View Full Version : Talk me out of the Tarptent Rainbow
tobydo55
09-24-2015, 15:27
I have gathered a lot of information and knowledge reading this forum over the years, and would now like to post my first topic for the group. I am 48 years old, 5'10 and backpack solo about 5-7 nights a year, almost exclusively in Colorado. Currently have a SMD Skyscape Scout that works very well and makes good utilization of the trekking poles that I use anyway. I would like to purchase a freestanding (or close to it) solo tent that has a little more room than the Trekker. My reason is twofold. First, there are those rare days in the Rockies where it begins raining in the afternoon and doesn't stop. I would like a little more room for those days. This is the main reason. Second, I sometimes hike to a specific location and base camp for a couple days while exploring the area, and like using poles when I am out. Using the Trekker, I either have to leave poles at camp, or take the tent down. This is a secondary reason.
I have done a fair amount of research over the past year of so, and the two most attractive options are the Copper Spur ul1 and the Rainbow. I own a Copper Spur UL3 that my wife and I use on our backpacking trips and it is a great tent. After some deliberation I have decided to get the rainbow because it looks to have a little more room and maybe a tad bit lighter (although both are in the acceptable weight range). It will be my first true single wall tent, but I have not really experienced condensation issues on the single wall portion of the trekker.
Anyway, feel free to talk me out of the rainbow and steer me in a better direction. Thanks in advance for your input.
HeartFire
09-24-2015, 15:31
Have you looked at the LightHeart Gear SoLong 6 (http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-solong6-tents/product/view/7/7)? It's not free standing, and uses trekking poles, but we do have tent poles (http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/accessories/tent-poles) available for those times you want to do base camping. Lots of room inside for those days when you are stuck in there. I used mine on the Colorado Trail, it was awesome
Judy - LightHeart Gear
I wouldn't talk you out of it. I like mine. Lots of room, very quick set-up, very light for what it is. I haven't mastered the free-standing setup but never really needed it. It is single-walled, of course, and that means you need to be careful of condensation issues.
A double-walled tent offers a few advantages, but is likely to be heavier for a similar footprint/volume.
Dochartaigh
09-24-2015, 15:57
I really like my TarpTent Rainbow. Only have a weeks worth of time in it so far (including one deluge), but it's been very nice. LOTS more room than most other 1-person tents, and the full-length pole really gives you more room than any trekking pole tent could. Mine came in at 35.1 ounces with included stakes, stuff sack, seal sealing, and I ordered it with the carbon fiber poles (otherwise it would be a little over 37 ounces complete).
Just Bill
09-24-2015, 16:32
Why not the 2 person copper spur instead of the 1... seems a more direct comparison.
Slightly bigger than rainbow, hair lighter too. (52 head, 42 foot vs 40" rectangle on the rainbow)
And you know the tent design/pitching already and that you're happy with it.
Being in CO, I'd think you could easily get away with just a fly pitch on your existing UL3 as well to get you around 3lbs and have a rain palace.
True freestanding is nice in rocky or hard to pitch areas IMO... but with goal number 2 of walking away/base camping you'll be securely pitching and staking anyway so it's probably not a critical feature for you.
Although it's fun to try something new and you'll hear few complaints about the Rainbow.
bigcranky
09-24-2015, 16:43
Right, the Rainbow is only freestanding if you use trekking poles (and even then it needs to be staked down). So if freestanding is a required feature, *and* you want to use your trekking poles while leaving the tent set up, that won't work well. (I never got a tight pitch in frestanding mode anyway...)
Otherwise it's a terrific little tent, plenty of room inside.
If you can live without freestanding you might check out the Moment, too. Two stakes and it's pitched.
swisscross
09-24-2015, 17:06
My BA CS UL1 is a coffin.
I deal with it though if I were to purchase again I would opt for something larger.
Have never seen a TT Rainbow.
I'm debating the purchase of a new tent. I don't need it, but I want it. Therefore, I find it hard to make up my mind and do it.
The two tents that keep bubbling up to the top of my short list are the Rainbow and Solong 6.
Judy is right. The Solong 6, with TWO side doors and a few ounces lighter is very appealing.
Dochartaigh: Thanks for the real world weight of the Rainbow. The carbon pole was on my mind.
I do have a dual purpose for a new tent: Backpacking and bicycle touring. I know that I could carry my hiking sticks on the bike. A pain, but doable. I know I can buy dedicated poles for the Solong 6. I just feel like it would be nice to buy the Rainbow and it would work for both of my needs right out of the stuff sack.
I know this isn't helping, except to say that both tents are highly regarded by many users.
Flip a coin.
As for the 2 person Copper Spur: I would buy the Double Rainbow or Lightheart Duo first. In fact, I may. My third reason for a new tent: One of my grand kids may yet want to go backpacking with me.
Buying new gear is always a challenge. Good luck!
Wayne
Sarcasm the elf
09-24-2015, 17:46
My BA CS UL1 is a coffin.
I deal with it though if I were to purchase again I would opt for something larger.
Have never seen a TT Rainbow.
I was lucky enough to borrow a BA CS UL1 for a few trips before buying my own tent, coffin is an adequate description. I hated that tent and can't understand why it is so popular aside from the fact that REI sells it nationally.
I opted for the Tarptent Double Rainbow, as it was only a few oz more than the rainbow but has a second door which I found to be quite nice, moreso it allows me to use it on the occasions that my wife hikes with me. I've had it since 2013 and so far I have been very happy with it. I think the design of both the rainbow and double rainbow makes much better use of the available space than the BA designs do, and the Tarptent is American made. For all the talk of condensation issues, I have found it to be a very minor problem and not the sort of thing that causes me any real concern.
If it weren't for your hiking poles requirement then I would suggest you also consider the tarptent Notch or a Lightheart gear tent, both are excellent companies and I had trouble choosing between them.
"First, there are those rare days in the Rockies where it begins raining in the afternoon and doesn't stop. I would like a little more room for those days"
Given that you do use trekking poles, on those long rainy days you might be stuck inside the tent you could set it up like this :
32096
that came about after a mate of mine and myself had bought the first two Rainbows to land in Australia.(early 2006, mine was a 2005 pre-production model)
Given that the Double Rainbow did not exist, I then made my own :
32097
BTW,
now it's franco@tarptent....
tobydo55
09-24-2015, 18:23
It appears that both tents use ripstop nylon. According to Tarptent, it is 30d (not sure what that means). But i cannot find any specs on Big Agnes web site. Does anyone kn
ow the comparison? Thanks
I found this comment at Backpackinglight :
"The reps at Big Agnes stated the fly is 15 denier and the floor is 20 denier. They were also quick to point out that they denier alone is not always an accurate representation of the performance of the fabric - many other factors can be at play, such as treatments and the composition of the material."
(my emphasis)
In theory at least, a denier is the weight in grams of 9000 meters of the yarn used.
So 30D means that (before coating) 9000 meters of the filament used for the TT fabric is 30g (just over 1 oz)
The TT fabric is double coated with a silicone layer on each side.
Because of the process used it becomes impregnated with silicone.
The BA version has silicone on the top and PU on the underside so that the tent can be factory taped.
(common with several large brands)
If we had our nylon done with the same process (silicone/PU) the tear strength of our material would drop by at least 30%.
BTW, the silicone both sides on the TT tents is the reason why they need to be seam sealed by hand.
tobydo55
09-24-2015, 21:15
Thank you very much for the info.
Dochartaigh
09-24-2015, 21:47
I opted for the Tarptent Double Rainbow, as it was only a few oz more than the rainbow but has a second door which I found to be quite nice
Do you happen to have the exact weight of your double rainbow (seamsealed, in stuff sack, with pole -regular or carbon?- and stakes)? I was torn between the Rainbow and the Double Rainbow, but when I know my Squall 2 came in over a quarter pound more than the listed weight (and my Rainbow being 3-4 ounces heavier) I didn't want the Double Rainbow to come in at (realistically) ~10-11 ounces more than the Rainbow weighed so I went with the lighter option...hope I made the right choice (although I would have LOVED having doube doors).
Back to the OP: I specifically stayed away from tents like the SoLong because all trekking pole tents* slope straight down from the high point of the pole, to the ground in a straight line, and I really don't like a triangle-like peak in my tents (makes headroom be in such a small central area). I tried many like it and just missed the room a tent with an actual full-length tent pole gave you which is why I went with the Rainbow.
*my back-up tent is a TarpTent Moment which although a little bit lighter than the Rainbow has a lot less room. One exception to the trekking pole tents is ones like the TarpTent Moment and it's brother the Notch. They have built-in carbon stays/poles on each ends (kinda making it a combo trekking pole tent with small tent poles built in each end) and this does help with the headroom some since the tent fabric doesn't slope quite all the way to the ground with a setup like this - still not nearly as nice as a tent like the Rainbow with a full tent pole arch.
JumpMaster Blaster
09-24-2015, 21:49
I have a Big Agnes CS UL1. The weight is pretty good for a freestading tent. Downside: It IS a coffin. I couldn't imagine spending an entire day stuck in it due to rain. Also, it only has one door, and a pretty shallow vestibule. My ULA Catalyst completely empty still leans against the rain fly when I leave it outside. I'm about to pull the trigger on a TarpTent StratoSpire 1 for a bit more room, 2 doors, a bigger vestibule, and lighter weight.
Sarcasm the elf
09-24-2015, 22:09
Do you happen to have the exact weight of your double rainbow (seamsealed, in stuff sack, with pole -regular or carbon?- and stakes)? I was torn between the Rainbow and the Double Rainbow, but when I know my Squall 2 came in over a quarter pound more than the listed weight (and my Rainbow being 3-4 ounces heavier) I didn't want the Double Rainbow to come in at (realistically) ~10-11 ounces more than the Rainbow weighed so I went with the lighter option...hope I made the right choice (although I would have LOVED having doube doors).
Since you ask: 2lb 10.25oz with everything, carbon stay. I should mention that this is a 2012 or 2013 model, if I recall they did a modest update and may have added a few ounces to it, Franco can probably confirm that one or correct me.
32099
The DR with 6 stakes and main pole is listed at 41 oz.
From memory that is about the weight of the last one I had here but they can vary a couple of ounces or so.
The Carbon pole will make it about 2 oz lighter.
The weights were updated on the TT site after we changed the fabric to the current version (a bit heavier than the previous type)
Odd Man Out
09-25-2015, 00:51
All the trekking pole tents can be pitched with very light tent poles, so you are free to take your trekking poles with you on day hikes while base camping. If you include the minimal weight and cost of adding those poles to your current tent, then that consideration becomes irrelevant.
daddytwosticks
09-25-2015, 07:20
I now have an MSR Hubba NX 1. I've owned two Tarptent products and a tarptent from Lightheart. All great products and many many hikers on this site rave about them. However, I have found it was tuff for me to get a tight, consistent pitch with silnylon. Plus, messing with my hiking poles in order to use them for the pitch was a pain in the butt. Sure, the Hubba is almost a pound heavier than the other products. I love the freestanding nature and it seems to be bomb proof. It has about the same interior space as my Notch. No more saggy silnylon tarptents for me. Just my opinion. :)
I have a Big Agnes CS UL1. The weight is pretty good for a freestading tent. Downside: It IS a coffin. I couldn't imagine spending an entire day stuck in it due to rain. Also, it only has one door, and a pretty shallow vestibule. My ULA Catalyst completely empty still leans against the rain fly when I leave it outside. I'm about to pull the trigger on a TarpTent StratoSpire 1 for a bit more room, 2 doors, a bigger vestibule, and lighter weight.
Please keep us updated on the StratoSpire 1 if you do buy it. The sheltered volume of the SS1 is huge! I hope you enjoy it.
Wayne
tobydo55
09-25-2015, 09:04
I now have an MSR Hubba NX 1. I've owned two Tarptent products and a tarptent from Lightheart. All great products and many many hikers on this site rave about them. However, I have found it was tuff for me to get a tight, consistent pitch with silnylon. Plus, messing with my hiking poles in order to use them for the pitch was a pain in the butt. Sure, the Hubba is almost a pound heavier than the other products. I love the freestanding nature and it seems to be bomb proof. It has about the same interior space as my Notch. No more saggy silnylon tarptents for me. Just my opinion. :)
I believe the Copper Spur UL3 my wife and I use is silnylon, and I don't remember any sagging issues with it. Does the silnylon in Tarptents have other characteristics?
Just Bill
09-25-2015, 09:15
It's 2lbs 3 oz, vs 2lbs 12 oz- CS UL1 vs CL UL2...
Seems as though those 9 ounces are a bargain.
double doors, double vestibules- front entry tents are generally not much fun...
And the oft forgotten and major weakness of any trekking pole based setup... without the trekking poles you don't have a setup.
Dochartaigh
09-25-2015, 09:20
Since you ask: 2lb 10.25oz with everything, carbon stay. I should mention that this is a 2012 or 2013 model
Thank you for weighing it for me, it's appreciated. I believe (educated guess) ones with the black stuff sack are made before they updated their fabric - my last two TarpTents (and my friends 2x tarptents) bought this last season have gray stuffsacks and were 3-5 ounces heavier than listed.
Just Bill
09-25-2015, 09:39
http://www.rei.com/product/880102/marmot-force-2p-tent
on sale- 289...
just poking around, no experience with it.
Scotch65
09-25-2015, 10:27
I have a double rainbow and really love it - i usually hike with one of my kids and we fit in it fine - using it alone i feel like i can really stretch out. I am 6 feet tall and almost as wide, so i like lots of room and sitting up inside is a must for me. Mine has the aluminum pole, aluminum stakes, polycro ground sheet and the optional inside roof liner. Total weight 49.6 oz. great for two people with the individual doors. It will set up free standing with poles and no stakes but it is a little saggy but is fine inside a shelter.
^^ Setting up a tent in a shelter is a gomer thing to do.
Scotch65
09-25-2015, 11:44
yeah I agree. what i meant was that in self standing mode i wouldn't trust it out in the open, not very stable. I set mine up in the garage just to make sure i knew how to if needed. It is like wrestling an octopus.
donthaveoneyet
09-26-2015, 08:31
Do you happen to have the exact weight of your double rainbow (seamsealed, in stuff sack, with pole -regular or carbon?- and stakes)? I was torn between the Rainbow and the Double Rainbow, but when I know my Squall 2 came in over a quarter pound more than the listed weight (and my Rainbow being 3-4 ounces heavier) I didn't want the Double Rainbow to come in at (realistically) ~10-11 ounces more than the Rainbow weighed so I went with the lighter option...hope I made the right choice (although I would have LOVED having doube doors).
I have a TT DR (2014 model). Weighed on my EatSmart digital scale, it came in at exactly 41 oz, as advertised. That's in the stuff sack, with poles and stakes. I carry a couple of extra stakes (Vargo ti, 8 grams each, same as the Easton stakes that came with the TT), so I can use the "porch" feature Franco showed. I love the tent. My only comment would be, it's very spacious. I use it when backpacking with my son (11 years old), and we have plenty of room. I'm thinking of getting the solo Rainbow for when it's just me, the Double is more room than I need.
Porch setup on recent weekend outing.
32116
bgillomega
10-11-2015, 06:17
Single wall tents are horrible due to the condensation issue. I can stand them. I use a big agnes fly creek and use the rain fly as needed which eliminates that issue. I also got the weight down under 2 pounds with titanium pegs and some minor mods.
Single wall tents are horrible due to the condensation issue. I can stand them. I use a big agnes fly creek and use the rain fly as needed which eliminates that issue. I also got the weight down under 2 pounds with titanium pegs and some minor mods.
Which single wall tents have you owned?
Single wall tents are horrible due to the condensation issue. I can stand them. I use a big agnes fly creek and use the rain fly as needed which eliminates that issue. I also got the weight down under 2 pounds with titanium pegs and some minor mods.
I wouldn't call the Tarptent "horrible" in any way. On those occasions when I've experienced condensation in it, it was either my fault (avoidable) for setting it up in a meadow in September, or sort of a minor nuisance (misting effect) in a thunderstorm at Dahlgren Campground a few weeks earlier.
My Eureka Solitaire was a dryer tent, but it was 1 lb. heavier and had far less space.
Siestita
10-12-2015, 05:04
I like my Tarptent Rainbow, so like Rafe in post #3, I definitely will not try to talk you out of getting one. I've never used the Rainbow's "free standing using trekking poles " feature. Instead, I've been satisfied pitching it "tight enough" with stakes. My previously tent was a spacious, two person, double walled Walrus tent, from several decades ago. Switching five years ago to the Rainbow, which weighs three pounds less than the other tent does, was a joy for me.
I anticipated that during long, hard rains, or windy ones, I would need to do some sponging with a small piece of pack towel, doing a bit more of that than than I had previously done in similar weather in the Walrus tent. That has occasionally happened. I've needed to do a little more sponging a few times, but frankly making that exertion hasn't been problematical for me.
I like the Rainbow's space and headroom. But, life is full of trade offs. Obtaining still more space, by getting a Double Rainbow, would have meant having to find wider tent sites. That's something that I find challenging to accomplish sometimes as dusk approaches in Kentucky's Daniel Boone National Forest.
"First, there are those rare days in the Rockies where it begins raining in the afternoon and doesn't stop. I would like a little more room for those days. This is the main reason."
Perhaps the closest thing that we have here in the Southeast to Colorado-like backpacking scenery is Virginia's Grayson Highlands, an area where (due to controlled burning and grazing) some ridges and peaks that would naturally become forested remain clear instead as open balds. As part of a July trip I once planned to spend two nights camped in a high, largely tree-less area, on the side of one of the Grayson Highlands' more exposed mountains. I intended to take day hikes outward from that base camp. But, I stayed in the Tarptent Rainbow instead. It rained almost continuously while I was there at White Top, doing so throughout a night, the next day, and much of the following night. That tested the Rainbow's ability to do both keep me dry and provide some "living space". I was glad to be in the Rainbow then, instead confined in a smaller shelter.
bamboo bob
10-12-2015, 08:54
Have you looked at the LightHeart Gear SoLong 6 (http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/tents/lightheart-solong6-tents/product/view/7/7)? It's not free standing, and uses trekking poles, but we do have tent poles (http://lightheartgear.com/index.php/accessories/tent-poles) available for those times you want to do base camping. Lots of room inside for those days when you are stuck in there. I used mine on the Colorado Trail, it was awesome
Judy - LightHeart Gear
This my choice. I used the Rainbow on the PCT and the Solong6 on the CDT (NM and Colorado). The Rainbow was adequate but over time it really showed it's wear to the point that I didn't think it would hold up and replaced it in Washington with a Hubba. The Solong6 has been bomb proof. It's had a lot of use in the last three years and has had no problems at all. I've used it in all conditions in NM, CO, IN, VT, RI.
bgillomega
10-12-2015, 22:29
My starter was a Wenzel single wall and then I upgraded to a Contrail. Condensation was always a huge problem. It was the only major issue but it is a deal breaker for me.
TexasBob
10-13-2015, 08:52
My starter was a Wenzel single wall and then I upgraded to a Contrail. Condensation was always a huge problem. It was the only major issue but it is a deal breaker for me.
I have a love hate relationship with my Contrail. I love the easy setup, light weight, quality construction and its roomy for a small tent. What I hate is that it mists when it rains any harder than a gentle shower. I can deal with the condensation but I really don't like the misting because everything in the tent ends up damp. Call me crazy but I expect a tent to keep me dry when it rains. I am going to replace the Contrail with a conventional tent, mostly likely some version of the BA Fly Creek.
I have a love hate relationship with my Contrail. I love the easy setup, light weight, quality construction and its roomy for a small tent. What I hate is that it mists when it rains any harder than a gentle shower. I can deal with the condensation but I really don't like the misting because everything in the tent ends up damp. Call me crazy but I expect a tent to keep me dry when it rains. I am going to replace the Contrail with a conventional tent, mostly likely some version of the BA Fly Creek.
+1 on all of that. I've never gotten seriously wet in my Rainbow, but the misting is a bother. I don't recall having to put up with that with the tents I'd used before; that was a new problem.
So that's the tradeoff as I see it: for a given carrying weight, you get a lot more volume and floor space with a Tarpent. But not reliably bone-dry in heavy rain. Being a section hiker, I get to choose my seasons, so hopefully I plan around heavy rain. Thru-hikers don't have that option.
Quote Tipi Walter:
To your last point of getting a moist bag shell because my bag touched the wet inner canopy---Yes, this has happened numerous times on short stubby Hilleberg tents like the Nammatj and the Staika (happens with the Nallo and the Allak and the Soulo and the Akto and many others too)---It's the main reason I went with the vertical head and foot walls of the Keron. As noted, no part of your sleeping bag should touch the tent wall, whether single wall or double.
In the lightweight single-double wall world, the TarpTent Rainbow/Double Rainbow and all 3 Light Heart Gear tents have ample length to avoid even a Long size bag from touching the "bathtub" floor.
For what it's worth, calling a tent with a full mesh canopy and skimpy sides bath tub floor a double wall tent is marketing speak gone terribly wrong. I could get equal coverage from a tarp and hanging net around my bag. Probably drier too given the ample air flow under a proper tarp.
Back in the day, I think consumers were a bit more astute.
Exhibit A, a close cousin to my first North Face tent. 12" sidewall:
http://www.outdoorinov8.com/northfaceimages.html#
Wish they still made tents like that. Where are Moss tents when you want them?
Wayne
The bathtub in the the Tarptent Rainbow is a bit lame, but apparently sufficient. But I find it very roomy -- certainly, coming from an old Eureka Solitaire, it's palatial.
Makes me think of a silly project -- it's raining out (not very hard) and my old Solitaire hasn't been set up in years. I wonder if it's still usable.
TexasBob
10-13-2015, 10:32
So that's the tradeoff as I see it: for a given carrying weight, you get a lot more volume and floor space with a Tarpent. But not reliably bone-dry in heavy rain.
Perfect way to put it. Totally agree.
"The bathtub in the the Tarptent Rainbow is a bit lame"
The Rainbow was first produced in 2005 , it has had several modifications since then.
The current version has a higher bathtub :
32292
it can be further clipped up at either end and on the non door side
Casey & Gina
10-13-2015, 18:46
And the oft forgotten and major weakness of any trekking pole based setup... without the trekking poles you don't have a setup.
Unless there are a couple trees nearby, you have a bit of cord, and your tent has guyout loops where the trekking poles touch the top of the tent. You just tie those points to the tree rather than to the ground. I am betting that applies to most of that style of tent in most situations along the AT.
We enjoyed my Scout UL2 set up this way so much that I think using the trekking pole pitching option will become my fallback option rather than default.
Drybones
10-14-2015, 08:19
Don't do it.
Sarcasm the elf
10-14-2015, 12:54
"The bathtub in the the Tarptent Rainbow is a bit lame"
The Rainbow was first produced in 2005 , it has had several modifications since then.
The current version has a higher bathtub :
32292
it can be further clipped up at either end and on the non door side
I was going to say that I have found the TT double rainbow's bathtub floor to be more than adequate.
, mine is a more recent model.
I was going to say that I have found the TT double rainbow's bathtub floor to be more than adequate.
, mine is a more recent model.
Mine was purchased late '06 or early '07. The tub walls are not nearly as high as in the photo.
Tipi Walter
10-14-2015, 14:45
Single wall tents are horrible due to the condensation issue. I can't stand them. I use a big agnes fly creek and use the rain fly as needed which eliminates that issue. I also got the weight down under 2 pounds with titanium pegs and some minor mods.
I always love to hear about the negatories of a product, especially a tent. No tent is perfect, all brands and models have their weaknesses. Problem is, most users don't use a tent long enough in all conditions to discover their "flaws".
I wouldn't call the Tarptent "horrible" in any way. On those occasions when I've experienced condensation in it, it was either my fault (avoidable) for setting it up in a meadow in September, or sort of a minor nuisance (misting effect) in a thunderstorm at Dahlgren Campground a few weeks earlier.
My Eureka Solitaire was a dryer tent, but it was 1 lb. heavier and had far less space.
I don't think it was your fault for getting condensation in a meadow, and definitely not your fault for the misting effect a few weeks later. No tent should allow you or your gear to get wet, either due to condensation or "misting". Site selection should not be factored in if you're carrying a One-Tool-For-All-Jobs kind of tent.
I have a love hate relationship with my Contrail. I love the easy setup, light weight, quality construction and its roomy for a small tent. What I hate is that it mists when it rains any harder than a gentle shower. I can deal with the condensation but I really don't like the misting because everything in the tent ends up damp. Call me crazy but I expect a tent to keep me dry when it rains. I am going to replace the Contrail with a conventional tent, mostly likely some version of the BA Fly Creek.
This has been a challenging topic on the TarpTent forums---Misting, water penetration thru the fly in a hard rain etc. Do some googling on the subject and you'll find you're not the only one experiencing this problem. Other tent flys do this too but a solid double wall canopy keeps you from feeling it.
+1 on all of that. I've never gotten seriously wet in my Rainbow, but the misting is a bother. I don't recall having to put up with that with the tents I'd used before; that was a new problem.
So that's the tradeoff as I see it: for a given carrying weight, you get a lot more volume and floor space with a Tarpent. But not reliably bone-dry in heavy rain. Being a section hiker, I get to choose my seasons, so hopefully I plan around heavy rain. Thru-hikers don't have that option.
Depending on length of trip, winter temps, cold rain and longevity of storm, misting can be a real problem. What's moist yesterday on Day 2 may be more moist by Day 3 and then on Day 5 a real blizzard hits and real condensation begins so by Day 7 everything is soggy---not soaked of course but never dry. So, all efforts must be made to keep you and your gear dry with no compromises and therefore never using a shelter which gets inside misting. This challenge is much more important than the overall weight of a tent. Weight comes in second, protection is #1.
Mine was purchased late '06 or early '07. The tub walls are not nearly as high as in the photo.
The silnylon we use now is also different from the one in pre 2010. A bit heavier but with a higher waterhead.
franco@tarptent
[...]Depending on length of trip, winter temps, cold rain and longevity of storm, misting can be a real problem. What's moist yesterday on Day 2 may be more moist by Day 3 and then on Day 5 a real blizzard hits and real condensation begins so by Day 7 everything is soggy---not soaked of course but never dry. So, all efforts must be made to keep you and your gear dry with no compromises and therefore never using a shelter which gets inside misting. This challenge is much more important than the overall weight of a tent. Weight comes in second, protection is #1.
I'm not as hardcore as you, Tipi. Duking it out with Mother Nature isn't my favorite recreation, I'd just as soon head for the comfort and safety of town until her tantrums blow over. I've never spent a full day in a tent, and don't intend to start now.
Tipi Walter
10-14-2015, 17:06
Duking it out with Mother Nature isn't my favorite recreation, I'd just as soon head for the comfort and safety of town until her tantrums blow over. I've never spent a full day in a tent, and don't intend to start now.
Duking it out with Mother Nature is a giant part of backpacking. Here's my definition of Backpacking: Managing Discomfort. But your post brings up a weird fact: I assume everyone has spent a day inside a tent. My fault I guess.
Del Gue and Jeremiah Johnson comes to mind:
Del Gue: Jeremiah, maybe you best go down to a town, get outta these mountains.
Jeremiah: I've been to a town Del.
The whole point of it to me is to get out of a town and stay out. Towns aren't that safe and never feel comfortable. But then yes I have to come home. And I know for a fact that Miss Nature loves to watch us squirm---and she usually allows us to keep our gear most of the time.
donthaveoneyet
10-14-2015, 17:32
Duking it out with Mother Nature is a giant part of backpacking. Here's my definition of Backpacking: Managing Discomfort. But your post brings up a weird fact: I assume everyone has spent a day inside a tent. My fault I guess.
Del Gue and Jeremiah Johnson comes to mind:
Del Gue: Jeremiah, maybe you best go down to a town, get outta these mountains.
Jeremiah: I've been to a town Del.
The whole point of it to me is to get out of a town and stay out. Towns aren't that safe and never feel comfortable. But then yes I have to come home. And I know for a fact that Miss Nature loves to watch us squirm---and she usually allows us to keep our gear most of the time.
I'm kinda new here, and so trying not to offend... But tipi, I find your posts refreshing and occasionally amusing. That said, yeah, I have spent an entire day in a tent, more than once, and I strongly prefer not to do it again, if I can avoid it. Backpacking, for me, is not just a variation on masochism. My happiest moments are summiting a modest mountain with the sun high in the sky and plenty of time to set up a comfortable campsite, on a flat dry spot, with my 11 year old son, and cooking up a nice meal, and NO RAIN. :)
Back on topic, I find my Double Rainbow suits my purposes very well. Me and the boy and luxuriate in the darn thing. He reads a book with his headlamp, and I stair out the open porch, until we drift off. That, my friend, is what it's all about.