Tarptent Double Rainbow ?? Thoughts ??

[forest]

Hi All

I hate to say this but I'm in the market for a ..... Tent.....Ground Shelter.......urrrr (FYI - I'm a hammock camper )

The reason I need a tent is that my brother and I are looking at doing the Larapinta Trail and I don't think a hammock would work in the desert sections. Bugger.

I'd love to lash out and buy a Zpacks Heximid but just cannot justify spending $500 on the set-up.
Also the size I don't think would be great for two 6 foot guys for a 16 day walk.

What I have liked the look of is the Tarptent Double Rainbow.
Ticks all the boxes for me with dual entry, it's bug proof, Light (1150g) and I can land one here for about $300 AUD.

Has anyone got one of these single wall tents.

I know there will probably be condensation but I can live and deal with that.
If there is minimal morning moisture in the desert we could probably sleep just using it as a bug tent with the two side vestiblues folded up anyway.

Thought's, Comments ???

[Turfa]

I have a single Rainbow. Like any single wall tent it can suffer from condensation, but the interior space is large enough so you do not brush the walls. Ventilation is quite good if you drop the floor sides, but in wet weather when you pull them up to avoid driving rain or ground splashing things can get a little damp inside. The main issue I have with mine is that I'm a very light sleeper & the misting that occurs during moderate or heavy rain keeps waking me up. This is not a Rainbow specific problem, just genaral issue with single wall silnylon shelters. Have converted back to double wall tent (MSR Hubba HP)

[Dale]

I have a Squall 2 and have been eyeing off the Double Rainbow as I prefer the side entry and also like the option to have the liner which should help with condensation. As far as alternatives go the Six Moons Design Lunar duo regularly goes toe to toe with the Double Rainbow. I'm sure if you search the web you could find some comparisons.

[Franco]

"he misting that occurs during moderate or heavy rain '

Not ideal, nor desirable but it does happen.
There are two types :
1)mist from condensation dislodged from the fabric by the rain.
This is by far the most common. On a two wall tent it lands on the inner, on a single wall on you.
You can minimise this by increasing air flow (when possible) and or choosing a site away from water or from low ground .
Failing that you need to wipe the inside of the tent down as appropriate. I use a Chux for that...

2) mist from penetration.
This is when rain drops are large enough to have enough kinetic force to penetrate the fabric . Used to be pretty common under umbrellas and maybe it still is.
If you experience that enough to bother you , this is a way of fixing that :

http://www.youtube.com/user/francodario ... BnkGIz9cco
I have not done that with my shelters but did this for a customer .
Franco
franco@tarptent.com

[etrangere]

I agree with the msr hubba hp suggestion. Take a tarptent on the larapinta and you will end up waking up in a sand pit every morning with all that mesh.......been there done that and its not much fun

[forest]

Thanks all for the comments.

I ended up buying a 3 night used Big Anges SL2 cheap from the US.
The MSR Hubba Hubba and HP looked great but I picked the SL2 up for $200 US posted.
After a lot, I mean a lot of reading I also came to the conclusion that single walled tents from Sil aren't great for humid weather.

My wife now wants to do the sections from Standely Chasm to Alice Springs so this tent will be good for that.
From what I understand it's a great size for 1 + gear or a cozy fit for two.
Not too large for me to carry for solo use either.

I can handle the "cozy for two" with my wife, My brother can buy is own tent............

[etrangere]

Great bargain hunting forest!

[Dale]

I agree with the msr hubba hp suggestion. Take a tarptent on the larapinta and you will end up waking up in a sand pit every morning with all that mesh.......been there done that and its not much fun

Never thought of that. I'm looking at a trip to Larapinta and was planning on taking my TT sublite, will have to rethink tent strategy...

[etrangere]

After using a high mesh tent on a trip in WA and NT you realise it doesnt take much of a breeze to start noticing sand getting into the tent. I have used an older Macpac Apollo even for beach camping and its great as it has a solid material inner and each door has dual mesh and solid material which is great as you have the option of mesh or not. Plus being freestanding if you accidentaly do get sand in the interior it only takes a few seconds to just pick it up and tip out the sand and then plonk it down again!

[Dale]

Thanks Etrangere for the Larapinta Trail advice - I've gone with a Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 for this trip - it looks to be well sealed around the base and clocks in about a kilo, arrived today from Moontrail. Might also be an option for an inner pitch out in the desert and gaze at the stars on a clear night... I think this takes me to about 5 tents, am I a tent tragic yet ? Or just a journeyman tent tragic ?