Double Rainbow LI, Aeon LI, or…

I’m a little shorter but can fit myself, my dog and my pack in my TT rainbow with no issues. My some has the double and could fit three of him in there.

I’m 5’8″. I’ve had both the Ae0n Li and the D0uble Rainbow Li. You should know that I generally accept more weight for more room, I just like my space, especially when it’s raining.

I used the Ae0n Li on a few trips trying to get used to less space (from a Duplex). It’s a nice shelter and I was comfortable enough in it. But when Henry made the DR in cuben, I decided to pick it up and try it out. I took it on one recent trip, a 3-nighter. It’s really a fabulous shelter, easily my favorite of all the shelters I’ve owned (and I’ve owned far too many).

I sold the Ae0n Li. :-)

BPLer Mike M, I’m pretty sure has an Ae0n Li and, if I remember correctly, likes it quite a bit. He’s certainly taller than me by a bit, though I don’t know exactly how tall he is. Hopefully he’ll see this thread and comment.

Has anyone who has or has had a SS2 compare the two space wise. Could a thin couple and a 60lb Doodle fit in a double Rainbow Li? perhaps with he packs in the vestibules.

thx

Mike

This forum seems to be negative about Zpacks for some reason, but after two seasons I’ve been totally happy with my Plexamid. I’m 5’9″ and there’s more than enough room for me, my gear, and my dog. I just removed the peak support rods, which were the weak point, and used the tent without them. At this point, I can pitch the tent in a few minutes. Actual weight for me is 17.5 oz including stakes, stuff sack, and stake bag.

Yup- really liking my Aeon Li :)  so much so, I’ve used it the last two Bob Marshall Opens.

Most recently on a 100 mile trek across the Bob; two nights we had substantial winds, one particularly so.  I had the stakes rocked, but was definitely nervous with some of the gusts; happy to report it rode it out just fine.

For 17 oz all in (stakes and guys included), I have a tough time choosing something else for solo use.  Full netting (no bugs) and two way zip, bathtub floor, decent vestibule (wouldn’t hurt my feelings if it was just a little bigger, but adequate for a pair of shoes and a pack), has one decent pocket- could have put another one in imo.  I’ve had no issues with condensation, but our clime is probably a little drier than most???

I’m 6′ and never felt cramped, definitely not a palace, but very tolerable imo.

Hmmm… I looked hard at the AEON but after Ryan’s winter storm report I got the Notch Li with partial solid inner walls for the freak high altitude weather we sometimes get here in the mountain west.

OK, I know the Notch Li isn’t big enough to change your mind in but it’s got everything else I wanted.

I thought Ryan’s winter storm report was about the HMG Dirig0, not the Ae0n Li.

^ it was :)

not that the Aeon Li would have shined in that weather, but it was the HMG

@idester, could you speak more about why you sold the Aeon Li?  Per my ecstatic recommendation, my partner bought the DR Li and I love it.  He’s off traveling with it and now I want it, or something lighter.  I’ve been eyeing the Aeon Li, but I must admit, I’m a real sucker for livability – I want it all – super ultralight, with all the vestibule space and headroom, decent enough in wind, able to be fully enclosed (cold sleeper).  and I’m concerned the Aeon Li falling short in comfort.

Can you, or anyone else, recommend a SUL one person, sub 22oz, that compares to the Aeon Li?

Years ago, I set up the Notch and personally found it very frustrating to set up.  Also, I’m mostly bike packing so additional poles are definitely always added for me since I don’t carry trekking poles.

Although I’ve never set up Z-packs tents, I have yet to see myself being willing to cope with their door ‘hook’ system- I don’t want to give up the security of a zipper.

Open to being convinced otherwise.

I fear I may just end up buying a DR for myself, but it’s silly for the two of us to have two of them – so I might as well try out a lighter one.

@jungledev: The Ae0n Li is a very well designed shelter, pretty easy to setup. I had a few very minor dislikes of V1, most of which, I’m told, were fixed in V2. I really don’t have anything bad to say about it. If Henry hadn’t released the D0uble Rainbow in cuben, I’d still have and still use the Ae0n Li. I only sold it because of the DR2Li.

As I said above, I just really like my space and am willing to put up with an increase in (what I consider small) weight for it. (I also carry a Helin0x Ground chair, which for some reason I don’t understand they seem to have stopped offering in the US, because I also like my comfort. UL I am not.:-)

The Ae0n Li actually came in very handy on my trip last year on the Wonderland Trail. I was in a group of four, and none of us realized just how small some of those campsites are. I had just enough room to set the shelter up, but without any room at all to stake out the doors for vestibule space. That I was able to do so was due to Henry’s wonderful engineering.

So, to keep a long story short (too late!) I sold it because I like more space and have generally leaned toward two-person shelters over my relatively short backpacking career. I had no issues with the shelter for the half dozen trips I used it for.

Hope that helps.

Idester (or Heidi), did you also cross-shop the Stratospire Li, and if so what led you to choose DR Li?

@seascout – I did not cross-shop with the Strat Ospire Li.