Rainshadow 2

I got mine this year. No top vent. Don't know when that changed. I haven't had it in really strong winds yet. It was blowing pretty good in the middle of one night but I pitched the rear into the wind, which was mild when I set it up, and the winds didn't shift. Worked just fine. I'm not sure how it would perform with a really strong cross wind. I'm very happy with it but the DR double side doors are pretty appealing. But I went with the RS 2 for the additional space.

I've had mine nearly 2 years now, probably the best tent I've ever owned.

I have the older version, didn't know about the top vent. However, I had my RS2 in Death Valley back in Feb during a very intense squall. Winds were blowing about 40-50 mph. I had to tie the guylines to large rocks (sand was too loose to hold stakes in that wind)and the tent fabric bowed in about 2 ft under the wind, but it did great. No tears or rips, but the noise from the door/vestibule flaps was abit loud and I just tied them back.

I have the 2010 model and have used the Rainshadow 2 on three family backpacking trips this season with very good weather on all of those trips. I am very happy with the inside area of the tent,plenty of head room with length and width for a family of three. TT is all about ventilation and the RS2 IMHO is a excellent ventilated shelter. Trekking poles are recommended to obtain maxim- mine storm strength setup–but I have used the tent poles that I ordered extra and they have worked just fine in addition to the trekking poles.

No real world experience with it but yes it is a somewhat larger version than the Contrail..
Using trekking poles you will be able to put a lot more tension on it for better wind stability as well as remaining taut under heavy rain .
There is a vent of sorts at the apex.
Just undo the last few inches of the Velcro on the door panels. There is a flap over that area to keep the rain out.

Have a look at my little video of it, it may give you a better idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNf837Dl1B0
BTW, in a recent article here at BPL there is a very good shot of how not to set up a Tarptent. See if you can spot that one…
Franco
franco@tarptent.com

I have a 2007 Rainshadow 2 and it does have a peak vent with stiffening in front, as well as plenty of ventilation. Even on the Olympic Peninsula coast in fog and drizzle with no wind, there was no condensation inside, with three people (1 adult, 2 kids) sleeping in it and the vestibule most of the way closed.

However, for two adults, I think the two separate doors and two vestibules of the Double Rainbow are well worth the slightly smaller interior room. Remember that the walls of the Rainshadow are a lot more slanted, so there's not quite as much livable interior room (especially for adults) as you'd think. Also, with the side exits of the DR, there's no worries about your partner's stepping on your face while exiting half asleep in the middle of the night!

You could always order both, decide which one you prefer and send the other one back.

I haven't had the Rainshadow in high winds, so can't comment on that. Using the two poles is a good idea just because it makes it a lot easier for people to get in and out. The one thing that annoys me about it is the velcro. I hate velcro; the stickery side gets full of grass, pine needles and especially my dog's hair! I wish Henry would go to a zippered vestibule (as he already has with the 2009 redesign of the Squall Classic)!

Franco, even after using the Rainshadow for 4 summers, I did learn something new from watching your video! Thank you!

"Franco, even after using the Rainshadow for 4 summers, I did learn something new from watching your video! Thank you!"

Thanks

That was already the second time I set it up… ( I only really get excited by solo shelters but I enjoyed playing with this one and the Hogback)
looking again at the video this morning my guess is that I was on my first or second cup of coffee because by my third I move a bit faster than that.
(point taken about Velcro…)
Franco

I had finally put the tent away for the season and you guys made me drag it out again. It has been hanging up for 3 weeks since my last trip and I put it away 2 days ago. Oh well.

Well, to paraphrase Monty Python: It's not much of a vent, is it? :)

Are you referring to the gap on top of the 2 beak flaps between the side and where the beak velcros in at the top? I never thought of that as a vent. Sure wouldn't get much airflow through there. You get so much with the RS 2 already that is really insignificant and doesn't seem like it's designed as a vent. At least on the 2010.

Great video Franco, I hadn't seen that before.

I had mine since like 2008. We sold it only because we wanted a side entry.
It may seem like a stupid reason, but getting older means that we sometimes have to get up in the middle of the night a lot and the front entry meant climbing over each other.

Other than that, it worked well for us. If you are worried about the possibility of the middle flapping in really extreme winds, you can see the mod posted where they added two tie points near the center ridge.
I would suspect that although the flapping could be annoying in extreme gale conditions, you could still sleep through it.

We did have it out in some strong horizontal rain a few times. We did get some spray, but not an issue at all. Our sleeping bags were only slightly damp the next day in both cases.