For a disorganized person like me, preparing for a backpacking trip can be nerve wracking.
You need to find a way to get all of your necessities into a single rucksack. Clothes, food, toiletries… How on Earth are you supposed to fit a tent in there?
Here’s the thing.
A camping tent – the bulkiest thing on your packing list – doesn’t actually have to take up a lot of storage space. In this article, I’ll show you two different methods of minimizing the amount of space your tent takes up in your backpack.
So, if you want to know how to pack a tent in a backpack the right way, read on!
The Internal Method
Backpacks with internal frames have more room for loading camping gear, so they’re a better option for packing a tent inside.
Sure, you can put a tent inside an external frame pack, but that’s definitely not the best way to pack your backpack.
Step 1: Lay It Flat And Inspect
The first thing you should do is lay the tent flat.
Inspect it for dirt and bugs, but most importantly, make sure it’s not damp. The tent needs to be completely dry when packed. If you pack up a wet tent, it will grow mold and mildew.
Step 2: Pack The Tent Poles
Take your tent poles and pack them in the bag they came in.
Then, as your tent still lays flat on the ground from the first step, place the bag at the bottom left or right corner of the tent, so it’s parallel to the bottom edge.
Step 3: Let’s Get Things Rollin’
The reason we placed the bag on the tent is because we’re going to roll the tent around it. The tent poles will work as a skeleton, meaning it will make the whole thing firm and stable.
You want to roll the tent around the pole bag as tight as you can, or else it might come loose and unroll inside your backpack. This could cause things to get tangled and you can end up accidentally ripping your tent.
Remember, our aim is to pack the tent in the most compact way possible, so that it doesn’t take up much storage space.
Make sure to keep the bag and tent aligned as you roll it around. If it appears messy or awry, unroll the whole thing and start over.
Somewhere along the line, you can also put a bag with tent pegs on the whole thing and continue rolling. This adds firmness and stability to your tent burrito.
Step 4: Use A Tent Bag
Tents usually come in a bag or stuff sack that keeps them tightly packed.
Once you’ve rolled up your tent around the poles, pack the rolled tent inside the tent bag.
Step 5: Start Packing Your Backpack
Now that your tent is compactly packed, it’s time to load your gear into a backpacking backpack.
Since we’re using the internal method, you need to make sure the bag is large enough for your tent to fit in, along with all the other necessary equipment.
Making an inventory list is a good idea prior to packing. Not only your back, but your whole skeleton is affected by the weight you’re carrying. Overpacking puts a lot of strain on your body, so avoid it at all costs.
To do so, follow a simple rule of thumb – never pack more than 30% of your body weight. Not only would you look like the hunchback from Notre Dame, but you could seriously injure yourself when carrying too much on your back. So figure out what backpacking base weight is best for you.
The order you pack things matters, too. The heavier items should always be at the bottom. This is because our hips are the center of gravity and the part of our bodies that can carry the most weight.
Start by packing stuff that is not only heavy, but not needed until you get to the campsite. The first thing to go into your backpack should be your sleeping bag.
This bulky piece of gear is the last thing you need during a hike, and you don’t want to have to take it out every time you want to get something out from your backpack.
Step 6: Pack Your Tent
After you’ve packed your sleeping bag, place the tent right on top of it. Put it as close to the backside of your pack as you can, for better load distribution.
You can pack the tent either vertically or horizontally. Vertical packing allows you to access your tent easily, while a horizontal position allows you to pack more equipment on top of it.
Obviously, the way you pack the tent will depend on the size of your hiking backpack, as well as the rest of the gear you’re packing.
The External Method
But what if your tent is too large for your backpack, or if you need more room for all of your camping equipment?
You can carry your tent by attaching it to your pack.
Nowadays, most hiking backpacks have loops and straps that allow you to fasten bulky pieces of gear to the outside.
If you have an external frame backpack, this is obviously a more suitable way of carrying your tent. This type of pack has a variety of attachment points on the frame for things like tents and sleeping bags.
Regardless of what type of backpack frame you have, there are a few steps you need to take to pack your tent properly if you want to pack it externally.
Step 1: Roll Up Your Tent
The first four steps of the internal packing method apply here, too.
Lay your tent down on the floor and place a bag with poles in one corner.
Then, roll everything up and put it in the tent bag.
Step 2: Protect It From Rain
Even though most tents nowadays are waterproof, the rain can still get inside the tent.
This will weigh you down quite a bit. So make sure you place your tent inside a waterproof bag, and seal it tight.
Step 3: Check Your Straps
Make sure all the straps and loops on your backpack are secure.
The last thing you want is a tent to slip off. Knowing my luck, this would happen while walking over a river bridge, and I would wave goodbye to my tent as I watch it flow down the stream.
If your straps are sliding, you can just make a simple knot to keep them in place.
Step 4: Pack It At The Bottom
Like I said, attaching your tent to the bottom part of the backpack helps with weight distribution.
Asides from that, it allows you to move easily and without restraints.
Step 5: Secure It In Place
Most backpacks have webbing loops that allow you to attach different pieces of equipment. They can be either daisy chains or individual loops, stitched on at different points around your backpack.
Tie your tent bag’s straps to the webbing loops on your pack. Any secure knot will do. Make sure your tent is not loose, otherwise it will sway around like a wrecking ball.
Compression straps are another way you can attach your tent to the backpack. Thanks to the buckles, everything stays tightly in place.
Pull the straps over your tent bag, and connect the buckles. Tighten the straps to prevent the tent from moving. Make sure it’s attached in such a way that the weight is equally distributed on both sides.
Finally, if you have an exterior frame backpack, it features tie points at the bottom that allow you to easily attach your tent.
Factors To Consider
Packing might seem like a thoughtless activity, but it’s quite the opposite.
With limited space and plenty of things to pack, it seems like you’ve got some planning to do.
There are a few things you should consider beforehand.
Size
Obviously, you need a backpack large enough to accommodate not only your tent, but other important pieces of equipment too.
But what if you’re carrying a large multi-person tent?
No matter how spacious your backpack is, a family tent would take up a large portion of it. In this case, an external packing method is probably a better idea.
Tent Bag
Tents always come in their own carry bags, but they’re not always the best option for packing into a backpack.
If you want to put a bulky tent in a medium-sized backpack, you need to squish it down. In other words, get a compression bag and make that bad boy as compact as possible.
A compression bag works well for the external packing method, too.
Aside from that, you should also consider getting a waterproof bag. Rain comes and goes unexpectedly, so this will allow you to keep your tent safe from moisture.
Internal Vs External Frame Backpack
If you’re yet to buy a camping backpack or you own both kinds, which one to go for?
Internal frame backpacks are lighter and more adjustable. They have a slimmer profile, which makes them great for trails with a lot of bushes and branches that you can get stuck in.
External frame backpacks have lots of pockets, lashes and straps that allow you to attach additional equipment.
But, there’s always the risk of snagging your tent on a branch. What’s more, if you don’t secure it properly, it can slip off in the middle of a hike.
To Sum It Up
Learning how to pack a tent in a backpack is not rocket science.
Yet, randomly throwing things inside your pack is very inefficient.
With such limited storage space, you need to be practical. By following these simple steps for packing your tent using either an internal or external method, you can make the best use of your backpack and save space for other essential items.
