Looking for a Rainbow Stuffsack

Yeah, I really wish the poles could come in shorter sections — and have thought about packing these long ones separately from the tent. Problem is the cross pole (or strut)!

The strut is the same length as the other pole sections, and it’s not all that easy to pull out. And short of yanking it out after each use, you are still stuck with the long, narrow shaped package. :(

Hi Ben,
Mine comes out easily, just open one end and push the sleeve towards the other end. (That is what I remember from when I did it, but I will try again tonight)
Franco

I don’t have a Rainbow but have used a Virga 2 (with strut) for a while. The strut is pretty easy to pop in and out once you get used to it. The long, narrow stuff sack the tent came with is inconvenient for my packing style so I just pack the pole and strut separately and use an Equinox silnylon stuff sack I had hanging around. The 7″x15″ one I have is actually too big. You could go smaller and lighter.

The strut is the same length as the other pole sections, and it’s not all that easy to pull out. And short of yanking it out after each use, you are still stuck with the long, narrow shaped package. :(

i found some old easton tent poles at work. the shock cord was completely stretched out. i took one section, chopped it in half (one side had the thinner insert), flipped it around and voila, shorter strut.
now if i could just do the same for the main pole.

I just tried it again, and yes, the strut came out easy enough. Why was it so difficult the last time around?

Note to self: Intense inhaling of seam sealant may impair motor functions.

Thanks, Franco and Donald.

With the strut removed, the tarptent fits nicely inside my REI Lite Core (S) sleeping pad’s stuff sack — or about 12″ x 5″.

Thanks for the feedback. I hadn’t even thought about the cross beam for the ceiling. ;-) I suppose I can just take it into REI and see what works best.

Still looking forward to sealing it – NOT!

-jeff