TT Double Rainbow for PNW winter use?

I’d take the optional liner liner along, pre-attached to the tent for fast setup. Take pre-made guy lines for every guy point in case of high winds. The Double Rainbow doesn’t do all that well in “side” winds that hit the entrances. In high winds just keep the vestibules on the lowered position, or at least the one on the windward side.

No.

Ed m’ boy, would you like to elaborate? Perhaps you have an alternative to suggest. I agree a Double Rainbow would not be the best choice but if it’s what you have it can work if properly guyed out and the fly hem can be staked down at 4 points to prevent flapping.

Personally I like my modded Tarptent Scarp 2 with its internal X-ing poles, 4 guy lines and fly hem stakes. But I would not want to use an un-modded Scarp 2 for heavy winter weather, even with outside X-ing poles.

I’ve done it a few times around Rainier. The problem is that even the slightest wind (and there is ALWAYS wind) blows little snow crystals through the mesh and when you wake up everything is covered in a very thin/fine layer of snow. I didn’t have the liner though.

The liner will not mitigate the effect of spindrift because it only covers the top part of the shelter.

Eric – Heck no. Snow. Wet, heavy, snow. Sometimes falling by the foot. Almost everyone I talked to when doing my research into winter camping in the PNW swore by Mids. A few used beefier, traditional fully framed 4 season tents. I use an MLD DuoMid. My winter experience is small but growing, and the Mids seem to be the best balance between weight and storm worthiness I have found. Mine is a cuben model, and I have had no issues with it.

i live on the Olympic peninsula and used to have the dbl rainbow. to work on the coast, it needed some upgrades. seam sealing is an absolute necessity–was done before i took it out. i found out on my first trip to the Olympics that stakes are insufficient to hold in somewhat loose soil and high winds…replace them or put rocks on top. condensation was a major issue, so plan on waking up to that every morning (really, a lot of condensation).

ultimately got rid of it after a few trips because it was not enough tent to handle the wind and rain on the coast, and the condensation was super annoying/bordering on dangerous if you are not prepared for it.

also, unless you sleep warm or plan on wearing some layers to bed, that doesn’t look like enough to keep warm down to 15. you know your body, but if you have never slept out that cold, bring some layers just in case. and forecasts are nice and all, but weather blows in all the time off the coast into the mountains that is difficult to predict or even see coming sometimes…careful if you go up to high into the mountains.

Jared,

Seam sealing is not an upgrade for any  Tarptent, it is a requirement spelled out on the TT web site.

just curious , what are you using now ? (might help the Op)

Ed, I hear you regarding snow load and have made my TT Moment DW and SCARP 2 (both W/ ripstop inners) into true winter tents by running crossing poles inside the flys and adding stake loops on the fly hems. Now they are both very wind resistant and can hold up under a heavy, wet snow load.

In fact I ordered a heavier main pole from Tentpole Technology for my SCARP 2 for winter use.

Proper pole design, staking fly hems and using several guy lines is key to a decent night’s sleep in a snowstorm.