Tent Take Down - Fold & Roll, or Cram? Which is Better?

[lomcevak]

I don't know why, but the thought just came to me today. For nearly a decade and a half of camping life I've been been meticulously folding and rolling my tent as neatly as possible for putting back in its' tent bag. With my purchase of high quality tent a couple years ago I've been even more vigilant in my delicate treatment of the tent when repacking. But I just thought today...does it really matter?

Will my tent be better off even just a bit by carefully folding and rolling, or will it be highly detrimental to just grab a corner and start stuffing it into the bag, or does it really matter? Thoughts would be appreciated.

 

[WaterMark]

Cramming is better for the tent, from what I understand. Careful folding means the same fold lines at the same place every time, which weakens the fabric.

 

[dvfrggr]

I belong to the just cram it in club, I stuff my MSR Hubba Hubba foot print, tent and rain fly into a 5 liter Sealine storm sack, it's a cram job but i need the space for longer trips and have not even thought about tent damage. The MSR web site states their tents can be folded, rolled or stuffed, the main theme was packing them dry or packing wet for no more than 8 hours.

Dave R

 

[KathyD]

I think the main thing is to make sure you don't fold on same lines all the time (my opinion - don't know if it really matters and with the tent material I have it doesn't seem to hold creases so I think it would be kind of hard to fold at exactly the same place even if you wanted to).

The one thing I worry about with cramming is the small clear plastic window parts of my tent (actually on the fly) - those it seems would hold creases, so I fold being careful to keep those parts flat. I guess I think with cramming these parts would get wrinkled. If you don't have these on your tent, it probably wouldn't matter.

Kathy

 

[VanIslePaddler]

Total crammer!!!!

I've got the take down of my hubba hubba down to a science. Once I'm out of my tent in the morning (sleeping bag/pad, etc all out already) I can have my tent down and packed in a drybag 4 minutes flat!!!!

I've used my hubba hubba over 300 usage nights since I bought it... and its still going strong. I just re-waterproofed the fly, but I don't blame the cramming for lowering its water resistence... more like just sun bleached and lots of rain and wind.

dvfrggr - A 5 liter!!! wow. I'm impressed. I'll have to try that. I stuff mine in a 10liter sealine... I'll have to try the 5 liter option... I could use that extra space.

 

[dvfrggr]

dvfrggr - A 5 liter!!! wow. I'm impressed. I'll have to try that. I stuff mine in a 10liter sealine... I'll have to try the 5 liter option... I could use that extra space.

VanIslePaddler, I have the Hubba Hubba HP and I use the Sealine Storm sack, The HP surprisingly stuffs smaller mainly due to the Fly material and the Storm sack lining is not tacky, allowing a easy cram job

Dave R

 

[VanIslePaddler]

VanIslePaddler, I have the Hubba Hubba HP and I use the Sealine Storm sack, The HP surprisingly stuffs smaller mainly due to the Fly material and the Storm sack lining is not tacky, allowing a easy cram job
Dave R

That makes sense. I've heard the HP is a fair bit smaller. I have the original version, so its definitly a little bigger.

I could imagine getting my version of the tent down to a 7.5 sack, but for the time and effort, i'm generally happy with the 10 liter. But it sure would be nice to get it smaller!!! sigh.

 

[ken_vandeburgt]

I fold and roll. Same way everytime.

It takes less space in the pack and in the kayak. It takes the same space everytime in terms of shape and volume which helps in planning how the pack goes together.

I can set it up faster and in the dark without light. I know how the tent will unfold and where the door is going to be before I unroll.

Creases are not an issue. Every tent I've had to replace is because of sun deterioration or zipper failure.

 

[Mark_Schilling]

I'm with Ken_V on this one. I have heard numerous times that cramming may extend the life of your tent because you're not folding in the same place every time. I agree that there's a certain amount of logic to that. But, I've found that I can fold it much smaller than I can 'cram' and on multi-day trips, that space savings is more than welcome. Plus, I can keep it cleaner since I know exactly how it's folded, so only the bottom need touch the ground when unrolling, setting up and taking down. Generally speaking I care for my gear well, and even with considerable use, my oldest tents are still going strong despite this method. I tend to fold it the least number of times possible, then roll it up along the other axis.

 

[WaterMark]

I still want to believe cramming is better, so I can justify my inability to fold anything. In kindergarten arts and crafts I was a disaster at trying to fold anything straight, and it hasn't improved since then :?

I think I lack the folding gene.

 

[rider]

I call my method the 'random roll', which is something between 'proper' folding and cramming. Still folding,but quickly,and starting at any given random spot i have in my hands at the time. One thing potentially against cramming is that you still create folds,but way more of them than when folding, so even though they don't necessarily meticulously repeat the pattern like with proper folding, they're bound to go over the same spots over and over regardless. But I think with any quality modern coated fabric,we're probably splitting hairs and long as it's used and stored right,it'll be fine.

 

[WaterMark]

Ya, I think UV and storing them wet are the 2 big tent killers.

 

[stevenf]

There should be an option for "haphazardly roll up the tent". I throw the fly in the middle, and roll the tent around the poles. Quick and easy. Not too concerned about whether it's great for the tent, I'll probably buy a new one in a few years anyway.

 

[Dan_Millsip]

I met one of the designers for Sierra Designs and asked him the fold, roll, or stuff question -- he said that it doesn't matter one bit. None of the methods extend or decrease the tent life any more than any other. He said fabrics have changed a lot since the "old" days when folding and rolling was the best way to increase the life of your tent and it makes no difference with new fabrics today -- especially given that they are lighter and stronger. He said he stuffs his own tents but if one wants to fold because they get enjoyment from it, they should fold away.

In the interest of a quick pack up on the final day, I stuff. Fly first, tent second, and footprint last so that it comes out of the bag in the order that I need it. I also stuff into a compression bag so I doubt that I'd get the final package any smaller by folding. I pack my poles separate from the rest of the tent.

 

[chodups]

I'm in the fold and roll camp. I fold the footprint with the body (length-wise in 3rds) and then roll it. I like pulling it out and knowing which way the door is. Fly is also folded and rolled. Makes set up go more quickly. On anything longer than an overnight I keep the fly and the body/footprint in separate bags so that a wet fly doesn't soak the body of the tent. Each roll goes in a separate Seattle Sports Longitude drybag with purge valve. They compact nicely and use the space adjacent to the skeg box efficiently. Poles are on their own and go on either side of the skeg.
Hummmmmmmmm, sounds pretty obsessive compulsive. OK, I'll cast my vote for that though I choose to think that it's a better use of space and I hate making my bed in a wet tent (even though I am a fan of Primaloft bags). Yeah, that's not a real popular opinion either.

I've worked in the outdoor retail industry for over 38 years (Jeez, did I say that out loud?). I've sold, repaired, and used a ton of gear. I have done a bazillion returns for gear that failed or didn't suit a customer's needs but I have never seen a tent that was damaged by folding or stuffing. I don't think it matters a bit in terms of product health and longevity. How you store it matters a lot but I believe that stuffing VS folding is a matter of what you prefer to do and what best utilizes your space available.

However you choose to pack your tent make sure to dry it off well before putting it away until your next trip.

 

[Kheyashunka]

for the hubbahubba I like fold/roll. Setup and takedown are very fast, nothing every snags..
I used to stuff/cram. But I found in inclement weather I could set up easier under a tarp if
everything was packed neatly. I stuff my tarp rain fly.

 

[MartinZ]

Fold and roll - but only because it gives me a chance to ensure - visually - that everything is there, especially at 4:30am, in the dark. Nothing like paddling back 15 miles to my previous camp because my fly was still there...

 

[camper10469]

You say Poe tay toe, I say poe tah toe.

After seeing this come up so many times over the years it has been scientifically determined it doesn't matter. Everyone that either crams or folds says they have never had any problems with thir tent n have been doing for years.

So you say Toe may toe, I say Toe mah toe.

. :big_thumb

 

[Shaeden]

There should be an option for "haphazardly roll up the tent".

:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I'm in! I like to know where my door is too because I often set up in the dark and don't like to move the tent in circles. :mrgreen: On the other hand, I stuff at the same time. The only time I put it away 'nicely' is for the winter.

 

[ken_vandeburgt]

How do you pitch a tent?

You wind up and you throw it.

(from an old beer commercial)