If you’re going on a camping trip or to a weekend festival, there’s nothing easier to set up than a pop up tent. You take the tent out of its bag, let it go, and boom — instant tent. But once you’re ready to pack up again, putting your tent away isn’t quite as easy. That’s why it’s essential to know exactly how to fold a pop up tent.
Once you know all the steps, putting your pop up tent back in its bag is almost as easy as setting it up. All you need to know is how. We can’t guarantee perfect weather, but we can make your trip just that little bit easier.
To help in this area, here are some step by step instructions for how to fold a pop up tent the easy way.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Before you set out on your adventure, take your pop-up tent out into your backyard and practice folding it. You don’t want to be out in the wilderness trying to fold a pop up tent for the first time. And the great thing is you don’t need any special tools in order to fold a pop up tent.
There are only two items you need to follow this tutorial:
- Pop-up tent
- Pop-up tent bag
The process is the same no matter what the size of your pop-up tent is. That being said, if you have a big tent, it might be easier to fold it with the help of another person.
That’s it! Just run through these steps a couple of times at home and you’ll be ready to go on your adventure without any stress.
Step 1: Clean the tent before folding
The first thing you need to remember is that, like any other tent, packing away a dirty pop-up tent can lead to mold and mildew. Therefore, be sure to clean and dry your tent completely before folding it and taking it home.
More: How to Pitch a Tent
Step 2: Fold the top two poles together
Now that your tent is clean and dry, it’s time to start folding. Standing in front of your tent, grab the top two rounded poles and bring them together.
Step 3: Fold the bottom two poles together
While holding the top two poles together, grab the bottom poles, one at a time. Fold them up so they’re together with the top poles. Now you’ll have all four poles together and the tent should resemble a taco.
Step 4: Stand the tent up on its end
Take all the poles together in one hand. Use your other hand to help you stand the tent on its end. Now, the bottom of the tent is vertical and the poles are in one hand on one side.
Step 5: Fold the poles into your other hand
While the tent is standing on its end, grab the poles at the end which is facing up. Bend them downwards and in towards your other hand. As you fold the tent, work your way down and pin the folded tent to the ground with your foot or knee.
Start pressing the air out of the tent with your free hand. At this point, you’ll notice the tent has two circles which resemble a figure 8.
Step 6: Slide the tent halves together
Carefully slide one circle over the other to create one circle. This is the circle which will fit into your tent bag. Continue pressing the air out of the tent so that it will fit nicely inside the bag.
Step 7: Press and seal the tent in the bag
Next, slide your newly-folded pop-up tent into its bag and zip it up. Now you’re ready to pack up the rest of your gear and head home.
If you have any questions about how to fold a pop up tent, here’s a video to help you.
How to Fold a Pop Up Tent: Mystery Solved
If you have a pop-up tent and don’t know how to fold it properly, getting it back into its tent bag can be a frustrating challenge. And nobody wants to add frustration to what’s supposed to be a fun and relaxing trip. The more you know about setting up and breaking down your campsite, the more you’ll enjoy the entire experience.
Now you know how to fold a pop up tent, you won’t need to worry about packing up. Folding your pop-up tent is almost as easy as setting it up in the first place.
What do you think about our guide? Are you now confident in your ability to fold a pop up tent? Tell us what you think in the comments!
