Could anybody tell me how to get an Outwell tent back in the dam bag,how you're supposed to store tents and if they've found a bag alternative???

[MilaMae]

As our Vermont XL is still half in and half out of it's bag a week later.

Also whilst flicking through camping magazine I happened to notice an article on extending the life of your tent.It said you MUST fold it properly. Well we had no instructions on how to fold and we kind of resorted to folding/rolling it any old way to get it to it's 1/2 in/out state.

We're camping again in 5 weeks so I was going to leave it as it is until then and then do it properly(with all the doors and windows opened).Will it be ok,kind of attached to the old girl already?

Also in order to avoid a repeat performance of last weekend has anybody else found an alternative to the crapola Outwell bag?

One other thing we had slight drizzle the day before we left than a morning of bright wind so didn't bother airing before storing.Is that ok or could it rot?

TIA

as long as dry when put away that should be fine.

we haven't been able to get our poles back intothe bag since we got it out for the first time - we just store them in their separate bag.

we zip up all doors and windows before we put the tent down, then try to fold it up tucking all the guys in, folding into a long narrow shape and the rolling to get it into the bag. - takes some time and a big of practice - but we have to get it as small as possible to fit into the car!

Also do you store yours inside or in the garage?We haven't been in this house long so not entirely sure the garage is mice free.

Do moths like to nibble on tents(it's a nylon one not canvas)as I was thinking of bunging it in the spare room wardrobe and not entirely sure that's moth free?

TIA

keep one in our bedroom and one in DD's room - our shed is not completely dry.

In fact one tent is in a heap on the louge flor right now, having been dried out after last camping trip, and waiting for dry day to get it out in the garden to roll up properly!

lounge and floor - I can spell honest, is the speed typing that I fail at!

Note to all tent manufacturers - make the bags a couple of inches bigger all the way round so you can get the bloody things back in. Pass it on to sleeping bag companies while you're at it.

Snap! We had a trial run at putting our new tent up last week and it's still halfway in the bag too. This one is a Khyam.

Vango got it right with our old tent, the bag is lovely and sturdy and roomy, it is really easy to get the tent back inside. I will miss the bag a lot!

We are thinking of looking for a big sports bag, maybe cricket one? Has anyone done that?

We just fold and roll our tent, but the key to getting it back in the bag is to get DH to lie on it as you roll and get all the air out

sorry Mila, getting the tent back in the bag is an artform.

Our tent bag (which looks like a potato sack - a bit as you'd expect a cabanon bag to be swish) has gone awol since last week's holiday. The tent is currently rolled up and held in place with a couple of those bungee cords.

Musn't pack a tent away damp. Will go all mildewy and horrid. Give it a good air and only pack away if bone dry.

Ours is a rigidome with the poles permanently attached so if I let dh lie on it he will probably break it.

Yes, not a good plan Pixie

I Keep my tent poles in one bag and the actual tent in another. The original tent bag ripped, so I threw it and now use 2 bags with a zip, from double quilts bought in Asda.

I would use a sports bag, anything with a zip and handle will do.

We have the same tent and the same problem.

I store the poles, the inners and the removable groundsheet separately and still have major issues getting it back in the back.

Will be watching this thread to find out what the solution is!

We were given a tip that works like a dream, here goes:

Close all the doors/windows but leave the front door slightly open so that air can escape.

You need to fold the tent from side to side

Make sure the first fold is shorter than the tent bag (leave roughly 10cms each side). Measure by using the length of the bag,

Get dh and the kids to roll down the fold (from the back of the tent to the front) expelling all the air out of the front door.

Fold again and repeat the process

Keep doing this, rolling down and expelling the air on each fold.

When you are down to the last fold, roll down the length but go slowly so that all the air can escape.

It works - I promise

I think there's a video of tent packing either on the outwell site or on youtube, all in 10 minutes of course!

Plonker is right - getting all the air out is the key!! We have an Idaho XL and it is a right pain to get back in the bag, but we have now mastered it. We also roll the poles up in the middle.

We also have an outwell, last time we camped I noticed it was ripped DH confessed he has managed to rip it everytime and like others we keep the poles in a different bag. I suspect we need a new bag now.

Tent stored in shed (canvas) with no problems.

Have just done this today.

It was fine, what you do is lay it flat without the poles (like where it falls - not sure though because Vermont is not tunnel? might have to do each section separately)

then you fold in one third of it on top of itself, (one edge in towards the centre) and then the third from the other side, so it is a third of the original size.

Then depending on the size, you would then fold this in half or thirds again lengthways, which with ours makes it the same width as the bag (more of a wheeled suitcase)

I forgot to say each time you fold a bit over, you wipe the underneath with something absorbent to pick up any dew from the ground, and also you leave it in strong sunlight for a few minutes which dries it out well (geddit)

so each fold takes a few minutes

and then once you have this long tube shaped thing you get one end and roll it slowly, compressing any air as you go, into a swiss roll - again wiping and leaving to dry if a lot of moisture - and it should go back in fine.

I've never packed this tent as it's new but it went in first time, AND the poles did too

I just heart this tent.

Tent-s in an airing cupboard - you must have one helluva airing cupboard supersalstrawberry !

You lucky thing ours is in the garage where hopefully it won't get nibbled by mice !

Have you looked at the Outwell website? They have pitching videos on there, try doing it in reverse?

We store our zip off groundsheet separately as well as poles - makes it easier to pack in the trailer and to put away.
btw our tent bag is as least twice as long and wide as the tent itself. - Too big in fact.