Hubba Hubba NX vs Double Rainbow vs ? – Which to choose?

I have the Rainbow (not Double) but I think my observations will hold for either. It's rain performance is fine, though I've never had it in a rain with a really violent wind. I have had it in high winds (dry), though, and it does have its limits. I wouldn't reject it for poor wind performance, though, unless you're thinking in mountaineering terms. Another rain issue is you can't leave the door open in a calm rain–it falls directly on the floor. (You can pitch a sort of porch configuration to get around this, but it doesn't work for a tall guy like me.) Beyond that, I love the tent.

If you really must have standalone, the Rainbow ain't it. Yes, you can put it together with lengthened poles at the ends, but it's a less than perfect format–you can't really pull the fabric as taut as it needs to be. I personally don't understand the appeal of standalones so I can't comment further.

As for seam sealing, there's not really a kit to use for the Tarptents, but doing the job with a tube of silicone, a can of pain thinner, a paper coffee cup, and a foam brush could hardly be easier.

Hope you find what you're looking for.

Some clarifications about the Double Rainbow.
To make it "free standing" the poles need to be at leas 145cm long otherwise the corner tie out spread is not enough.
We have Trekking Pole tip extenders (DR order page) that add 15cm to your pole length.
I found those still a bit short (130cm +15cm) but they work for some.

Personally I don't see all that much use for a freestanding design in a high wind area, given that, apart from at least the corner stakes, you need to add guylines as well.
Some will mention shifting the tent from one point to another , however that is very simple and quick to do with the Rainbows anyway.
(pick up the tent at the strut/crossing pole junction and off you go…)

There is a seam sealing kit in the same DR order page as the Extenders.
That is a pre mixed silicone/mineral spirit sealer and a sponge brush.

"Personally I don't see all that much use for a freestanding design in a high wind area, given that, apart from at least the corner stakes, you need to add guylines as well."

Sure guylines will help, for any tent in a high wind situation, but the "best" guyline designs are typically tied into a tent's pole structure, not some sewn in patches on the walls of a tent body.

If one has a well designed "freestanding" tension fabric structure, most of the lateral forces are evenly transferred and distributed between the tent body and the framework, where the force is essentially transfered to the ground. Certainly floor stakes are paramount in these situations, but at least half the tent is acting as the fulcrum when subjected to a directional wind event.

If my tent is not freestanding, then I am completely dependent on the point loading of my guylines – always. In typical windy situations, this might be just fine, but if one guyline fails, they all typically fail. Not at all the case in a freestanding tent since the guylines do much less of the work.

Just to throw another contender in the ring (and make out head spin faster) check out the offerings by Bog Sky. Great shelters – I have the mirage 1p and love it. I've also been thinking about getting the chinook 2p which is close to what you might be looking for.

Matt, your points make sense, but then again, people use non-freestanding shelters in extremely windy conditions with no issues (Thinking Trailstar or Mids here). Plus, bringing a few extra pegs and using more guyouts creates redundancy, so that the failure of one peg is not fatal anymore (or rather, in fact, the load is distributed among the pegs so that none of them will fail).

While I do think your argument about free-standing tents is factually right, it is only true for certain designs. I don't think the Hubba Hubba is particularly windproof (in comparison to, say, a mid at least) as it basically is an "extended one-pole structure" of some sorts (and with very limited guyout options IIRC).

Good point about pole to guyline load transfer but as Theo points out, it does not apply to the tents in this thread.

If structural strength is your primary concern then I would agree that a "traditional" free standing tent with separate poles in sleeves/clips is likely to be the strongest…see mountaineering tent designs.

However if setting up dry in the rain is concern #1, then traditional fly-over-body designs really fall down. The one-piece, or hybrid, designs like Tarptent Notch/Stratospire(s)/Moment, SMD Haven/Lunar Duo, Zpacks Sol/Du/Triplex excel in their ability to be setup in the rain while remaining relatively dry inside. Additionally, vertical doors inset from the edge of the canopy are critical to dry(er) entry/exit in the rain…see Hubba(s) and those listed above. Any shelter with a sloping door wall is in my opinion a disaster in the rain.

This really comes down to another choice of priorities…there is no one "best" design. Pick your poison, and I hope you find what works best for you more quickly than I did…you'll sell a lot fewer tents on eBay and Gear Swap that way.

If I was in the market for a tent right now with the capabilities you mentioned right now, I would go with the MLD Trailstar in silnylon. At 20 oz and 230 bucks, its a bombproof shelter. No its not freestanding.. but why exactly do you need that ? All tents need to be staked down. Esp if you expect high winds and rain. Pair it with a cubin ground sheet and your set. There are inners available for it for bug season as well. Will take a ton of rain, high winds, moderate snow loading…
I have a go lite shangra la 5.. and will one day when my needs drop to 1 or 2 will replace it with the trailstar. Unless something better comes along.

http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=102

Take a look at the Big Sky Chinook or Big Sky Revolution tents. I they they are both better choices than the Hubba Hubba NX. My Chinook 2P has a dry setup, does well in wind, and it has an extra 3rd pole that you can optionally use if you expect heavy snow.

I used to own a Tarptent Rainbow. I would say the Big Sky tents are more weather-worthy. The Rainbow did okay in some light snow, but it's not something I'd want to do regularly:

http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=309879

Hi Guys,

Apologies for the delay in responding, was getting my beauty sleep!

@Taylor – Thank you, I will keep the double rainbow in mind.

@Franco & @Matt – Thank you!

@Charles & John Harper – Thank you, I checked them out and unfortunately for the moment they are going to be outside my price range unfortunately :(

@John – You and me both, thank you!

@Robert – Checking it out!

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Thanks again everyone, keep the feedback coming please.

"Ideally the tent would be pre-sealed or be easily sealed with a kit recommended by the manufacturer. The tent needs to be able to handle heavy rain, windy condition and severish weather while keeping the interior of the tent damn near dry."

If by "damn near dry" you mean almost entirely free of condensation you want a double wall tent, probably with a full fabric inner, full stop.

I am torn there, I realize a single wall tent will allow for more condensation and if it rains hard its going to come through to some degree, however most double wall tents are far heavier.

I guess at the end of the day I rather carry more than be wet, once I am wet it could be damn hard to get dry again…been there, done that.

Too many options!

Scarp 2 for the win!

Re: non-free standing… Fuhgetaboutit! No, worries, every tin is irie, bueno.

Its less of a hassle than you think

"single wall tent will allow for more condensation"

If you're concerned about condensation, I'd put some focus on tents that would allow you to keep the vestibule door open during basic rain. As in my somewhat limited experience with rain, a well ventilated single wall tent will end up staying drier than a lot of battened downed double wall tents.

My wife and I previously used a Big Agnes Flycreek UL2, and the vestibule on this shelter needs to be zipped up in even the lightest rain…The condensation on the lower walls from the bathtub has soaked my sleeping bag more than once.

Yet, our previous tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur didn't have this issue, because it had vents at the top and we could keep the vestibule doors at least partially opened.

Something like the Double Rainbow allows you to pop up the vestibule and get a lot of ventilation in the rain. As long as you had unused trekking poles to accomplish it, or got very lucky during a stick search.

Awesome, thanks Stu!

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So I think I have narrowed it down to either the Double Rainbow or Double Moment.

Which to choose?

"So I think I have narrowed it down to either the Double Rainbow or Double Moment."

I'm gonna buck the trend and suggest you might be happier for the time being with a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 from like REI.

You can return it easily if it fails you in some way.

@Stu – Thank you, much appreciated!

Hi All,

I have been reaching a lot more over the last couple of days and I am thinking of going with the StratoSpire 1 from Tarptent. As I evaluated my "needs/desires" I am thinking more and more that the StratoSpire 1 will be the ideal solution meeting most of my listed requirements above.

With that, mesh or solid interior?

I have been looking at reviews and the Tarptent website to figure out just how much of the solid option is actually solid. Is the solid option 100% solid all around or is there still some mesh?

Thanks again for all the help!

The Stratospire 1 has one of the largest footprints of 1P shelters I've come across. The interior is very generous for one. And the two vestibules are large. In many situations that's a good thing, but in some you might be cursing not getting a smaller shelter. So be aware of those dimensions going in.

I had the SS2 a couple of years ago and I'm starting to think I made a mistake in selling it. Very wind resistant, and storm-worthy. There's a trick to pitching it well, so practice before you go out on a trip.

For the inners, the mesh will keep it breezy. Ideal for most summer trips. The semi-solid is more winter worthy, but has some ventilation through the mesh panels at the top of each door. The rest of the inner – doors and ceiling – are a calendared nylon material that will keep wind, blowing sand, and spindrift off you. If you intend to go out in shoulder season and early winter conditions regularly consider the semi solid. Otherwise, the mesh is probably fine.

I recently bought a Notch and faced the same (in)decision. I finally bit the bullet and got both.

Thanks Taylor!

Quick bump to see is anyone has any further feedback.

Thanks guys!

I love my Scarp for the modularity. The Double Moment looks like a really cool and versatile tent for the same reasons, but better in the heat and view department.

As for inners, we rarely use ours (full mesh). The bugs havent been an issue yet as they usually go away by bedtime. I wish I had gotten the solid inner for warmthe and wind control. It would greatly increase the versatility.

I recommend the solid unless bugs are a definite major issue, and recommend trying the shell/ groundcloth approach in the warm weather.

The shell/ groundcloth saves weight, yes, but it also increases your useable space in the enclosure. We added a 55lbs dog with no harm done in a two man tent because we weren't confined to the inner's dimensions. Alternately we can cook in the extra space in foul weather

I wish I had gotten the solid inner for warmth and wind control. It would greatly increase the versatility
Existing customers can purchase either inner just by asking info@tarptent.
The Scarp 2 solid inner is $149.