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Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Tarptent Double Rainbow > Stephanie Martin > Test Report by Stephanie MartinTest Report: Tarptent Double Rainbow and Optional Liner
- Product Features and Construction - Product Performance in the Field - Field Report - Product Performance in the Field - Long Term Report - Summary
It's Here! The Double Rainbow Arrives!
Note: This report is amended to reflect changes with the 2007 Double Rainbow
over the 2006 version.
Initial Impressions and Construction
A quick pitching of the Double Rainbow allowed me to complete a cursory inspection of the workmanship. The shelter is nicely made with clean stitching, and fine attention to detail. In addition to the standard stake-out points (each of the four corners plus the two vestibule guy-outs), the 2007 version of the Double Rainbow also has additional guy-out points - a pair on each vestibule and another pair along the ridgeline of the main pole. No extra cord is provided with the tarptent, so if the guyouts are needed, be sure to pack some spare cord. The extra cord will also enable the elevation of the beaks by utilizing trekking poles (see photos below).
The sides and doors of the Double Rainbow (underneath the vestibules) along with a small section on either end are made of no-see-em mesh. The D-shaped doors are large and feature dual zipper pulls so that the door opening can be adjusted as the user wishes. The Tarptent also has a pair of small mesh pockets (one on either side by the doors) to allow for the storage of small items. There are also several mitten hooks located along the seams on the interior used to attach the optional liner. The silnylon floor of the Double Rainbow features bathtub construction.
The optional liner is shaped slightly like a hourglass, and is made from white 1.1 ounce ripstop nylon. Along various points on the liner are small elastic loops, similar to the one photographed on the vestibule vent, above. These elastic loops are used to secure the liner to the matching connection points on the inside of the Double Rainbow canopy. The liner, when installed, creates a 2-inch (5 cm) air gap to aid in insulation or cooling (depending on the season) of the shelter, as well as protect against condensation and drips or mist-through in the case of heavy rain. Pitching the Double Rainbow: Setting up the Double Rainbow is a relatively simple affair and consists of spreading the Tarptent body on the ground, and threading in the long single pole into the yellow silnylon sleeve. Once inserted, either end of the pole is secured into grommets that are affixed to a thin strip of webbing that runs underneath the tent body - it is this strap of webbing that keeps the pole bowed in place. The tensioning can be finely adjusted by pulling on the webbing that is fed through a ladderloc on one side of the tent.
I found the instructions provided with the Double Rainbow to be clear and easy to understand, though I still am not certain what the purpose of the velcro is along the front edge of the rain curtain. The six stakes that come with the Double Rainbow are sufficient to set up and secure the tarptent (one for each corner and one each for each of the beaks), though a few more may be handy to facilitate other beak configurations.
Breaking it all Down: Taking down the
Double Rainbow is just as simple as putting it up. All actions are
completed in reverse. I did note that the long main pole seemed to stick
to the sleeve on occasion, causing it to separate, though this is no major
inconvenience. The stuff sack is large enough to accommodate the tent pegs
and tent body rolled tightly around the collapsed main pole. Product Performance in the Field (Field Report July 7, 2007)
Setting up the Double Rainbow proved to be as simple as it was during the initial testing of the tent. I found it easiest to set up in locations where I could get stakes into the ground - in these cases, pitching the Double Rainbow on my own was made easier by staking three of the four corners of the tent, then inserting and securing the main pole, finishing off with the final stake (or stakes if I was planning on using the vestibules). In situations where stakes could not be sunk into the ground, the use of adjustable trekking poles is the best option - this does require the availability of 55 inch (140 cm) or longer trekking poles (or 51 inch (130 cm) trekking poles plus pole extenders). Unfortunately, due to my poor planning, I only had 49 inch (125 cm) trekking poles on hand, and was forced to set up the double rainbow using rock cairns for tie outs. While this is do-able, it would have been made much easier if I had remembered to add additional lengths of cord to the tent! Incidentally, during the course of testing in rocky ground, I accidentally bent (and broke while trying to straighten it back out) one of the stakes. While I did not encounter any precipitation during this stage of testing, I did install the optional liner, in an attempt to evaluate its use as a thermal barrier. The liner installs relatively quickly and easily by way of elastic loops that are connected to mitten hooks that are sewn onto the tent body. I was unable to detect much of a temperature difference between the airgap (the space between the liner and the tent body) and the main portion of the living area. This could be because most days, in order to beat the heat, camp was broken not long after sunrise. On the days that the tent was left pitched as a base-camp, I had pitched it in the cover of shade trees, so heating via direct sunlight was already minimized. The optional liner did not greatly reduce the living space inside the tent, nor did it change the lighting inside. Breaking down the Double Rainbow was as expected, though I did find it more difficult to get the tent back into its bag over the course of time. I'm not sure why this is the case, but eventually it proved to be frustrating enough that I eventually stopped stowing the tent body in its bag, opting to just roll it up and stuff it directly into my pack. Actual use of the Double Rainbow is a comfortable affair. There is copious storage space, especially when the vestibules are taken into account - and entry and exit of the tent is simple, with the large doors. While the netting does trap some heat, it also allows for fantastic ventilation, especially when a breeze is present. When pitched tightly, the tent doesn't have any excessive flap to keep me awake at night, even with gusty winds. As I mention above, the inside living space is plenty roomy for both myself and my husband. We can both sit up comfortably inside the tent, and we don't find ourselves mashed together as is the case with some two-person shelters. The floor length of the Double Rainbow is very generous - I can have my morning stretch in the tent with arms extended over my head and toes pointed and still not touch either end of the tent! The small pockets in the tent are big enough for me to stow my glasses and small items in one place, though I'm not sure I like the fact that the slit for the pocket faces outward (rather than into the tent) - at first this made it a little awkward putting things into the pockets. The location of the pockets are good and they don't bother me while I'm sleeping by dangling in/on my face. I did note that there are a couple extraneous pieces of hook-and-loop tabs sewn into the body of the Double Rainbow. They seem to match those that are used hold the mesh door open, though I cannot figure out what their purpose may be. I also note that the hook portions of these tabs are located inside the living space - if possible, I do recommend to the manufacturer to reverse the hook and loop portions, placing the loop portions inside tent. In the manner that they are currently sewn in, the hooked tabs can prove to be an annoyance as they tend to snag my hair and shirt if brushed up against. So far, other than the one tent peg casualty, the Double Rainbow is holding up nicely to testing. I haven't noticed any snags in the mesh, nor have I noticed any issues with durability thus far. The silnylon of the floor, in particular, does seem prone to attracting and holding onto sand, though it is easily cleaned with a damp cloth.
Prior to taking the Double Rainbow into the field for testing, I seam sealed it
using the instructions as provided by the manufacturer, diluting silicone-based
seam sealer with mineral spirits and painting it on. The process was
straight forward and simple. Since no precipitation was encountered, I'm
not able to comment on how weather-proof the tent is. Product Performance in the Field (Long Term Report September 7, 2007)
I used the Double Rainbow for four more nights during the course of the long term test period. Unfortunately for testing's sake (though fantastic otherwise), the weather overnight skies were always clear - it seems the monsoons would typically dump in the afternoon with the skies clearing up by the evening. While I never actually got rained on during the course of testing, the dampness in the air did, however, seem to be more conducive to allowing some condensation to form on the inside walls of the tent - especially when the vestibules were closed tightly. The optional clip-in liner helped to prevent transfer of moisture from the condensation onto my sleeping bag due to rubbing or brushing against the tent walls. I should note that this bit of condensation was no more than what I would have expected out of any other single-walled shelter, and it certainly wasn't excessive. Pitching the Double rainbow has become a smoother process over time, especially once I remembered to pack additional lengths of line with the tent. While I do very much appreciate the fact that the Double Rainbow can be pitched in a freestanding mode, I still find the process a little bit fiddly. I continue to struggle to secure the cupped end of the trekking pole connector around my trekking poles' handles. Due to these struggles, I've taken to preferentially setting up the tent using rocks or other objects if I cannot stake down the corners to my satisfaction. In all other aspects, the Double Rainbow has continued to perform as reported
in the Field Report. The tent is in good condition, and does not show any
undue signs of wear. While the tent has been pitched on a variety of
surfaces, it does not appear to hold onto an undue amount of dust or other
debris. As a shelter, it has held up well to the moderate winds I have
encountered, remaining happily pitched and quiet (hooray! No tent flap!),
allowing me to sleep peacefully inside. I really appreciate the amount of
space and headroom inside this tent - I don't feel claustrophobic or confined in
any way. There's plenty of room to move about, get dressed and sit upright
to read, knit or carefully tend to a stove set up outside the tent doors (while
taking refuge from mosquitoes). Summary: Woo Hoos and Boo Hoos - Woo Hoo: Very
spacious. My thanks to BackpackGearTest.org and Tarptent for this testing opportunity. Read more reviews of Tarptent gear Read more gear reviews by Stephanie Martin Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Tarptent Double Rainbow > Stephanie Martin > Test Report by Stephanie Martin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The
Double Rainbow, like its single-person predecessor, the Rainbow, derives its
name from the arc shape that its single pole creates when the rainbow is
pitched. Also like its predecessor, the Double Rainbow can be pitched in a
free-standing configuration, providing that the appropriate length trekking
poles are available. In order for this to be accomplished, one must have
poles that adjust to a minimum of 55 inches (140 cm) though Tarptent recommends
poles of 57 inches (145 cm) for optimal performance. Optional pole
extenders are available for purchase via the Tarptent website if your poles aren't long enough,
or if you are a handy type, you can make your own by cutting some short lengths
of PVC tubing. 
The
Double Rainbow appears to be remarkably
roomy, and features dual exits and vestibules, so when
it is occupied by a pair, each individual has their own storage space and exit,
so crawling over one another should prove to be unnecessary. Each of the
vestibule doors can be secured open in fair weather, by utilizing small hook and
loop strips that are attached at the edge of the doorway for just such a
purpose. 
The vestibules or beaks of the Double Rainbow can either be secured tightly
by zipping them shut, or more loosely by using the sewn on hook and loop closures.
The vent at the top of the vestibules allows for air circulation when the Double
Rainbow is secured in its most closed configuration. For additional
ventilation, it is possible to leave one or both sides of each vestibule open,
with a small "rain curtain" attached between the beaks to provide a porch-like
setup while creating shelter from precipitation. In the event of blowing
rain, the vents can be secured closed by securing the mitten hook on the
vestibule door to thesmall loop of
elastic attached to the vent. Deep inside each vent, near the apex of the
tent is a grommet affixed to a small piece of webbing. This grommet is positioned to allow for a trekking pole to be
propped up from the inside to provide further stabilization to the tent in
higher winds. 
Once
the main pole is inserted, the tent body can either be staked out at the four
corners, or for a freestanding set-up, adjustable trekking poles can be secured
at either end of the tent by making use of the patent-pending trekking pole
connectors. Each corner of the body (and roof) can be easily adjusted
using line tighteners. 
The
Double Rainbow accompanied me on a multi-day backpacking trip through Death
Hollow in southern Utah in addition to being used as my primary tent on a
week-long excursion to various other locations in the region. As far as
living space goes, the Double Rainbow is a real treat to use, with plenty of
headroom, and considerable floor space. Combined with the double
vestibules, there is more than enough storage space for me to stow away any gear
that I felt needed to be kept out of the elements.