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have a plan, move quickly but be careful during the rush
Windy Pack Down Tips
Jonathan Collins
Strong gusting wind has to be my worst thing when I’m camping. It really puts a camper to the test especially in terms of just how well a tent has been set up.
When I look at damaged tents it is nearly always wind damage associated to missing set-up steps like having all of the guy ropes set out or pegs set into the ground correctly.
One of the hardest things to do is to know when enough is enough, and when it’s time to pack up and leave. The very best time is just before the weather event hits. Not half way through it when the wind is still building strength. Often afterwards the damage is done so that’s a clear indication you might have left pack up too late.
If you are caught out and packing up is what’s happening then here’s what I would do…
Getting the tent down and away as fast as possible is going to minimise the chance for damage to occur.
This is where an inflatable tent really comes into its own. You don’t have to manage getting poles out of pole sleeves while it’s a flapping mess on the ground.
My wind tent pack-away goes like this…
I fully empty the tent.
I leave all the guy ropes out and pegs set in to hold the tent. It is at its strongest while it is correctly set up.
I gather 4–5 things to weigh down the tent when it’s collapsed, like folded camp chairs etc.
Once the tent is fully collapsed I place the weights on top of the material to stop it flapping around in the wind. Wind should be a lower speed at ground level.
Once the material is weighed down I quickly remove all the guy outer pegs, then move into the base pegs. If it is crazy windy I might leave the pegs in on the prevailing wind side just to help hold the tent in place while I work.
Once all the pegs are out and away in their peg bag I will fold the tent into a long slug-like line. You can use the wind to help you fold the edges over. Use the weights you have to hold things in place if needed.
Roll the tent away as tight as possible (remember the more you roll it the tighter it will get).
If the weather is particularly bad, I will spend less time getting the roll-away done and focus on getting the tent into a size that will fit back into the car. Even if it doesn’t go back in its bag properly, that’s ok. You can sort it out at home when you clean and dry it out.
Now that the tent is away I will scan the camping area for all the things I have left on the ground. Hammer, peg bag, $20 note, camp chair or jacket etc.
Obviously if you have helpers this can make everything easier, so use them to hold things down or in place while you work.
The trick is to have a plan before you start, move quickly but be careful not to damage the tent during the rush.
It’s a stressful thing to do, so try not to yell at your helpers and when it’s all done and in the car you should feel accomplished.
Windy camp pack-ups are definitely one of the hardest things to do. 🏕️
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Summer 2025
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