Tarptent's Double Rainbow, introduced in 2006, got consistently great reviews on the Internet, so late in 2007, I decided to purchase one. During 2008, I utilized the tent alone. This tent has some good and poor points.
As soon as I chose to purchase the Double Rainbow, I found a waiting list, so I exchanged emails with Henry Shires, the operator of Tarptent. He promptly answered all the e-mail I sent to him before the buy, so I made the assumption that the client service would be quite good. Settled on an extended delay, somehow my Double Rainbow showed up at the doorway a tiny earlier than I had believed it would. The waiting list for this tent was long, but, maybe, his generation was faster than anticipated. This was a good as I have usually believed in the notion over-deliver and under-promise, but I was somewhat disappointed with the product right out from the box.
Upon first review, I discovered several problems. It seemed like during creation, the dressmaker forgot to sew about a 1 portion of the netting into the seam. This was additionally noted as a difficulty in another review. It was also missing a little bungee required to engage the tub floor. Having found issues, I ended up locating loose clothing and overall terrible stitching and chose to seem the product over more commonly. Now, I realize that silicone nylon is extremely hard to sew, but I expect better in a $250 high end product.
One of the factors that I determined to take to a Tarptent instead of just a tarp, which is what I happen to be using outside of the bug season, is because in the BWCA and the Northland, the pests are excruciating for a lot of the June through August summer camping season. I love camping under tarps, because of their openness, but a tent has always looked to me to offer much better bug shield. The product seemed to provide the best of both sides. A tarp with the protection from pests.
Unfortunately, together with the gap within the veiling it would not provide bug protection until I fixed the pit. Luckily, I live with an expert stitcher, and she repaired the hole. (Note : I contacted received a reply.) never Tarptent twice about the hole and)
Issue solved until I found a "design feature" that permits bugs into the tent. At the level where in actuality the post leaves sleeve there's a section of bug netting that is not stitched into the tent. This enables no-see - ums, black flies, and mosquitoes as they please to enter into the tent. This is a very little hole, but non the-less is there and could permit bugs
in. The manner is interesting for all those that hike with trekking poles, because it enables you to set the tent up rapidly and easily move it around if you need to. Unfortunately, I tore out one the pockets the trekking poles fit into. The sewing seemed to be guaranteed up upon itself, but really little force caused the entire row of stitches to neglect. I emailed Tarptent for a replacement, and they instantly sent it to me.
That wasn't a huge drawback for me, because ordinarily, I am a canoeist and less a tramp, despite that fact that I have thru hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1996. Therefore, for me, set-up has not been adversely impacted by the loss of the trekking pole pocket. To setup this tent, you thread a pole through a really tight pole sleeve, it gets hung up in the heart as soon as the sleeve runs under the pole in the center of the tent. The post is then inserted into a grommet on every aspect along with the four corners are staked out.
The primary post's sleeve is created from a silicone nylon and isn't so durable. Somehow, before the seventh night out, I ended up setting a hole in to the sleeve.
There are plenty of choices for set-up that I haven't attempted. Probably the most intriguing is the capacity to have one or both of the vestibules propped open and erect using trekking poles or paddles. This allows a far more breezy set-up for times without rain or with rain that's falling right down. I like the concept and it reminds my of the method I can set up my old Sierra Design tent. The problem with all the set up is the flap of stuff required to produce it work once the set up isn't employed is constantly getting in the way. There is a ribbon that is suppose to tie it right back, but the ribbon will not seem to hold a knot. A minor issue, but irritating. Plus, if you dump water onto this flap, the water comes in to the sleeping area, therefore it is unlikely to get used during heavy rain when more ventilation is required to reduce the condensation issues this tent has.
Generally, set up is relatively quick and except for the center pole bind up and the confusing mess of "items" at the grommet it really is painless. Then this tent isn't for you, in case you are not a supporter of tents that require staking out to set-up.
The Double Rainbow has much going for it livability-wise. It is roomy and long. It has tons of headroom - - enough to enable two individuals to sit up and play cards. It has two doorways and two small vestibules. Great for keeping shoes and additional small items. The double doors are wonderful for getting in and away of the tent during the evening without waking up your own partner. The width is only right for a couple. It's a little tight for two friends. My significant other describes it as "cosy."
The Tarptent is furthermore really breezy on windy day, but on calm damp days it fails to breath. This failure combined with the lack of the double wall creates the situation for important condensation problems. Throughout among the nights on which this occurred, I considered going away to the cooking tarp and sleeping under it. The problem is connected with a lack a venting, IMO.
We also noticed that the Tarptent Double Rainbow appeared to be warmer than sleeping under a tarp, this arrived in useful on a surprise subfreezing night kayaking on Lake Nipigon in Canada. I just had a 30 degree bag with me, so I loved the extra heat the tent supplied.
It really is twofold; first, the floor is sold as being a bathtub. This tub floor should keep rainwater from running under the tent and in to the living area. The tub is produced by pulling bungees attached to the groundsheet outside around the stakes. It really is a fine thought, but any inside pressure from a sleeping bag, publication, pillow, etc... cause the tub to failure. It doesn't really perform with two individuals. With only one, it appears to maintain up better. The second issue is the fact that the floor is created from silicon nylon, which is very very slick. Despite following instruction to caulk lines onto a floor to assist stop mattress pads from slipping around, they nevertheless do. Set-up on any slight incline and expect you'll discover yourself at the other conclusion of the tent shortly.
A little nit-pick may be the size of the zippers, all these are exceptionally tiny and difficult to pull with gloves or cool hands. The little size also leads me to believe that they'll fail at some point sooner rather than later, but I haven't seen a failure yet. I've observed it in other items utilizing a similar sized zipper.
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