How to Fold & Pack a Pop-Up Tent (Camping, Beach & Kids’ Tents)

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Fold your tent into a neat, packable circle with this quick guide
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Pop-up tents are a great alternative to traditional tents since they’re quick and easy to set up. However, folding up the tent and keeping it from popping back up can seem like a hassle. Luckily, all it takes to pack up your tent into a neat circle is a few easy folds. In this article, we’ll explain how to fold up camping, beach, and kids pop-up tents and how to store them, with tips from outdoor education expert Josh Goldbach. Read on to learn more!

Pop-Up Tent Quick Folding Instructions

  1. Fold the top and bottom poles together.
  2. Flip the tent onto its side.
  3. Push the top of the tent down and fold it under itself.
  4. Stack the resulting circles on top of each other.
  5. Place the tent inside its storage bag.
Section 1 of 4:

Folding a Camping Pop-Up Tent

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  1. Most of the time, all you’ll need to do is shake out any dirt, sand, pine needles, or other debris, says Goldbach. While you can attempt this later, the debris can get stuck in the tent folds. Simply tip the tent to pour out the debris. Then, wipe down the tent with a little bit of powdered laundry detergent and a moist rag when you have time. [1]
    • Never pack away a damp tent or else you may end up with mold !
    • If your tent is wet, Goldbach advises that you let it dry before packing it away. If it’s currently raining, unfold the tent at your next available opportunity to let it dry before you store it away.
  2. Stand beside the tent. The poles are the ridges on top of the tent to your left and right. Stretch out to grasp both sides and pull them together. [2]
    • Leave the tent’s door open to let out the air.
    • Note : The folding process is the same for single, 2-person, and 4-person pop-up tents.
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  3. The bottom poles form the outer edges of the tent, which now stick out to your left and right. You’ll need to reach both of them. Simply fold one of the bottom poles up and over to the top poles. Then, do the same with the other bottom pole so you’re holding all 4 poles together. [3]
    • Ask a friend to help you if you’re folding up a 2- or 4-person tent since these can be bulkier and more difficult to handle.
  4. Continue holding onto the 4 poles as you flip the tent onto its side. The folded tent should now resemble a big taco. Just make sure the open side of the taco shape rests against the ground. [4]
  5. Hold the 4 poles together with 1 hand. Then, use your other hand to grab the 2 poles at the top part of the tent. Push down the top of the tent and bring it down to your other hand, so the top folds under itself. Then, wrestle the tent to the ground to flatten it. [5]
    • The poles are lightweight, so you won’t need more than a minimal amount of force to bring down the tent. The poles are also flexible, so they’re unlikely to break.
  6. At this point, the tent should look like 2 side-by-side circles of fabric. Simply bring one circle over the other to neatly fold up your tent for packing. [6]
  7. Pop-up tents are designed to spring back into the shape of a tent, so maintain a firm grip on the poles. Press down on the tent with your hands and knees to remove any leftover air preventing it from laying flat. Then, slip the tent into its storage bag to pack it away for your next trip. [7]
    • Make sure to secure the tent closed with the attached strap (if it has one) to prevent it from popping back out again as you place it in the storage bag.
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Section 2 of 4:

Folding a Pop-Up Beach Tent

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  1. Clean out the tent before you put it away. Tip it over and shake loose any trapped dirt or sand. Then, clean the tent with a little water and a hose or rag. If you don’t have time to tackle tough stains now, you can pack away the tent and do it at home.
    • A little bit of a powdered detergent helps when scrubbing off tough stains.
  2. Stand facing the entrance of the tent. The closest tent pole is the one that goes from side to side over the entrance. Simply reach out and grab both sides of the tent. Leave the door open if it has a cover on it. [8]
    • Beach tents are typically smaller than regular pop-up tents and don’t have poles running across the tent’s width.
    • You can try following these steps if you’re having trouble folding any other pop-up tent.
  3. Pull one side of the tent towards the center, then push it flat against the ground. As you hold it down, bring the other side over on top of it. The tent should now be in an oval shape. [9]
  4. Flip the tent over so it’s on its side. Then, push down on the center of this edge. The tent changes into a figure-8 shape as you flatten it. You can put one hand on the side of the tent to help guide it to the ground. [10]
  5. Hold onto the tent! It’ll spring into shape if you let go. Simply pick up one circular side of the tent and then bring it over onto the other circular side. This collapses the tent into a circle. You can rest a knee on the tent as you do this to ensure you don’t lose your grip. [11]
    • The poles are very flexible, so don’t worry about them breaking.
  6. If the tent came with an elastic band, wrap that around it to hold it in place. Then, put the tent in its storage bag. Tuck in any poles sticking out, then zip up the bag until you’re ready to use the tent again. [12]
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Section 3 of 4:

Folding a Pop-Up Tent for Kids

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  1. Face the entrance of the tent. Then, push one of the front sides into the back corner on the opposite side. This causes the tent to fold in on itself like a triangle. Simply hold the sides of the tent together so it doesn’t pop back into shape. [13]
    • Make sure the entrance to the tent is open if it has a cover.
  2. While still holding the tent together, flip it over on its side (so it’s longer than it is tall). Then, fold it in half. Grab one end of the tent and pull it over to the other end. [14]
    • Once you fold the tent in half, it should have a taco-like shape.
  3. While still holding the tent in half, place it on the ground. Then, grab the top of the tent and push it down to the floor. This causes the tent to fold under itself. [15]
  4. After making the previous fold, you should be left with 2 circular pieces of tent. Simply slide one circle under the other to fold the tent into a compact, singular circle. [16]
  5. If your kid’s tent has a strap or band, secure it around the tent so it doesn’t pop open. Then, place the tent into its storage back and seal it closed.
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Section 4 of 4:

Storing Pop-Up Tents

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  1. Goldbach’s biggest piece of advice for putting away your tent is to make sure you’re “not storing it wet.” Moisture can make your tent smell bad, damage the material, and encourage mold and mildew to grow. So, Goldbach says to always let your tent dry completely before folding it up.
    • To help waterproof your tent, Goldbach suggests using a seam sealer .
  2. Most pop-up tents come with a storage bag to help keep your tent contained and neatly folded up. The bag also helps keep out moisture, dust, and dirt that can damage your tent. [17]
  3. When you’re not using your pop-up tent, make sure to keep it in a cool spot that stays fairly dry, like your garage or a storage closet. Heat and moisture can damage your tent, so it’s important to keep it away from hot, damp locations like your attic or basement. [18]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What if the top of my tent breaks?
    Community Answer
    You can get a new one for safety reasons and in the mean time you can use some duct tape, glue or other material to fix it.
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  • Question
    Do pop up tents have pockets?
    Community Answer
    No. There are other types of tents that do have them.
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  • Question
    How do you fold up a child's pop-up tent?
    Aksoul Official
    Community Answer
    (1) Grasp the tent fabric at the top of the tent, and pull it upward to start collapsing the tent. (2) As you are holding the tent fabric, push the sides of the tent toward each other, collapsing the tent into a compact shape. (3) Once the tent is mostly collapsed, use your other hand to push down on the top of the tent, and continue collapsing it until it is fully flattened. (4) Twist the tent into a circle shape to further compact it. (5) Fasten any straps or ties that are provided to keep the tent in a compact shape. (6) Store the tent in its carrying case or in a safe place. It may take a few tries to get the hang of it, but with some practice, you should be able to fold up the tent easily.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.active.com/outdoors/articles/clean-up-that-old-dirty-tent?page=1
      2. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mathematicians-solve-problem-folding-pop-up-tent/
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/s8T_tTbmeX8?feature=shared&t=8
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/s8T_tTbmeX8?feature=shared&t=12
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/7sML4krJ8kM?feature=shared&t=126
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/7sML4krJ8kM?feature=shared&t=138
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/HVk6GXcZHGk?feature=shared&t=86
      8. ↑ https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/mathematicians-solve-problem-folding-pop-up-tent/
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTBICMNhnJE&feature=youtu.be&t=42
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTBICMNhnJE&feature=youtu.be&t=57
      2. ↑ https://youtu.be/cTBICMNhnJE?feature=shared&t=75
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/cTBICMNhnJE?feature=shared&t=93
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/WJHkgCMggYM?feature=shared&t=6
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/WJHkgCMggYM?feature=shared&t=21
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/WJHkgCMggYM?feature=shared&t=28
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/WJHkgCMggYM?feature=shared&t=31
      8. ↑ https://www.advnture.com/features/how-to-store-a-tent
      9. ↑ https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/how-to-store-a-tent.html

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To fold up a small pop up tent, start by facing the entrance of the tent and grabbing the poles on either side of the door. Then, bring one side of the tent down to the ground and push the other side down on top of it so the tent makes an oval shape. Next, flip the tent so it stands on the edge and push down on the center to make a figure-8 shape. Finally, fold the tent over itself into a circle and slide it into its storage bag. To learn how to fold a large pop up tent, read on!

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