How to Fold an OLPRO Pop-Up Inner Tent Without Losing Your Dignity
- John Nickolls
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
There are certain moments in camping when you begin to question everything.
The weather has been perfect. The bacon has been cooked. The chairs are packed away, the campervan is nearly ready to leave, and all that remains is one innocent-looking OLPRO pop-up inner tent.
Five minutes later, you are standing in the middle of a field wrestling what appears to be a giant spring-loaded crisp packet.
Welcome to the world of folding a pop-up tent.
The Brilliant Bit About a Pop-Up Tent
The OLPRO free-standing inner tent is a clever piece of kit.
It is ideal for placing inside a gazebo, awning or shelter such as my Trail Air Gazebo, which I have named Outpost. It provides a proper sleeping compartment without needing a full traditional tent setup.
Getting it up could not be easier.
Take it out of the bag, release it carefully, and it practically builds itself. Within seconds, you have a private sleeping area ready for bedding, bags and everything else that normally ends up scattered around the van.
Unfortunately, what pops up in two seconds can take slightly longer to persuade back into its bag.
Step One: Empty the Tent
Before attempting to fold it, remove absolutely everything.
That includes sleeping bags, pillows, clothing, torches, charging cables and the one sock that always manages to hide in the corner.
Remove any pegs and make sure the groundsheet is reasonably clean and dry.
It also helps to leave the door zip slightly open. This allows trapped air to escape while the tent is being folded. Trying to compress a sealed tent is rather like trying to fold an inflated balloon.
Step Two: Flatten the Tent
Push the roof downwards and bring the sides together.
The tent should begin to collapse into one large, flat oval shape.
At this stage, do not start twisting it wildly. The flexible frame is designed to bend in a particular way. Brute force will not improve matters, although it may provide entertainment for everyone else on the campsite.
Once flattened, stand the oval upright with its lower edge resting on the ground.
Step Three: Find the Folding Point
Hold the tent near the upper sides, roughly at the ten o’clock and two o’clock positions.
Push the top of the tent down towards the ground while bringing your hands closer together.
As the frame begins to bend, move one hand slightly over the other. The tent should naturally start forming a figure-eight shape.
This is the moment when it either folds beautifully or launches itself back open and hits you on the chin.
Stay calm.
Step Four: Make the Three Circles
Continue folding the figure-eight until the frame forms three overlapping circular loops.
Stack these loops neatly on top of one another.
The finished shape should be a compact circular disc, roughly the size required to fit back inside the original storage bag.
Tuck any loose fabric between the frame loops and secure the retaining strap if your tent has one.
Then slide it carefully back into the bag.
“Carefully” is important. Trying to force the entire thing into the bag in one heroic movement usually results in the tent reopening at waist height.
The Golden Rule: Do Not Fight It
The frame should bend smoothly.
If it feels as though you are forcing it in the wrong direction, stop and release the pressure. Turn the tent slightly and try folding it from the opposite side.
These pop-up frames are remarkably flexible, but they work best when guided rather than wrestled.
Once you understand the movement, the whole process takes less than a minute.
The first attempt may take considerably longer.
My Pop-Up Tent Packing Checklist
Before putting the tent away, I now check the following:
Everything has been removed from inside.
All pegs have been collected.
The door zip is slightly open.
The tent is flattened before twisting.
The frame is forming three neat circles.
No fabric is trapped outside the loops.
The bag zip is not being forced.
It is a simple routine, but it avoids that familiar campsite scene where somebody is sitting on a tent while another person desperately tries to pull the zip around it.
Final Thoughts
The OLPRO pop-up inner tent is a genuinely useful addition to a campervan setup.
It provides extra sleeping space, privacy and flexibility without taking up the room of a full conventional tent. It is particularly useful inside a gazebo or drive-away awning, where it creates a comfortable enclosed bedroom while still leaving the main sheltered area free.
Folding it away looks confusing at first, but the secret is simple:
Flatten it, push the top down, form the figure-eight and stack the three circles.
Once you have mastered that movement, the tent stops being your enemy and returns to being the clever bit of camping equipment it was supposed to be.
Until the next morning, when it will undoubtedly pop open before you are ready.
Super Nix Verdict
Setup: Almost instantComfort: Excellent for a compact inner tentPacking difficulty: Easy once masteredFirst-attempt frustration: Impressively highEntertainment value for neighbouring campers: Outstanding
The OLPRO pop-up inner tent gets a definite Super Nix thumbs-up.
Just practise folding it at home before attempting it in front of a full campsite audience.
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