TT Cloudburst

"How well does the Cloudburst keep rain off the foot of the sleeping bags & from flooding the floor when the rain comes from the side ?"

Pretty good! Dunno about the squall.

Anyone else have any insights ?

There is a pretty old review on this site of the Cloudburst and other tarptents. The Cloudburst was rated best for wet stormy weather because of it's greater coverage but at the expense of a bit more condensation.

I have only set mine up in the backyard so far but I'll share my thoughts. The back vent has an awning and it would take a severe wind do get any rain up and under that and into the tent. The tent is also very long so you can shift towards either end of the tent if the wind direction changes. If you were getting rain spray at the foot end you could also place your packs and rain jackets down there as a last resort to block it off.

John G,

I have both tents and the Cloudburst is probably the more storm worthy tent. With the hoop front and rear and a lower and somewhat more aerodynamic profile, it sheds the wind better than the Squall. The Cloudburst also has roll down storm flaps along the sides that can help decrease the splash and windblown rain, but obviously decrease the ventilation, too, when deployed. This comes at a cost of increased weight and a lower roof than the Squall.

That being said, I like the Squall better and have used it more. First it is lighter. Second, it is taller in the front and for me it feels like a bigger tent. In several years of use I have never had a significant problem with rain, windblown or otherwise. When I expected storms or wind I was careful to pick my campsite for shelter and pitch it using all the tie outs.

Both tents are really great and you can't go wrong with either one.

Happy Trails,

-Mark

I have the cloudburst. It works great for me, but is too small when backpacking with my wife. To fit our bags in it we end up sleeping on the side vents, therefore not being able to use the bathtub floor to keep water out. We try not to use the tent during the wet season. I am currently waiting to get a 3 person TT to replace it. Other than the size it is a really nice tent for just me and keeps the weather out nicely.