Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Tarptent Rainbow > Mark Wood > Field Report

Product Information
Manufacturer:	Tarptent by Henry Shires
Year of Manufacture:	2006
URL of Manufacturer:	http://www.tarptent.com
MSRP:	$215 US
Listed Weight:	30.0 oz (855 g)
Weight as Delivered:	32.25 oz (915 g)
Listed Dimensions:	Floor Width: 38-46 in (96-117 cm) Floor Length: 88-96 in (223 - 244 cm) Apex Height: 43 in (110 cm) Packed Size: 24 x 4 x 3 in (61 x 10 x 7.5 cm)
Measured Dimensions:	Floor Width: 37 in (94 cm) -- Measured from bathtub floor corners Floor Length: 87 in (221 cm) -- Measured from bathtub floor corners Apex Height: 44.5 in (113 cm) Packed Size: 25 x 5 x 4 in (64 x 13 x 10 cm) -- Easily compressible though
Materials: (From Web page)	Roof / Floor: High Tenacity 1.1 ounce / square yard rip stop silnylon Netting: No-see-um netting Guy lines: 2mm reflective Kelty "Triptease Lightline" Stakes: Easton Aluminum Poles: Easton Aluminum 7075-T9
The Tarptent Rainbow is a new offering by Tarptent this year.  It is a 1-2 person tent which boasts the ability to be pitched free standing with the use of 2 trekking poles.  Using stakes, the tent can also be pitched without trekking poles, but it will not be free standing.  As with all shelters made by Tarptent, the Rainbow is a single walled shelter designed to promote exceptional airflow and reduce condensation while boasting a low weight.  There are two versions available -- one with a sewn in "bathtub" style floor, and one with no floor.  I received the style with the sewn in floor. For more information regarding the specifics of this tent, please see my initial report.

Field Report

Overview I have taken the Rainbow out on three outings for a total of three nights of use.  During these three nights, I've seen three different types of weather conditions. Detailed information including performance notes will be given under each different outing below. Preparations   Before taking the Rainbow in the field, I followed the manufacturers instructions for seam sealing the tent.  I knew that I was bound to encounter rain and I didn't want my first impressions of this shelter to be negative based on my lack of foresight.  Seam sealing was quite simple and the included instructions were clear.  I used the recommended GE Silicon II clear sealer available at most home improvement stores.  The instructions stated that this could either be thinned with mineral spirits or Coleman fuel/white gas.  Since I did not have any mineral spirits but had plenty of white gas, I used the later.  I used a small brush sealed all seams in around 20 minutes.  I also followed the suggestion to paint lines of the same mixture (slightly thicker) on the floor of the tent to eliminate the problem of the sleeping pad sliding around.  I found that by doing this last, the mixture had naturally thickened to the point where it was perfect for this task. Further preparations also included assembling the shelter many times in both the freestanding configuration and the staked configuration in my front yard.  Since I was going to use this as my sole shelter, I wanted to make sure I was comfortable performing this task. Night 1: Overnight Backpack of Pennsylvania's West Rim Trail My wife and I planned this trip with lightweight in mind since we were going to cover around 26 miles (42 km) in two days.  She was going to be sleeping in a separate shelter so I had the Rainbow all to myself.  After hiking all day through scattered thunderstorms, we decided to set up camp in a small clearing off the trail during a break in the rain.  I choose to use the Rainbow in its freestanding configuration as I did not expect heavy winds in the sheltered clearing.  Setup was quick and the rain came just as I finished staking out the beak.  My wife and I fit comfortably sitting at opposite ends of the tent and the somewhat steep walls at either end were really appreciated.  Once she left for her own shelter, I was able to easily spread out with all my gear (except for my boots) inside the Rainbow with me.  This is a very spacious one-person shelter. For the first few hours of the night, there was a steady breeze with moderate rainfall.  The rest of the night was clear with absolutely no breeze whatsoever. The nighttime low temperature was probably around 40 F (4.5 C). Throughout the rainy part of the night, I noticed minimal condensation even though I had the roof vent completely closed and the bathtub floor raised up around the edges.  However, when the rain stopped (as well as all breeze), I quickly noticed that the tent turned into somewhat of a steam bath.  I opened the beak halfway (I was still concerned about the rain returning) and dropped the bathtub floor, but with no breeze, not much changed.  In the morning, there was a layer of condensation, but no drips anywhere.  Overall, the Rainbow performed much better than my previous shelters given the conditions. I noticed no leaking through the sealed seams.  However I did notice that the fabric had stretched through the night and the tent was no longer pitched as tight.  Adjusting the tensioners in each of the four corners fixed the problem quite nicely.  I really appreciate these tensioners.  They are very easy to use and can be operated quite easily with one hand.  A great feature in my mind. Night 2: Camping on State Land in Chenango County, NY I decided to spend the night in a scenic part of the state land near my home. The night was forecast as being clear and breezy and it turned out to be just that.  Nighttime low temperature was around 55 F (13 C) and there was a steady breeze all night.  I erected the Tarptent with the stakes as I had no trekking poles with me.  I did notice that I am able to get a much tighter pitch using the stakes. Since I was camping just a short distance from my car, I had minimal equipment with me.  The Rainbow is a huge shelter when you have no gear and I found that I was able to stretch out in any comfortable position.  I slept all night with the bathtub floor down, the rear vent open and the beak deployed halfway.  I awoke a few times throughout the night and checked for condensation but found none.  The same was true in the morning.  I believe this is the first time I've ever slept in a tent where condensation didn't form!  I also really appreciated the strips of silicon sealer I had painted on the floor as I was not exactly on a level surface but didn't slide around too badly.  I left the shelter erected after the sun came out to see if the Rainbow heated up.  I did notice that with the sun, the Rainbow is quite bright and cheery inside.  However, it does tend to heat up a bit.  I'm not sure I'd like to be in there during the day with the sun beating down on the shelter.  But then again, I'm not so sure I'd like to be in any shelter when it's sunny out. Night 3: Camping on State Land in Broome County, NY Another overnight to a scenic area near my home.  This night was warmer than previously experienced at around 65 F (18 C).  There was a gentle breeze for the entire night and I erected the Rainbow using stakes.  I find that I enjoy using the stakes whenever possible as they tend to create a much tighter pitch.  Also, the included aluminum stakes are so easy to insert and remove and hold so well that they are not near the hassle I have come to associate with tent stakes. I had set the Rainbow up before the sun had set and the inside of the shelter got quite warm.  However, it quickly cooled down after the sun went down and I noticed no difference compared to the outside temperature when I retreated for the night.  I slept very well with the Rainbow setup for maximum ventilation and again, noticed no condensation come morning. General Conclusions The Rainbow is quite easy to setup as long as there is no strong breeze.  It is so light that it tends to float away when trying to insert the ridge pole in somewhat windy conditions. I find that I prefer to stake out the corners instead of using trekking poles.  I like my shelter to be pitched taut as I know that fabrics tend to stretch and sag when they get damp.  The tighter I get the shelter before bed, the less I have to adjust during the night.  Furthermore, it is quicker to just stake the corners than to secure the trekking poles. The corner tensioners are great.  They are easy to use with only one hand and allow for a decently large range of adjustments. I'm very glad that I painted lines of sealer on the floor to reduce slipping.  Even so, I still noticed that I will "migrate" to the lower end of the shelter if not on an absolutely level surface. The included stakes are very nice.  I have yet to find a soil they cannot hold in.   If there is no breeze, condensation will form just as with any other single wall shelter.

Reviews > Shelters > Tarps and Bivys > Tarptent Rainbow > Mark Wood > Field Report