Tent Folding

Most people recommend just stuffing it in it's stuff sack. If you fold it every time, especially in the same manner, the creases will weaken the fabric

I prefer to stuff the tent as it seems to take up less room. I use a spin sack from Thru Hiker to save a bit of weight as well.

Actually, when you stuff a tent — esp. cramping it into a small stuff sack — you are actually creating thousands and thousands of sharp creases!!! So what if the patterns aren't repeated exactly each time? With the thousands of sharp creases remaining in place for months on end (off season) — if prolonged or repeated sharp creases or folds will truly destroy wp/b coating like some say they will — then your tent is shot!

But the truth of the matter is that it REALLY DOESN'T MATTER if you fold or stuff your tent! Do a search on any of the forums and you will find folks who have kept their tents for a decade or more — and some will have stored them stuffed, while others folded. That should end the silly debate right there.

Now, if folding or stuffing matters not at all — then what are the things to watch for — to prevent the fabrics from molding, getting sticky or delaminating? Just three things — always make sure to:

1. Clean your tent before storing. No cookie crumbs, sod, dead bugs, hair, skin flakes….. Clean the zippers too.

2. Dry your tent thoroughly before storing. Moisture — any moisture at all — is a big "no no".

3. Store in a cool and dry place away from any sunlight. Heat, moisture and sunlight can destroy any tent.

Once you are clear on all three above, feel free to fold or stuff your tent to your heart's delight.

I just store mine loosely in large mesh laundry bags. I've done this for years with no problems so far.

Wow, I have already done all I can.
It's clean, dry, combination of folded/stuffed and placed in my "fort knox" storage unit.

> how to fold-up an expensive tent for the winter having a few creases in the material as possible?

In a single word: LOOSELY.
Yes, clean and dry as others have said, but why stuff it tightly? I just fold mine up loosely and lay it on a shelf.

Cheers

The golite hut 1 will hardly fit in its "stuff" sack if you stuff it, but it will fit much easier if you fold it…

Of the various types of fabric that my tents are made of, the ToddTex (I have the Pinon) is the one that I definitely would not just stuff tightly for storage but follow Roger's advice to fold it loosely and , as with all tents…it should be stored clean and dry. (if you still have room under the bed, that is a good place for storage)./ For backpacking, it is always easier to get it back into the stuff sack if you fold it to the width of your folded pole sections and use those poles to roll it up with.
Franco

we have dozens of tents because of our job and they are stored loosely stuffed into Rubbermaid bins – we've been doing this for 7 years or so and have never had an issue. My opinion is that this is better for the tent but this is merely my own way of doing things.

What Benjamin says is very important – clean and dry… mold and mildew can do some pretty serious damage to a tent.