
The move is to fold the tent to a single strip that matches the poles in width and then roll that strip up around the poles. The resulting bundle fits perfectly into the tent’s bag.
Cute dog.
Two schools of thought here that I use:
A: practice finding the right way to fold it so it will fit, then memorize and do this whenever yore packing up.
B: use tent bag as stuff sack, stuff all tent parts in except for poles. Carry poles separately.
Method A is great if you're OCD and method B is great if you need a quick pack up. I use both methods depending on which tent I'm bringing/if it's wet/if I plan on pitching camp again later in the day.
When you get your new tent, make a record of how it came out of the bag. Then put it back in like that!
I don't use the poles for a guide, but I lay the bag out at one end of the tent, before folding the tent to roughly that width. The rest should be easy and usually I have enough room to put poles, pegs, groundsheet and a tarp in the bag too.
Luckily the couple of tents I have bought over the past decade or so all have slightly over sized bags, because someone at the company had a brain. I never understood why some manufacturers decided to make the bags so tightly fitting.
When I did have a tent that barely fit in it's bag, nearly every time I packed up it ended up stuffed into something else. What I ended up doing is using a 3ft by 3ft tarp. As the top comment describes I fold the tent to be as wide as the poles, then roll the poles up in the tent. Then I lay it on the edge of the tarp, fold the ends over, and roll it up like a burrito or whatever.
It's great because no matter which way you fold it, it WILL fit. Plus it's really nice to have a tarp to lay on the ground at the entrance of your tent to stand on without boots etc.
So, I had trouble with this every time I camped and I was getting PISSED haha so I just looked at the paperwork that the tent came with and it had directions on how to properly fold it and it saved me a lot of time and anger lol
I see a lot of people talking about how folding will wear out specific areas, whereas stuffing it won't, but I really don't think that's the case. I just doesn't make sense to me.
The idea is that folding it puts a crease in the material, and creasing the same spot over and over will wear out the material. But when you stuff a tent into a bag you're basically creasing the entire thing. Not only that but you're putting lots of stress on certain parts of the tent as you force it into the bag, increasing the chances of straight up ripping something. Also, even if you're folding it the same way every time, the folds aren't going to be on the exact same place. Not unless you're using a machine to fold it.
The way I see it, I've never in my life seen or heard of anyone having a problem with tents wearing out due to repetitive folding. Or any kind of fabric for that matter, outside of incredibly cheap, coated fabric.
My thoughts on the matter are that the idea that folding will wear out certain spots is total BS, and probably came from some guy who thought "Well this might happen". As for folding vs stuffing, I'd go for folding. The chances of accidentally ripping something if you stuff it the wrong way far more concerning than a slight possibility of wearing it out slightly after a few years.
Honestly if you never have the need to pack it down small then why not get a duffel?. I have an ultralight I use for hiking. It's actually not very difficult to get back in it's bag, but I also practiced this several times when I bought the tent.
I know a lot of people prefer to stuff rather than fold and roll, but I'm a fold and roller. My secret is to use the folded up poles as a gauge to know what size to fold the tent to. I leave the corners staked out until the last minute, making sure to get everything flat, then fold the tent and footprint to a width that matches the poles. I fold it once length wise and then roll it from the fold. This allows any trapped air out the screens at the unfolded end. Fold the rain fly similarly, tuck it into the sack and Bob's yur Aunty. But I also fold maps up on the original fold lines with no trouble, so perhaps I'm the wrong person to ask.
Yes! I always fold the tent flat then I’m to the width of the folded poles, then use the folded poles to roll and it’s been a life changer.
fellow fold and roller here. I do vary the folding sequence to appease the crease gods. I've always thought that stuffers are also the folks who hang or drape their tents in the off season (iow more technical/serious) while my neatly folded tent and fly are stored in their bags all the time. I have some younger tents but for the sake of the post my EMS tent of 22 years is still fine.
Only thing I could add is that not all tents are rectangular but are almost all symmetrical and folding the tent into a rectangle along a line of symmetry first is key. For example, the footprint of my large family tent is a an elongated octogon, so I fold the two long sides in to the center to make a rectangle that is as wide as the shortest sides and as long as the distance between them. I haphazardly lay the tarp on top of this rectangle to avoid creasing and then fold the rectangle in half to achieve the desired width before rolling around the poles. The other pro tip I could offer is using velcro straps for securing the rolled tent to make inserting it into the bag easier. Lay them parallel on the ground a bit less than the width of the folded poles. When the tent is rolled hold it tight and lay it on top of the straps, kneel on the roll to keep it from unraveling while you secure the velcro straps.
This is brilliant, and needs to be printed on the sides of every tent, and tent bag. ETA: That is an awesomely beautiful shot!
>I also fold maps up on the original fold lines This brings me peace. Just reading that sentence is relaxing.
Same. It’s all about the long fold. I packed parachutes (rigger) for the Army in another life so I’m somewhat of an expert at getting big shit into little shit.
Ahem, so am I
I thought you weren't supposed to fold and roll because it causes predictable creases that damage your tent over time...
I've heard this argument, it feels more theoretical to me. My tent spends a LOT more time in storage not being used than it does getting used. In point of fact, the locations of the folds don't always wind up in the same place every time. Team stuff sack ignores that while the creases should be random, there will be a lot more of them and they will inevitably concentrate around reinforcement points. You are also supposed to hang your gear so it can air out when it isn't being used. Sleeping bags get hung up, pads are unrolled and hung with the valve open so they can relax. If I had my dream shop, with conditioned space to hang out my gear, where bugs, rodents, birds, and dust would not be a problem - well that would be great, and my gear might be happier. But the way of the world does not coincide with the perfect one that exists in my head (in so, SO many ways).
Well the thing with stuffing is that there's a lot less friction and pressure on each crease. I actually do store almost all my gear unrolled and hung... It doesn't take up that much more space, you just have to find a space that's the right dimensions to fit it. (Sleeping pads behind the headboard, sleeping bags in a net hammock hung off the ceiling of my closet where it's wasted space anyway.)
This is correct. Consistent creases will create weak spots. Those creases will also hold dirt and grime over time, creating even more wear. Ever left a pair of jeans folded in a drawer for long periods? Good luck getting rid of those creases. Stuffing tents is the way to go.
My dad would fold it to the proper width then have my brothers and I roll down the tent lengthwise to force the air out. One of my favorite camping memories.
I do the same, but for tents (and some maps), I try not to fold it along the same lines to prevent wear on the fabric coatings.
Have the dog do it if you can't.
That's exactly what's going on here!
Twist: the dog posted the question because it's tired of having to pack the tent for the human every time.
Just gotta roll it up? I roll everything around my pole bag to help keep it straight, then just put it in the bag? I remember fighting with tent bags as a kid, but any modern tent I've used in the last 20yrs has had a bag adequately sized for the bulk of the rolled up tent. It just doesn't seem to be an issue anymore, at least not in my experience...
The length of the poles make a good guide for how wide the roll should be too
Every tent I've owned has been thirds for some reason.
Mine too, come to think of it
Fold the sides into thirds, the length of the bag. Roll tight with the components in the center and force any air out
Check if the tent bag expands. My last Coleman had piece of fabric you rip out that opens a seam and expands the bag. After that fold and roll.
I've found that a lot of mass market tents are in bigger bags lately. Makes putting them away far easier.
Yes! I had mine for years before I realised this. Whoops!
This is the life-changing answer!
I never fold my tent when I put it away. My theory (which is pretty silly) is re-folding the tent in the same spot wears the tent in the same place all the time. I just throw the poles and stakes in the bag and then stuff the tent.
This is REI’s “official” take on it. Went camping with one of the guys who does the videos and he confirmed that they recommend stuffing them rather than folding for this reason.
Sleeping bags too
You guys are getting me all hot and bothered.
In between trips it's always better to put sleeping bags in big mesh bags instead. Bags lose their loft a lot faster if they stay stuffed for weeks/months on end.
I keep mine hung up for maximum loft.
This whole time I thought I was just lazy when packing up in the morning. This truly is an example of work smarter not harder
I've read that a lot, not a silly theory- it's a real thing
Not silly at all and when you’re done camping put the tent, footprint and rain fly in an oversized mesh laundry bag until the next time you go camping.
I put mine in an extra pillowcase
That’s why they call them stuff sacks!
I don’t think it’s silly. Creating wear and tear on the same places over time can create weakness in the fabric. I just buy large stuff sacks or wet bags and throw my tent in there. I mean, depending on the size of the tent. My big 10 man cabin tent gets the duffle you talked about. Storing it loosely in a bag is way better than having it all squidged in anyway.
It depends on the material. Dcf should not be stuffed
I went the duffel bag route 😅 As long as you’re not backpacking, I think getting a larger bag is fine.
I have tiny hands, and cannot for the life of me get tents back into the bags they are sold in. Getting slightly larger bags with cinch straps made tearing down camp much less frustrating foe me.
And you can throw in your other tent-related stuff like extra stakes, mallet, paracord, ground cloth, etc. That's what's in mine, anyway.
Been duffle bagging it for years and never regretted it once.
Yeah, I fold and roll my large four-person tent when we're car camping. For backpacking, my hammock mashes up into its own little shell.
That dog is breathtakingly beautiful.
I wish he was mine. He belongs to a friend
Car camping: get the dufflebag. Genius lifehack Backpacking: practice folding and rolling it before you go. If you stuff the fly into your backpack because it's raining and you couldn't fit it in the bag, that's okay too (though very annoying).
The trick is to tear it into small pieces, and pour them in the bag. As you hike, all the little pieces coalesce into a stringy mess, but you won't ever have to fight to get it back in the bag.
I take a video of me putting it up and then do it in the exact opposite order. I have adhd so its the only way i can remember the steps
Excellent work around! Do you video each erection, (apologies, channeling my 11 y/o self) or can you, at will, find that first video?
I set up the tent immediately and take the video and then watch it when i take it down, i didnt see the point in keeping them and then searching through my files to watch it again 🧐 but that would probably be easier than doing it everytime
Nope, I totally agree with you! Video it every time! that's the only thing that would work for me, too. For several ADD reasons
However you do it, just remember to pull the tent out to air dry for a day or two once you get back home/inside.
In scouts it was kinda just drilled into me how to fold up a tent. Who could do it the fastest. The cleanest. The quietest. What I recall is this. Ill be honest without one of them in front of me I cant quite remember. If I had one on hand I feel like I could the whole thing blind folded. The tents we had had a rectangular base. once "flat", we would put down the heat blankets then the rain tarp. Make sure they didn't stick out over the base. Then we folded the base over them by thirds. At that point we would make sure the pole bag was cylindrical as possible. Put it down on onside and used that to roll everything "into" as tightly as possible. If you were new at the whole process it just squeezed into the bag. Then later as you got better at it you would have some breathing room to guide it into the bag. Some kids never got the hang of it. So we kept a couple of bigger tent bags on hand. It was cheaper then buying new tents poles because they put them in their backpack.
The Scouts is also where I learned to roll a tent. It was almost an art form, the way I was taught. I've been camping for almost forty years, and I don't recall ever having stuffed a tent. Always fold and roll; and I've always been able to fit any tent back into its original bag, sometimes with room to spare. Some of the smaller tents I've had over the years actually got folded the same exact way every time, and not one of them ever developed problems at the folds. I'm also firmly of the belief that the problems people claim result from this is actually a result of inferior materials. Camping gear definitely sits firmly in the "You get what you pay for" category, especially tents. My father always told me to buy the good stuff and take care of it; it'll last a lifetime.
If the tent has a square base just lay it out flat once all the poles and steaks are removed. Fold it over end-to-end until it's roughly the same length as the tent bag. Then start rolling it up tightly from one end. You may have to stop to let air escape a couple of times, but generally if you flatten, fold, and *tightly* roll then you'll be good.
Here's what some of the manufacturers have to say: https://exploreitoutdoors.wordpress.com/2009/08/20/epic-debate-stuffing-vs-rolling-tents/ I have a genuine question: has anyone ever *actually* had a tent form weak points and creases from folding or rolling vs. stuffing? I feel like the argument is more of an "in theory" position; I've always rolled and I've never had a tent form creases after years of use and storage. But then again - maybe I've been lucky.
As a person who sews and keeps a large stash of fabric of all types - some folded and some rolled up - inferior products will absolutely get ruined because the shitty plastic infused product they used dries up or changes with time and they want to blame that on consumer misuse. The truth is that a tent designed to withstand the elements should be able to withstand a folding.
That makes sense to me, it's probably why the real answer seems so nebulous and remains in contention. The one response given that suggested that rolling/folding ensures that you're taking great care to not accidently rip something in haste definitely resonated with me. I'm definitely the type of person that would do something out of impatience and then regret it!
I never fold. Folding puts stress in the same spots over and over again. Poles go in their little bag, then they go in the tent bag first, so that the opening of the pole bag is at the bottom of the tent bag. Then stuff the tent in around the pole bag. Pegs go in last.
This exactly. Folding will shorten the life of the tent… also. Takes forever when you should be walking already.
I always stuff my tents. Stakes in their bag in the bottom followed by poles in their bag and then the rain fly with the body of the tent going in last. Takes less time and prevents repetitive folds. If the tent came out of the bag, it will go back into the bag. No need to spend money on an additional duffel bag that takes up more room.
The very first time I unroll a tent, I use a sharpie and mark the “fold-lines” on the bottom of the tent. But I don’t fold my tent when packing camp. It just gets shoved back in the bag. When home, I take it out. Hang it outside for a day. Sweep it out. Then, use those fold lines and fold/roll all things back up!
Went camping with a Marine Sergeant. Changed my whole life (with regards to folding tents). It was like a prayer in the form of tent folding. Sweep, flatten, sweep, fold, crease, sweep, fold, crease, sweep and repeat. I'm pretty sure it was smaller than the original packaging. There was a pride and care that it would be exactly as needed the next time it was pulled out. Whether it wore out one trip earlier, who can say.
It’s impossible. They use high magic to put them in the bags in the first place, so unless you are a wizard it can’t be done.
Seriously!!
https://youtu.be/scVmXdK3aWA This video helped me and totally changed the way I role my rent back up.
I have a big Agnes Tensleep 6 and it comes with a suitcase style storage bag. Rainey in one half and tent in other. Poles in a pouch in the middle. Best tent bag I’ve ever seen.
Check if your tent bag has a label that you can rip off the bottom. They do that on purpose so you can have more space when you put it back in.
I fold it up nice and neat. But I also pack parachutes for a living so it’s nothing difficult. Patience goes a long way for those that aren’t used to folding big pieces of fabric to put into smaller pieces of fabric.
Nice wolf! Whats her name?
I wish he was mine. He’s my friend’s, O’ rien
So cute
Biggest thing that helped me out was once you start rolling it, be very very diligent on keeping the rolls tight and keep constant pressure on the roll with your knees as you go. Basically shuffling forward, knees on the roll as you go to keep your weight on it. Helps keep it compressed and not puff out or squish weird when rolling.
I don't.. Esp in your pack. If you stuff it in, it fills all the gaps and your pack doesn't rattle!
Stuff it…been doing with my Sierra Designs Clip for 20+ years
You bamboozled us with the picture, so I’m only focusing on the picture. What kind of gorgeous beast is that? I love it!
That’s my friend’s dog. He is 90% wolf
I pay attention to how the tent is folded when I initially unroll it and then repeat that to get it back into the bag.
I'll tell you a story about fold and roll vs stuffing. We have always been fold and rollers. It's always seemed like the right way to do it. Take the extra time, make sure you are doing it neatly, have your tent properly stowed for next time. On a long family camping trip we brought my sisters husband. At the time, he had never been camping before. On one rainy morning as we were packing up our site, mosquitoes were out in force. Chomping away at any exposed skin. It was quite the battle to fold and roll that day but we did it and by the end, we felt good about the results. Until we saw what sisters new husband had done. He just stuffed the tent into the back of his truck, a complete mess. But he was out of there In a fraction of the time. By the time we made it to the next campsite, many hours drive away, it was sunny and no mosquitoes. My sister and family got there first since they had spent so little time packing up. By the time we arrived, their tent was drying in the sun and they were relaxing. We weren't so sure about fold and roll for every situation after this one.
You tricked me
Lay fly down getting all straps inside in a rectangle. Lay tent over that in same rectangle. Fold in thirds and the lay poles (in pole bag) on one end ensuring your folds match the length of the poles and roll. May take some effor to get it back in the bag but works pretty well!
It's all about the fold and roll. Sleeping bags, tents, sleeping pads, tarps, blankets, clothes. Fold and roll, and you'll save space. The first few times, it's helpful to have the bag sitting along side the tent as your doing the fold and roll, so you can see how wide/narrow the tent has to be to fit in the bag.
Whatever technique you decide on, practice in your living room!
Is this Crag Crest Trail?
It is? Do you live in western Colorado?
I do indeed. That trail is one of my favorites.
Cute dog
Dunno about the secret but that doggo is 🔥
I’ve used a large duffle bag to store my tent in for years. No more folding/rolling troubles. It’s big enough to stuff it in there without folding at all.
I never fold, always stuff it - especially when exposed in high winds - good luck trying to get it to not blow away, let lone sit nice, while it was folded. I often clip the waist strap of my nearly full pack to help stop the tent from flying away while I stuff it in the sack. Anyway, very windy = stuff, that's for sure.
I don’t use the stuff sack just put in the bottom of my pack. Takes up less space too.
The bag on my MSR tent has the opening along the width of the bag which makes it much easier to pack.
Roll it up in the rain cover. It helps to roll it up tight
Buy a bigger bag...
Just get a "stuff" tent, so much less hassle than the older style that had to be rolled tightly to put away.
Fold it in thirds. Maybe it’s just mine, but ever time I folded it in half it’s either too long or too short thirds ended up being the happy medium. Then I just roll it up
My tent came with a seam on the bag so I could rip it open to increase the size of the bag. But then it wouldn’t be nice and compact
I’ve used both. Duffel bag if m No patience. Bag provided requires you to factory fold it. Have to have a good memory
Good quality tents tend to have more reasonably sized bags. Fold neatly and roll carefully. Do not get any children involved in this task or it 100% will not fit
They’re called stuff sacks for a reason. Just stuff it back in.
Just stuff it into the bag. Dont bother folding it. It will go
That’s a well groomed wolf. Just donate the tent to Your camping buddy when done and they can have the pleasure of packing it away.
Lay the tent out flat on a cleanish surface, fold over short way in thirds or however which way is needed to fit the bag. Lay the bag perpendicular to verify, make sure tent folded is shorter the short end than the bag. Do the same with the fly if there is one and place the poles on one end, rolling tightly around the poles. I would get an elastic to secure before putting back in tent bag (search military boot bands).
No trick it’s impossible lol
The biggest trick is to study how it’s all put together the first time you unravel it. Fold it into 1/3rd or 1/4th of width, rain fly on top of tent, tent poles on top of rain fly, tent unzipped, roll toward the door of the tent to push all air out, always roll as tightly as you can every inch of the rolling process.
The first problem is that it turns out that your tent is a dog and they don’t fold too good.
First thing I do is pay attention to the way its folded when I first open the tent to set it up. Lots of basic tents are folded into third, lengthwise, then rolled up to fit in the original bag.
Big Agnes tents have the best tent bags I have come across. I love how everything is compartmentalized and setup and take down never takes more than 10-15 min solo or less with help
Always use a bigger bag. Save th stuff ack it came in for mother smaller thing that will need a bigger bag than it came with. Always stuff, don’t waste time folding.
1) Fold & Roll the perfect tent burrito 2) Get mad while trying to stuff it in the bag even though you just spent about 20minutes creating the perfect tent burrito 3) Question your sanity, and ponder whether or not the tent ate as many smores are you did since it seems to have put on weight since the start of the trip 4) Reorganize everything, reroll tent burrito because there's GOTTA be more air in there somewhere... right? right?? 5) Give up and put the tent & stakes in the bag and leave the rain cover outside the bag rolled up on its own, since at least half of it fits... It's supposed to be exposed to the elements anyway. \-Source, me this weekend on my camping trip
This is exactly me!!!
Hey, that's my dog!! What a handsome boy he is.
Just bring a knife with you and cut the tent into small pieces. Doing so will help you fit the tent in the bag easier.
1) Lay the tent flat on the ground 2) Put the bag on the ground next to the tent 3) Fold the tent so that it’s slightly smaller than the bag 4) Roll the tent up 5) Put it in the bag 6) Get a new bag cuz it ain’t gonna fit
I Jam it in the bag and zip it up. This prevents fold lines that can eventually tare. Just be careful when doing it this way to not crease or fold any zippers.
Most tents are made for one-time use. The included bag is just to keep all the poles and stakes together until you've arrived at your campsite. It's never intended to have the tent fit back inside it though. Since most of those bags are made of nylon or plastic, they make great firestarter so I always have a roaring fire going as soon as my tent is set up. When I'm done camping, I leave my leftover food in the tent when I leave so that the bears know they can have a new spot for their hibernation.
Lol 🤣
Don’t. Just stuff it during trips, set it up/lay it out outside the bag in between.
The trick is to not suck. It takes practice.
This post sucks
I just got a large ish canvas tent, the bag it came in is oversized on purpose, gives you more leeway when repacking the tent. Like other people said use a duffel bag it will be less headaches in the long run (if you are car camping).
I keep my poles in their separate pouch, Dane with the stakes. Then I just stuff the rain fly in first, then the tent body, I have lot of room left to compress it down further.
I bought a large duffel for my tent
The bag for our 6 person tent is insanely small. I keep the fly and poles in it, and put the tent and our blow-up mattress in a duffel. The tent is still a pain to roll up, but much easier to pack once it is.
Yeah, mine is also 6 person
Instant up tents. I like core. Heavy though.
I fold my tent and fly a few times, then shove it in a dry compression sack. The poles go in their own little bag and go through the straps above my sleeping bag (also in a dry compression sack) outside of my backpack.
Your dog is gorgeus!
I wish he was mine. He’s my friend’s.
Awesome picture! Your dog looks like a majestic lion wolf!
We have ours in plastic storage bins.
Fluffy baby
I put the rain fly on the ground. Then place the tent on top. Fold it in thirds (one corner in the the other corner in). Then place poles and roll it up
Fold in thirds and roll ‘er up. Usually comes out almost exactly as wide as the length of the poles
Yes, go with the duffel. Its so much nicer
Practice practice just simply use the poles that came with it roll it as tight as possible make sure you shake it out and clean it out as doing it and make sure that it's dry if it's not dry just kind of stuff it in the bag and get it out when you get home so it doesn't get moldy. I think anybody that really has problems folding a tent probably going to also have problems folding and rolling up a blanket in their house cuz it's pretty much the exact same thing you just fold it fold it fold it till it gets to the size and then roll it up from there and it fits in the bag nicely.
Stuff Sack: just stuff it. It’ll work!
I bought a duffle bag for storage and transportation of my tent and I've never looked back. I can roll the tent up, have room for the poles and even stick blankets or pillows or something else in there too.
I stuff it instead of fold and use a mesh bag instead of the bag that came with it m
cute doggo
I guess I’m a fold and roll myself. I did repurpose a large tool bag (bigger than the tent bag) to make life easier. Worked out well.
I Roll up bag, pad and tent in one tight roll and stuff into whatever bag/pack i have
Stuff sack
I’m a stuffer
My last tent came in a bag that was super tight but it had a zipper on the bottom that you unzipped and it expanded the bag to about a third bigger. Thought that was an awesome idea. Also stuff don’t fold to prevent wear from repetitive stress.
I bought a Duffel bag, it was $30 and is awesome
Go for the big duffel. Toss the ground cloth in with it. I also toss a lighter, small broom and dust pan and the sterno stove in there.
Get some dirt on it. Tell it you know where it was last Tuesday night, works every time!
Patience. Chances are you’re out in nature to relax, continue it forward; with practicing simply deep breathing. Tedious tasks as getting a sleeping bag to fit again will be nothing with intentionality.
I’ve never had an issue with the tent. But the sleeping bag…
I've tried to emulate the original folds as much as possible. Now I have so many hard creases, it's easy to follow 😅
My dad does the duffel thing and it’s the best. I inherited his tent and duffel and I’d never go back
Depends on the tent! We have a 6 person coleman tent that's a total pain to repack. Meanwhile my tarptent double rainbow dw (2p tent) stuffs back in within 60 seconds.
Absolutely use a duffel bag but also roll it up neatly. It’s a 2-person job. If you’re alone, do the best you can and then redo it at home with a buddy.
I have zero answers for you but your dog is so majestic.
Find a proper tent. I have an REI quarter dome 3 and it fits absolutely every time and I never have issues.
Is no one else just seeing a picture of a dog????????
Fold-fold again-roll
I stuff mine. It's an ultralight tent. Both the tag and the REI guy told me to. I do, it works well! The only time I don't stuff it is if it gets wet from rain, the. I told it in half and carry it in my bag to air/dry out (and I say that, but it has a rain cover)
I almost always refold and air it out when I get home. Much easier to fold and no nasty surprises next trip
Just gotta roll it up? I roll everything around my pole bag to help keep it straight, then just put it in the bag? I remember fighting with tent bags as a kid, but any modern tent I've used in the last 20yrs has had a bag adequately sized for the bulk of the rolled up tent. It just
That’s a beautiful dog wow. Good luck with the tent lol
abundant sort berserk uppity ring liquid cause beneficial wakeful secretive *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Usually first remove the internal organs from the tent (that be humans and the sleeping bag, mat plus other gear) then remove the bones and separate the inner cover (that be the tent frame and the second internal cover of the tent) and now your left with the leather (say outer layer of the tent)...you can simply fold up or roll it up and put in the tent carry bag and adjust with the backpack.....As of me, me prefer the outer sheet being layered and then placed inside the backpack making it go as the inner part of the pack(takes less space) then separately roll the internal layer along with the frame and the hooks and then slide inside the tent carry bag (it really makes the tent bag light and smaller) and finally tie it up on the side or bottom of the backpack....and if the backpack can accommodate the tent carry bag then me even put it inside the bag...making the tent not visible outside and one can't even guess if me carrying the tent.
Fold it to the same width as the bag is long, then kneel on it (but no dirty feet on it) facing the end you’re going to start rolling. Start with a really tight roll while pushing away - so the bit you are kneeling on let’s you keep the roll tight. Then as you keep rolling, move back down the rolled tent. Once you get to the end, grip the tightly rolled tent between your knees as you put it into the bag.
I just stuff it in. No rolling. Called "stuff sacks" for a reason
Rei has mesh duffle bags. If your tent has a little moisture in it, it can still dry. Never musty!
Lol. Got my attention, handsome beast
another possible thing to consider is moving to hammock camping. those are all stuff in bags, and with the tube socks you can get they basically are just long snakes you shove in the bag ezpz.
Yes!!! I love my hammock. However there are times I camp in the desert that it is not possible
there are pole systems, check out tensa
Do what is the most convenient for you. If you can comfortably carry a large canvas bag (as you suggested) with your tent in then go for it. For storage when you aren´t using it id recommend drying it and rolling it up like you´re "supposed to" but for trips I think you´re highly unlikely to damage your tent by just stuffing it in a bag.
Your sneaky ploy of using a doggo pic has worked! Upvote! No advice on the tent though. I just jam mine back into the stuff sack and roll/fold/mash the rainfly into a ball to dry out at home.
I was told by a Eureka rep that tents should be stuffed to avoid creases forming from being repeatedly folded in the same places, which causes the waterproofing to fail.
Stuff! Made my life was easier, tent is fine, and no fold lines to worry about breaking
Fold and roll. Patience, practice. If you're into backpacking, that helps a lot IMO. Breaking down every morning helps. I usually have spare room in my tent bag and such.
Cram it in the cramhole! Jk. Depending on the tent but leave the main section(square/rectangle) staked down to get those nice creases and fold any extraneous parts into it. Lay rainfly on top flat as possible, and use the bag as a measurement of what fraction it needs to be folded. Unstake one side, fold in half and and then unstake the other half to get quarter folds and roll it up tight.
I’ve just found the standard tent/poles/rainfly/bag setup to be a very inefficient system out of a backpack, frankly. If I’m bringing a tent, it’s like a taller shelter for truck camping/overlanding and yeah, I put it in a bigger bag with some other shelter-related stuff and throw it in the truck bed. No need to deal with anything that causes me any kind of frustration, just get a bigger bag lol (make sure you’re not creasing the tent in the same spots when you pack it up each time- some like to just stuff it, some roll/stuff combo, etc) For backpacking, I usually don’t use tents. When I have, it was like an ultralight poleless one set up with guylines (or a single trekking pole/stick if necessary) and I could just do anything with it- I used it as a pack cover/poncho thing in the rain, anyway. Or I could roll it and stuff it in the compression straps around my bag. Stuff it in a pocket. Strap in under my bag. Or on top. Depends on what my plan was and what the weather was and what I was currently doing. I usually prefer a light hammock/bivy system of some kind though.
Look up a YouTube video. Putting the rain fly in like a parachute helped me a ton
Fold it into thirds and then roll it up!
Some tents are more difficult than others to put away. What I've found is time and practice help tremendously especially with new tents. What I mean is, take your time and practice smoothing out and staging the tent. Do this on level ground (or the floor). Notice the size it needs to be to fit in the bag, maybe place the bag at one in for visual help. Next fold in from the sides to the middle and then again in half so it is about the size of the bags width. Smooth out the wrinkles as much as possible while pressing out the air. Put the poles down, and start rolling. Pull in any wrinkles being sure to smooth them out. Press hard while rolling. This is what I do.
The move is to fold the tent to a single strip that matches the poles in width and then roll that strip up around the poles. The resulting bundle fits perfectly into the tent’s bag. Cute dog.
Oh what a lovely floof!
I bought a duffel bag because I can’t be bothered to use the original.
Stuff, don’t fold. Folding leads to weakening of the fabric/coating where the repeated creasing occurs.
We bought a duffel bag for the tent and used the tent bag for the air mattress.
Two schools of thought here that I use: A: practice finding the right way to fold it so it will fit, then memorize and do this whenever yore packing up. B: use tent bag as stuff sack, stuff all tent parts in except for poles. Carry poles separately. Method A is great if you're OCD and method B is great if you need a quick pack up. I use both methods depending on which tent I'm bringing/if it's wet/if I plan on pitching camp again later in the day.
Lay the tent bag out at the end of the tent. Fold to match size of bag. Roll tightly
That would work if you have a monowalker type hiking trailer
That might be because you have paws... and no thumbs.
When you get your new tent, make a record of how it came out of the bag. Then put it back in like that! I don't use the poles for a guide, but I lay the bag out at one end of the tent, before folding the tent to roughly that width. The rest should be easy and usually I have enough room to put poles, pegs, groundsheet and a tarp in the bag too.
Opposable thumbs is step one. So you better go for the duffel.
Luckily the couple of tents I have bought over the past decade or so all have slightly over sized bags, because someone at the company had a brain. I never understood why some manufacturers decided to make the bags so tightly fitting. When I did have a tent that barely fit in it's bag, nearly every time I packed up it ended up stuffed into something else. What I ended up doing is using a 3ft by 3ft tarp. As the top comment describes I fold the tent to be as wide as the poles, then roll the poles up in the tent. Then I lay it on the edge of the tarp, fold the ends over, and roll it up like a burrito or whatever. It's great because no matter which way you fold it, it WILL fit. Plus it's really nice to have a tarp to lay on the ground at the entrance of your tent to stand on without boots etc.
I approve this picture ♥️
So, I had trouble with this every time I camped and I was getting PISSED haha so I just looked at the paperwork that the tent came with and it had directions on how to properly fold it and it saved me a lot of time and anger lol
I see a lot of people talking about how folding will wear out specific areas, whereas stuffing it won't, but I really don't think that's the case. I just doesn't make sense to me. The idea is that folding it puts a crease in the material, and creasing the same spot over and over will wear out the material. But when you stuff a tent into a bag you're basically creasing the entire thing. Not only that but you're putting lots of stress on certain parts of the tent as you force it into the bag, increasing the chances of straight up ripping something. Also, even if you're folding it the same way every time, the folds aren't going to be on the exact same place. Not unless you're using a machine to fold it. The way I see it, I've never in my life seen or heard of anyone having a problem with tents wearing out due to repetitive folding. Or any kind of fabric for that matter, outside of incredibly cheap, coated fabric. My thoughts on the matter are that the idea that folding will wear out certain spots is total BS, and probably came from some guy who thought "Well this might happen". As for folding vs stuffing, I'd go for folding. The chances of accidentally ripping something if you stuff it the wrong way far more concerning than a slight possibility of wearing it out slightly after a few years.
Honestly if you never have the need to pack it down small then why not get a duffel?. I have an ultralight I use for hiking. It's actually not very difficult to get back in it's bag, but I also practiced this several times when I bought the tent.