Explore It!

    The age-old debate of how to care for a tent never seems to stop.

    During an unofficial poll, answers seemed split down the middle on whether to roll a tent or stuff it when packing it either for the off-season or between camps.

    Many of the most adamant answers were from people who were die-hard stuffers. Others, like me, heard both sides of the argument, saw substance in both and still didn’t know what to do.

    So instead of staying in the dark, I went straight to the people who ought to know – tent designers at some of the most well-known tent manufacturers in the world.

Explore It!: Do you recommend stuffing or rolling your tents and why?

Big Agnes: I say do what suits you. Be cautious of poking the tent with pegs, poles, twigs or what have you. – Chris Pottinger, tent designer

Eastern Mountain Sports: I prefer to roll when stored, so as I roll I clean off any debris on the tent that can damage the materials. Plus it is better for the coatings to have the materials be as flat as possible. I will stuff in the field to be quick. – Tony Roina, equipment sourcing and product engineering director

Kelty/Sierra Designs: It is best to roll/stuff/fold your tent a different way each time. This way you will not create permanent creases in the same place of the tent. A good way to store your tent is to fold the body of the tent in thirds length-wise. Drape the rainfly over the folded body so that no part of the rainfly is wider than the folded body. Lay the collapsed poles and the stakes across one end of the folded tent. Loosely roll up the tent from one end to the other, rolling it around the poles and stakes. – Phil Mesdag, product manager

Mountain Hardwear: Rolling, it’s better for the tent in appearance and for the long-term wear and tear on a tent. – Sean McDevitt, designer

MSR: Some will argue that rolling a tent repeatedly will form permanent creases and will lead to the weakening of the fabric. I have never met anyone who can fold and roll their tent the exact same way every time. When you need to save space in or on your pack, roll the tent. If you are caught in a storm and you need to quickly pack your tent up or if space is not a concern, then just stuff it. – Dale Karacostas, tent and shelter product director

Nemo Equipment: I recommend stuffing tents. Tent fabrics have a lot of technical coatings to keep them waterproof, breathable (in some cases), UV resistant, and have other specific properties. Repeatedly creasing your tents along the exact same fold lines will stress and wear out those technical properties faster than other parts of the tent. Stuffing your tent ensures randomness so that you aren’t ever stressing out the same areas, and it also gives moisture a better chance of escaping. – Suzanne Turell, product design director

The North Face: Not as much care goes in to stuffing and can often result in catching and tearing mesh, poles getting stuck into mesh or tent body, etc. If you look at a brand new tent in the stuff sack, they are usually folded and rolled up tight. The poles and stakes are almost always in the middle of the fabric. This is also good practice for backpackers if you are going to store your poles with your tent. – Scott McGuire, equipment product director

Explore It!: Does it depend on the type of tent or the material?

Big Agnes: No. Not really.

EMS: Nope, but sometimes keeping polyester flies and nylon floors away from each other are better when wet. This is why I stuff separate in the field. Nylon color can migrate onto polyester when wet.

Kelty/SD: This goes for any fabric type.

Mountain Hardwear: No.

MSR: My experience is limited to lightweight backpacking tents, but I believe that this would hold true for most backpacking tents.

Nemo: There is no tent, to my knowledge, that doesn’t even try to be water resistant/proof. As long as you have coated fabrics, creasing and stressing of fabrics is always going to be an issue.  With a folded tent, you might have a slightly smoother looking tent when you first pull it out of the bag to set it up, but when you are talking about shelter function comes first.

The North Face: For a super light tent, I recommend folding and rolling. It keeps the mesh “inside” and away from the dirt that may remain on the floor. It also makes one more cautious and aware of the dirt, debris and care needed on the tent as it is stored. If it is an expedition tent, it is bomber.

Explore It!: Are your tents sold stuffed or rolled? If opposite of what you recommend, why?

Big Agnes: They are loosely folded then rolled. It’s a clean presentation to the customer.

EMS: We roll them at the factory.

Kelty/SD: Our tents are sold rolled.

Mountain Hardwear: They come rolled. I don’t think anyone sells tents stuffed.

MSR: Our tents are sold rolled. This is so that they take up the least amount of space in transit as well as look nice and crisp when they are set up for the first time.

Nemo: Our tents are sold rolled because this offers the neatest presentation for customers when they are making a purchase decision.

The North Face: The North Face tents are rolled, which is easy care in the factory.

Explore It!: Do you stuff or roll your personal tent(s)?

Big Agnes: When I’m backpacking I’ll stuff the tent. I usually pack the poles and stakes separately from the tent. When I’m car camping I loosely fold then roll.

EMS: Roll for storage, stuff in the field.

Kelty/SD: I roll my personal tent - it packs better in my pack (less bulk) and looks a little better when set up (I am a tent guy, so I want my tent to look good!).

Mountain Hardwear: Roll, religiously.

MSR: I usually roll my tents, but if they are wet or if I am in a hurry, I just stuff them.

Nemo: I always stuff my tents. It’s faster, easier, and most importantly – better for the tent.

The North Face: I stuff while out and stuff depending on weather. I roll once I clean and put the tent away.

Still don’t know what to get the outdoor adventurer on your shopping list?
Or maybe you’re looking to add something to your own list. Either way, there’s still time to find the best gift for your favorite someone.
If you’re looking to spend less than $200, here are another five gift ideas.

Yaktrax Pro
MSRP: $30

If you’ve ever ventured onto an ice-covered road or sidewalk, chances are you’ve wiped out - or at least come pretty close - while others point and laugh.
But with Yaktrax Pros strapped to your feet, you’ll be as sure footed as a… well…yak.
The spikeless traction devices attach to the bottoms of your shoes and latch on with Velcro-type straps.
They provide enough traction for a brisk walk down an incredibly icy road and are surprisingly comfortable on dry pavement.
The Pro version comes with sturdy steel coils that spiral around rubber forming ice-biting X’s.
It’s those X’s that allowed me to jog a short distance down the road coming to sudden stops on hard-packed snow while temperatures hovered in the teens.
While it takes a little muscle to stretch the rubber over your shoe soles (despite the Yaktrax coming in small, medium, large and extra large), once they are on, they don’t move.

Big Agnes Milner Mall Booties
MSRP: $45

If you’re looking for a camp slipper you can toss in the bottom of your pack without much weight, or a bootie that will easily fit in your suitcase when traveling, take a good look at the Big Agnes Milner Mall Booties.
The blue nylon exterior hides the PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, half of which is made of recycled material.
Additionally, the shell, sole and rand are all 100 percent recycled, which helps put the Big Agnes slippers into the “green” category.
Dig them out, slip them on, pull the ankle drawstring tight and prepare to get toasty feet.
In indoor conditions, the slippers keep your feet warm enough to be comfortable, but not too warm that your feet sweat. Outside they provide adequate warmth in most conditions.
But the lack of cushioning in the sole makes them far from desirable when walking around the house sipping coffee in the morning.
And besides sizes fitting women with a shoe size of 3-16 and men 3-14, the company makes a kid’s version for $10 less.

Katadyn Hiker water purifier
MSRP: $60

On the trail, water purification can be one of the most important aspects of survival.
And while there are dozens of options available to treat unfiltered water, the Katadyn Hiker is a great choice.
Having been around for years, the Hiker has continuously performed in nearly any backcountry adventure imaginable - including many of my own.
It’s pretty average when it comes to weight (11 ounces), but it’s easy to pump and requires minimal maintenance - simply replace the cartridge when needed.
It doesn’t pump as fast as some other filters out there, but it’s prefilter screen helps filter out debris while the inner pleated glass fiber/carbon filter keeps out the squiggly little microorganisms that can make you sick.
It’s output hose has an end that’s compatible with a hydration bladder and Nalgene bottle, making it easy to fill common containers by yourself. And it packs away into a handy pouch.
Sure the connecting tubes are a little long, but it’s often better to have long tubes than shorter ones - and having a quality filter is worth the diminutive hassle.

Arc’teryx Covert Zip Neck sweater
MSRP: $150

When spending time outdoors in the cold, it’s incredibly important to dress in layers.
Though many people ignore mid layers, it’s an important piece to have.
The Arc’teryx Covert Zip Neck sweater is perfect for added warmth, and it helps wick sweat.
Though expensive for a fleece-style sweater, it’s worth it.
The Zip Neck is a quarter-zip mid layer that’s really soft on the outside and twice as soft on the inside. With the help of its Polartec Thermal Pro, the sweater isn’t scratchy like some wool mid layers available.
It’s machine washable, which is a must when you’re wearing it for active pursuits, and it has a small pocket on the left bicep for your ID along with some cash or credit cards.
And its sleeves are a good length - even for people like me with a big wingspan.
However it doesn’t have thumbholes like other comparable mid layers on the market, so it doesn’t help keep your hands warm.
It’s simply one of those layers that you can wear skiing, wear downtown afterward and then wear lounging around the house the next day.

REI Piggyback Child Carrier
MSRP: $165

Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you have to give up your favorite outdoor activities.
I’m not talking about getting a baby sitter while you’re out having fun. I’m talking about bringing your child with you to experience nature.
That’s why kid carriers, like the REI Piggyback Child Carrier, are amazing.
It fits like a backpack pack with all the adjustability you want to ensure both carrier and carried have a good time.
It’ll support kids up to 45 pounds, has an adjustable torso for the carrier, numerous child seat adjustments, and a 70-ounce hydration reservoir sleeve.
The child carrier even has a mirror attached so you can see if your toddler is conked out or wide-eyed and ready for an adventure.
What about those diapers and all other kid necessities?
The carrier has a detachable backpack behind the child seat to stash all the necessary gear, and, if you want, you can buy a diaper bag to fit beneath it.
And with a torso range of 15-23 inches and a waist range of 28-56 inches, the Piggyback will fit most adults.

photo courtesy Big Agnes

Big Agnes Milner Mall Booties

• Pros: Very compressible; Made of recycled material; Ankle drawstring helps retain heat
• Cons: Sole not cushioned; Available in one color; Not designed for home use
• Bottom Line: The Big Agnes booties are great for travelers or backpackers who want a warm, compressible slipper, but they lack cushion, which makes them less than ideal for around-the-house use.
• MSRP: $45
• Weight: 4.5 - 8 ounces

Big Agnes’ Web site

If you’re looking for a camp slipper you can toss in the bottom of your pack without much added weight, or a bootie that will easily fit in your suitcase when traveling, take a good look at the Big Agnes Milner Mall Booties.
The blue nylon exterior hides the PrimaLoft synthetic insulation, half of which is made of recycled material.
Additionally, the shell, sole and rand are all 100 percent recycled, which puts the Big Agnes slippers into the “green” category.
The Milner Mall Booties are lightweight and easily compressible making them easy to stash in a pack or suitcase until your feet get cold.
Dig them out, slip them on, tighten the ankle drawstring and prepare to have toasty feet.
In indoor conditions, the slippers keep your feet warm enough to be comfortable, but not too warm that your feet sweat.
And outdoors, for at least for short periods of time, there’s no noticeable change in foot warmth.
The outsoles have a rubbery grip that helps provide traction and withstand a fair amount of abuse.
But the lack of cushioning in the sole makes them far from desirable when walking around the house sipping coffee in the morning.
According to Steamboat Springs, Colo.-based Big Agnes, which specializes in making sleeping bags, tents and other outdoor-related gear, the booties are also designed to keep your feet warm inside your sleeping bag.
While I haven’t needed them for that, with them on, my feet move freely inside my bag. But unless you want a dirty sleeping bag, don’t plan on wearing them outside the tent (or house) and then crawling back in to keep your toes warm.
Besides adult sizes fitting women with a shoe size of 3-16 and men 3-14, the company makes a kid’s kind for $10 less.