Bushwalk Australia

Kott wrote:Zapruda - how tall are you? ie trying to understand how you fit into notch compared to Double rainbow?

188cm. Mostly on a xtherm/xlite with a lofty -10 winter bag. The Altaplex only benefits from its size when it’s pitched on completely level ground. If it’s pitched on uneven tussock for example, it loses a dramatic amount of useable space.

The Notch doesn’t suffer that problem. The struts help keep the shape. The Notch is excellent for taller folk IMO.

I have no experience with the Double Rainbow sorry.

If used as a solo , so you can set your mat directly under the pole, the DR has more space above you when you sit up as well as around you.
The Notch can take higher winds and more snow too, provided that you use the right pegs and use the apex guyouts.

mhmh interesting...makes this all a tad complicated...i do like luxuries of space that DR2 has over notch however weight and walking sticks combination seems to make it more appealing.

apparently there are changes coming to Notch in May. I'm interested to see what they are

Kott wrote:mhmh interesting...makes this all a tad complicated...i do like luxuries of space that DR2 has over notch however weight and walking sticks combination seems to make it more appealing.

apparently there are changes coming to Notch in May. I'm interested to see what they are

The Notch Li just had its updates. You might be getting it confused with the Aeon Li which is due for an update soon.

Also, double wall vs single skin should be a deciding factor when looking at the the DR vs Notch. Where I walk in the alps, I really need a double wall in these smaller tents. Is it humid where you walk?

TT delivery about two weeks, in normal global circumstances.

I'm in Melbourne and currently rocking Mont Moondance 1 which is 1.5kg and double wall, packs down reasonably small. I got it few months back because its supposedly bulletproof and the floor is strong but there are few tweaks that would make this tent better. I tend to go to NZ, Alps here and hopefully Europe and South America too. Hence looking for something lighter...

I've just bit the bullet and ordered the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li.

I'll post a review once I've had a chance to try it out.

Congrats on your purchase, Emma. I bet the postie can't bring it fast enough! Look forward to seeing pics and hearing what you think of it once it arrives.

oh that's exciting Emma!

Keen to hear your thoughts. I'm also close to getting this.

Thanks @Ms_Mudd and @Kott.

Yes I'm so looking forward to receiving it and taking it out. It's been such a stressful time with the Coronavirus lockdown and I've had to do 300% as much work to get through it, so it's my treat to myself and my daughter. It will encourage my hiking, solo and with her both, make my pack that little bit lighter and more pleasant, and quick to pitch that Double Rainbow Li when we hike into our campsite. And it feels somehow a homely design with the rainbow shaped arch. 2 mins set-up to pitch, and done. Wipe down the condensation in the morning and air it out, shake or wipe off water, and pack up off we go. I feel good about it already just thinking of it.

That is wonderful on so many levels. These stressful times has also seen me turn to thinking more about the gear I carry and ways I can positively enhance my experience. Glad to hear the anticipation of the new shelter is bringing loads of excitement and happiness.
I do like the look of the double rainbows for sure, I think the arch going the way it does would give a sense of spaciousness inside. Super simple to pitch as you say also- light enough to carry when on your own and spacious enough to fit your wee lass in there too. Winning all round.

I have the 2016 Double Rainbow and I love it! I have spent more than 300 nights in it so far. Still going strong and would buy it again, though I regret that they have made the top wider in the latest version because it will be less wind-resistant than the old version.

DCF is not for me I'm afraid. I don't like that you can see through. Most of the places where I camp there is nobody around, but in some cases there is and then I would like the privacy option of a non-DCF

For anyone curious about how see through .51oz DCF is, I got some in the mail today.

That's 1 layer with my hand directly against it, not super private but oh so light....

I wonder what it would be like if it was lightly spray-painted with some random lines?

I'd say it would flake off pretty quickly.

Stazon ink would work.

If they ever offer it in the .67oz Camo DCF it would be cool.

Probably add 30-50g to the weight of the tent but is a more robust fabric and much less see through.

I just received and setup my Double Rainbow Li. It arrived via UPS from the US in 4 business days. Very fast, all things considering.

Pics - https://imgur.com/a/cDBqwaA

The superb construction quality and design are what I have come to expect from Tarptent. I have owned a few TT models over the years and have always been pleased. The small details like the awning between the two door panels and the magnetic closures are really nice touches. The overall quality is excellent just like my 2019 Notch Li and also the Sil version. Ill mostly use this in good 3 season conditions by myself and occasionally with my partner if I can convince her to come along...

I can't believe the length inside. I'm 6'2" and have a huge (no exaggeration) amount of room at both my head and feet if I'm centred in the tent. I wouldn't come close to touching the ends even with my -12c bag and on my large xtherm/xlite. My head would likely touch the ceiling if I were sitting on my mat. Its always a pain avoiding a wet footbox in single wall tents but I'm certain it won't be an issue in this shelter because of the length.

The carbon poles are thin and definitely need to be treated more kindly than your standard aluminium poles. The tent pitches taught and very easily. I was surprised how sturdy it felt when setup. I wouldn't want to put it through the same weather as my mid or even my Notch's but I think it will play nicely in moderately windy conditions and even a light dusting of snow.

The vestibules are smaller than expected. Enough room for a pack and shoes but not enough to cook in. No big deal imo.

The tent peg bag and the tent stuff sack look like they have been improved over the previous offerings. The peg bag has a drawstring and the stuff sack is now reinforced at the drawstring area. Nice touches.

Im headed out to Jagungal for a week next week and was planning on taking it but the weather appears to be coming in and ill likely take the Ultamid instead. If it clears ill take the DR and report back with more impressions.

It looks great.

I have a 2015 double rainbow that I use for solo walks. It's a great tent and surprisingly solid in bad weather.

Has anyone used those Easton carbon poles for a while? I'm sure vthey are fine I just have visions of them breaking and poking through the DCF.

Cooking inside the tent.
Of course no one ever does that...but for those who do...
I don't have one of those DR LI but if you can release some floor tension from the corners you should be able to pin the floor back maybe enough to give you some cooking space if you have a small kit like the JetBoil or similar. There is a loop right in the middle of the floor sides to pin the floor in or out a bit (if you want to...)

Porch mode works well for cooking.

Franco, do you know if the pole length is the same between the two versions? Will the aluminium pole work with the Li tent?

I’ll have to try porch mode. It looks like it will give me heaps of room to cook.

Oh that's excirting Zapruda...congrats...

I'm between Notch and DR and I cannot seem to make up my mind...I'm keen to hear how you went over the week and how it compares to the Notch Li, so please do report back.

Petew wrote:Porch mode works well for cooking.

Franco, do you know if the pole length is the same between the two versions? Will the aluminium pole work with the Li tent?

I think it is the same (144" with the sil version) BUT the curvature of the sleeve is different so the aluminium pole does not work in it.
The CF and aluminium poles bend at a different angle.

Franco wrote:

Petew wrote:Porch mode works well for cooking.

Franco, do you know if the pole length is the same between the two versions? Will the aluminium pole work with the Li tent?

I think it is the same (144" with the sil version) BUT the curvature of the sleeve is different so the aluminium pole does not work in it.
The CF and aluminium poles bend at a different angle.

Good to know.

The pole comes with a repair sleeve which was a nice surprise.

Thanks Franco.

@Zapruda You got lucky with your delivery being so quick. Mine has still not arrived with USPS and Australia Post.

emma_melbourne wrote:@Zapruda You got lucky with your delivery being so quick. Mine has still not arrived with USPS and Australia Post.

That’s why I paid the extra for UPS. I often suck it up and pay the extra cash for a courier, it rarely costs that much more and on a big purchase like the DR I prefer the peace of mind. They have their own planes and seem to clear stuff through customs more quickly than regular post like USPS. In my experience I get stuff from Fedex and UPS From the states in 5 business days whereas USPS priority can take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks.

Don’t fret, it looks like your parcel is just waiting go through customs and after that it shouldn’t be too much longer. Hopefully by the beginning of next week.

emma_melbourne wrote:@Zapruda You got lucky with your delivery being so quick. Mine has still not arrived with USPS and Australia Post.

Also, if you haven’t already, run the tracking number through the Auspost website. Once it’s in Australia Auspost tracking updates come before USPS updates.

Given that it took over two weeks for a couple of Sydney warehouses to get packages to me in Tassie, you aren't doing so badly.

Zapruda, what was the duty like?

Pete

Petew wrote:Zapruda, what was the duty like?

Pete

$0. It seems that TT made an error when declaring the value of the package...