STOP! Before you buy a tent or swag - how are you going to dry it out so it doesn't get mouldy?

Introduction

the three main factors which prematurely destroy tents or swags are:
- mould / mildew
  - this will start within 24-48 hours of packing up a tent when there is still moisture on it, especially if there is also dirt as this contains fungi
  - once it is there, you will probably never get rid of the smell
- strong winds
  - see tents and the wind
- carelessness with tears, punctures, zip damage

Some tents and swags will take a lot longer and need more space to dry out before storage - if you live in a flat or unit then this needs to be a strong consideration
- even in dry weather, the floor of a tent is likely to get wet - tents without floors may be part of your solution perhaps combined with a 2P hike tent inside it
- a freestanding 2P hiking tent will be the easiest to dry out - can be turned upside down in the sun before packing up and takes little room at home if it is still wet
- touring tents and large tents, especially if they have floors will generally require a lot of space to dry out and usually can't be dried out at camp
- if this is a major problem and you need more than a 2P hike tent then an option may be to sleeping in your car for camping and vehicles designed for this

polyester absorbs less water than nylon tents so this may be a consideration
the under-surface of the floor nearly always gets damp
- some tents such as Fast Frame tents are extremely hard to turn upside down to efficiently dry the bottom of the floor as they collapse
- the larger the floor the larger the space you need to dry it out
work out how you would dry a tent safely when you get home (preferably out of the sun and away from any sharp objects which may puncture it in the wind)
- if space at home is an issue, you may have to choose a smaller tent
- consider a modular arrangement of multiple small tents, and if you want a larger tent, consider one without a floor and complement it with an easier to dry out inner tent

minimise moisture by:
- minimising condensation in tents
- minimising dew
avoid camping in high humidity areas such as near rivers, waterways, tall grasses
seek areas with some breeze as this will reduce dew and help keep the tent dry
ensure vents are open in the fly to allow adequate ventilation

consider choosing a camp site that will get the morning sun and preferably some breeze
- if camping in one spot for multiple days, ensure the tent won't be in harsh Australian sun during the day (except in Winter)
if you have a hot tent - consider lighting the wood stove in the morning to help dry it out
unpeg the tent and give a good shake to help remove excess water droplets
- helps if you have someone to help do this so you can each grab a corner and give it a good shake
use a towel or used clothes to mop up residual moisture
let it sit in the morning sun for a while and consider rotating it and turning it upside down to help dry the floor
for swags you may opt to dry it out over a fence - as long as it is not a barbed wire fence!

this will further help, especially if it was your last night camping or you had to pack it up very wet that morning
consider taking it out at lunch and further drying it
consider folding tarp into a square and attach to outside of backpack to dry - rotate the exposed surface area as needed
- *make sure it will not catch on sharp branches, twigs, etc.

setting up your wet tent at the next camp site while it is still sunny or at least warmish will help dry it out before you get to bed

no matter how dry you think it is, always take it out and hang it up in the shade for a few hours or days
the floor is almost always damp!
the guy ropes may also be still damp and these will make the fabric damp when packed