How can I lighten my alu TT Rainbow shelter pole?

Mik,
You can get a carbon pole from TT, send an E Mail to orders@tarptent.com
It is 2oz lighter than the original.(Easton Carbon FX)
Stiffer but more brittle than the original.
(don't drop/bang CF poles)

Are there any other options? Like using thinner poles to reduce weight? Fiber glass ones?

My son has a kite with very thin poles….was thinking of something along those lines

Anyone know of any options apart from TT's cf pole which I am sure is going to cost a packet.

Cheers

I am aware of no fiberglass poles ever made that have a weight to strength ratio of good aluminum poles.Thats why heavy, cheap tents use fiberglass.

Carbon fiber? At most ,will save you 3-4 oz and not worth the increased risk of breakage ,IMHO.
With the very latest Alu DAC poles,I doubt you would save much on the Rainbow, because Henry Shires already did it. There is minimal pole mass in his design as it is.

Mik, if you want a lighter 2 person ,2 door verticle wall shelter , you need to buy something like Zpacks Duplex @ 22 oz, Because the double Rainbow is about as good as its going to get in a Silnylon rig. With the option of being converted to freestsnding with trekking poles, the DR is a hell of a shelter at @41 oz.

Im pretty sure it only cost me 20 dollars to upgrade my poles from the alu to the cf ones when i ordered my double rainbow. Im not sure about just buying a pair outright, but if its much more than that i wouldn't really go for it and just find ways to cut 2 ounces elsewhere. Or you can sell it and go the mid route like another poster suggested. Me, I'm happy with my double rainbow right at 40 oz with everything.

Thanks for the input guys

:-)

Check out all the different poles at Quest Outfitters. It’s pretty easy to order the size poles you need and build them yourself. They sell the Easton carbon fiber FX poles (0.355″) as well as the Easton Nanolite poles (0.344″) which are very close to the same weight, but half the price.

I have a bed-top mosquito net that uses very thin fiberglass poles. They are heavy.

Hi Jimmer, responding to this comment of yours: "Mik, if you want a lighter 2 person ,2 door verticle wall shelter , you need to buy something like Zpacks Duplex @ 22 oz, Because the double Rainbow is about as good as its going to get in a Silnylon rig. With the option of being converted to freestsnding with trekking poles, the DR is a hell of a shelter at @41 oz"

I did look at Zpacks but was very sceptical of the durability of their products at the time. Via feedback now though my scepticism has been proven wrong. Their price is pretty high (not saying not worth the product just that it is a lot of money for a shelter)….might have to wait till US/AUD is more in my favour than it is at the moment. One thing that I would definitely ask them to alter is to put in a couple of vent portals at the top of the shelter!!

First of all,,,Sorry if I came off as beung too preachy about the Zoacks..

My mention of the Zpacks Duplex was not a comment on the 1 pound gap between a poles shelter made from 30d silnylon and the superlight Cuben duplex using trekking poles..

I was not shame anyone into spending $600 on a shelter,even as nice of one as the Duplex:)

Weight vs Cost means something to me a well and for my own use,I would buy the $209, 26 OZ Protrail rather than pay $400 more just to save about 5 oz with the Duplex. But then,I dont need a two person shelter and a front entry tent is fine with me..

As to Carbon replacement poles, you have been given some good options here..

As to the AU/US exchange rate, I feel for you on that.It bites us all over time.