Tarptent Double Rainbow Li Tent Review

I wonder what is more windworthy – the rainbow or the notch? Spoiled for choice.

I have both in silnylon.  The Notch wins, hands down.  It’s not even a competition.

I wonder what is more windworthy – the rainbow or the notch? Spoiled for choice.

Definitely the Notch. Lower profile, smaller panels, and the vestibule and end stakes can be cranked down to 20+ lbs of tension. It’s hard to do that with the Double Rainbow vestibule stakes without disrupting the arch shape.

I’d consider both of them to be fine in moderate steady winds up to 30 mph. The Notch will have an edge in gusts up to 50 mph. At 50 mph you’d risk the carbon arch pole breaking on the Double Rainbow Li but the fabric should hold up fine.

Higher than 50 mph, you are leaving the realm of what can be accomplished with most ultralight shelters.

I measured one broadside gust (back wall) last week in the snowstorm that hit the Double Rainbow Lithium at 34 mph (Kestrel 5500 wind meter was 3 ft above the ground, about 6 ft upwind from the tent. No pole collapse (carbon pole) but I did have the two accessory guyline stakeout points on the pole staked out with three guylines each like this:

Each number represents a stakeout point, I used 12 stakes in this pitch. #1, 6, 7, 11, and 10 are keeping the tent from collapsing here, and potentially causing the carbon pole to break. In addition, I had the tension cranked down fairly tight on everything, but you can only do so much with 1, 6, 3, and 4 without disrupting the structure.

Dena, actually mesh gutter are integral to every single wall tent we make and always have been.

Are you using the extra back wall pullout? It really helps equalize the lateral wind resistance as otherwise the Rainbow definitely has asymmetrical side to side tensioning.

Not if you’re referring to a guy from the top.  I’ve only added guys from the two halfway tie-outs on the pole sleeve.  If you’re referring to staking out the bottom of the back wall, I didn’t know it was an option not to.  (Mine was purchased Jan, 2009, if that matters.)

Oh. No, the ’09 version didn’t have that. Just a loop of line at the bottom edge of the fabric.

I’ll post my first impressions of the tent here as I am guessing most people will go here first when thinking of this tent. Please don’t nail me to a cross or something like that. I’m just an average hiker that likes getting out every so often.

I bought the Double Rainbow Li as an upgrade from my previous double rainbow I bought used ten years ago from this site. I figured with all of the canceled trips and the money I was saving it was reasonable. I was looking for a lightweight tent where the netting did not go all the way to the bottom because my dog will accidentally paw it in the morning putting holes into it. I also wanted something that did not take up large amounts of space and is simple to set up. Although I have thought hard about tarps with a bivy set up, I am not totally sure how my dog would take to it and I have a Minnesota fear of mosquitoes. Also I do not know how to set up a tarp or about how much space it takes when setting up w other tents around. I’d like to someday have a one tent does it all in the name of life minimalism.

This rainbow is a little easier to set up than my previous version. However, it would be nice if the pole holders at each end were a little deeper; my poles slipped out occasionally while I was setting it up. I do not often use the trekking pole holders but it is nice for when you are rearranging your tent as well as shaking out any dirt etc that gets in. The holders work better too. It definitely is roomier than my previous Rainbow.

Now here is the hard part and I wish I had taken pictures. Our first night the only campsite was near thirty feet away from a river in a heavily forested site. No breeze. I have never had so much condensation. Not only was the ceiling wet but around my sleeping pad and under my dog’s sleeping pad and basically anywhere in the tent that had something atop it was a puddle of water. It took me some thinking over tea to figure it out. I think what had happened is that my tent was acting as a giant sill and water had condensed and pooled around low-lying areas. I wish I had propped the doors open in porch mode to allow more airflow. I’m sure folks will say we chose a poor location but the other campsite was blown down. Others will say to leave the dog outside. She says otherwise. I’m going to consider leaving the door propped next time.

The next night we slept by a lake’s inlet. I really made sure that all of the netting was exposed as possible. In addition I left one of the doors rolled open. I did not have the water pooling issues and had the basic run of the mill condensation on the ceiling.

I still like this tent. It’s not going to be my do everything tent and I do not know what tent will be. The condensation issue worries me when the first rain comes.

Thanks Bill

Ive camped in a few rain showers and a lot of areas around water (BWCA, Olympics, or basically anywhere into the PNW) and I’ve never encountered this sill effect. I think it really speaks to how waterproof DCF is.

that said I still really enjoy this tent and I plan on using it for my pup and myself. Super light weight. Quick pitch. Small volume in the pack. Pup hasn’t put a hole In it. Great company.  But like you said I’m going to have to leave a door open and pay more attention to how I set the tent up in general. It is going to be my go to tent.

#tarptent4lyfe

I’d be fine using it in just about any summer condition in the CONUS, except in the odd big storm above treeline.

As for fringe seasons, anywhere below the treeline would be fine. Above the treeline in the US Rocky Mountain Wind Tunnel (Southern Wyoming, Northern Colorado) during storms, probably not.

It’s a really well-done tent. The interior volume is terrific.

Thanks Henry

@obelix74 there are guyline attachment points on the pole sleeve at these two points. They are kind of hard to see in the photos.

Was the porch roof a prototype feature?  I can’t find it mentioned or shown in a photograph at the tarptent site.  Shame, that was one feature I’ve been imagining for other tents with a center open vestibule zipper.  It really is impossible to open the vestibule and not get drenched hanging out there, and its not big enough to hang out when closed.  Got any inside dope on this feature?

I would like to add one element to this review, which is the customer service angle from Tarptent.

A couple of years ago, I was doing trail work with a crew in the Sierra, and as a result, got a small 1/4 inch burnt from an ember of a fire we were using to clear timber.  And it was right on the top of the tent.

On Saturday I sent a note to Tarptent, and got an answer within half an hour from Henry Shires.  He sent me all the materials I needed to effect the repair, as well as very clear and simple instructions on how to do it.  Three days later I had the materials.  Two years later, and the repair is fully functional.

We love our tent.  We also really appreciate that kind of customer service.

And one more comment:  There are two of us, and we got one of his three man tents, because for about 6 ounces, we have a ton more room, and we’re old enough to balance comfort and weight…