Updated for 2022, form follows function in the design of the Rainshadow 3. The simple geometry offers wide floor space with lots of leg room and head space for three. At under a pound per person, the weight to size ratio of this tent makes it easy to pack on any trip. Best of all, the front entrance can be fully opened to offer spectacular, panoramic views and excellent ventilation.
Rainshadow 3
THREE PERSON TENT
Your order includes:
- Fully enclosed Rainshadow 3 shelter with integrated fly and floor
- Aluminum arch pole
- Five 6” aluminum stakes + stake bag
- Silnylon stuff sack
CHRISTOF RAMPITSCH (verified owner) –
I probably set a world record in humming and hawing (about two years) before deciding on this tent! I even had a spreadsheet going. My last tent was a Coleman Timberline knock-off that I bought in 1993 for about $100. It was, and still is, a great tent – but this is not a review about that tent. I upgraded to a Rainshadow 3 in 2022 because I wanted something lighter, newer and bigger. But mainly lighter. I tend to go on 3-5 night hikes, usually with one other person. I do both through hikes (daily changes of camp sites) and base-camping with day hikes. I like to have both trekking poles handy for the day hikes.
I chose this tent as it won out in three critical areas: weight, space and quality of construction (although the long-term quality remains to be seen, I am very confident after having used the tent). All at a fair price.
My main trip with this tent has been a 5 night through-hike in Hornstrandir National Park, northern Iceland with my son. You would think that this trip would have really challenged the tent, but actually the weather was calm and it only rained once, and then lightly. So, sadly, I can’t really comment on wind stability and rain resistance.
The tent is not as easy to set up as you might think – to set up properly that is. I recommend watching the video and selecting your site carefully. Flat ground is quite critical to get everything taught, and the tent floor is slippery. I should have painted some seam-seal lines along the floor, as recommended in the seam-seal video, to minimize this. I also think that it would be quite critical to have the entrance facing the wind, because I don’t see the rear, the part supported by the trekking pole, doing too well in driving rain – but I have not encountered driving rain, so I don’t speak from experience. I have tried setting the tent up at home when storms approach, but so far only heavy clouds – no rain. Incidentally, at home I set it up on my deck as this allows you to see what it should look like set up properly on level ground. This is a good starting point.
Once you have set it up a few times, it is easy enough. And taking it down/re-rolling it is a snap. Careful set up is critical if it rains. I managed to create a channel in the fabric that guided some water into the tent at my feet. It was a dumb thing to do on my part, but on the other hand, the water was really easy to get back out of the tent as it has a mesh layer just above the bathtub.
We definitely had some wind in Iceland, but nothing truly challenging. The tent held up well, and I did not have do get up to re-synch any guy lines. With more wind this might be needed though. We also did have some condensation inside the tent, but very minimal and no drips.
The space inside the tent is truly amazing. Plenty of room for two and loads of stuff. Basically you could fit all your gear into the tent, but there is also room for two packs in the vestibule, easily. Three people? Probably ok, but the outer two would be touching the walls almost for sure. So if you’re camping in a dry area this would not be a big deal, but expect to get cozy if it rains. I don’t intend ever to use this tent for three people though. I specifically bought it for two people, and you could easily use it solo as well as it is very light.
The long decision process was worth it and I am definitely happy with this tent!
Scott E. Racop (verified owner) –
I am very pleased with the rainshadow 3. At first I was concerned about condensation living in the midwest. I’ve tried it twice now in July – once in the backyard and once paddleboard camping. It took me a little bit to figure out setting up the rear stakes. You just loop the lines around the two outer stakes. Set up both times under a canopy of either bushes or trees. I opened the front rain fly door (think it would still shed rain) and unvelcrowed the back rain guard. Amazing airflow and no condensation. It is a palace for one and two would have plenty of room. Three might be a squeeze, but could work. It takes restaking it out a bit to pitch perfectly, but once you do it’s pretty roomy. I bought the provided real pole and I have not tried setting up with a trekking pole in the rear. Weight is excellent at about 3 pounds. Stuff sack is a little tight for getting the tent back in it. I used a polycro ground cloth under the tent body. The front zipper entry is pretty easy to get in and out of and there’s plenty of vestibule space.