Tarptent - Double Rainbow (Silpoly version)

I used a tarptent double rainbow - the old version before they made it longer. I love that tent and I believe it was lighter than the more popular tent everyone was getting at rei

Love my Tarptent Double Rainbow (single wall)! Honestly, the Tarptent Double Rainbow single wall w/ ceiling liner is basically a DW tent for condensation purposes....

I have a number of tarptents that I’ve bought and used over 20 years. They’re fantastic, I haven’t noticed and quality issues at all. I like the double rainbow myself in silpoly. They occasionally have sales or blemished items. For DCF most will be $500-700+. Z packs duplex might be where you want to go if you want to save up a bit more. I’d check out slingfin as well.

I'm looking for a well-priced, lightweight, durable, and spacious single-person tent. Could you help me decide between these options, or suggest other tents with similar features? Six Moon Designs - Lunar Solo · Tent Cost: $260 · Seem-Sealing Service: $35 · Stakes: Sold Separately · Weight: 26 oz (not including stakes or trekking pole) *I did not include the trekking pole weight because I will be carrying trekking poles regardless · Construction: Single Wall, Non-Freestanding · Canopy: 20D Silicone-Coated Polyester · Floor: 40D Silicone-Coated Polyester · Hydrostatic Head: 3,000 mm · Zipper: #3 YKK · Frame: Single 49" Pole (Not Included) · Entry: Side Entry · Floor Length: 90" · Floor Width: 48" · Peak Height: 48” · Pitch: 6 Stakes Six Moon Designs - Skyscape Trekker · Tent Cost: $275 · Seem-Sealing Service: $35 · Stakes: Sold Separately · Tent weight: 28 oz (not including stakes or trekking poles) · Construction: Hybrid Double Wall, Non-Freestanding · Canopy: 20D Silicone-Coated Polyester · Floor: 40D Silicone-Coated Polyester · Hydrostatic Head: 3,000 mm · Zipper: #3 YKK · Frame: Two 45" Poles · Entry: Dual Side Entry · Floor Length: 103" · Floor Width: 48” · Peak Height: 45” · Pitch: 6 Stakes Durston - X-Mid 1 · Tent Cost: $234 · Stakes: (8) DAC J Stakes · Tent weight: 28 oz (not including stakes or trekking poles) · Construction: Double Wall, Non-Freestanding · Canopy: 20D Sil/PE Polyester · Floor: 20D Sil/PE Polyester · Hydrostatic Head: 3500 mm · Zipper: YKK #3 AquaGuard with Buckle · Frame: Two 46 - 48" Poles · Entry: Dual Side Entry · Floor Length: 90” · Floor Width: 32” · Peak Height: 46” · Pitch: 4 Stakes (Minimum), 6 Stakes (Typical) Tarptent - Rainbow · Carbon Fiber Arch Pole Style: $289 · Syclone Arch Pole Style (Aluminum): $269 · Liner: $30 · Seem-Sealing Service: $35 · Stakes: (6) 6” Easton Nano Aluminum Stakes · Tent weight: 29.55 oz (including tent, carbon fiber arch pole, & carbon fiber cross struct) · Construction: Single Wall (double wall if you purchase the liner), Semi-Free Standing (can be a freestanding tent with the use of two trekking poles) · Canopy: 20D Nano Ripstop Silicone-Coated Polyester · Floor: 30D Double Ripstop Silicone-Coated Nylon · Hydrostatic Head: 5,000mm · Mesh: 15D nylon no-see-um mesh · Zipper: YKK #3 AquaGuard Waterproof · Frame: Carbon Fiber or Aluminum (trekking poles can be added to increase strength) · Entry: Side Entry · Floor Length: 88” · Floor Width: 40” · Peak Height: 42” · Pitch: 6 Stakes Durston - X-Dome 1 · Tent Cost: $369 · Stakes: (8) DAC J Stakes · Tent weight: 34.7 oz (including tent & pole set) · Construction: Double Wall, Freestanding · Canopy: 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE Polyester · Floor: 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE Polyester · Hydrostatic Head: 3500 mm · Zipper: YKK #3 AquaGuard (fly) or #3 (inner) · Frame: Carbon Fiber (trekking poles can be added to increase strength) · Entry: Side Entry · Floor Length: 85 - 90” · Floor Width: 27 - 50” · Peak Height: 42” · Pitch: 4 Stakes My Thoughts: Lunar Solo: Great weight, great price, spacious but it has a large footprint (guidelines need to stretch far to set up the tent properly). Skyscape Trekker: It seems like a good lightweight double-wall option but has few reviews online. Durston X-Mid 1: Impressive design. I have joined the Dan Durston cult, but the floor width is too narrow for my liking (As an alternative, the X-Mid 2 would be a little too heavy, and its footprint is larger than I prefer). Rainbow: I am currently leaning towards this tent. It seems like a good compromise between footprint size, space, weight, durability, and features. Durston X-Dome 1+: Reaching my max weight/price requirements and has no reviews. Do you know of any other tents that roughly meet or exceed my requirements? · Less than $400 · Less than 35 oz · 20D canopy and floor materials · Hydrostatic Head: 3,000 mm · Floor Length: 88” · Floor Width: 40” Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I'm 6' about 185lb so I think I can avoid touching the walls if there's condensation in the rainbow. Have you tried using the liner they sell that makes it partially two walled? I've watched a couple videos on the Lanshan. Materials aren't as good, but for the price it's a great tent. I've read that it sets up easier that the Lunar Solo too. Yeah, the X-Mid Pro 2 is out of my budget but it looks great. Big fan of Durston products in general. And thank you for your input!

I ended up going with the Tarptent Rainbow sil-poly version. It finally came back into stock today. Unfortunately the price was raised to $369 for the Carbon Fiber pole option.

I love my Double Rainbow by TarpTent. Holds me my gear and my Lab comfortably. I’ve been in a few major storms and it holds up great. I’ll add that customer service is great and very responsive

This one. No doubt. I have the Rainbow single which is ok for two people in summer but you get a lot more space and two doors with the double for not much more weight. Great tents. https://www.ebay.com/itm/146460704293?_skw=tarptent+rainbow&itmmeta=01JPNKWDJ3G9ABNYKKJ6MK0F7T&hash=item2219bcfe25:g:P1wAAeSwZr9n2egs&itmprp=enc%3AAQAKAAAA0FkggFvd1GGDu0w3yXCmi1dGZ3yFyxEAbIz%2FNz849nr%2BPKwG0sdjkOSC0sqr77c2G0KH%2FhLt0IlXqoW%2BpsKw8ID3v4lYsH4wAVYLW7lKD4h0JGTGYRBr9c4FMApWZZhuGNjTevUeLm64UOmxAcT4dy—Bl9qTvqyf7k7C%2FIhWK%2F074lE0eaGs471%2Bq1OuHBHyQlLBsooghdMrh3P6VvlRaMqvi16MBmm0o0PusVUSkw5DlIQRBzCLjdBPWtnbhN0M2gVgt%2BOpvAtYkxuKGGn5ek%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR5DZ8bO1ZQ

I have the Tarptent Rainbow Single, it’s big enough to share and easy to carry at 980g but I wouldn’t want to be sharing in prolonged wet weather. However the Double Rainbow is significantly wider with a door on both sides for better access and ventilation. And not much heavier. They’re not cheap but look out for a used one on eBay or Geartrade etc.

My girlfriend and I used my Tarptent Rainbow together in summer for a few weeks. It’s a one person tent with great headroom, wide enough for two sleeping mats. It was plenty big enough, in good weather. Mine weighs 985g. The Tarptent Double Rainbow is wider, has doors on both sides and weighs not much more. I can recommend the design.

My girlfriend and I used my Tarptent Rainbow together in summer for a few weeks. It’s a one person tent with great headroom, wide enough for two sleeping mats. It was plenty big enough, in good weather. Mine weighs 985g. The Tarptent Double Rainbow is wider, has doors on both sides and weighs not much more. I can recommend the design.

Hi, hiked jmt with a double rainbow. Mine was made in USA before tarptent started manufacturing overseas, so not sure about quality now :( Replaced it with a Zpacks duplex. Loved many things about the tarptent, but also had many issues... 1) Biggest issue I had with the tarptent was that the weatherproofing/seam sealing started to fail. This can't happen with the duplex because the fabric is naturally waterproof 2) Set up is similar but SO MUCH easier & quicker for duplex because it uses trekking poles vs tarptents dedicated tent pole that you have to carry, assemble & shove into a sleeve. I am much less frustrated setting up the duplex vs the tarptent!!! ----- Both tents rely on staking! That being said, if you are new to these kinds of tents they can present condensation issues vs double walled freestanding tents (waking up because water is dripping on your face). Allegedly can be mitigated by campsite selection & leaving doors open etc. Never looked into it much because I don't care Staking is definitely a learning curve and not always possible, might end up having to use rocks to try to secure the tent! Sometimes I didn't have the energy to try to use rocks for every stake, so I just used it like a bivy. These are very loud in the wind if you can't stake well because they depend on staking. My husband hates these kinds of tents, constantly complains about condensation & and will not participate in any complex staking games with me 😂

alternatively, the tarptent double rainbow (all variants afaik) fits a 6’3 person easily. it is out of OPs budget though. might be worth to BIFL source: personal experience

vouch! the double rainbow is so so good

Check out the Tarptent Rainbow or Double Rainbow. I’ve heard of people using the single with a dog. But you’d need the double for another person.

The xmid 2 is ~9oz lighter and is more affordable like you said. I would look at getting the single wall DR, it’s the same price as the xmid 2 and only 6oz heavier. What you get is more versatility due to the freestanding option. Along with better site selection due to the smaller footprint of the DR (the Xmid 1 has a nearly the same footprint as the DR). Also more internal volume due to the arch pole. The fly is 20D and the floor is 30D compared to the 15D for both for the Xmid, so should be more durable. Both tents are loved so can’t go wrong. I love my double rainbow tho. Just bought the single rainbow Li got my upcoming pct hike. Also, they are great for tall people, so smaller people it should feel like a palace.

My first budget backpacking sleeping bag was a Kelty Cosmic 20. It was way heavier than I expected. A friend let me use their Naturehike Sleeping bag (not sure on specific type) and it was way lighter and more compact. I still use the Kelty for car camping, but it no longer goes on backpacking trips with me. My next upgrade will be an ultralight quilt. I got a used Gossamer Gear pack 55L off eBay that I love! I started with a Naturehike CloudUp 2 tent which was fine for the price, I have since upgraded to a Tarptent Double Rainbow (also used on eBay). Depending on the distance and weather, I will still take the Naturehike tent sometimes even though it is heavier. I like that you can use it without the rain fly on a nice night and just have the mesh top so I can see the trees and stars. My first pad was a Klymit pad from Amazon for $40. It works fine for warm weather. I upgraded to an Exped Duo 3R last year since I now usually backpack with my daughter or girlfriend and a 2P pad seemed easier. I also have two Nemo Switchback pads that I will carry on some hikes. I put them under my pad in the tent to prevent any punctures in my Exped and to give a little more insulation on colder nights. They are also great to pull out and use as a pad around camp when we are lounging before going to bed. Unfortunately, UL gear and spending an arm and leg kinda go hand in hand. All of my inexpensive gear was great to get me started, but over the last few years, I have been replacing them with lower weight, higher quality, and hence more expensive options. Along with being heavier, the cheaper stuff is just, cheaper. The biggest thing I have noticed is the zippers don't glide as easy on my cheap gear. This can be a huge annoyance when trying to zip your tent or bag.