One of the bulkier and heavier items you will need to bring while camping or backpacking is a tent. Even ultralight tents can add a significant amount of weight to your luggage, which you’ll feel the longer you’re on the trail.
That’s why learning how to pack a tent in a backpack is an essential skill to master as it helps lessen your load. Below we’ll show you how to do it. Plus some tips on how to fit a tent in a backpack, and more.
Let’s take a look at one of the most important items you’ll need: a backpack with an internal frame.
Why Use a Backpack with an Internal Frame
When learning how to pack a tent in a backpack, you first need to make sure you have the right type of backpack for your outdoor adventure.
In this case, you will need a backpack with an internal frame. This is different from an external frame backpack. The kind you’ll need to use as you learn to pitch a tent in a backpack in the great outdoors.
Internal frame packs are designed to be much roomier and have a higher carrying capacity than an external frame pack. Having this extra space helps to ensure that there is enough room for your tent.
You also need to make sure that your backpack is big enough for your tent. The bigger your tent, the bigger your backpack should be.
To further reduce the amount of weight you’ll be carrying, consider investing in a lightweight backpack. Using a compression bag can also help keep the tent well-packed and snug.
With that out of the way, now let’s take a look at the different steps on how to pack a tent in a backpack.
How To Pack a Tent in a Backpack – Step by Step
Packing a camping tent inside a backpack isn’t rocket science, but it does require some skill and practice to get right. That last line is important and we’ll explain why later.
For now, let’s start to learn how to pack a tent in a backpack properly…
1. Prepare the Tent
First, make sure that the tent canvas and all other accessories are clean and completely dry. Wipe them clean if necessary.
Now, take the tent poles, position them accordingly, and place them in the bag they came with when you bought your tent. Set them aside for a while.
Then lay the tent tarp on the ground and flatten it down.
Fold the tent canvas so that its size will fit in the backpack.
Remember, your tent will be upright when you place it inside your backpack.
2. Roll the Tent
Place the bag of tent poles at one end of the folded tent canvas, then carefully roll the tent together with the poles tightly.
Make sure the edges of the folded tent line up as you roll up the canvas. You’ll want the roll to be as tight as possible so it doesn’t take up too much space inside your backpacking pack.
Also, if the tent is loosely rolled up, you will have a hard time putting it inside the tent bag.
3. Pack up the Tent
With the tent well rolled up, take the bag that came with the tent when you bought it and slide the rolled-up tent in. If you don’t have a dedicated bag, you can use a drawstring bag instead.
The point is that you should put the rolled-up tent in a bag or sack so it doesn’t get caught on other items in your backpack. By now you will have a well-packed tent ready to carry in your backpack.
4. Pack Your Backpack
Take inventory of all the things that will go in your backpack, from your sleeping bag to your camping or hiking clothes and more.
Place the sleeping bag in the bottom of your pack, as it will probably be the last item you need to take out once you arrive. It will also probably be the heaviest item you will carry and placing it at the bottom of the pack will help distribute the weight.
5. Put the Tent Inside the Backpack
Lastly, place the rolled-up tent on top of the sleeping bag. You will want to place it upright against one of the corners of the pack. You can then start filling the space with the rest of your camping gear.
Be sure to pack everything nice and tight so there is no room for your roll-up tent to wobble as you walk.
The Importance of Packing Your Tent Properly
Despite being a really nice experience, going camping usually means you’ll be carrying a huge backpack for a long distance. This can be tiring. And having a poorly packed backpack will make your pack heavier and heavier, which in turn can make the whole hike pretty miserable.
To avoid such situations, you will need to pack your backpack correctly, and this includes learning how to pack a tent in a backpack.
Your tent will probably be one of the bulkiest and heaviest items on your camping or backpacking checklist. If you pack it properly before slipping it into your backpack, you can save a lot of space instead of just keeping it inside.
Also, a poorly packed tent puts you at risk of being damaged by your other camping gear. Repairing a damaged tent fabric can be quite frustrating and requires time that could have been spent enjoying the outdoors.
Another reason you need to pack your tent correctly is that a poorly packed tent can make your backpack feel heavier than it is. This is because the weight is poorly distributed and walking long distances in such conditions is a recipe for serious lower back injuries.
Tips and Considerations
Practice packing methods at home at least a few days before your planned adventure. This will help develop your skill and make packing it up much easier for when it’s time to head home.
This will also allow you to see how much space you will have left when you pack the tent into your backpack and at the same time check to see if there are any issues.
If you’d rather learn how to pack a tent in a backpack and take it outside rather than put it inside, be aware that there are significant risks in doing so.
It’s worth considering packing a tent on the outside of the bag, especially if you already have an external frame pack and don’t want to spend more money buying an internal frame pack.
Also, having a tent out of the bag will leave more room for your camping gear like backpacking stoves, water bottles, and others. Pick a waterproof backpack if possible, to make sure the tent inside and all the rest of your camping gear don’t get wet.
If you plan to carry your tent outside of your backpack, it can get wet if it rains or if you accidentally slip and fall into a stream, river, or pool of water. You can wrap the tent in plastic to minimize the amount of water that will enter the tent, or use a rain pack that goes all the way to the bottom of your backpack.
One of the biggest drawbacks to carrying your tent outside of your backpack is that it can get caught on thorns or tree branches. This can cut into the tent fabric and leave a large tear in the tent. The best way to avoid this is to simply be careful where you go.
It is also useful to carry a tent repair kit in case accidents like this happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you fit a tent into the bottom of a backpack?
To learn how to pack a tent into the bottom of a backpack, follow the steps below:
Get an external frame backpack with a tent mount. These tent holders are usually attached to the top or bottom of the pack. And it is recommended to use one with the tent holder on the bottom as this will help take some of the strain off your back.
Prepare the tarp and tent poles by following steps 1-3 above.
With the tent well rolled and packed, attach it to the bottom of your backpack. External frame packs have loops and clips to help secure the tent to the pack frame.
If there aren’t any, you can use any string you have available.
How to put your tent in your hiking backpack?
Under the hiking backpacks, there are normally straps to attach the tent. Otherwise, on the sides, there may be straps.
In this case, you can balance the weight by putting the poles on one side and the canvas on the other.
Conclusion
Going camping or backpacking usually means carrying a huge backpack on your back while walking long distances. By knowing how to pack a tent in a backpack, you can reduce stress both physical and mental. That accompanies the process.
Whether you choose to pack your tent inside your backpack or externally by learning how to attach your tent to a backpack outside, your tent should be packed properly to prevent the early onset of fatigue and thus make your outdoor adventure that much more enjoyable.
Thanks for reading.
See you soon…