Tarptent Double Rainbow 2-Person Tent
ELITE tier
Henry Shires designs and manufactures Tarptent shelters in Nevada City, California, and the Double Rainbow is the tent that converted a generation of thru-hikers from mainstream brands to cottage industry gear.
Origin
Made in USA
Warranty
Tarptent limited lifetime warranty against manufacturing defects; factory repair service at cost for all damage types
Price
~$300 (Mid)
Community
Reddit r/BuyItForLife Approved
The single-wall design eliminates the separate rain fly, reducing weight to roughly 40 ounces while providing full weather protection through a silnylon canopy with taped seams. The two-person interior is generous enough for two adults with gear — a claim that most ultralight tents make but few deliver.
The trekking-pole-supported structure (poles optional as add-on) means no dedicated tent poles to break in the backcountry. Tarptent's repair program is among the best in the outdoor industry: send a damaged tent back and Henry's team patches, reseams, or replaces components at cost.
Replacement parts — guy lines, stakes, pole adapters, stuff sacks — are available individually. The catenary-cut panels shed wind loads efficiently, and the two vestibules provide covered storage for packs and boots.
At roughly $300, the Double Rainbow costs less than big-brand two-person tents that weigh twice as much. Thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail have collectively put millions of miles on Double Rainbows, validating the design through the most demanding field testing possible.