Tent Compression

[Renaissance Man]

I have a Vango Ark 400+. Can I compress it? Thoughts?

[beachbumd]

Re: Tent Compression

I don't compress my tent but do fold it up and put back in the carry bag.

[hozerdude]

Re: Tent Compression

I do it with my Solace Camper. Now I use straps to compress the tent fabric just like I did with my old Timeout camper.

[paulcb]

Re: Tent Compression

I compress it into the stuff bag that came with it. FWIW, I have an Alps 4 person tent. The tent and fly stuff into one bag.

[LarryinSeattle]

Re: Tent Compression

My tent, the ground cover and rain fly go into a compression sack and I compress the heck out of it. The poles are stored separately. I don't see how it can damage it. I also compress my sleeping bags this way but I don't store my sleeping bags in a compressed bag. This saves quite a bit of room. Compression sacks came from Amazon.

http://amzn.com/B000Y14JUC

[Roadhound]

Re: Tent Compression

I fold and roll my tent around the poles then wrap it with a couple of velcro straps. It it then goes into a stuff sack much smaller than it came in. I feel this gives my poles a little protection, and I'm not likely to ever leave the poles behind.

[Dusty Boots]

Re: Tent Compression

4 man tent with 2 large vestibules, rain fly, tent stakes and ground cloth

[Crusty]

Re: Tent Compression

I fold and roll my tent around the poles then wrap it with a couple of velcro straps. It it then goes into a stuff sack much smaller than it came in. I feel this gives my poles a little protection, and I'm not likely to ever leave the poles behind.

I do the same.

[menhir]

Re: Tent Compression

I just fold them/roll them up and put them back in the bag they came in.
Since I use small tents and strap them on the bike rather than squeeze them into a case, there's little to be gained by compressing.

[Haze]

Re: Tent Compression

I fold and roll my tent around the poles then wrap it with a couple of velcro straps. It it then goes into a stuff sack much smaller than it came in. I feel this gives my poles a little protection, and I'm not likely to ever leave the poles behind.

I do the same with my Kelty 4 man tent. Fold and roll the tent about the poles to protect the poles.
Now I do compress my sleeping bag as small as I can with a Coleman compression sack.
Both the tent and sleeping bag go in a "dry bag" with my ground cloth and tent hardware.
Works for me...

[Haze]

Re: Tent Compression

I fold and roll my tent around the poles then wrap it with a couple of velcro straps. It it then goes into a stuff sack much smaller than it came in. I feel this gives my poles a little protection, and I'm not likely to ever leave the poles behind.

I do the same with my Kelty 4 man tent. Fold and roll the tent about the poles.
Now I do compress my sleeping bag as small as I can with a Coleman compression sack.
Both the tent and sleeping bag go in a "dry bag" with my ground cloth and tent hardware.
Works for me...

[SageDrifter]

Re: Tent Compression

I use backpacking tents, they always come with a compression bag standard. My smallest tent for summer solo trips weighs about 2 pounds and packs about 5"x15". Its best to stuff your tent into the bag, rolling and folding creates repeated stress points and weakens the material. I stuff the fly around the poles and stakes, then the tent body's solid material first ending in the mesh portions. My tents are fine after years of compressing them tight, one of my favorites is over 10 years old and still water tight. Its a Eureka Back Country Dome.