ROLLING VS. STUFFING – The jury is still out on which method of packing up tents is best for longevity. Folding your tent into thirds and rolling it with the poles in the center protects the poles and can be gentler on the tent fabric than cramming it into the bag. As you start to roll, use your hand to sweep away dirt, sand, pine needles or any debris, as you continue to roll.
Carefully stuffing your tent into a stuff sack is another option. It’s quick and easy to do this on the trail (especially when a tent is wet) and doesn’t put stress on the same spots over and over again like folding and rolling does. Switching back and forth between these two methods – stuffing on the trail and rolling for storage after cleaning/drying – is a good happy medium.
