World first. Double Rainbow pics

Wow! When I first heard about the Double Rainbow, I was expecting a fatter and maybe slightly longer Rainbow, but nothing like this!

This configuration isn’t the lightest it can be, but look at all that space!!! Very nice.

Can you give us the weights by major components? We know the weight of the Rainbow, so I guess it would be 2X plus the weight of the central canopy???

Also, how many ‘roos did you ship to Henry to wrangle all this?

Hey Franco,

This isn’t the ‘roo you shipped to Henry, is it?

Hmm, interesting but I have a hard time believing that its real. It looks like a great setup in mild conditions for 2 Rainbow owners who also carry a square tarp. But in a downpour without wind you’ll end up with a pond overhead. And in a stiff wind (which is where the Rainbow should excel), the roof could sail you over the next ridge. I was also hoping (and holding out for) a wider single-body 2-person Rainbow; possibly with two doors. Is this an early Poisson d’Avril?

Indeed you can smell a fishy story. Note that I have never stated that it is the Double Rainbow but my double Rainbow. By the way apart from me having a bit of fun, in mild weather the canopy idea is not a bad one if you happen to have a friend with the same tent, if not change friends. Your hope will come true very soon.
Franco
For Ben
Kangaroos get fleas, and that one is doing something about it. For you I will resurrect an ancient family curse : may the fleas of a thousand camels infest your tent. (except for the Rainbow)

HEY! That kangaroo was definitely stroking, not scratching!

Hi Chris,

No fish stories from me, Franco’s double Rainbow is ingenious but not quite what I have in mind for the Double Rainbow. It sure does, however, look like a nice place to spend an afternoon. The best part is that Franco’s butler serves you cool drinks and wandering minstrels lull you to sleep. Not sure about that green panel color though ;-) We only do gray–grey, if you prefer the English spelling—around here with just a splash of yellow.

Your design wishes for the Double Rainbow will come true but you’ll need to hang on for a few more weeks.

-H

Keep in mind that Henry is envious of the fact that I have a double Rainbow and he does not. Sorry champagne coming up, must go.
Franco

With this thinking you could very well go a step further and create a Triple Rainbow. Then all you would need is a single pole in the middle and no pooling of rain! But you’d better be comfortable with your Rainbow friends; you’ll all be in there a very long time!

A Rainbow Quartet will be best. If attacked in the wilds, it’s an easy thing to close up. Women and children will congregate in the center plaza while the men mount a defense! The vents are perfect for shooting out. Hint: Treat fabrics with fire retardant and wear full body armour.

Youse guyz is sounding like the razor designers; what are up to now, five blades? I think they should skip six blades and go straight to seven. Likewise, how does Lucky Seven Rainbow sound?

The weight per sleeper will be world-class; however, finding a tentsite might be a challenge.

I think you just hit it right on, Rick! Seven Rainbows in seven colors!

Well, Franco, the Rainbow has landed in Japan! Just stopped by the post office after work (got home at 12:30 am…) and immediately went out to the street outside my apartment and set the thing up! Works just as everyone has been saying. Beautiful.

Now I have to wait until daylight and really set it up right. This looks like the shelter I’ll be using most of the time from now on… just the right size, weight, footprint, versatility. Can’t wait to get out there and really use it! Pictures to follow and hopefully live up to Franco’s standards… though without roos to do the inspections, I don’t know how that’ll ever come about…

.

Hi Miguel, I am glad you like it. I have just booked my trip to Tasmania, early next month, can’t wait.
BTW are you some sort of weirdo ?
Setting up the tent in the middle of the street after midnight ?
It is full moon again here, that means howling practice, I teach the local preeschoolers , you should hear them, it makes the hair on your palms stand up ?

P.S.I am not very happy about some of the silly comments above
Franco

Tasmania! Damn, I envy you! I tried to get there last year in September, but from all I learned about the weather there at that time of year it was just too early in the season to realistically give it a go. I’ve even considered moving to Hobart. A wildlife photographer friend of mine who lives there tells me it’s a wonderful place.

Enjoy your walk there! And, of course post pictures.

It will be my first time there (!). The weather can be very unpredictable so we will have winter clothing with us as well, mainly many light layers.I will try out my new possum down top/gloves and hat, but I may not have to do that, I will let you know.
I suggest you take your time fiddling around with the Rainbow, with poles you could have it set up on top of your bed. There are many option for increasing/decreasing the ventilation, height and width. Have fun !!!
Franco

Thanks Henry! When it comes to perfection, I can wait. :)

Mmm, Tasmania. I hiked the Overland and the Southwest when I was there over 10 years ago. You are right about the weather. I waited out 24 hours of hail storms in the shelter at Melaleuca with a guy who was walking around the perimeter of Tasmania (thanks, Charlie, for sharing your cookies and wine).

Ok, Franco’s brilliance notwithstanding, here are some real Double Rainbow pics

http://www.tarptent.com/doublerainbow.html

I showed a Double Rainbow pre-production model at the PCT kickoff event this last weekend. A couple of pattern tweeks and it goes into production.

Nice pics. The flo-thru vent. looks excellent, precisely what’s needed on some hot humid summer days with very little breeze. the rain curtain/awning/porch is brilliant. Good job Mr. Shires – another winner, i’m sure.

(Wonder if Franco will soon show a miniature Double-Rainbow with some young indentical twin boys sitting up in it?)

Franco is looking forward to be sitting in the tent with twins……..

My first thought was “wonderful” since when I saw the Rainbow . . . my first thought then was “If it only slept two people comfortably.” This clearly would do that–and ventilation would be great.

But (There’s always a “but”) having to stake out the flaps to get full benefit of
covering the packs, keeping rain off equipment, etc. makes it no longer a self-standing tent. Which is a little disappointing as the whole great thing about the Rainbow, I’d guess, is that it’s completely free standing.

Still, this looks like even better than the regular Rainbow and it’s going on my short list of “maybe” equipment buys.
It looks pretty darn nice.

But to be fair, almost all f/s tents with vestibules require that the vestibule flap be pulled out and staked…

Just to be sure that you are looking at the correct Double Rainbow (and NOT the fanciful one that Franco posted in this thread), click to the link below:

http://www.tarptent.com/doublerainbow.html

>But to be fair, almost all f/s tents with vestibules require that the vestibule flap be pulled out and staked…

Yes, true. No other way to get decent vestibule space or at least no other way without some kind of overkill pole extension that also dramatically decreases wind performance.

-H

I don’t agree with the criticism level at the HS Rainbow and Double Rainbow.

Free-standing refers to the tent, as in free-standing tent, not the vestibule. Never heard of a free-standing vestibule. The MSR Fling has a free-standing awning with the optional pole, but an awning isn’t a vestibule.

The idea of free-standing is that no stakes are needed to keep the tent structure proper erected. A skeleton of poles does that.

Furthermore, it is often wise to stake down a freestanding tent – even one without a vestibule. Does the requirement for staking down a f/s tent so that it doesn’t blow over or away in strong winds mean that it is not free-standing? No, of course not.

The Rainbows can both be erected as free-standing tents, not withstanding the need for stakes to stake out the vestibule or the wise use of stakes to hold the tent to the ground in case of winds during the night.