i tried the tip about bringing the pole tips inward and it works great. if you don't have rocks around though, what i found works is to run a very thin cord under the tent and use a line tightener like the ones on the corners. it is attached to the velcro at the pole ends. i wouldn't do this in heavy wind since it puts more strain on the poles, but in normal use or for more headroom it seems fine.

one idea i'm experimenting with is using straws to prop open the air vents more at the top when it's not windy. the straws have a small slit on the end to hold onto the fabric.

Edited by kife42 on 04/20/2012 11:28:46 MDT.

"Having said that wouldn’t animals be more cautious when approaching a big tent (since they do not see what is exactly inside. There could be a big, dangerous creature inside) as opposed to 2 humans lying on the ground? There is some mystery to the tent."


No mystery at all -- the critters can smell you from miles away. They know *exactly* what's inside the tent.

I wonder if those critters can smell the difference between a 90 pound weakling and a 310 pound Sumo wrestler?

Having been kept awake at night, by baby skunks running across my face repeatedly, or waking up to mice, sitting on my chin, smelling my lips. I sort of like tents.

I had a group of Moose craping on the side of my tent, one night, in Denali Park, while I huddled, wide eyed, in there, thinking it was a bear. I was grateful for a tent that night, mostly because I had no idea what the dry cleaner charged to get Moose crap stains off of a sleeping bag. :)

Ryan
"one idea i'm experimenting with is using straws to prop open the air vents more at the top when it's not windy. "
If it pleases you ,do it but it isn't needed.
Air flow is created in different ways .
If you have a house with a chimney you have both...
When you open your windows air will come in or go out via that or other windows. At this point size does matter.
(the bottom gap and or bottom vents do that , hence the usual large size).This is cross ventilation.
On the other hand, a chimney works by air pressure.
Hot air is squeezed in and pushed out via a small opening.
That is how a top vent in a tent should work.
The bigger the vent there , the less pressure/air movement will cause.
A bigger vent will give you cross ventilation but that is not what you want there.
Franco

"I had a group of Moose craping on the side of my tent, one night, in Denali Park, while I huddled, wide eyed, in there, thinking it was a bear. "

Okay, wow, I think you need a tent. One thing we do not need to worry about around here is moose droppings.

i don't use a tent to keep bears or moose out - i figure they can get through. i use a tent with a mesh (tarptent sublite) because i don't like the idea of waking up to find a rattler or copperhead snuggling up with me!

Hi Franco,
Thank you very much for your video. I have learned so much. I did not know that the loops on the outside of tent are for extra guylines. Great tip.
I do not use hiking poles right now. I might buy some in the future but for now I have to do without them. Questions:
If I do not use the hiking poles then can I still have the tent secured quite well against the wind with just the guylines or the hiking poles make a huge difference?
You mentioned Dyneema guylines. Is Dyneema your favourite material for guylines and why?
So I believe that I can attach a total of 4 additional guylines for extra security against wind. Is it correct? What length should they be?
Also I have seen some pictures with the vestibule opened up with guylines secured to trees. How long should they be?
Does it mean that I should have a total of 6 extra guylines?
Thank you so much.

Hi Alina
For a start keep in mind that most of the time you will not need any guylines at all.
Yes you can attach guylines directly to the grommets at the apex.
Trekking poles there will add leverage but again it is in extreme situations.
I have several guylines. The Dyneema are the lightest but I use others too.
Usually I recommend 6' for a guyline so that you can use it to attach to a bush or a tree if you need to.
A max of 4 guylines will do. In high winds you will not have that porch set up in place...
Franco

Wondering if anyone with the Tarptent Double Rainbow knows if the freestanding mode can work with a fixed length poles such as Black Diamond Z-Poles.

Thanks!

You need a minimum length of 55" for it to work.
having done some experiments with it I ended up making a 10" extension (curtain rail) to give my poles a total of about 61" and it works well at that.
Note how I attach the guyline (tie out) to the ext.


Franco