Tent Packing: Stuff, Roll, Or Fold?

Tackling the age-old question

At the end of every outdoor adventure, you're confronted with an inscrutable dilemma: Do you stuff, roll, or fold your tent into its stuffsack? Poll your fellow hikers and you'll see everyone has a technique and a reason for why theirs is the best. Challenge them, and you might get a tent pole in the eye.

An informal poll of the BACKPACKER office confirms we're 87.5 percent pro-stuffing. But a lot of our reasoning is unscientific (outside of one staffer who claims to divide his choice—70 percent stuff, 25 percent roll, and 5 percent fold—depending on the tent). One staffer admits, "I stuff (even though I’ve been told it’s better to roll)."

Ryan Dionne of Explore It! went to the source, asking tent manufacturers from every major brand both what they recommend and what they do themselves. Most recommend rolling, noting that the tents come from a factory pre-rolled, and that rolling can save space in your pack. When it comes to their personal life, though, even tent manufacturers get lazy and just stuff it:

Big Agnes: When I’m backpacking I’ll stuff the tent. I usually pack the poles and stakes separately from the tent. When I’m car camping I loosely fold then roll.

EMS: Roll for storage, stuff in the field.

Kelty/SD: I roll my personal tent - it packs better in my pack (less bulk) and looks a little better when set up (I am a tent guy, so I want my tent to look good!).

Mountain Hardwear: Roll, religiously.

MSR: I usually roll my tents, but if they are wet or if I am in a hurry, I just stuff them.

Nemo: I always stuff my tents. It’s faster, easier, and most importantly – better for the tent.

The North Face: I stuff while out and stuff depending on weather. I roll once I clean and put the tent away.

How about you? Are you a stuffer, roller, or folder? Tell us in the poll, and tell us why in the comments!

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—Ted Alvarez

Explore-It Blog

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READERS COMMENTS

i stuff or roll pending on the weather conditions, poles and stakes same bag outside of pack..hang it up for storage: June 25,2011
Posted: Jun 25, 2011 john

What's a tent? I'm a hanger...we stuff our hammocks in snake skins!
:-)
Posted: Feb 17, 2011 Fuzzie

Stuff, stuff, stuff. It's the easiest and quickest way. Trying to fold a tent and get it into the bag it came in can be impossible at times. Never fold a tent, it's like folding a piece of paper over and over. It degrades the seam your folding on.
Posted: Oct 05, 2009 tafratzke

stuffing prevents any creases from forming which in my opinion leads to weaker fabric at that spot
Posted: Aug 27, 2009 bad foot kupar

I roll. The tent won't fit in the tent bag otherwise.
Posted: Aug 27, 2009 Pat

I roll it. It seems to consume less space in my tent bag and can be scrunched down tight, plus when it comes time to set up, you just unroll and go.
Posted: Aug 26, 2009 Canyon Man

Roll. My 20 y/o Eureka Timberline is proof enough for me that rolling does not harm the tent.
Posted: Aug 26, 2009 Jim

I stuff it in all the leftover spots in my backpack when backpacking. I loosely stuff it in my backpack back home after everything is dry. Its there when I get ready to go the next time.
Posted: Aug 26, 2009 Mitchel

I stuff and roll. As a result I can't vote in the poll.
Posted: Aug 26, 2009 Chris

I'm a stuffer...But I'm also a hammock guy. So, make what you want of it.
Posted: Aug 25, 2009 Ritz Henson

i stuff it... no matter what. i stuff it into its sack to take it with me. when i get home, i let it dry, and then loosely stuff it into large laundry type bags, (or the storage sacks they came in) i usually put silica gel pacs in the storage sack if i can find em. stuffing is easier, and better for the tent. folding in repeated spots can supposedly weaken the tent. makes sense to me! and its easier
Posted: Aug 25, 2009 laxdrummer3692