In this article, Iโm going to show you how to army roll a shirt. Itโs efficient and wrinkleless, perfect for storage and travel.
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When it comes to menโs style, you canโt go wrong with anything that originated in the army. From field watches to trench coats, menswear classics became classics because of their tried-and-true function. From good, honest function comes ubiquity, and from ubiquity comes what we call style.
As it turns out, we can incorporate other military-inspired elements into our closets.
If youโve never heard of army rolling your shirt, youโre in for a treat. Itโs so efficient you may never go back to regular shirt folding again. And frankly, I find the final product of an army roll is more consistent. Itโs possible I’m just bad at folding shirts.
The army roll, or the ranger roll if you love alliteration, leaves tons of room in your drawer or suitcase. Itโs also wrinkle-resistant, which is always a plus. Once youโve learned it, itโs easy to do. I also think itโs a lot more fun than a traditional fold.
How to Army Roll Shirts
Alright, hereโs your complete guide on how to military roll shirts. The first thing youโll need, other than the T-shirt in question, is a flat, clean, and even surface. You can use a table or even a hardwood floor. The more flush the surface, the better.
Start by laying the shirt flat on your chosen surface. Lay it on its back so that the front of the shirt faces you. Make sure it’s as flat and as flush to the surface as possible.
Then, fold the bottom hem of the shirt inside out. You can do this by placing your thumbs inside the bottom sides of the shirt, creasing it, then folding the bottom two to three inches over itself. Basically, youโve made a beanie-like pocket.
You want this fold to be as flat, straight, and clean as possible.
Make sure itโs equally as clean and straight in the back and that the fold is level throughout. I do this by quickly flipping the bottom over so I can see the other side. If it looks good, I put the bottom back in place with the fold intact.
From there, youโll fold the shirt vertically one-third of the way. Itโs just like folding a piece of letter paper for an envelope. One side of the shirt will be folded over, close to the collar.
Then, youโll fold the sleeve back on itself. Itโs important that as youโre taking each step that you ensure everything is straight and in line. Make sure the bottom pocket fold continues to exhibit a straight line even as youโre folding parts of it over itself.
Next, youโll fold the other side all the way over. Itโs going to sit on top of the initial fold from the other side. Again, itโs like a letter fold. Youโll then fold its sleeve back on itself.
Now, we get to the rolling part. Starting at the collar, youโre going to roll it towards the folded beanie pocket at the end of the shirt. Keep the roll tight and clean. The tighter it is, the more compact the final product.
Once you get towards the folded bottom at the end, roll right over it โ not into it. This is important. With that pocket there, it may seem instinctual to roll it into the fold. But thereโs a tighter, more efficient way to use that pocket.
Now, flip the roll over so that youโre seeing the backside of the pocket. Youโre going to take that backside of the pocket and roll it inside out on top of itself. Pull it over as tight as you can.
And there you have it! A perfect military roll.
The final product is so tight and compact itโs perfect for storage. Consider doing a ranger roll when youโre putting clothes away from one season in preparation for another.
Or, consider using this technique when packing luggage for travel. Perhaps youโll find that all you need is a carry-on all along.
FAQs
Here are some abbreviated, at-a-glance answers and explanations regarding the army roll. These are perfect if you only have a few seconds or need a ranger roll refresher!
How Do You Fold a Shirt in the Military?
Youโll first fold the bottom of the shirt up, creating a pocket. Fold one side in and tuck the sleeve back, then fold the other side over that. Youโll roll it from the collar area over the pocket, then tuck it all into the side of the pocket you didnโt roll over.
Should You Roll T-shirts When Packing?
Efficiently rolling your shirts for suitcase storage can often leave more room. This allows you to pack more if need be.
How Do You Army Roll Long-Sleeve Shirts?
Youโd army roll long-sleeve shirts the exact same way you do with short-sleeve shirts. Just make sure the long sleeves are perfectly vertical when you fold them in. They should sit parallel with the one-third fold on each side.
Conclusion: Military-Level Reliability
If youโve never tried army rolling your shirts, I hope youโll give it a shot.
Iโve found it to be particularly reliable when traveling. Hey, if itโs good enough for the army, itโs good enough for us.
For more ways to fold a t-shirt, check out this article.
Have you ever tried the ranger roll? Do you find it more efficient than the regular fold? Let me know your experiences with it!
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