Tarptent Rainshadow 3 review

[@dustinlee2310]

Thanks for the video! Just got our tent and this was a great review. And I gotta applaud your choices in literature. The Stormlight Archive, Mistborn... Such great series.

[@fire7side]

Looks like a nice tent. Glad you are spending some quality time with your kids in it. Hard to think about tents right now as there's about a foot of snow on the ground here. Went cross country skiing for the last couple weeks, one day each. Beautiful out there. I finally made it to my target weight of 190. BMI normal. Spent the last 2 years getting to it.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Congrats!! That's a really big deal. Be sure to go and celebrate it. The hardest part comes now...maintaining. :)

[@Chris.Young.]

Every time I see all those Sanderson novels behind you, it makes me happy. You have excellent taste in books my friend.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Ha, thanks! The worst part is being in between his books!!

[@MylesAway3]

I absolutely love tarptent. The notch is my go to one person tent when I cannot hammock. They have excellent well thought out products. And outstanding customer service. Thank you for this video. I am also looking for something a little larger than my stratospire 2 to bring both of our kids on trips. Keep the great videos coming.

[@ronaldrose7593]

Hello Tim, thank you for sharing this fine video. Nice looking tent. Take care out there. The best to you and family. 🤗

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Thanks Ronald, same to you and yours.

[@bobbymules]

just bought this based off your review (got kids as well and our 7kg 3man tent is a bit heavy) thanks man much appreciated!

[@RoughingItWithRuth]

Thanks for the comprehensive review! Ultralight tents provide such an interesting opportunity to explore the weight/durability/livability dilemma. I like the fact that it can be turned into a cocoon if the weather is really bad :)

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Thanks Ruth! It really is a nice tent.

[@finneganmagee]

Nice review I recently picked one of these up. Gonna take it out this week. Love Tarptent I now own 4 of their tents.

[@therocketjones]

I've been using a Tarptent Double Rainbow for years. Amazing products by this company.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Agreed!

[@JeremiahStringer]

I borrowed a 1 person tarp tent bivy. Super light, but wasn’t for me. Great review, Tim. This would fit my needs a lot better

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yea it's nice.

[@GingerByrn1]

I love my Tarptent Stratospire Li. I have only used it on overnights thus far, but there is lots of room for my gear. I’m short so I can stand up bent over and not have to crawl out of the tent. It is pretty stable especially with the vestibule lines added. I’m in SC and camp in a swampy area because damp is the norm here, and I have not been overly damp. Pretty satisfied with their products so far.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yea the Tarptent is a winner.

[@redwhiteblue7831]

Great review Tim... Nice tent. Full of information for anyone looking into purchasing this tent.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yea hopefully it's useful for someone considering it.

[@lithandriel]

I've been a Tarptent fan since I learned of them in 2007. I own the Rainshadow 2 (the predecessor of the Rainshadow 3), which I bought in 2007, and which is still going strong and is still my favorite tent. I am encouraging a friend to purchase the Rainshadow 3 and I am going to show him this review! I'd been wondering what people thought of the design changes. It looks like the entrance has improved accessibility, but that the foot-end might be a little narrower and may have a little less height. I'd have to check the dimensions... I've used mine most for 2 person and 2 person + dogs camping. Palatial is accurate for 2 people and their gear. And I'd say very comfortable for 3 if gear is in the vestibule and regular sized pads are used (I have a pair of DownMat 7's and 3 would fit comfortably). And even if you have to be careful to keep your bag & gear away from the tent walls the space you get for the weight (and the price) plus full bug protection is just really hard to beat. I have found that it's pretty easy to keep the tent walls relatively dry, though, with just choosing a site with good airflow (which often also has the best views anyway), and orienting the tent into the wind. And if you keep the pitch taught, as you say, whenever condensation does accumulate it just runs down the walls and drips on the ground. And it's trivial to keep the tent pitch taught. Thank you for this review!

[@uptrail7169]

It looks like a good tent and it's not too heavy. Next time when we decide to go back out west a good tent is a must!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yup, it's unfortunate they don't have more trees out there. :)

[@cgriggsiv]

Excellent review thank you very much have yourself a wonderful night

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Thanks and you too!

[@Truth-Seeker75]

Good review. Not sure if this is still relevant, but I have a Tarp Tent Contrail if you’re interested in a single person tent. I’ve maybe slept in it for three nights. I’m 6’5”, so it fits bigger people, but it is a one person tent.

[@scubthebub]

I just recently heard about this tent so it's nice to see a quality review on it. I have a Big Agnes UL3 which is similar in weight, but solves the cons you listed with the Tarptent. Of course, the big con for the BA is it's substantially more expensive. Footprints and heights are comparable but the BA does have a double vestibule entry. The bonus of the double walls is in the summer you can peel back the rainfly and feel like you're laying outside. The tight mesh does mess up star gazing, but it's still an amazing experience.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yea the expense of the BA and the mass market presence are what turned me off of it.

[@JoshHerodOutdoorAdventures]

This is a nice tent! Glad we had it out in Utah.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Me too!

[@adventuresoffrostbeard4955]

I want one!! lol! As my kids get bigger, I’m wanting to take them into situations where tarp camping might not be ideal. That thing looks like it would be great perfect for my boys!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

My kids love it!

[@CrystalEyeOutdoors]

Great review! I'll have to add this tent to my ever growing list of wants lol.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Haha!

[@OregonMikeH]

Great Review Tim, Thank You! .... Mike.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

You're welcome, thanks for watching Mike. :)

[@TheAdventuresofEli]

My friend at work has a older 2 person Tarptent STRATOSPIRE and the setup is near close to the Zpacks Duplex ... use your trekking poles. After looking the price, and the material .. ultimately went with the Duplex. I felt Cuban fiber was more worth it.. that might be a tent worth looking it to for the future.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

It's a good one! :D

[@michaelrileyoutdoors170]

Hey Tim! Do you ever feel as if the strut in the back is going to pop out? I got mine in today and set it up and that was my only concern. I own a Double Rainbow from them, so I know how great of a company they are. I know if it ever becomes an issue, Henry will absolutely take care of it. I just wanted to get you opinion and thoughts. Thanks Tim!

[@SalineScott]

That’s a pretty nice tent. I hope I don’t have to sleep in one again. My hammock has me spoiled. Lol

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Ground sleeping is still not preferred. :)

[@babblned]

Thanks for the review! What footprint do you use in front of the tent? Thanks!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

I use my rain kilt in front of the tent door. For under the tent I use a cheap Walmart tarp.

[@BackcountryExposure]

You forgot to mention that the floor with your pad is like a freaking water slide! So slippery! That one night I slept in it with Subaru I was sliding to the foot end a lot.

[@Chris.Young.]

I've seen people use leftover seam sealer on the floor of the tent to help with this. I haven't tried it myself, but I've heard it works well.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Yup, tarptent recommends using the seam sealer on the floor. I didn't slide around. Maybe you sleep funny. :D

[@doc021]

Double Rainbow all day. Roomy for 1. Ok for 2. I did’t even use a ground cloth the last 2 times and it holds up quite well. I had them seam seal it as well assuming they are better at it than me.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

It actually wasn't too hard to seam seal. Good to know about the double rainbow.

[@FOLLOWINGWALKERSWORLD]

Tim. What clip on mic do you use. Audio is really good. I've been using the lavalier pop 3 & it's not as good. Thanks Tom from followingwalkersworld

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Thanks, it's this one from Amazon (referral link). amzn.to/2T4tC3G

[@RESTLESSOUTDOORS]

The Notch Li Tim!!! The Notch Li!!!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

You just want to see another DCF tent. :D

[@Sara.gr8ful]

Nice tent! I use the quarter dome 3 and love it for the kids and I and my hiking buddy! But it is about 12 to 13 oz heavier than this tent. Question...finally getting my hiking buddy into a hammock, what temperature would you take your hammock plus neoair therm down to? She doesn't have an underquilt but I do have a neoair.

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Do you have an xtherm? If so, you can take it way below freezing. The lowest I've done and been comfortable is 21.

[@Sara.gr8ful]

@@TimWatsonOutdoors Thank you so much ! I do have an xtherm so we were planning on taking hammocks if 30 or above and taking the tent for colder temps. So she should be good with the xtherm. I had her watch your vid on sleeping pads in the hammock. Thank you!

[@chrisnigul]

Hey Tim, Wondering if this would work for someone who is 6'5 and my spouse who is 5'10? We both have extra long and extra wide sleeping pads I just got my hands on zpacks triplex which on paper is 90'' long but has slanted walls and the height of the pads cut down the length substantially for me. Cheers, Chris

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Hey Chris the “short” answer is yes it should easily. It’s 84 inches long and in a pinch we fit three wide long pads with three guys (I’m the tallest at 6’1”). That was a squeeze but it did work. With just two people it’ll be a breeze even with your height.

[@chrisnigul]

@@TimWatsonOutdoors Thank you for a quick reply. Are you still using it or have you found something "better" when it just comes down to the same dimensions?

[@throwbacgurl]

Did that door mat come with the tent?

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

No it didn’t.

[@Jshsprngr]

This thing is huge! 3 people!?

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Just barely!

[@AnnieFarmerFarm]

Good thing your tent held up during that storm or your name would of been MUDD! LOL just kidding Tim! Looks like a great lttle light weight tent to pack!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Ha!

[@TheWasatchGearReview]

Looks like a decent tent all around, thanks Tim.

[@All_Things_Out_Doors]

Looked roomy!!

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

It was with two people. Three grown men just barely fit. :)

[@etnrutledge8461]

Do you carry a hammock and a tent?

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Nope. In this case Subaru Josh carried this tent specifically for this reason (in case there weren't good trees).

[@dirtyteeth0]

What made you go with this over say a Copper Spur UL3? Fabric?

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Weight and cost (at the time) were the major reasons.

[@trailcat71]

Excellent review!! Been looking at tarptent for a while so it’s good to know what to anticipate

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

Fantastic, I don't think you can go wrong.

[@Oldsparkey]

I purchased a Tarptent Moment about 30 years ago. Went on a camping trip with it and after the 1st night got a ride home. Switched it for my hammock and went back for the rest of the trip. Since that day when the tent was dried , folded , put in it's stuff sack and into a storage bin where it still resides. I'm just not a ground dweller anymore.I'v been spoiled , my hammocks have spoiled me

[@TimWatsonOutdoors]

haha! Scott in the comments said the same thing.Ground sleeping is still not preferred.