How To: Pack Your Tent

Pack up and hit the trail.

Even though your tent comes packed in a "Stuff sack", it may be better to think of it as a "Roll sack". Trying to stuff your tent into its sack can be a tall order, and can end up with you ripping your stuff sack and needing a replacement. Below are some great tips and tricks to help avoid issues, and should you have trouble, we have a wide array of stuff sack options available here.

Make Sure Your Tent Is Dry

Even after a dry night in the backcountry, your tent will often end up with condensation on the fly due to temperature changes as the sun rises. Do your best to shake off any moisture, and leave your tent in a sunny area to dry before you pack it away.

If time constraints force to put your tent away wet, be sure to allow it to dry fully at home before you store it for any long period of time. Long term storage of a wet tent can lead to unrepairable (and potentially dangerous) mold and mildew on your tent. 

Put Away Your Poles

Collect your poles and break them down. Put them into your pole sack and set aside.

Lay Out Your Body And Fly

Find a flat, dry area to lay out your tent body and tent fly. Make sure that you shake them out to ensure they are clean, dry, and free of dirt. Zip up all the doors and zippers so there are no loose ends.

Fold

Fold your rain fly into thirds lengthwise so that it is as wide as your poleset is long. For some tents, you may only need to fold it in half to achieve a width that is equal to the length of your poleset. Repeat with your tent body.

Roll

This is the most important step. Once your fly and tent body are folded, lay them on top of each other, grab your poles, and tightly roll them around your poles in your pole sack. Best practice is to start at the top of the rain fly, and roll towards the open end. This will prevent air from being trapped and helps you make a nice tight roll. 

Slide and store

Once your fly, body and poles are rolled up tight, slide your Big Agnes burrito into the stuff sack. Don't forget to include your stakes!

If you are putting your tent away for the season or an extended period of time, make sure it is rinsed off and 100% dry before following the above steps. Make sure to store your tent in a cool, dry, and temperature controlled area. Your gear can handle hot and cold weather, but large temperature swings aren't ideal for long term storage.