My old way of packing a tent was costing me time and space on every trip

For years, I would just stuff my tent back into its bag, rolling it up any old way. I figured it was fine as long as it fit. Last month, I was packing up in a light rain at Lake Tahoe and my buddy, who had the same model tent, was ready in half the time. He showed me his method: lay the fly flat, fold the poles separately, and roll the body tight from one end. I tried it. Not only did the tent pack down smaller, but it was bone dry and ready to go when I unpacked it at home. I had been trapping moisture and creating air pockets for no reason. It seems so simple now. What other basic gear packing tricks have people picked up that actually make a big difference?

2 comments

2 Comments

james_kim4d ago

Separating the poles first makes a huge difference.

evan_campbell4d ago

Right? I tried it your way and it actually worked for once.