Tarptent Double Rainbow Evaluation| CleverHiker

Backside Line

On the planet of ultralight tents, the Double Rainbow stands out with its wonderful design, making it our favourite non-trekking pole tent for weight-conscious backpackers. There are technically lighter tents that don’t use trekking poles, however none are as sturdy, storm-worthy, or snug to make use of because the Double Rainbow. For balancing so many priorities nicely, it earns a stable spot on our record of one of the best ultralight tents tents.

Probably the most distinctive design characteristic of the Double Rainbow is the one arched pole that runs your entire size of the tent physique. It creates vertical partitions at each the top and foot ends, which considerably will increase head and foot house, permitting you to make the most of your entire 88 inches of size.

This arched pole means your trekking poles (when you use them) are free to allow one other distinctive trick: making this tent freestanding. By attaching horizontally at the back and front to the corners, the tent positive factors sufficient construction to be arrange with out stakes in locations like granite slabs or wood platforms. We additionally consider it’s fairly climate resistant, with that curved pole permitting for a distributed wind drive throughout the tent physique that retains your entire construction standing robust.

It nonetheless has flaws, specifically the decreased lateral headroom, which limits it from being a really nice shelter for ready out rainstorms. We additionally consider that trekking pole tents are faster to arrange and take down when you get the cling of them.

Eradicating that central pole might be tedious in comparison with knocking down trekking poles. Nevertheless, we perceive why this shelter is so common; it’s nice and comes at a superb worth! For individuals who love the idea of a pole tent however wish to maintain the load to a minimal, the Double Rainbow is an impressive tent that ought to final for years of use.

Consolation

We cherished testing the Double Rainbow, discovering its distinctive design each snug and spacious. The important thing characteristic enabling that is the one curved pole that runs by the backbone of the tent, creating an arch throughout its whole size.

At each the top and foot ends, this pole ends vertically, which signifies that, not like many trekking pole tents with sloping aspect partitions, the Double Rainbow can make the most of its full size of 88 inches. In observe, this translated to a cushty expertise whereas mendacity down, with the curved pole serving to to keep away from any emotions of claustrophobia. After we had been stretched out on a 2.5-inch sleeping pad inside a 20-degree quilt, we didn’t really feel anxious concerning the footbox touching the partitions.

When sitting up, the consolation takes successful because of the restricted headroom created by the 24-inch crossbar. It’s not unusable, however in comparison with another extra spacious two-person tents, this isn’t the most suitable choice for ready out a rainstorm whereas taking part in playing cards. The height top of 42 inches doesn’t contribute a lot to assuaging this sense, nevertheless it’s actually ample.

Different components of the tent contribute to an total constructive expertise. We cherished the massive aspect pockets, which might simply maintain a headlamp, telephone, and even the whole contents of a ditty bag. Inside clips on the ceiling facilitate stringing a clothesline or attaching an non-obligatory peak pocket that Tarptent sells. The swap from silnylon to silpoly can be improbable to see because it doesn’t stretch or sag when moist, and the waterproof zippers are easy and simple to make use of.

The Double Rainbow has a number of distinctive options that assist it stand out from the pack, together with its capacity to transform to freestanding mode. By attaching a pair of trekking poles to the 4 staking factors, the mixture of the trekking pole construction and the one tent pole creates a freestanding setup, requiring solely the doorways to be staked out. This can be a improbable characteristic for many who regularly camp in areas with poor staking choices or on platforms just like the Appalachian Path.

Moreover, the doorways embody a small flap of cloth that may be unfurled to create a porch mode when the nook of the door is supported by a trekking pole. This can be a enjoyable characteristic that enhances livability throughout rainstorms.

Weight

For a semi-freestanding tent, the Double Rainbow weighs a powerful 36.6 ounces. Whereas another tents are lighter, Tarptent nonetheless gives a cushty expertise for 2 individuals in a design that’s extra storm-worthy than many alternate options. For these causes, we consider the general weight provided right here is nice. Furthermore, contemplating it may be transformed into a completely freestanding tent with some trekking poles, it turns into much more spectacular.

Tarptent might actually go lighter right here, however we consider they’ve discovered a superb stability between worth, sturdiness, and efficiency. The 20d silpoly rainfly and 30d silnylon are excellent supplies for common efficiency ultralight tents. The Easton carbon fiber poles are additionally a improbable part to see, offering a superb power to weight ratio.

Ease of Use

With out trekking poles to cope with, the Double Rainbow is certain to enchantment to these extra accustomed to conventional pole tents, and total we discovered it very user-friendly. Stake out the 4 corners, insert the one pole, and fix the crossbar on the prime. Tarptent has been producing easy-to-use tents for many years, and their hottest mannequin (the Double Rainbow) is not any exception.

We appreciated that each half has some adjustability to facilitate setup whereas additionally permitting parts to be cinched tight. The user-friendly magnetic door closures are additionally safe; we love seeing this characteristic showing not solely on this tent but additionally on many others just lately.

Taking down the tent could be a bit cumbersome at instances because it’s not as simple to tug the one pole out as it’s to slip it in. The pole sections separate below rigidity, so bunching up the material and pushing the pole by tends to work finest. This isn’t laborious to do, nevertheless it takes a while.

Climate Resistance

With high-quality supplies and a wind-shedding design, the Double Rainbow presents wonderful climate resistance in opposition to wind and rain. The massive curved areas created by the tent imply there aren’t many giant surfaces for the wind to catch like on another trekking pole tents, and the sag-free silpoly ensures the tent stays tensioned all through the night time.

To reinforce storm worthiness, we advocate staking out the non-obligatory man traces from the middle of every arched pole aspect and directing one of many ends into the wind. The height vents are well-designed, offering respectable air flow on each side of the tent.

The addition of the porch mode on the doorways makes this tent uniquely fitted to ready out rainstorms extra comfortably, permitting the doorways to stay open. Nevertheless, as talked about earlier, the shortage of headroom prevents this from being really nice as a haunt throughout lengthy, dreary rainstorms.

Sturdiness

The Double Rainbow has lengthy been a favourite on trails such because the Appalachian and Pacific Crest, able to lasting by a full thru-hike with correct care. A lot of its sturdiness stems from the high-quality supplies used within the fly and ground. The 20d silpoly is a wonderful materials for the fly, resisting UV degradation higher than basic silnylon, whereas the 30d silnylon ground presents distinctive puncture and abrasion resistance.

When inspecting the tent for manufacturing high quality, we had been impressed by the general stitching high quality and really feel of the tent. Tarptent has been making tents for some time, and it exhibits.

In comparison with another extra price range tents in our lineup, the Double Rainbow has a solidity that conjures up confidence in its use. We consider this can particularly profit backpackers who’re new to ultralight gear and nonetheless need assurance that light-weight supplies will endure over time.

Ought to You Purchase the Tarptent Double Rainbow Tent?

Non-trekking pole tents have gotten more and more uncommon within the ultralight world, but the Double Rainbow demonstrates that there’s nonetheless a spot for them. In the event you hike with out trekking poles and luxuriate in adventures with one other particular person, this is likely one of the finest choices obtainable. From its sturdiness to its climate resistance and distinctive options, Tarptent has crafted one thing particular right here. After years of being an extremely common shelter, it’s no shock that it has garnered such affection from the backpacking neighborhood.

All of it comes at a worth that’s cheap for the standard and options included. We consider it presents nice worth, contemplating it’s a time-tested design that ought to endure a complete thru-hike, and when you share the price with one other particular person, it turns into a good higher discount.

For backpackers in search of a light-weight tent that may be pitched freestanding, this tent’s capacity to simply accept trekking poles on the base is unmatched and may very well be all somebody wants to listen to. Not each path presents the posh of sentimental, safe earth. Moreover, when you’re simply beginning your journey into ultralight tenting and really feel intimidated by trekking pole designs, the Double Rainbow gives a well-recognized different whereas delivering wonderful efficiency.

What Different Ultralight Tents Ought to You Take into account?

If the Tarptent Double Rainbow Tent isn’t the right match, our finest ultralight tents information has many different choices.

3FUL Lanshan 2 Professional Evaluation: If the worth and weight of the Double Rainbow are nonetheless a bit a lot and also you’re the kind of particular person in search of the very best price-to-performance ratio, the Lanshan 2 Professional is tough to beat. Boasting a equally spacious ground plan however higher headroom, the Professional 2 ought to really feel snug for 2 individuals. Though it’s not fairly as stormworthy as a result of bigger cloth panels, it must be greater than enough for many circumstances. The few downsides embody poor inside pockets,  cheaper cloth high quality, odd peak vents, and the shortage of an choice to make it freestanding. Nevertheless, we consider that for many individuals searching for an inexpensive backpacking tent, the Lanshan 2 Professional is a good selection.

Durston X-Mid Professional 2+ Evaluation: To raise your backcountry adventures, we had been impressed by the livability, ease of use, and weight of the X-Mid Professional 2+. With a spacious inside that feels luxurious even for 2 individuals, this tent is our best choice for consolation on the path. Moreover, the offset pole geometry enhances its storm resilience, whereas options like giant pockets, deep vestibules, and water resistant zippers make it user-friendly. Though it comes at a premium, we consider it’s pretty priced in comparison with different tents manufactured from Dyneema Composite Fiber.

Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Evaluation: If the Double Rainbow is just too giant in your adventures since you often go solo, the Lunar Solo is a wonderful selection. With a 20d silpoly fly much like the Double Rainbow, its pyramid design ought to shed wind and rain even higher whereas remaining snug. The beneficiant ground house is sort of enough for 2, so you’ll have loads of room for taking a backpack inside or simply stretching out.