How to Pack a Wet Tent

Rain can be a nuisance to you while you’re out camping, and it can be a bit problematic when it comes to packing your tent. You might be tempted to store your wet tent the same way you would when it is dry, especially when you still have a long hike ahead of you. But doing so might cause the inside of your tent, your equipment, and even your backpack to get wet.

The good news is there are a few simple steps to store a wet tent while minimizing the risk of your tent and gear getting wetter:

Steps for Packing Your Wet Tent

Step 1: Secure your camping gear.

Before you start taking down your wet tent, you should first keep all your camping equipment and other items in your backpack. You can line your bag with a pack liner to keep your gear dry. Then, later on, you can pack your wet rainfly or inner tent between the liner and the backpack.

If you have camping equipment that got wet, you can place them in a large plastic bag or trash bag. You can then store the plastic bag in your backpack or lash it on the outside.

Step 2: Take down the inner tent body.

When packing up a wet tent, you first take down the inner tent body. It would be best if you did so while letting your rainfly hang over your tent poles. If your inner tent does not use pole clips to attach to the tent poles, the outer fly might collapse while you take down your inner tent. In this case, you can use trekking poles to support the fly and keep it standing.

You don’t take down the fly first because rainwater can drip off of it onto your inner tent, causing it to get wet. Also, it might still be raining when you decide to pack your tent, so having your rainfly up protects you and your tent from getting wet.

Step 3: Pack the inner tent body into a stuff sack.

Your inner tent body should be relatively dry, so you can take it down normally and stuff it into your stuff sack.

If your inner tent does have some wet parts, fold the dry parts toward the middle and keep the damp portions on the outside. Then, you can store the tent in a mesh bag or an outer mesh pocket of your backpack.

Step 4: Take down the rainfly.

After stowing away the inner tent body, next is taking down your rainfly. If it is not raining or only lightly raining, shake off as much water as you can from the fly. Make sure to keep the underside of the rain fly as dry as possible while doing this.

Then, you can use a microfiber towel to wipe down the rain fly. A microfiber towel is highly absorbent and dries quickly, so you should be able to get the fly dry enough that it won’t get your bag too wet when you pack it.

Step 5: Pack the rainfly in a mesh bag.

The next step is to pack away your rainfly. It will probably not be completely dried even after wiping down the fly. As such, you won’t be able to store it like usual and in the same place as your inner tent because the inner layer can get unnecessarily wet.

To store a wet rain fly, first, fold it in half with the dry on the interior. Then fold it one or two more times. Make sure to fold the fly neatly so that the remaining rainwater flows in one direction and doesn’t get into the dry interior.

Then, roll the fly loosely and store it in an outer mesh pocket of your backpack with the edges down to let the moisture drain. You can also place the rainfly in a mesh bag and lash it onto your bag.

On the other hand, if it’s raining hard, you can put the rainfly straightaway in a mesh bag and lash it onto your backpack. Or, you can stuff the fly in a large plastic bag and put it in your bag.

Step 6: Dry your tent and rainfly at the first opportunity.

It would be best if you dried your tent and rainfly as soon as you could. If the rain lets up and it gets sunny out, you should stop and set up your tent fully. Hang your rain fly separate from the inner tent body so that both can dry faster.

Ensure that your inner tent and outer fly are completely dry before packing them up again. In this way, you avoid moisture still being present in both layers and prevent the growth of mold and mildew.

FAQs

Can you put a wet tent in the washing machine?

It would be best if you didn’t try washing your tent with a washing machine. Washers typically have agitators, and your tent’s fabric can get caught in them and even get damaged. It is also not recommended to place your tent in a dryer. The heat from your dryer can damage your tent’s fabric, waterproof coating, and UV-protective layer.

How do you clean a tent with mold?

If you find that your tent has mold growing on it, the following are some steps you can follow to get rid of it:

1. Prepare cleaning supplies. These include lukewarm water, a soft sponge or cloth, and a cleaning agent (i.e., soap, vinegar, lemon juice, Mirazyme, Concrobium).
2. Set up your tent completely.
3. Apply your cleaning agent on areas of the fabric with mold growth.
4. Gently scrub the moldy areas with your sponge or cloth.
5. Rinse your tent thoroughly with clean water.
6. Leave your tent outside to dry.

How do you prevent mold from growing on your tent?

You can prevent mold and mildew from growing on your tent by cleaning it regularly, preferably after every camping trip. Keeping a dirty tent makes it highly susceptible to mold growth. Keeping a tent while it is damp also makes it liable to mold growth.

The storage space of your tent is an equally important consideration to help prevent mold growth. Choose a location that is dry and has a well-regulated temperature. Some of these areas can include your closet, top of a cabinet, garage, or shed. Make sure to not store the tent under direct sunlight or artificial heat source to prevent irreversible damage to the fabric and the waterproofing layer.

Conclusion

Packing a wet tent only takes a few easy steps. And when properly done, you’ll be able to keep your tent, pack, and gear as dry as possible. Make sure not to rush things so that you don’t take any risks with your camping equipment getting even wetter than they need to be.