The eternal question :
stuff, roll or fold ?
This is my way :
Packing up a Tarptent

focuses on how I store my Tarptents but the principle is the same for other tents too.

Edited by Franco on 02/23/2013 18:47:10 MST.

I roll, but I have a Scarp... so I gotta roll.

I clicked on this cause I *knew* it was for sleeping pads and I swear by folding it like a bath towel and putting it against your back in your pack.



It makes them dissappear.
(obscure Pantera refrence)

Jeffs, I just started rethinking how I pack and have played with "flatpacking" my pad. I think I like it.

Franco -- nice video. Thank you for posting.

Thank you Tim.
This morning I shot one for the Contrail.
Same idea but someone asked for that.
Packing up the Contrail

Edited by Franco on 02/23/2013 18:44:55 MST.

I'm a stuffer. It's faster and I believe that not consistently creasing the same part of the tent is better. Folding, I think, creates repetitive stress points on the tent fabric (assuming the person folds the same each time). Rolling I think would be fine but less space efficient than stuffing.

+1 to Dena.

Ryan

Thanks for the video Franco.

I haven't used single wall shelters much. Do you have any suggestions for packing up a single wall like the contrail in the rain so as to keep the interior dry? That is one of my hangups with prolonged wet weather use of a tent like the contrail.

Thanks

Dena
In the video I stated that "it depends" regarding what the best way is
(mind you , you need to be able to decipher my accent and keep in mind that I make the dialog up as I go along...)
Anyway, for stuff that is very soft/playable, say a puffy jacket or a sleeping bag, stuffing is faster and you are not going to save any space by folding/rolling.
This can change if using a sleeping bag with a much thicker than normal fabric.
For tents or shelters again it depends on the fabric and of course as I point out in the video how the tent is made.
Most Tarptents have a supported end with built in struts , so you have to fold and roll but for example with the Contrail , there is absolutely no way that you could remove the struts stuff the shelter in the provided sack with struts and stakes.
My "guess" is that it becomes even more obvious with Cuben shelters.
Just one small example :

that is a TiGoat Ptarmigan bivvy.
If you look carefully you can see that the perishing rubber band is not really compressing the bivvy.
Now I dare anyone that has that bivvy to get it that small by stuffing it.
Even once inside that pack and compressed it will take more space
Now multiply that by several times for a tent and it starts to make a difference.
BTW :
Folding, I think, creates repetitive stress points on the tent fabric
True if..
It is virtualy impossible to fold a silnylon or Epic tent the exact same way twice.
I have tried several times to do a "factory" re-pack for a Tarptent but failed...
Ryan W.
Take a look at the Contrail video , that should answer your question. (click on the blue Contrail word)
If I were looking for a solo TT shelter to use in areas where rain is common and particularly if planning to spend an afternoon or two inside, I would look at the Strato Spire 1 or if weight/size is more important, the Notch.
I would not bother (I have the SS2 and the Notch) but if worried about packing up in the rain , you can separate the inner from the fly, pack that up and then get out take down the fly and put that inside the front pocket or across the top of the backpack.

Edited by Franco on 02/23/2013 22:53:10 MST.

It doesnt matter if you try to roll or fold silnylon
It will end up stuffed anyway
too slippery.

That was funny, but you will only understand why if you watch the video link I posted in my initial comment...

BTW ,here is a comment on my YouTuce Contrail video :
Thanks again for the video! I was having trouble with this. But I just practiced with this a few times and it rolls up quick and easy. And easily fit back in the stuff sack.

Edited by Franco on 03/03/2013 13:14:12 MST.