roll it or stuff it???

“i just got a great deal on a kelty vortex2 tent....my old tent (a coleman 7x7 sundome) had to be rolled, but this new tent could theoretically be stuffed into the bottom of my backpack....will this damage the tent?”

“I always stuff my tents rather than roll them. Just take care with any zippers on the pack or sharper edges on stiff you might be packing next to it. I think if you take a bit of care with it, you can get away without harming the tent. Personally, I would not want to have to unpack my entire pack to set up the tent.”

“I stuff my Vortex 4 into a compression sack. It's easy enough to get out of the pack that way. I think I will continue to stuff my Kelty Clark into it's stuff sack because it's so small I'd be afraid it would get snagged on something.

I don't roll anything except my thermarest.”

“I go with sort of a "random" roll, as my stuff sack is quite narrow(fly goes in first). Tent goes outside the pack, on one set of side compression straps, and ground sheet with poles, on the other. Regardless, try to keep the mesh to the inside of the roll.

Geez, I'm such a creature of habit.”

“Stuff it.

I'm told that if you fold and roll it the same way everytime, you run the risk of weakening the material where the fold creates a crease.

We always stuff ours in out pack, w/out a stuff sack.”

“Usually stuff...but the tent rolls smaller and fits into the stuffsack easier the times when I rolled it.”

“I do both, it depends on how much stuff I have. If I am low on room, I take it and put it in the bottom of my pack folded up. If I have room, I roll it and put it beside my sleeping bag in my pack.”

“I fold it.
(There's always got to be one odd guy in every crowd.)

I've heard about the folding weakens fabric thing but have never seen any evidence to support it. I have tents that are eighteen years old that are still going strong and the only reason I replaced them is that ligher and roomier tents came on the market. Also it's easier for me to unfold and set up a folded tent in crappy weather.”

“Go to Wal-Mart and buy some cotton laundry bags to store your tent. Do not store a tent for extended periods of time in a stuff sack. They come if various colors so if you have more than one tent you can identify them easily.

Beyond that stuff 'em.”

“stuff it,
roll it,
smoke it...”

“Kram it!”

“I don't take stuff sacks because the weight adds up. I roll my tent as tightly as I can and secure it with a big rubber band. Same for clothes.”

“I roll my eureka Gosamer the exact same way it was packed.”

“Fold and roll to fit the tent bag (the companies don't call them stuff sacks and design them to hold the tent the way they were folded). I, too, in years of tent use have never seen any damage from folding and rolling. The creases are never exact anyway.

By folding, then rolling, you can keep the permeable roof material/netting inside and the floor material on the outside of the roll, lessening the transfer of dirt, pine pitch, etc. As I've said in the past, I don't use a ground sheet underneath the floor (and have never damaged a floor).”

“Depends on how hard it's raining when I'm packing up.”

“I'm with Mr.Dunadan.”

“I'm with ChinaChas”

“I do one or two length wise folds then roll it and then stuff it it to the sack. I have heard about the problems with folding it the same way all the time can lead to a increase in possible leaks in the crease areas but have yet to notice any problems. At home the tent is stored in a big roomy stuff sack.”

“try searching the threads!

sheesh!”

“Was that Tea sneaking in without saying hi? How you doing chief? Taking a weekend off? How's camp going?”

“i hope that tea is doing some "ROLLING" and "STUFFING" at summer camp!

go get them girlyscouts, kiddo!”

“I roll mine. It's easier to set up and take down that way.”

“rule-of-thumb:

if it's a kmart or wally-world tent, you need to roll it.

backpacking tent, stuff it!”

“I bent the delran rod that hold the vent open on my Jana through careless stuffing. I still stuff but more carefully.”

“I roll, with the bottom folded inward towards itself. I have a 20 yr old and a 30 yr old tent that have not yet suffered from this procedure.”

“i am sure we would all see a sparkely new tent that we would want before the folding damages anything..

especially on the lightweigt side.. someone will make a tent that is 2 oz lighter.. and the creases will be an excuse to buy it.”

“Eh, I also have yet to see any evidence of rolling creating weak creases...but I stuff it 'cuz it's easier.”

“I don't really believe that even the most compulsive folder could fold their tent exactly the same way each time and create a damaging crease.”

“Perhaps we could start a new hiking style.
The anal-retentive backpacker. Fold, tuck, roll, and tie tent into bundle then insert into sack. Tie sack shut, tuck and roll excess sack material around tent and tape tightly with duct tape.”

“lol HPM, everyone KNOWS that the proper method is Fold, roll, tuck, not fold tuck roll!”

“I do a semi fold stuff. After opening one door and shaking all the gunk of the outside and inside, I fold/gather it in my arms so it won't get dirty on the ground again. Then I fold it loosely another time so the flooring is protecting the mesh/nylon top and stuff it in.”

“Stuff it...ie stuff sack”

“Buddha I'm so embarrassed. Thanks for the correction, what was I thinking!”

“Not unless you pack a duct tape cozy, can you even mention duct tape!!!!”

“Anyone ever hear of a backpack that is just a frame and you have to strap stuff sacks with all of yer stuff to it?

Anyone think this idea will work?”

“dana makes one.”

“It's called the RacerX by Dana. In the August issue of Backpacker the guy they feature in the lightweight article is using one.”