Hello everybody,

I've been looking for a while for my first lightweight backpacking solo shelter, and I've had some difficulty deciding between the TT Moment and the TT Rainbow. I've read each specs, reviews, and thought about it more than I could imagine, and yet I still can't decide.

If the posters here could briefly summarize the strengths and weaknesses of each tent, and compare them to each other, that would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers
-Eric D.

I've got a Moment and have no complaints. I'm thinking about the new Rainbow because it looks like it could sleep two in an emergency.

I have had direct experience with the Rainbow but not the Moment...

Seize the Moment if you want light and simple.

Follow the Rainbow if you crave space and livability. In other words, unless you are truly counting every ounce, the Rainbow asks just 5 ounces more but in return it gives you more living space, more livability (like the porch option if you carry your hiking poles), and more flexibility (like the freestanding with poles option). But if none of this excites you -- then go with the Moment.

Edited by ben2world on 03/28/2010 23:54:02 MDT.

Just to add on to the original question - does anyone know how they each handle wind? Any difference in performance?

I first used my Moment at Colorado's Arapaho Pass in October of 2009. I camped at 11,300 ft in 35 -45 mph gusting all night winds.

The Moment was solid and did not flap at all. It was breezy inside so I closed the windward roof vent, end triangular flaps and placed items on the end "floor" mesh and side mesh. That helped a lot and I had a good night's sleep.

In the morning it was a bit less windy but I still had to cook in the vestibule.

Great tent for wind, IMHO.

The Moment has side tie outs in case of heavy winds. The ease of set up and being light helped me decide to buy the Moment and I couldn't be more happier.

Ok, I think I've decided on the Moment... Is it possible to lower the fly some way to prevent the wind draft from entering? Like Eric was saying, it was breezy inside so he put items around the mesh... But, is there an easier way to block this from happening?

Cheers.

If you fiddle with it a bit, you can pitch the Moment so that the mesh is parallel with the ground. With the "door" completely down, you'll get very little flow-through. Be careful, though. Snores alone will cause internal condensation if you don't let a little bit of air pass through.

Love my Moment. It really is the best choice for you under the circumstances.

Stargazer

Eric:

If you hike in the desert or some place with low to moderate humidity, then you can try to block the perimeter vents with clothing, gear, etc. I believe you can close up the vents at the two ends.

But if it's winds blowing in a relatively humid area -- then you risk condensation build up inside your tarptent if you close or block out the vents. And if it's cold winds blowing, then yes, it will be a very drafty tarptent as well.

Few double wall tents can match the weight/space of single wall tarptents. But that comes with a cost as well. Tarptents are great for use in temperate climes with low to moderate humidity. If you are worried about winds where you camp, then tarptents may not be the right solution for you. Structurally, the Moment should perform well structurally. But don't forget the drafty part. Like all gear pieces, they have their limitations -- they are what they are.

Edited by ben2world on 03/29/2010 09:32:11 MDT.

My feeling would be that the Moment would be better in the wind given it's similar shape to the Akto, but the Rainbow would provide more living space.

Thanks everyone, I guess I should have mentioned where I will be using this tent. I will be using it in the Pacific Coast of Canada. So the West Coast Trail, Juan de Fuca, Coast Mountains, possibly in the interior for backpacking, sea-kayaking, snowshoeing, etc. I don't really consider it too humid here, but thats just me.

Eric:

I've used my Rainbow in the PNW with complete success. More importantly, there are many, many enthusiastic tarptent users up there. You won't have much of any problems there. The PNW is known for its rains -- but it's not all that humid actually. But if you go during shoulder seasons, be prepare for some drafty winds. Not necessarily a show stopper though.

Er, Ben, which part of the PNW are you in??? I lived in Eugene, OR for ten years and all I can say is that it is the most humid place I've ever lived (and also my favorite place to have lived! The summers are very dry, yes, but the rest of the year it just rains, rains, rains, rains! Not hard, torrential rains, like Japan, but endless weeks of drizzle that never stops. You go walk in the forests and absolutely nothing is dry. I'd say the TarpTents work perfectly there, because the rains are not so hard, and the ventilation keeps the tarptents dry inside, but I certainly wouldn't say that the PNW is not humid.

The west coast of BC, Canada also rains a lot. You can expect weeks of rain on the West Coast Trail and Juan de Fuca Trail. And lots and lots of mud. But the TarpTents still are a good choice, I think.

Edited by butuki on 03/29/2010 11:19:39 MDT.

I used the Rainbow on the West Coat Trail last year. No issue. Yes some condensation when it rained, but I could set up the shelter in the rain while my double walled buddies had soaked interiors by the time they got their tent fly on. The Rainbow is very large so I had no issue with hitting the walls - and I am tall'ish.

I plan on taking the Moment this year on the WCT so if you wait I can give you an assessment....;)

Edited by FamilyGuy on 03/29/2010 11:23:39 MDT.

You can always dig the tips of the arch pole down some to get the tent lower to the ground.

Miguel:

Yes it does rain quite a bit in the PNW -- but a lot of that is in the winter. But more importantly, the humidity is not that high.

Of course, you know I hail from southern Cal. But my folks live in Vancouver so I visit at different parts of the year. The humidity is 'nothing' compared to Houston or Taiwan in the summer... OMG!

Edited by ben2world on 03/29/2010 11:39:04 MDT.

The humidity is 'nothing' compared to Houston or Taiwan in the summer... OMG!

Oh, my bad. I didn't realize we were talking only about the summer. Yes, the summers are very dry and not at all humid. Perfect weather, actually!

Taiwan humidity must be worse than Japan's but not by much. Summers are simply awful here!

Buy Both and then donate the one you don't like to the guy that gave you the stellar advice. On a serious note why don't you just call Henry. He will be able to give you better advice than anyone.

One day I asked Henry that same question.
He told me that it is an impossible question to answer.
So I asked if he could explain to me how women think.
Henry then asked " what exactly do you want to know about the two shelters ? "
Franco

To prevent the dreaded "misting" of a silnylon TarpTent I painted the top 1/2 of my Moment with a thin coat of silicone using 5 parts odorless mineral spirits to 1 part of GE Silicon II (by volume).

Put it all in a plastic jar so you can shake it well every 5 min. to keep it well mixed. Works far better than stirring.

Very little additional weight but a lot of peace of mind was added.