AC, I used that method before moving to Ostrom packs, and it worked very well. Can't really go wrong wtith it. Used it for sleeping bags too, and put it all in a canvas Duluth pack. I found that by using compression sacks, I can really reduce the size of my overall packs. Wet fly? goes in a spare drybag or or compression sack.

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"I've never met a river I didn't like. The challenges are what we remember, and the experiences will make great memories for when I can pick up my paddle no more". Me

Same here. Been a roller for 35 years.

stuffer. allows the rigid part (poles) to go either beside the tent, or away from beside it. so, packing is made more flexible. not just because the poles can go wherever relative to tent, but because the tent can now be squeezed in any which way, mold to the shape of other things. also, allows the use of compression sack for the tent = space savings (though that reduces the 'molding' element). also faster packing. rolling takes setup time, execution time, dirt wiping, and then fitting/pushing into a sack with poles. and harder if solo. large sacks are nice. default sacks are often too slim for easy packing, even if it's just stuffing (no poles). default sacks have the shape they do, i expect, not to serve any purpose on trip, but to serve a purpose in sales (one complete package, on a shelf). also, tent fabric not rubbing/yanking on pole ends when poles kept separate. as far as wear on the tent, from stuffing vs. rolling, i have observed no difference. for long term storage, i store tents in loosely rolled relaxed state (costs space), poles not involved (unless under the roll).

Stuffer who's going back to rolling.

I've found that I have abrasions on the screens on my Eureka which I think are likely because I've been stuffing without care. So I'm going to go back to rolling where the screens are better protected.

As a volunteer for Scouts Canada responsible for maintaining a fleet of tents, I've been asked this question. So we asked the manufacturers. Most simply answered 'rolling'. The others answered 'rolling' as well, with some interesting and detailed answers. It turns out, some have done testing, and one found that stuffing reduces screen life by about 30%. Some mfrs specifically design for their tent for long life based on being folded a particular way, too.

If you've stuffed your own tents all your life, and it makes you happy, do it. But now that you know, if advocating stuffing to others, it's probably best to provide the caveat about tent life.

As a QuarterMaster, I insist tents are returned rolled properly. We teach youth to leave a door open a crack, to make it easier for air to escape when folding. Stuffing doesn't scale, and storing poles separately is simply a non-starter. For water trips, dry bags can actually be great for aggregating the tent bag, accessories like footprint, a tent lantern and a tent whisk. But for hiking trips, it's the opposite: tents get broken up between participants.

Personally, I roll, but I've also stuffed tents below -20C when there's no chance of melting the condensation on-site. And I store a wet fly separately until it can be dried.

Heh, that's quite interesting. I've noticed the screens come out much more "accordioned" (to invent a word), if I stuff rather than roll. The same way folding a shirt in your luggage minimizes wrinkles compared to just stuffing it.

Any chance you have a link to that study?

And BTW, welcome to MyCCR! We're happy to have you here!

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If you ate today, thank a farmer.

i would definitely offer that caveat about tent life, but would also change my ways should i be in a situation of offering such caveat (in which case, i would not offer the caveat because i would not be advocating stuffing lol). i would like to see this study as well. i have been stuffing forever and have observed no issue. i am interested in the context surrounding that 30%. eg, are we talking about when the poles are in as well? are we talking about using the too-narrow stuff sacks tents often come in? because i can see those factors (and perhaps others) as contributing to mesh degradation. but those are factors that are not in play for me personally. interested in this study if you can provide it, thanks

opinions by tent makers here
https://exploreitoutdoors.wordpress.com ... ing-tents/

votes seem to slant to stuffing, or it's at least 50/50.

also found Marmot (and MSR) recommended stuffing, elsewhere.
Tarptent recommends to stuff, and those tents are mesh happy tents.
Hilleberg in tent care vlog is perfectly fine with stuffing tents (they stuff their own). They're just against compression bags.

I don’t compression bag our tents in canoe travel, the risk of bending a zipper or abrading screen seems too great, especially with some lightweight tents where the weight savings comes from less robust zippers and lots of mesh.

I do compression bag our tarp, sleeping bags and clothes. But only during a trip, I believe most gear is better stored at home loose and fluffy and able to “breathe”.

Sleeping bags get closet hung. Tent stays in its stuff bag (I’m a roller), but the pole bag & stake bags come out to make some breathing room and get attached to the tent bag drawstring so we can’t leave home without them. Many wrong pole stories on friend trips, fortunately none ours.

The tarp compression bags are large enough that I can un-compress them, leaving the tarp loosely stuffed within. No mesh or zippers at potential risk, I do stuff our tarps.

As far as tent wear and tear goes post-trip care and storage may be paramount. If we packed up even slightly damp on the last day everything gets hung to dry as soon as we get home. Even if it is raining out; we have a couple long outside lines (permanent eye bolts and sized lines with beeners atttached), but also two 30’ lines strung across the roof of the basement.

Four people coming off a rainy trip, we have had gear on every line inside and out.

In camp the usual ground sharps and excessive wind cautions. And other things; I have a friend who somehow finds it impossible to fully close his tent zippers. In windy conditions I watch the unzipped few inches flap around violently. He buys a new tent every few years, “The zipper is shot”.

I have mentioned the zipper wind flappage, more than once, but have given up.

great idea, compression bag for tarp. i always used default sacks for my tarps, and most are tight fits (even pu tarps (less springy than silnylon i think)) but a compress sack gets it in easy (since starts big), then for squishing tight, it's not fingers fighting bits to stay in but hands just pulling down the straps. i'm going to try. that's also probably better for the tarp strain wise.

tents in original sacks without poles, is also a very welcome idea, because space savings. i have always stored them in bins, so loose it's like i just let them 'pour' into a bin. funny how when you get used to something you worry of doing otherwise. if you haven't had issue with orig sack, good for me. by storing my tents in orig sacks, ill bring volume down to 25% what it is, i bet.

zipper thing is interesting. maybe he/she doesn't 'let it find its natural spot' when zipping, you know what i mean? kind of like getting a key in a tight lock, it helps to loosen fingers a bit and let it find its way in. so maybe he/she is pulling on angle every time.

by the way, i think tents are generally pretty flatish (not very springy), so the non-use of compress sack for tents is rather ok because no gains with it. some gain, but nothing like a down bag/clothes, etc. and even if there were gains, the rigidness of it may cause the gained space to be lost because eg, it doesn't conform to the shape of neighbouring things,.

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Old canoeists never die---they just smell that way.

I find this interesting as well. How about those of us who do both. Roll n' Stuff † (trade mark!)

MEh!