Updated for 2019, the award winning Double Rainbow is our most popular, best-value, 2 person tent. Designed for versatility, this tent is ideal for people who camp in a wide variety of conditions and need an all purpose shelter for hiking, hunting, bike touring and more. The Double Rainbow is easy to setup and can be converted to freestanding with trekking poles. Going solo? Have a look at the Rainbow.
Double Rainbow
TWO PERSON TENT
Updated for 2019
Your order includes:
- Fully enclosed Double Rainbow shelter with integrated fly and floor
- Aluminum arch pole
- Six 6” aluminum stakes + stake bag
- Silnylon stuff sack
BubblesTheHiker –
I was just a day hiker who raced through big miles in a day to avoid camping until a month ago when I spent a week camping my way through the West Highland Way in Scotland. I did some research on tents prior and it came down to tarp tent and gossamer gear – comparable in price, size and weight. I went with Tarptent due to the reviews about the floor design, the condensation liner (which I did purchase), and the ease of setup (I didn’t want to mess around with trekking pole angles while setting up in the rain) – this seemed really hard to get wrong with the Rainbow design. Because it’s so light I went with the Double Rainbow, even though I was the only one using the tent. I’m almost 6 ft tall and there was ample room to sit up and fit my pack at the end of my long sized sleeping pad. My stake placements weren’t the best in the beginning, but the tent remained structurally sound. After a few days, I had the stake placement down to a science with minimal repositioning.
I used Tarptent’s sealing service and while I was able to practice setting up the tent before I left I was not able to test it in rain.
So, the first night it started raining around 10pm. Hard rain. I was wild camping in some ruins and held my breath hoping the reviews were right – and they were!
The liner prevented any condensation drip and I was well protected. Through a stroke of luck, the rains stopped right before I packed out every time so that is something I have yet to contend with. I was careful to fold and pack it without getting the interior wet, though I was careful to wipe down the interior before I did, then gave the whole thing a good shake. I packed the liner separately and during the day would take it out and dry it with all the ample wind. If I do go back to Scotland to do the Great Glen Way, I might get a double-walled tarptent to help pack out the interior while sheltered from the blowing, heavy rains.
I did purchase the footprint, but left it at home based on many many reviews on many different websites – this was a good choice. The interior remained dry as a bone and is extremely durable. I do think a good improvement would be to have an optional dyneema base, which would eliminate the need for a footprint altogether – but that would increase the price (another reason I narrowed my search down to TarpTent).
I couldn’t be more happy with my purchase – and this once dayhiker is now hooked on backpacking!
BRANDON EMMONS –
Amazing tent! I bought this tent for hiking the Long Range Traverse in Newfoundland. We needed a free standing tent for the platforms on the bogs. It is easy to set up, spacious, and the sides can be opened for great views. On the trip we encountered two hardships, an incredible windy storm and bugs. I have never previously been bothered by bugs but there was a bumper crop of black flys, I still have scars on my wrists from their bites 3 years later (do this hike later in the season!). The only refuge from the incredible aggressive swarms was inside the double rainbow. They could get in my bug suit but not the tent. The last night an intense storm blew up the draw we were camped in. The tent was amazing in the wind. The wind was so strong that the ridge pole blew down onto us and every time recovered. In the morning ours was the only tent in the group undamaged. Since then I have slept sound every night in this tent :)
Kevin Mullens (verified owner) –
I had the opportunity to take my new Tarptent DR out for a test drive, with all of my other new backpacking gear, this past weekend. I’ve camped my whole life, but backpacking is a new endeavor of mine. I can’t be more pleased on the quality, ease of setup, and protection from the below freezing temps, and strong winds. I’ve spent many an hour investigating my shelter purchase, and this fits my 6′ 2″ frame with room to spare. Thanks for a great product!
Kevin Mullens
Enoree, SC
Michael Schlitters (verified owner) –
Just went early march 2019 3 weeks on the Pinhote trail in Alabama tent performed above expectations
2 severe thunderstorms extreme wind no problems at all 2 minute setup and take down
very pleased with the quality
Justin –
Love it. Most annoying thing is packing and unpacking after or before a long hike. Perfect for quick take down or setting up. Very very light and havent used a footprint yet.
Highly highly recommend!
Reed –
I’ve had mine for a little over two years, use it about 40 nights per year and absolutely love this tent. Easy to set up, spacious even for someone 6’4”, intelligently designed and well executed.
The only tweaking I’ve done is to go with MSR Grounhog stakes to better help me set the depth of the bathtub floor.
The 2019 edition seems to carry on with improvements that never crossed my mind but now that I see them, I’m a little envious. My 2016 model shows no sign of wearing out anytime soon so it may be a while before I get another DR. Bummer in that respect!
Highly recommend this tent.
Squirrel Therapy (verified owner) –
My original review didn’t post, or was removed. Tent leaks in the rain via the mitten hooks, and was seam sealed by Tarptent. Appears to be a potential design flaw, but unsure. 3 stars.
Tarptent –
We had no idea. Please contact us so we can fix the leak for you.
Charles Sadler –
I have used the double rainbow for many backpacking hikes and it has held up to extremely strong winds, thunder storms, sleet, as well as desert like conditions. As long as you know that you need to seal it before you end up in a rain forest getting soaked, it works great. The bag it comes with eventually ripped, due to me trying to stuff it in the bag without rolling it up properly when I was tired and in a hurry, but the tent itself has been flawless. It fits 2 people 5’6 130 lbs with all our gear in the tent. We are smaller people so you may need to leave your pack under the tent flap if you are much taller, which I have done with my boots when they get to be unbearable. Other things is it is pretty light, easy to set up, but mildy annoying to put in the bag, although it makes for a compact and lightweight design when storing it.
sandbox –
this is a newer review