Tarptent Double Rainbow Overview| CleverHiker

Backside Line

On the planet of ultralight tents, the Double Rainbow stands out with its glorious 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 comfy to make use of because the Double Rainbow. For balancing so many priorities effectively, it earns a stable spot on our checklist of one of the best ultralight tents tents.

Essentially the most distinctive design characteristic of the Double Rainbow is the one arched pole that runs your complete 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 complete 88 inches of size.

This arched pole means your trekking poles (in case 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 aspects sufficient construction to be arrange with out stakes in locations like granite slabs or picket platforms. We additionally consider it’s fairly climate resistant, with that curved pole permitting for a distributed wind power throughout the tent physique that retains your complete construction standing sturdy.

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

Eradicating that central pole might be tedious in comparison with flattening trekking poles. Nevertheless, we perceive why this shelter is so fashionable; it’s nice and comes at a wonderful worth! For many who love the idea of a pole tent however wish to maintain the burden 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 comfy 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 total size.

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

When sitting up, the consolation takes successful as a result of 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 best choice for ready out a rainstorm whereas taking part in playing cards. The height peak of 42 inches doesn’t contribute a lot to assuaging this sense, nevertheless it’s actually enough.

Different elements of the tent contribute to an general optimistic expertise. We cherished the massive facet pockets, which might simply maintain a headlamp, cellphone, and even the entire contents of a ditty bag. Inside clips on the ceiling facilitate stringing a clothesline or attaching an elective peak pocket that Tarptent sells. The swap from silnylon to silpoly can also be implausible to see because it doesn’t stretch or sag when moist, and the waterproof zippers are easy and straightforward 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. It is a implausible characteristic for many who continuously camp in areas with poor staking choices or on platforms just like the Appalachian Path.

Moreover, the doorways embody a small flap of material that may be unfurled to create a porch mode when the nook of the door is supported by a trekking pole. It is 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 folks in a design that’s extra storm-worthy than many options. For these causes, we consider the general weight supplied 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 may actually go lighter right here, however we consider they’ve discovered a great stability between worth, sturdiness, and efficiency. The 20d silpoly rainfly and 30d silnylon are excellent supplies for basic efficiency ultralight tents. The Easton carbon fiber poles are additionally a implausible part to see, offering a wonderful power to weight ratio.

Ease of Use

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

We appreciated that each half has some adjustability to facilitate setup whereas additionally permitting elements 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 in addition on many others 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 underneath stress, 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 glorious climate resistance towards wind and rain. The big 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 evening.

To boost storm worthiness, we suggest staking out the elective man strains from the middle of every arched pole facet and directing one of many ends into the wind. The height vents are well-designed, offering first rate 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 dearth of headroom prevents this from being actually 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 reveals.

In comparison with another extra price range tents in our lineup, the Double Rainbow has a solidity that evokes confidence in its use. We consider this may 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 revel in adventures with one other particular person, this is among the finest choices out there. From its sturdiness to its climate resistance and distinctive options, Tarptent has crafted one thing particular right here. After years of being an extremely fashionable shelter, it’s no shock that it has garnered such affection from the backpacking group.

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 in case you share the fee with one other particular person, it turns into an excellent higher cut price.

For backpackers looking for a light-weight tent that may be pitched freestanding, this tent’s capacity to just accept trekking poles on the base is unmatched and could possibly be all somebody wants to listen to. Not each path presents the luxurious of soppy, safe earth. Moreover, in case 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 glorious 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 Overview: If the worth and weight of the Double Rainbow are nonetheless a bit a lot and also you’re the kind of particular person looking for 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 comfy for 2 folks. Though it’s not fairly as stormworthy on account of bigger cloth panels, it ought to be greater than adequate for many circumstances. The few downsides embody poor inside pockets,  cheaper cloth high quality, odd peak vents, and the dearth of an choice to make it freestanding. Nevertheless, we consider that for many individuals in search of an inexpensive backpacking tent, the Lanshan 2 Professional is a superb selection.

Durston X-Mid Professional 2+ Overview: 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 folks, 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 Overview: If the Double Rainbow is simply too giant on your adventures since you often go solo, the Lunar Solo is a wonderful selection. With a 20d silpoly fly just like the Double Rainbow, its pyramid design ought to shed wind and rain even higher whereas remaining comfy. The beneficiant ground house is almost adequate for 2, so you should have loads of room for taking a backpack inside or simply stretching out.