Is the Rainbow Li fully waterproof?
Yes, it is fully seam-taped and fully waterproof. Dyneema® has a hydrostatic pressure rating of over 8,000 mm.
Which Dyneema fabric weights do you use?
The fly weight is 0.51 oz / sq yd
The floor weight is 1 oz / sq yd
Do I need trekking poles for general use?
No.
Can this Tarptent be converted to free standing?
Yes, it is free-standing with trekking poles of at least 115cm. We also offer a stiff “Vertical Support Pole” (weight 4 oz/ 113 g) which can be used horizontally in lieu of a trekking pole.
Can I use this for winter?
The interior will be cool but the structure will withstand light snow loading.
Can I stuff the Rainbow Li to make it smaller?
The folded strut and arch pole can be stored separately but Dyneema fabric has a lifespan directly proportional to how you treat it. Roll, don’t stuff the fabric.
Does this Tarptent accommodate tall people (over 6 ft 3 in / 190.5 cm)?
Yes, the full floor length (88in / 223 cm ) is usable without running into an end wall.
Do I need the optional condensation liner?
The liner is useful for cool, damp conditions or anywhere condensation is unavoidable.
Are there any additional pullout points for extra staking?
Yes, there are additional pullouts on the arch sleeve.
Do I need a footprint?
Use of a groundsheet depends on the conditions you expect to encounter and your style of camping. The 1-oz Dyneema flooring is tough and does not usually require a separate groundsheet as long as the ground is clear of sharp objects. However, Dyneema, like all non-stretch fabrics, is subject to puncture under extreme pressure from sharp rocks or sticks. We sell optional Tyvek groundsheets which are very tough and great for sleeping out or taking a break, but generally heavier than you need for floor protection in most conditions. A groundsheet is recommended for use on very rocky ground and desert conditions.
Flaco –
Tarptent missed a golden marketing opportunity with this one… they should’ve named it the rainbro!! Even with this oversight i still love the tent. Just enough space for one person and gear, can be pitched freestanding, and only weights an ounce more than my altaplex. Seems pretty close to perfect. The only thing i would change (other than the name) is i wish there was a full rainbow door on the interior, but this is a minor inconvenience. Thanks for making the perfect, freestanding, one bro tent!!
Michelle from Florida (verified owner) –
I wanted to wait to give my review until I put this tent through a test of the elements. Having just hiked the FHT through South and North Carolina I can give a real review.
This is my first one-person tent and I can say that although the footprint (area) of the tent seems small, once inside it is spacious. I had room for me, my pack, all of my gear, was able to sit up without touching the top, and was able to stretch out without touching either end.
This is my first single-wall tent (though it is listed on this site under the double-wall section, it is not, it is a single wall tent) and I did purchase the liner as I’ve read all the warnings about condensation. I slept right next to the water a few times and in high-humidity areas a few times. Only once did I notice any condensation and it was very minimal. Yet I was glad to have the liner to catch any drops that may have otherwise found their way to my face or my down sleeping bag.
The set-up was frustrating a few times as the teeny-tiny little ‘lip’ on the pole that is supposed to catch on the tent body hook (and prevent the tent body from riding up on the pole is so teeny-tiny that it wouldn’t “catch” and finally when it did, it slipped out at night. Because the corners are staked out the whole body won’t ride up on the pole but I think this could be engineered better.
One night I was on a particularly rocky area and so used the poles instead of stakes; this was super easy and very convenient to have this option.
The zipper isn’t like anything I’ve had on a tent before and does require two hands to pull it open and closed.
This tent held up through light snow, hail, rain, and wind, and didn’t leave me soaked in condensation in really wet areas. Given the light weight, small footprint, and spacious inside I’m considering it a keeper for my backpacking trips and am excited to have found this company.
Scott Spencer –
I loved my silnylon Rainbow and was waiting for this bad boy to come out. My absolute unicorn dream tent for solo trips (the majority of my backpacking). The trekking pole option works like a charm with my GG LT5’s. Spacious enough for one on the move, porch mode if I’m with a group hanging out at a base camp. Yeah, all around a winner!
Tom Co. (verified owner) –
I had been waiting for a Rainbow LI and when I saw it was now available, I jumped all over it. The first thing I did upon receiving was to set it up on the carpet in the house. I used freestanding mode with a couple of big pieces of furniture to pull out the sides. It was easy to set up. The freestanding mode worked well with my regular tracking poles. A close expression of the tent showed nice straight even seems, no hanging threads and just general quality construction. This tent is slightly smaller than the silnylon version. It is 1 inch shorter at 42 inches 4″ narrower at 36 inches but the same length 88 inches. I put a standard size pad inside and it is plenty roomy. I could easily fit all of my gear inside. Take down was easy and unlike many of my other tents it easily fit in its stuff sack.
I recently had a nice sunny day so I set it up in the yard. Again a very straightforward easy to set up tent. I bought the liner with this tent so I install it. It attaches with two clips in each lower corner, two clips at the top and a single clip about midway down each side. It does not decrease the headroom or lying down faceroom very much. Almost all my backpacking is in Washington state where high humidity and condensation are a big factor so I planning on using the liner full-time. At 5’11” I like how much sit up room there is in this tent even with the liner installed. The porch is a nice addition. I can see where it would be useful on rainy days for sitting inside the tent and cooking in the porch. The only thing is the little porch tab is a bit small it would be nicer if it were say 4 inches longer. The only other downside I can see ,and this is a nit pic, is I don’t really like the included stakes, so I replaced them with groundhog type stakes. I also clipped in a small mesh ditty bag. The total weight of the tent, with the liner installed, with eight new tent pegs and my little ditty bag is 28.5 ounces. Excellent. I am anxiously awaiting an overnight trip.
Customer service at Tarptent is first rate
This tent is easily worth five stars