I truly prefer to use git-subtree with pathogen. 1. add a repo: $ git remote add remote-vim-surround https://github.com/tpope/vim-surround.git 2. git-sub

I truly prefer to use git-subtree with pathogen. 1. add a repo: $ git remote add remote-vim-surround https://github.com/tpope/vim-surround.git 2. git-subtree: $ git subtree add --prefix=vim/bundle/vim-surround remote-vim-surround master 3. occasional updates: $ git subtree pull --prefix=vim/bundle/vim-surround remote-vim-surround master The advantage of this method is that I can keep my config directory in git, pull it onto a new machine, and not have to update any submodules. It's just all there.