Folding up a 4-man tent can seem daunting at first, but with a bit of practice and following these steps, you'll be able to do it efficiently:
Clear the tent: Remove any stakes, guy lines, and other accessories from the tent and its surroundings.
Collapse the tent poles: Start by collapsing the tent poles. Most tents have shock-corded poles that fold up accordion-style. Release the tension by gently pulling the poles apart, then collapse each section of the poles together. Follow the manufacturer's instructions if there's a specific way to fold the poles.
Flatten the tent: Lay the tent flat on the ground, ensuring that all doors and windows are zipped closed. Smooth out any wrinkles or folds in the fabric.
Fold the tent in half: Fold one side of the tent over the other, roughly halving the size of the tent. Make sure the edges line up as neatly as possible.
Fold in thirds: Fold the bottom of the tent up towards the top, roughly in thirds. This will depend on the specific dimensions of your tent, but aim to create a long, narrow rectangle.
Roll or fold: Depending on personal preference and the size of your tent bag, you can either roll the tent tightly from one end to the other or fold it in half again before rolling. Rolling tends to be more compact, while folding may be quicker.
Pack it away: Once rolled or folded, place the tent into its storage bag. If the bag has compression straps, use them to cinch down the size of the bundle for easier packing.
Repeat for rainfly and footprint: If your tent has a separate rainfly and footprint, fold or roll them up separately following similar steps.
Remember, practice makes perfect. It may take a few tries to get the hang of folding up your tent neatly, but with time, you'll become a pro at it!