Thanks for the kind words and in depth video. With regard to the storm pitch, a big improvement can be had in peak stability by replacing the shockcord with static cord at the door and end wall stake points. Those two stake points are very close to providing symmetrically opposite anchoring of the peaks (like the Dipole), but with the stock shockcord these tension lines don't do much because the shockcord just stretches instead of anchoring the peaks. The peak is only as solid as the shockcord. Swapping this for some of the supplied static cord yields a large improvement in overall peak stability. We will be making the static cord standard for the next batch. The other thing that helps is angling the guyline towards the door side if there is a broadside wind. The peak is anchored pretty well on the backside by the shallower corner seam (e.g hard to deflect towards the door), but less well on the door side (e.g. easier to deflect back from the door), so moving the peak guyline towards the door side gives up some tension along the ridgeline but gains tension on this side where it might be needed more. One other tip is that if someone wants to do a 4 stake pitch, the small panel of the door can be flipped over the corner and it'll stay there if it's calm. In windier conditions you can use a bit longer cord at the door and then tie this to the stake point on the end walls. With regard to hail, certainly severe hail can damage 0.55oz DCF but I expect the X-Mid would fair better than most DCF tents because it doesn't have flatter roof panels like most tents (Duplex, Dipole etc). Hail would be more of a glancing blow on the X-Mid's steeper roof.
@@jamescameron8303 The cork handles should grip fine since the tent puts downward fork on them, but also there are connections on the sides of the floor that help to hold them in place.
This is typical of the thoughtful, candid replies that Dan Durston quickly provides to any questions or comments. I can't think of any other owner who is so responsive and honest. Dan Durston even routinely "likes" positive reviews given to competitors' tents. He is a class act and he clearly loves the outdoors and the backpacking community.
Like most people who are "ultralight tent enthusiasts" , I am very excited to see more content on this tent. But I am not an early adopter, and like to see more long term reviews before I make a decision. There are more ultralight options coming out than ever before, and I have no problem waiting.
@@ricker76er1 yr later and we have a dcf option for the floors, but given dcfs weakness to abrasion I think the silpoly floor is still the best option, and is only few ounces heavier.
Wish someone in Europe would start carrying these. Cost a small fortune to ship, but, I´m convinced. Taking this to the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada's this fall. Excellent review. You are the go to for sure.
I have a ZPacks Duplex which I love very much. I’m ordering a Lanshan 3F UL 2 Pro and am having them seam seal it for an additional 30.00. To complete my trekking pole tent lineup will be the Durston X-Mid Pro. The key is to be right on top of the website so you can get a shot in purchasing it before their sold out again. Outstanding tent and it’s easily understandable as to why they’re in such demand. Great review!!!🔥👍
I find that the sweet spot for stake outs for me is to run an 8 stake setup. I use 4 full size MSR Groundhogs for the corners. Then I use two groundhog minis to stake out the vestibule doors, allowing me to open them without compromising the tension of the tent or allowing the small door to collapse (since it doesn’t have a way to roll it up). Last I have one more full size groundhog that I use to guy out the “low” side of the tent on the head end. This expands the already palatial headroom into a veritable cathedral. I also point that side of the tent into the wind as well so there’s a functional purpose. Lastly, if I break a more crucial stake, I can let that last guy out go and repurpose the stake.
Thanks for the great video! I just took my X-Mid Pro 2 for two weeks on the GR20 on Corsica and it performed really well. We had three nights with strong wind and I did not have a problem while peoples around me were busy with their stakes and some even had tent poles breaking. I’ll use some of your tips (and Dan’s additions) to experiment a bit more with the way I can pitch the tent 🏕️
Thank you very much for the very clear, very elaborate explanation. Exactly what I needed to start the Tour du Mont Blanc confidently with my new tent. Up until now I was stressed because I used the tent a few times in very windy conditions and I couldn't get it properly stable.
Taking this puppy to Philmont in July -- will have a full after action report upon our return. In 2020 our X-Mid 2P Gen 1 performed great at Philmont. Pro tip: practice pitching the tent in your backyard before you take it out. We had to learn to pitch it on the fly. (Pun intended.)
Great review, but the only thing you forgot to do was give us a look around on the inside. It's really helpful to see foot and head clearance while sitting and laying down. Can you make another video with shots of you inside the tent? Also Dan recommends that the ridge line guys be angled slightly towards the vestibule door, and not directly parallel to the ridge line. That will provide more side to side support for the tent poles.
We are continuing to add to the review as we get more experience with it, and will address livability (interior) more as we go. We'll update the review at the same URL linked in the description, and are planning on doing a more comprehensive vid showing the interior livability, esp. with two people. Regarding the guylines: agreed that angling them slightly will improve stability in *moderate* winds. However, at the failure limit, this may actually create a rotational moment around the ridgeline that's not so desirable at extreme winds. If you really want to stabilize the X-Mid Pro's apex points for *max* wind resistance, you'll need a minimum of two guylines at each apex. Rotational apex moment failure is how the HMG Dirigo failed at the wind limit: ruclips.net/video/Gl98SOoKq38/видео.html
@@BackpackingLightUSA Good points. It would also nice to see some coverage on replacing the guylines with the Ironcore Dyneema cored guyline that Durston sells as an accessory. This is made by Lawson and has less stretch and more strength than the standard poly/nylon core stuff that is factory included with the tent.
@@BackpackingLightUSA Agreed. Like many other tents, it's a great all around shelter. Some slight modifications could really improve the storm worthiness. But there certainly are better shelters for camping above the treeline and camping in violent wind conditions.
@@BackpackingLightUSA I don't follow your logic with regards to an angled apex guy line creating a rotational moment. As you have it now (either without an apex guy line or with the apex guy line inline with the ridge) increased tension transverse to the ridge line (as would result from a broadside wind) causes force to be applied on the apexes in the direction of the closer long side (non-door) corners. This causes movement or deformation of the poles until balanced by greater tension from the door side corner (as you noticed). Given the rotational symmetry of the tent, this would result in a counter clockwise torque applied to the about the ridgeline as viewed from above. In contrast, an angled apex guy line which helps to balance the tension from the long side corners would help to counter this rotational moment, since it would work to balance the forces on the apex as transverse tension increases. So contrary to your suggestion, I think angled apex guy lines would provide better high wind stability than when inline with the ridge line, however, maybe you're considering something different in your analysis.
Thank you. a great detailed review that has help with a purchase decison. Living in Blighty (UK) where the weather is more often raining and damp this could be a contender.
I pitched mine for the first time today, and I am so excited. It's a huge upgrade over what I have. So much room, and so well thought it. Holy crap. I'm even considering getting the 1p when it comes out for solo hikes instead of using a bivy.
Great video getting into the options for pitching and stabilizing the tent. Dan should put a link to this video in the box with the tent. I had to figure some of this out on the fly (no pun intended) during my first trip with the tent. Love the tent so far, setup and takedown are so much quicker than my old BA semi-freestanding tent, and the XMid is both way more spacious and less heavy. Amazing!
To mitigate hail damage, I would think that using a tarp over the tent would be the most likely strategy. I'd love to see a video with how to hang a tarp over a tent such as this. I have avoided dyneema tents for 11 years due to two bad experiences with. the fabric, but the details on this Durston caused me to purchase one just yesterday. But I need to lean well how to take good care of this lightweight and somewhat fragile fabric. Your video is a step in that direction and I'm grateful for your detailed review. Thanks for taking the time.
Great review. It would be nice to see a compare and contrast of the X-Mid Pro 2 versus the X-Mid 2. I just bought the X-Mid 2 Solid and I really like it.
This is a helpful review, with some great tips for setting up this tent. I think the presenter is overly focussed on rigidity. A bit of flexibility and movement is not a bad thing. I have the original X-Mid 1 person and was fortunate to get the X-Mid Pro 2. The Pro-2 is a substantial upgrade. It weights less (about 20 oz vs about 31 oz). It is considerably more roomy without having a much bigger footprint (same length, 100 inches, and only 13 inches wider (67 vs 80). The vestibules in the X-Mid 1 are great, but in very buggy weather it is hard for me to manage my gear in the screened in area, which is about as wide as my sleeping pad. I can put all of my gear inside the Pro-2 when camping solo. The Pro-2 also seems sturdier. It is hard for me to get a good, sturdy pitch with the X-mid 1 without using the guy lines at the top , thus requiring at least a 6 stake pitch and a lot of tripping over the guy lines. In a recent two night trip, I got a solid pitch pitch using only 4 states for the Pro-2. It was raining and windy, so I added a stake near the vestibule zipper and on the mid-point of the short side (8 stake pitch, no guy lines). That worked perfectly. In really rough weather, or with weak corner stake placement, I might add guy lines. But not if I do not have to. Finally, I have not had any problems with condensation despite camping on damp nights and waking up to heavy fog. I don't expect to sleep in the X-Mid 1 p anymore, and will use the X-mid 1 fly for a cooking shelter or gear storage in snowy or rainy weather.
You can help side wind resistance some by pitching with two guy lines per tieout point, set to approximately 30 degrees relative to the ridge line. This provides quite a bit of side wind stability. The giant side panels are still going to catch a lot of wind though. I loved my xMid 1 when I first got it but the still somewhat fussy setup that affects all pole supported tents became too much of a hassle so I am back to free standing tents.
Thank you for the awesome info. It was perfect timing to watch this as I just pick this one up on the last buy, just waiting for it to come in. I will follow up after I play with it
(Backpacking Light Premium subscriber here ... love your content.) In my experience with both a Durston X-Mid 1P (original and version 2) and the X-Mid 2P Pro, a fixed-length 120 cm tent pole fits these tents perfectly, as long as you're OK with having the sidewalls close to the ground and rely on having the doors partially open for the added ventilation you're looking for. With my height the 120 cm Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles work perfectly for me while backpacking, and they're the lightest trekking poles around. I love being able to slap in 4 stakes, throw my poles through the vents in the top of the tent, and - voila - my tent is pitched. PS: I can get by with 4 stakes just fine, but I always put in stakes on the doors so that it's easier to zip them open and shut. PPS: When weather and terrain conditions allow, I love to pitch the doors open and high, propping them up with sticks: like fabric covered porches. This provides protection against gentle rain but allows for tons of ventilation.
Correction: the floor is SilNylon, not SilPoly. This makes sense since nylon is stronger than poly at the same denier. Poly has better ability to prevent sag in the rain but for a floor this of course is not a concern. Dan is an excellent tent desinger. I look forward to his other upcoming products.
@@notyouraccount9742 Usually floors require much thicker(typically 1oz/yd DCF) SilNoylon is more puncture and abrasion resistant and packs a lot smaller. Durston does recommend a footprint with the XMid Pro though since it's only a 15d floor. While I don't like using a piece of polycro, I appreciate the smaller packed size.
Every tent design has its place... currently I am loving my tarp and bivi. I am excited about using my RAB Ridge Raider, which I understand is excellent for vapour/ condensation escape. I do own Tarp Tent, Hilleberg and Terra Nova, but the utter simplicity and 'faff free' bivi / tarp combo is for me.
At 32m 32s there's a mentioning of using a Nemo Tensor pad and how it would make significant noise. I am guessing that happens as the pad rubs against the tent floor material. So what if you put a Gossamer Gear 1/8 pad below your Tensor?
Thanks for the in-depth talk. One thing: it's unclear to me, on my tiny phone screen, when you repositioned the stakes for a non-storm, better vented pitch, did you move the stakes inward or outward?
Good day to you! I am a grandpa rider on HONDA motorcycle from Japan. Enjoying camping ,touring and upload video. Your UL tent video is so nice! Awesome! Full supported ! Have a nice day my friend!
This is legitimately the best 2 person ultralight tent on the market (if money isn't a factor) I personally can't wait till the spring of next year when the x-mid pro 1 is released 🙏 A possibly sub 1lbs shelter with that kind of room will be a real game changer
@@BackpackingLightUSA in my opinion "best" would probably involve it being light yet very strong and easy to use, along with the general ergonomics of the features .. such as high quality zippers and their placements along with the vestibules being extremely good lol also in regards to the dyneema variant they didn't use the flimsiest denier and they didn't use it for the floor in order to save weight ,they went with sil based fabric for packability and puncture resistance.. Over all I just feel like if the price of dyneema wasn't so outrageous then it would be the most popular tent on the market, the sliiightly heavier x-mid 2 in it's regular configuration already would be if production numbers were at the level of more established companies. But this like any other piece of equipment is plagued by the rule of three 😂 weight/durability/price..you can have one or two be perfect, but you always have to sacrifice one in order to have a well balanced piece
I want to make a move on a DCF tent soon (or I think I read there is a DCF like fabric but better coming out?) and your review was perfect. You took your time, knew exactly what to comment on and weighed pros and cons. Thank you!
You lost me on how to raise the sidewalls for more ventilation. When you dropped the poles, did you then move the corner stakes in, or out? If moving them in, how do you keep the tension on the layout? Thanks.
I was hoping that since your dog was with you throughout the video, someone would ask if this tent was able at standup to the wear and tear of a dog. Do you use some sort of floor liner for protection?
Wonderful details about pitching especially low/high pitch. Thanks! I have the X-Mid Pro 2 and Duplex with FlexPoles. Despite your statement that the X-Mid is easy to pitch, you spent a lot of time removing and re-planting stakes throughout the video. Quite a lot of fiddling around. Also at 15:45 in this video it is stated "the apex guyline should be oriented parallel to the ridgeline ..." which is contrary to what DDurston has shown in his video, but later at 19:56 the same guyline is clearly not parallel to the ridgeline AND in the position that DDurston has recommended. Can you please clarify what happened here? Thanks! Added: What is your preferred way of unpitching, folding/rolling up the tent? It took me a while to come up with a way I like. Maybe the ease of packing up a tent should also be included in tent reviews? Thanks!
I have the original Drop Xmid 1P, and a now a fresh out of the box pro 2. I’ve used my original Xmid extensively along the AT in VA in a wide variety of conditions and seasons, as well as for a week in Utah and a JMT thru. Some thoughts regarding your points: the setup in this video has a lot of fiddling, you’re 100% correct. What you have to think about though is that he is essentially changing the purpose of the pitch each time, so that fiddling is pretty much eliminated during normal use. If you know you want a breeze, you’re going to pitch it to have better airflow under the fly the first time, you won’t pitch it normally and then adjust it all again. I definitely do agree with you on the packing though. With the original Xmid I would gather the peaks, locate and align the vent struts and then roll the tent around them. With the pro2, the addition of the bathtub floor struts makes it very difficult to come up with a way to orient all the struts. This frustrates me because I’m constantly worried about snapping on of them or having one of them puncture something if they get turned sideways in a tight pack.
@@Gandhiownsyou I'm just back from using my X-Mid Pro 2 on an 8-night trip. I got the "how to fold up the tent" thing worked out: Fold lengthwise in thirds, then in lengthwise in half. That gives an 80 / 3 / 2 (~13 inches) wide by 100 inch long flat "tube". Fold that in half to get a ~50" long piece with the corner struts at one end. Roll this up from the fold. It is pretty easy to "feel" all the struts as one rolls this up and move them appropriately.
@@Gandhiownsyou For packing the Pro, I grab the two peaks and fold these together and then fold it a few more times to yield a long strip I can roll up. That puts the the vent struts and one end (so you can organize them before you start rolling) and the floor struts at the other end where they are at the end of the roll, so the roll itself goes smoothly.
All other videos show the point to the top. Mine also has the grommet at the top for the pointed end of the trekking pole and the elastic loop fits perfect around the handle end of the trekking pole. When did they change this?
Thank you for the incredibly thorough review, it certainly helped me understand this tent. I am always looking for ways to save a pound or two without sacrificing comfort and reliability. A serious contender for my new solo backpacking tent.
I am curious as to why there is a difference between this and the regular x mid as far as the trekking pole setup direction. Point down vs point up. I have the x-mid 2p with the grommet for the tip. The pro setup with tip in the ground looks like it would provide a little better stability and remove the possibility of placing pole tip through top of tent. Thoughts, explanation?
What would be the "most-starglazing-variation-possible"???? I mean, summer, no wind or any clouds..... but a lot of stars out there? Any ideas and solutions for that?
Looking for a tent for the PCT in 2024 so researching. Wind resistance is important. I lived near the desert section for years and the wind is predictable. So I have no concerns. It looks as if 8 stakes are needed.
I'm still waiting for my tent I ordered way back in January as well as the 2nd one I ordered on Monday. The website crashed repeatedly as did the payment processing. I hope the tent is worth the wait, as the purchasing experience hasn't been stellar thus far.
Yeah, we noticed the same thing. It's not a complicated thing to deal with (scalable hosting in response to high traffic) but it's probably the reality of a small business just trying to minimize costs.
@@BackpackingLightUSA I finally received my tents this evening. I probably won't have time to look at them til the weekend. The purchasing experience wasn't smooth. But at least it's not goofy AF like trying to get a Melanzana hoody.
Sorry about the ordering hassles. We improved to a fancy server for the most recent sale and it was better but still not enough. We'll keep working on it. Hopefully you're January tent has arrived now.
Sir I have seen MANY of these. But I'm curious y U chose this tent. And what other ones was u Picking from ??? I'm on the fence !!!! I got the stats on to much. That's y I am curious about y YOU made this choice vs what else.. Thanks in advance God bless !!
Ryan, for now, there are no freestanding, dyneema, 2 person tents that is seriously storm-worthy. What’s your fav Dyneema tent for bad weather conditions. I usually use my Hilleberg or Fjällräven tents, but they are overkill unless I’m in the harshest conditions and they are heavy! Best tents on the market, but wanted to try a Dyneema tent again. I didn’t like the non zipped door of the duplex, although they have a zipper vs and the free duo tent. Thoughts!! Thanks!!!
What is the best way to quite down the "noisy" new pads with the sil-nylon floors? BA Tiger Wall Tent with BA Rapide SL pad = noisy every time I move on the pad.
This video answered all my questions about pitching it in strong gusty windy conditions. Yes, I just subscribed & rang the notification bell. Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
Any pics of 2 people in the actually using it? So far I've seen 0 videos showing usable space inside the tent. Can 2 actually, comfortably use this tent?
The X-Mid Pro is quite new and just arriving with customers over the last few weeks, but if you look at reviews of the regular (non-Pro) X-Mid 2 you'll see it is commonly referred to as "real 2P tent" and a "palace". Several examples here: www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/xhht6t/xmid_1_or_xmid_2/ The Pro version is slightly narrower (48" vs 52" floor) but has almost identical length and headroom so I think it is also very much much a 'real' 2P tent. If anything, the length and headroom are more generous because the singlewall design gives you the extra space right to the fly. This video here doesn't show people, but it does give a good look inside the tent with pad shown for scale: ruclips.net/video/WEkhJq74We4/видео.html
Great review and I find your presentation excellent.Your dog's nose entering the screen left made me laugh! I have a question regarding the peak guy-outs. Would It be possible to increase stability/holding power by attaching 2 guys to each peak at 45 degrees and how would that affect overall stability? Clearly I'm no engineer ! I'm sure I'm buying this tent but I have 4-6 weeks in Iceland (inc. highlands) next year and because of the weight this is my current choice for that trek and I'm looking at ways to maximise wind performance. EDIT : having read the comments below I see you have addressed this and that 2 guys attached to the peak is indeed an improvement?
Yes, the 2 guylines do help. But it's still tricky to get the angles right to prevent high winds from creating a rotational moment that causes the ridgeline to rotate away from it's non-wind axis. It's an interesting geometry problem!
A big improvement you can make it replacing the shockcord with static cord at the doors and end walls. That means those lines of tension to the peaks are much more solid and work better.
Looks like a solid tent! TrailLark is keeping note of what people like in a two man so that when we make one we can have all the features that people would want. Check us out if you are looking for a great single tent option that wont break the bank!
I notice a pucker on the long side of the door, down low where the bathtub is attached. I received mine and have the same pucker. Have you noticed this and have you found a way to mitigate it? I’ve tried loosening the bungees a little and it helped some, but not fully.
Yes! Us too. Since the video was made, I replaced the short bungee loop with a longer static guyline so the stake angle was decreased, and the pucker went away. - rj
@@KrizAkoni Depending on the pitch, the bathtub floor can pull inward here because it is connected here. That is pretty normal, but varies depending on the height of the pitch.
Yes, this definitely helps. But 90 degrees doesn't seem to be the optimum angle. The geometry is actually kind of complicated when it comes to stabilizing the pole apexes.
Only question I had here is what would these be like to pitch in the Sierras (or high country with hard ground). I assume you would need longer guylines on the corners?
Just took an original Xmid 1P through the sierras for three weeks, and I’d say absolutely. The best thing I did for my quality of life on that trip was to replace all the guylines for longer ones. I went around 3 feet for the corners, and it worked perfectly. Highly recommend using the big rock/Little Rock method as it allows you to keep the corner of the tent tight to the ground.
"replace all the guylines for longer ones" - yes! critical for the Sierras. We'd add - use Spectra guylines, which are more abrasion resistant against Sierra granite than polyester-braided guylines, and will be less likely to fail in high winds.
Excellent review! Q: Do you have a specific tent stake brand/type that you would recommend for windier weather or sandy soil? I am currently using MSR Groundhogs. My apologies if someone already asked, I skimmed the comments but didn’t see an answer to this. Thanks in advance!
According to Durston's pitching instructions, the apex guy line should actually be angled slightly to the door side so as to balance the tension from the far corner. I imagine this will go some way toward alleviating the broadside instability you noticed. See instructions here: ruclips.net/video/cVboRcwY6P0/видео.html
This causes a little bit of a rotational moment around the ridgeline in very high winds the creates instability, actually. Fine and good for < 40 mph, above 40 mph the off-axis guylines starts to create some pretty wonky dynamic instability.
@@BackpackingLightUSA Is this tested or theoretical? Because given the pre-existing imbalance in lateral force on the peaks induced by tension, a simple physical model would suggest that peak guy lines angled to counter this imbalance would help to reduce the rotational moment about the ridge line.
Thanks for the kind words and in depth video.
With regard to the storm pitch, a big improvement can be had in peak stability by replacing the shockcord with static cord at the door and end wall stake points. Those two stake points are very close to providing symmetrically opposite anchoring of the peaks (like the Dipole), but with the stock shockcord these tension lines don't do much because the shockcord just stretches instead of anchoring the peaks. The peak is only as solid as the shockcord. Swapping this for some of the supplied static cord yields a large improvement in overall peak stability. We will be making the static cord standard for the next batch.
The other thing that helps is angling the guyline towards the door side if there is a broadside wind. The peak is anchored pretty well on the backside by the shallower corner seam (e.g hard to deflect towards the door), but less well on the door side (e.g. easier to deflect back from the door), so moving the peak guyline towards the door side gives up some tension along the ridgeline but gains tension on this side where it might be needed more.
One other tip is that if someone wants to do a 4 stake pitch, the small panel of the door can be flipped over the corner and it'll stay there if it's calm. In windier conditions you can use a bit longer cord at the door and then tie this to the stake point on the end walls.
With regard to hail, certainly severe hail can damage 0.55oz DCF but I expect the X-Mid would fair better than most DCF tents because it doesn't have flatter roof panels like most tents (Duplex, Dipole etc). Hail would be more of a glancing blow on the X-Mid's steeper roof.
Thought the tip is up when inserting the treking pole? Am I wrong?
@@johncaban4310 It's tip up for the regular X-Mid and handle up for the X-Mid Pro
@@durstongear If I'm using a cork-handled trekking pole on a X-Mid 2p (handle down), will the handle slip on a wooden deck/tent platform?
@@jamescameron8303 The cork handles should grip fine since the tent puts downward fork on them, but also there are connections on the sides of the floor that help to hold them in place.
This is typical of the thoughtful, candid replies that Dan Durston quickly provides to any questions or comments. I can't think of any other owner who is so responsive and honest. Dan Durston even routinely "likes" positive reviews given to competitors' tents. He is a class act and he clearly loves the outdoors and the backpacking community.
I feel like just spent 35 mins at the doctors office. lol this may be the most concise and comprehensive tent review of all time.
Like most people who are "ultralight tent enthusiasts" , I am very excited to see more content on this tent. But I am not an early adopter, and like to see more long term reviews before I make a decision. There are more ultralight options coming out than ever before, and I have no problem waiting.
We need a DCF version of this tent
@@christianb8228 this is a DCF version of the tent. Except for the floor.
@@ricker76er1 yr later and we have a dcf option for the floors, but given dcfs weakness to abrasion I think the silpoly floor is still the best option, and is only few ounces heavier.
Wish someone in Europe would start carrying these. Cost a small fortune to ship, but, I´m convinced. Taking this to the Pyrenees and Sierra Nevada's this fall. Excellent review. You are the go to for sure.
Thank you for this thorough review. I have the X-MID 2 (not Pro), and have not been able to pitch it perfectly...yet. Your instructions are helpful.
Late to the party on this but what an absolutely superb tent review. Thanks a lot!
Awesome review. The more you talk, the more I learn! Thank you for taking the time to do this review.
the best tent review I’ve ever come across.
I have a ZPacks Duplex which I love very much.
I’m ordering a Lanshan 3F UL 2 Pro and am having them seam seal it for an additional 30.00.
To complete my trekking pole tent lineup will be the Durston X-Mid Pro.
The key is to be right on top of the website so you can get a shot in purchasing it before their sold out again.
Outstanding tent and it’s easily understandable as to why they’re in such demand.
Great review!!!🔥👍
I find that the sweet spot for stake outs for me is to run an 8 stake setup. I use 4 full size MSR Groundhogs for the corners. Then I use two groundhog minis to stake out the vestibule doors, allowing me to open them without compromising the tension of the tent or allowing the small door to collapse (since it doesn’t have a way to roll it up). Last I have one more full size groundhog that I use to guy out the “low” side of the tent on the head end. This expands the already palatial headroom into a veritable cathedral. I also point that side of the tent into the wind as well so there’s a functional purpose. Lastly, if I break a more crucial stake, I can let that last guy out go and repurpose the stake.
Thanks for the great video! I just took my X-Mid Pro 2 for two weeks on the GR20 on Corsica and it performed really well. We had three nights with strong wind and I did not have a problem while peoples around me were busy with their stakes and some even had tent poles breaking. I’ll use some of your tips (and Dan’s additions) to experiment a bit more with the way I can pitch the tent 🏕️
Thank you very much for the very clear, very elaborate explanation. Exactly what I needed to start the Tour du Mont Blanc confidently with my new tent. Up until now I was stressed because I used the tent a few times in very windy conditions and I couldn't get it properly stable.
Taking this puppy to Philmont in July -- will have a full after action report upon our return. In 2020 our X-Mid 2P Gen 1 performed great at Philmont. Pro tip: practice pitching the tent in your backyard before you take it out. We had to learn to pitch it on the fly. (Pun intended.)
Great review, but the only thing you forgot to do was give us a look around on the inside. It's really helpful to see foot and head clearance while sitting and laying down. Can you make another video with shots of you inside the tent?
Also Dan recommends that the ridge line guys be angled slightly towards the vestibule door, and not directly parallel to the ridge line. That will provide more side to side support for the tent poles.
That's what i came to say.
We are continuing to add to the review as we get more experience with it, and will address livability (interior) more as we go. We'll update the review at the same URL linked in the description, and are planning on doing a more comprehensive vid showing the interior livability, esp. with two people. Regarding the guylines: agreed that angling them slightly will improve stability in *moderate* winds. However, at the failure limit, this may actually create a rotational moment around the ridgeline that's not so desirable at extreme winds. If you really want to stabilize the X-Mid Pro's apex points for *max* wind resistance, you'll need a minimum of two guylines at each apex. Rotational apex moment failure is how the HMG Dirigo failed at the wind limit: ruclips.net/video/Gl98SOoKq38/видео.html
@@BackpackingLightUSA Good points.
It would also nice to see some coverage on replacing the guylines with the Ironcore Dyneema cored guyline that Durston sells as an accessory. This is made by Lawson and has less stretch and more strength than the standard poly/nylon core stuff that is factory included with the tent.
@@BackpackingLightUSA Agreed. Like many other tents, it's a great all around shelter. Some slight modifications could really improve the storm worthiness. But there certainly are better shelters for camping above the treeline and camping in violent wind conditions.
@@BackpackingLightUSA I don't follow your logic with regards to an angled apex guy line creating a rotational moment. As you have it now (either without an apex guy line or with the apex guy line inline with the ridge) increased tension transverse to the ridge line (as would result from a broadside wind) causes force to be applied on the apexes in the direction of the closer long side (non-door) corners. This causes movement or deformation of the poles until balanced by greater tension from the door side corner (as you noticed). Given the rotational symmetry of the tent, this would result in a counter clockwise torque applied to the about the ridgeline as viewed from above.
In contrast, an angled apex guy line which helps to balance the tension from the long side corners would help to counter this rotational moment, since it would work to balance the forces on the apex as transverse tension increases. So contrary to your suggestion, I think angled apex guy lines would provide better high wind stability than when inline with the ridge line, however, maybe you're considering something different in your analysis.
Thank you. a great detailed review that has help with a purchase decison. Living in Blighty (UK) where the weather is more often raining and damp this could be a contender.
I pitched mine for the first time today, and I am so excited. It's a huge upgrade over what I have. So much room, and so well thought it. Holy crap.
I'm even considering getting the 1p when it comes out for solo hikes instead of using a bivy.
The 1p is tempting. But the space in the 2p for what ultimately will be just a few ounces...might be worth it?!
Thanks Jordan. You are seriously one of the best out there. Your reviews and site are excellent and I'm so glad I'm a "Lifer ".
We're humbled. Thank you.
Great video getting into the options for pitching and stabilizing the tent. Dan should put a link to this video in the box with the tent. I had to figure some of this out on the fly (no pun intended) during my first trip with the tent. Love the tent so far, setup and takedown are so much quicker than my old BA semi-freestanding tent, and the XMid is both way more spacious and less heavy. Amazing!
While I await this tent to be sent to me I am thankful for the insightful information your video shared! Looking forward to using the X-Mid Pro!
To mitigate hail damage, I would think that using a tarp over the tent would be the most likely strategy. I'd love to see a video with how to hang a tarp over a tent such as this. I have avoided dyneema tents for 11 years due to two bad experiences with. the fabric, but the details on this Durston caused me to purchase one just yesterday. But I need to lean well how to take good care of this lightweight and somewhat fragile fabric. Your video is a step in that direction and I'm grateful for your detailed review. Thanks for taking the time.
Great review. It would be nice to see a compare and contrast of the X-Mid Pro 2 versus the X-Mid 2. I just bought the X-Mid 2 Solid and I really like it.
@@AndrewDasilvaPLT I'd appreciate that too. I'm on the fence between the solid and the pro as well
@@AndrewDasilvaPLT thanks jd. I'm focused on the 2p
Recommend putting a little bead on the end of the line lock to stop them jamming on initial setup.
Speaking of puncture resistance, I had a blue jay land on my silnylon Lanshan 2 pro; it punctured the fabric with each of its claws!
Super video and demo - thank you so much for posting!
This is a helpful review, with some great tips for setting up this tent. I think the presenter is overly focussed on rigidity. A bit of flexibility and movement is not a bad thing. I have the original X-Mid 1 person and was fortunate to get the X-Mid Pro 2. The Pro-2 is a substantial upgrade. It weights less (about 20 oz vs about 31 oz). It is considerably more roomy without having a much bigger footprint (same length, 100 inches, and only 13 inches wider (67 vs 80). The vestibules in the X-Mid 1 are great, but in very buggy weather it is hard for me to manage my gear in the screened in area, which is about as wide as my sleeping pad. I can put all of my gear inside the Pro-2 when camping solo. The Pro-2 also seems sturdier. It is hard for me to get a good, sturdy pitch with the X-mid 1 without using the guy lines at the top , thus requiring at least a 6 stake pitch and a lot of tripping over the guy lines. In a recent two night trip, I got a solid pitch pitch using only 4 states for the Pro-2. It was raining and windy, so I added a stake near the vestibule zipper and on the mid-point of the short side (8 stake pitch, no guy lines). That worked perfectly. In really rough weather, or with weak corner stake placement, I might add guy lines. But not if I do not have to. Finally, I have not had any problems with condensation despite camping on damp nights and waking up to heavy fog. I don't expect to sleep in the X-Mid 1 p anymore, and will use the X-mid 1 fly for a cooking shelter or gear storage in snowy or rainy weather.
In your experience, which Dyneema 2 person tent has the best stability and weather perfection in bad weather? Thoughts?
I was just watching this and I was like, “wow what a neat tent that I might see some rich person use on the trail someday.” 😂. Thanks for the video.
You can help side wind resistance some by pitching with two guy lines per tieout point, set to approximately 30 degrees relative to the ridge line. This provides quite a bit of side wind stability. The giant side panels are still going to catch a lot of wind though. I loved my xMid 1 when I first got it but the still somewhat fussy setup that affects all pole supported tents became too much of a hassle so I am back to free standing tents.
Thank you for the awesome info. It was perfect timing to watch this as I just pick this one up on the last buy, just waiting for it to come in. I will follow up after I play with it
Thank you for this exceptional review and especially the stormworthiness analysis! I am now subscribed and headed to some other reviews...
Phenomenally comprehensive review. Thank you for all the effort certainly took to organize all this is good information
(Backpacking Light Premium subscriber here ... love your content.) In my experience with both a Durston X-Mid 1P (original and version 2) and the X-Mid 2P Pro, a fixed-length 120 cm tent pole fits these tents perfectly, as long as you're OK with having the sidewalls close to the ground and rely on having the doors partially open for the added ventilation you're looking for. With my height the 120 cm Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles work perfectly for me while backpacking, and they're the lightest trekking poles around. I love being able to slap in 4 stakes, throw my poles through the vents in the top of the tent, and - voila - my tent is pitched. PS: I can get by with 4 stakes just fine, but I always put in stakes on the doors so that it's easier to zip them open and shut. PPS: When weather and terrain conditions allow, I love to pitch the doors open and high, propping them up with sticks: like fabric covered porches. This provides protection against gentle rain but allows for tons of ventilation.
Correction: the floor is SilNylon, not SilPoly. This makes sense since nylon is stronger than poly at the same denier. Poly has better ability to prevent sag in the rain but for a floor this of course is not a concern.
Dan is an excellent tent desinger. I look forward to his other upcoming products.
Say what!! It’s not DCF?
@@notyouraccount9742 DCF is a terrible material for a tent floor. It has terrible abrasion resistance and is bulky.
@@lakorai2 weird, the floor of my Stratospire 2 is DCF and finishing a thru hike right now. Zero issues in over 2000 miles.
@@notyouraccount9742 Then you do an excellent job of taking care of your tents.
Dixie was not so lucky. She rubbed a few holes in her Zpacks Duplux.
@@notyouraccount9742 Usually floors require much thicker(typically 1oz/yd DCF) SilNoylon is more puncture and abrasion resistant and packs a lot smaller. Durston does recommend a footprint with the XMid Pro though since it's only a 15d floor. While I don't like using a piece of polycro, I appreciate the smaller packed size.
Every tent design has its place... currently I am loving my tarp and bivi. I am excited about using my RAB Ridge Raider, which I understand is excellent for vapour/ condensation escape. I do own Tarp Tent, Hilleberg and Terra Nova, but the utter simplicity and 'faff free' bivi / tarp combo is for me.
We love tarp & bivy combos!
At 32m 32s there's a mentioning of using a Nemo Tensor pad and how it would make significant noise. I am guessing that happens as the pad rubs against the tent floor material. So what if you put a Gossamer Gear 1/8 pad below your Tensor?
You always have excellent analyses! You demonstrated the considerations for stability really well. Thanks.
We love geometry, thanks for noticing :)
Timely - I should be getting mine any day now. 😎😎
Thanks for the in-depth talk. One thing: it's unclear to me, on my tiny phone screen, when you repositioned the stakes for a non-storm, better vented pitch, did you move the stakes inward or outward?
Great review, Ryan, thank you. Looking forward to using mine around Mt Hood ina couple of weeks.
Fantastic review that contained just the information I needed for my purchase decision. Thank you for creating such a detailed review.
Epic review and a lot of helpful tips!
Great review, but the best part was that gorgeous dog!
Good day to you!
I am a grandpa rider on HONDA motorcycle from Japan.
Enjoying camping ,touring and upload video.
Your UL tent video is so nice!
Awesome!
Full supported !
Have a nice day my friend!
Do you allow your Lab to sleep in the tent? If so, punctures from nails? Do you trim the nails?
Great review - super comprehensive pitching info! I've been thinking about getting one so very timely.
This is very comprehensive. Thanks.
This is legitimately the best 2 person ultralight tent on the market (if money isn't a factor)
I personally can't wait till the spring of next year when the x-mid pro 1 is released 🙏 A possibly sub 1lbs shelter with that kind of room will be a real game changer
If it can achieve sub-1-lb then 🔥🔥🔥 we'll see! what do you think defines "best"?
@@BackpackingLightUSA in my opinion "best" would probably involve it being light yet very strong and easy to use, along with the general ergonomics of the features .. such as high quality zippers and their placements along with the vestibules being extremely good lol also in regards to the dyneema variant they didn't use the flimsiest denier and they didn't use it for the floor in order to save weight ,they went with sil based fabric for packability and puncture resistance..
Over all I just feel like if the price of dyneema wasn't so outrageous then it would be the most popular tent on the market, the sliiightly heavier x-mid 2 in it's regular configuration already would be if production numbers were at the level of more established companies.
But this like any other piece of equipment is plagued by the rule of three 😂 weight/durability/price..you can have one or two be perfect, but you always have to sacrifice one in order to have a well balanced piece
Very very good review. Very useful to take my decision.
I want to make a move on a DCF tent soon (or I think I read there is a DCF like fabric but better coming out?) and your review was perfect. You took your time, knew exactly what to comment on and weighed pros and cons. Thank you!
You lost me on how to raise the sidewalls for more ventilation. When you dropped the poles, did you then move the corner stakes in, or out? If moving them in, how do you keep the tension on the layout? Thanks.
What a great film, thank you...Oatmeal and I will be doing like you and your good lookin friend there. So excited to be getting this.
I was hoping that since your dog was with you throughout the video, someone would ask if this tent was able at standup to the wear and tear of a dog. Do you use some sort of floor liner for protection?
Wonderful details about pitching especially low/high pitch. Thanks! I have the X-Mid Pro 2 and Duplex with FlexPoles. Despite your statement that the X-Mid is easy to pitch, you spent a lot of time removing and re-planting stakes throughout the video. Quite a lot of fiddling around. Also at 15:45 in this video it is stated "the apex guyline should be oriented parallel to the ridgeline ..." which is contrary to what DDurston has shown in his video, but later at 19:56 the same guyline is clearly not parallel to the ridgeline AND in the position that DDurston has recommended. Can you please clarify what happened here? Thanks!
Added: What is your preferred way of unpitching, folding/rolling up the tent? It took me a while to come up with a way I like. Maybe the ease of packing up a tent should also be included in tent reviews? Thanks!
I have the original Drop Xmid 1P, and a now a fresh out of the box pro 2. I’ve used my original Xmid extensively along the AT in VA in a wide variety of conditions and seasons, as well as for a week in Utah and a JMT thru.
Some thoughts regarding your points: the setup in this video has a lot of fiddling, you’re 100% correct. What you have to think about though is that he is essentially changing the purpose of the pitch each time, so that fiddling is pretty much eliminated during normal use. If you know you want a breeze, you’re going to pitch it to have better airflow under the fly the first time, you won’t pitch it normally and then adjust it all again.
I definitely do agree with you on the packing though. With the original Xmid I would gather the peaks, locate and align the vent struts and then roll the tent around them. With the pro2, the addition of the bathtub floor struts makes it very difficult to come up with a way to orient all the struts. This frustrates me because I’m constantly worried about snapping on of them or having one of them puncture something if they get turned sideways in a tight pack.
@@Gandhiownsyou I'm just back from using my X-Mid Pro 2 on an 8-night trip. I got the "how to fold up the tent" thing worked out: Fold lengthwise in thirds, then in lengthwise in half. That gives an 80 / 3 / 2 (~13 inches) wide by 100 inch long flat "tube". Fold that in half to get a ~50" long piece with the corner struts at one end. Roll this up from the fold. It is pretty easy to "feel" all the struts as one rolls this up and move them appropriately.
@@Gandhiownsyou For packing the Pro, I grab the two peaks and fold these together and then fold it a few more times to yield a long strip I can roll up. That puts the the vent struts and one end (so you can organize them before you start rolling) and the floor struts at the other end where they are at the end of the roll, so the roll itself goes smoothly.
All other videos show the point to the top. Mine also has the grommet at the top for the pointed end of the trekking pole and the elastic loop fits perfect around the handle end of the trekking pole. When did they change this?
Thank you for the incredibly thorough review, it certainly helped me understand this tent. I am always looking for ways to save a pound or two without sacrificing comfort and reliability. A serious contender for my new solo backpacking tent.
I do use 3-parted-trekking poles...... 125cm....... does that work?
This was very helpful!! Thank you SO much!
I am curious as to why there is a difference between this and the regular x mid as far as the trekking pole setup direction. Point down vs point up. I have the x-mid 2p with the grommet for the tip. The pro setup with tip in the ground looks like it would provide a little better stability and remove the possibility of placing pole tip through top of tent. Thoughts, explanation?
@durstongear will the regular X-mid 2 work with the pole handles up rather than tips up?
What would be the "most-starglazing-variation-possible"????
I mean, summer, no wind or any clouds..... but a lot of stars out there?
Any ideas and solutions for that?
Excellent comprehensive review. Thanks.
Looking for a tent for the PCT in 2024 so researching. Wind resistance is important. I lived near the desert section for years and the wind is predictable. So I have no concerns.
It looks as if 8 stakes are needed.
Just got my xmid 1p pro. How many additional steaks/guyline points are there beyond the necessary 4?
How is the shrinking of DCF after 1 year?
Really well done Video. Kept me interested from start to finish.
I'm still waiting for my tent I ordered way back in January as well as the 2nd one I ordered on Monday. The website crashed repeatedly as did the payment processing.
I hope the tent is worth the wait, as the purchasing experience hasn't been stellar thus far.
Yeah, we noticed the same thing. It's not a complicated thing to deal with (scalable hosting in response to high traffic) but it's probably the reality of a small business just trying to minimize costs.
@@BackpackingLightUSA I finally received my tents this evening. I probably won't have time to look at them til the weekend.
The purchasing experience wasn't smooth. But at least it's not goofy AF like trying to get a Melanzana hoody.
Sorry about the ordering hassles. We improved to a fancy server for the most recent sale and it was better but still not enough. We'll keep working on it. Hopefully you're January tent has arrived now.
This is a very informative and well done video. Nice work 👏👏
Sir I have seen MANY of these.
But I'm curious y U chose this tent. And what other ones was u Picking from ???
I'm on the fence !!!! I got the stats on to much. That's y I am curious about y YOU made this choice vs what else..
Thanks in advance
God bless !!
Hey Jordan, would you say the X-Mid (non Pro) 2p solid version would be wind resistant enough to be taken to iceland?
Do you think it can withstand the type of windy conditions like the ones in Scotland?
Wish we can fit 2 regular wide pad in there.
Awesome content as Always!
Ryan, for now, there are no freestanding, dyneema, 2 person tents that is seriously storm-worthy.
What’s your fav Dyneema tent for bad weather conditions.
I usually use my Hilleberg or Fjällräven tents, but they are overkill unless I’m in the harshest conditions and they are heavy! Best tents on the market, but wanted to try a Dyneema tent again. I didn’t like the non zipped door of the duplex, although they have a zipper vs and the free duo tent.
Thoughts!! Thanks!!!
What is the best way to quite down the "noisy" new pads with the sil-nylon floors? BA Tiger Wall Tent with BA Rapide SL pad = noisy every time I move on the pad.
Very well explained. Thanks
Awesome review, thank you!
I found that I needed to stand up to check for the 45 degree angle. Crouching down, it was hard to tell.
Is the Thermarest NXT Max pad loud on the floor? It's nylon unlike the Nemo Tensor
It’s definitely a little louder than the tensor…
OK, did some testing. The Nemo squeaks terribly and the Thermarest does not.
Amazing video, thank you. I still don't think this tent is for me (I have an X-Mid 1) but I appreciate all the details to inform me of such.
Is the price difference between this and the solid only due to the material used?
Yes.
This video answered all my questions about pitching it in strong gusty windy conditions.
Yes, I just subscribed & rang the notification bell.
Warm Regards from Reno, Nevada
Any pics of 2 people in the actually using it? So far I've seen 0 videos showing usable space inside the tent. Can 2 actually, comfortably use this tent?
The X-Mid Pro is quite new and just arriving with customers over the last few weeks, but if you look at reviews of the regular (non-Pro) X-Mid 2 you'll see it is commonly referred to as "real 2P tent" and a "palace". Several examples here:
www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/xhht6t/xmid_1_or_xmid_2/
The Pro version is slightly narrower (48" vs 52" floor) but has almost identical length and headroom so I think it is also very much much a 'real' 2P tent. If anything, the length and headroom are more generous because the singlewall design gives you the extra space right to the fly.
This video here doesn't show people, but it does give a good look inside the tent with pad shown for scale:
ruclips.net/video/WEkhJq74We4/видео.html
Super thorough. Thanks for this review!
Great review and I find your presentation excellent.Your dog's nose entering the screen left made me laugh! I have a question regarding the peak guy-outs. Would It be possible to increase stability/holding power by attaching 2 guys to each peak at 45 degrees and how would that affect overall stability? Clearly I'm no engineer !
I'm sure I'm buying this tent but I have 4-6 weeks in Iceland (inc. highlands) next year and because of the weight this is my current choice for that trek and I'm looking at ways to maximise wind performance.
EDIT : having read the comments below I see you have addressed this and that 2 guys attached to the peak is indeed an improvement?
Yes, the 2 guylines do help. But it's still tricky to get the angles right to prevent high winds from creating a rotational moment that causes the ridgeline to rotate away from it's non-wind axis. It's an interesting geometry problem!
A big improvement you can make it replacing the shockcord with static cord at the doors and end walls. That means those lines of tension to the peaks are much more solid and work better.
@@durstongear Cheers Dan. So dyneema 2.5mm cord would work?
@@kevinharding1181 Yes. Also the 2.0mm cord we include with the tent is dyneema core and works well.
Great video! Thank you so much, this is very helpful to me.
Awesome review!
Thank you! Cheers!
What an absolutely beautiful dog! Do you take her camping often?
Great video man - thank you heaps!
It would be nice if we had prevailing winds but on mountains it comes from many directions as it swirls around.
Looks like a solid tent! TrailLark is keeping note of what people like in a two man so that when we make one we can have all the features that people would want. Check us out if you are looking for a great single tent option that wont break the bank!
3:38
“45° angle?”
90° angle?
I notice a pucker on the long side of the door, down low where the bathtub is attached. I received mine and have the same pucker. Have you noticed this and have you found a way to mitigate it? I’ve tried loosening the bungees a little and it helped some, but not fully.
Yes! Us too. Since the video was made, I replaced the short bungee loop with a longer static guyline so the stake angle was decreased, and the pucker went away. - rj
@@BackpackingLightUSA I’m going to try that mod this weekend - thanks for the suggestion!
@@KrizAkoni Depending on the pitch, the bathtub floor can pull inward here because it is connected here. That is pretty normal, but varies depending on the height of the pitch.
Could you use two guylines from each peak, each at about a 90 degree angle from the other? Would that make the peaks more stable?
Yes, this definitely helps. But 90 degrees doesn't seem to be the optimum angle. The geometry is actually kind of complicated when it comes to stabilizing the pole apexes.
Great stuff thanks!
Thanks for the great review
Only question I had here is what would these be like to pitch in the Sierras (or high country with hard ground). I assume you would need longer guylines on the corners?
Just took an original Xmid 1P through the sierras for three weeks, and I’d say absolutely. The best thing I did for my quality of life on that trip was to replace all the guylines for longer ones. I went around 3 feet for the corners, and it worked perfectly. Highly recommend using the big rock/Little Rock method as it allows you to keep the corner of the tent tight to the ground.
"replace all the guylines for longer ones" - yes! critical for the Sierras. We'd add - use Spectra guylines, which are more abrasion resistant against Sierra granite than polyester-braided guylines, and will be less likely to fail in high winds.
Awesome review.
Excellent review! Q: Do you have a specific tent stake brand/type that you would recommend for windier weather or sandy soil? I am currently using MSR Groundhogs. My apologies if someone already asked, I skimmed the comments but didn’t see an answer to this. Thanks in advance!
According to Durston's pitching instructions, the apex guy line should actually be angled slightly to the door side so as to balance the tension from the far corner. I imagine this will go some way toward alleviating the broadside instability you noticed.
See instructions here:
ruclips.net/video/cVboRcwY6P0/видео.html
This causes a little bit of a rotational moment around the ridgeline in very high winds the creates instability, actually. Fine and good for < 40 mph, above 40 mph the off-axis guylines starts to create some pretty wonky dynamic instability.
@@BackpackingLightUSA Is this tested or theoretical? Because given the pre-existing imbalance in lateral force on the peaks induced by tension, a simple physical model would suggest that peak guy lines angled to counter this imbalance would help to reduce the rotational moment about the ridge line.
An interview with Dan Durston would be awesome
backpackinglight.com/podcast-62-dan-durston/