Durston - X-Mid 1

I'm late 50's backpacker. You want to go as light as possible. Your knees may be fine now, but maybe not in 3 years. I have problems with my knees, and hip, my lower weight really helps. You should consider weight for everything you buy. You don't need to go full ultralight (r/ultralight), but you should pay attention. The durston xmid is a very popular light tent (treking pole tent). They make a 1 person and a two person tent. Many hikers already carry poles, if not you should consider it. Many skip the footprint, it isn't needed. If you really want one, buy a piece of tivex from Amazon and cut it so that it is a little SMALLER than the floor of your tent. You can buy small pieces of tivex on Amazon for ~$20. Many hike the entirety of the PCT or AT without a footprint.

If you are familiar with the gen 1, model, it is quite different than that since the width has grown 5" wider, 4" taller and about 7" longer. The geometry increases the volume out of two trekking poles (eg more space than a more traditional interior shape) so the current version is one of the largest 1P interiors available.

Kakwa 55L can be rolled down quite a lot to compress loads that are smaller than 55L but the 40L can't get any bigger than it is. Just food for thought. 2P tent might be a good choice if you really want to bring all your gear inside with you, backpack and all. Some people like to do this so critters can't get at their backpacks while they're sleeping, which they can if you just leave stuff out in the vestibule. Otherwise the 1P should be totally fine, some 1P tents get a bit claustrophobic for me but the X-Mid 1P feels fine because of the interior height, vertical sidewalls, and dual vestibules.

I will second this. When I'm using a trekking pole tent, the x-mid 1 is my go to. I use both a free standing Hubba hubba 2 (love that tent) and an x-mid 1 for backpacking. The choice depends on the terrain primarily and a little bit on weather.

Xmid-1. It's great! Used it on the GR54 and it was fantastic.

From north of Europe here. After getting winds through an MSR tent once I woved to stay with local brands, of whom you have several. Hilleberg, Fjellreven, Helsport and Barents Outdoor are all made for rough conditions. But not ultralight, even if lighter versions. A few years ago we went above the arctic cirkle with a local brand dome tent, and a Durston Mid trekking tent. We got really strong gusts that hit the camp, and the local brand poles snapped straight off, while the Durston stood firm. I was really impressed. Personally I prefer dome tents, as they are easy to move about, and can stand without any plugs if fair weather. Also can pitch anywhere, unlike those that rely on plugs. If I was in the market I would try the Durston Dome now. The lay out off outer vs inner tent gives the greatest length and height on the market, by far. Get the 2p and you can lie even more diagonally inside.

I was lucky and found a hubba 1p on clearance for £100 at go outdoors. It's a decent tent but there's no way I would pay full price for it. I massively prefer my x-mid

With our doublewall tents including the X-Dome the fly can be rolled back as much as you want. You can expose a corner or two (I show this in the pitching video) or the entire interior. So the X-Dome 2 can have any amount of ventilation from fully covered to 100% inner exposed. The regular X-Mid can do this too, but the singlewall Pro version has the fly and inner attached so the versatility is less.

I have used the Durston original Xmid 1 on two long AT section hikes (112 miles and 250 miles). It's an incredible tent for the value and weight (only $200 when I bought mine), especially for being double walled. Just prior to those hikes I completed two thru hikes using a Tarptent Moment DW and loved this tent. It's my favorite tent of all time and have owned 2 versions over the last 10 years. I would highly recommend looking at Tarptent as they have several tents in non DCF that might be more budget friendly but still offer a great low weight and space ratio. I have a love/hate relationship with trekking pole tents. I love that they generally reduce the weight of a tent but I hate the fiddle factor, amount of stakes for a good pitch, and area of ground needed for most trekking pole tents. I have used trekking pole tents from Zpacks, Lightheart Gear, Six Moon Designs, and Tarptent as well. In my opinion, the Durston sets up the quickest and has the least amount of fiddle factor. My Moment DW set up with 2 stakes in a minute and had a more narrow profile that allowed me to sneak into some areas my Durston wouldn't have worked in. I also like the ability to change the floor size and the variety of ventilation options the tent provided at only a penalty of 6 ounces more than the Durston. I believe the newer version of the Durston is even lighter. Edit: you don't need the solid inner of the Durston unless you're starting in January.

Yes the recommendations will be flooding in for the Durston! I had the 1p but didn't like it only because I am tall and it felt claustrophobic for me. Got a 2p and it's great. The new Durston Xdome if you want a free standing tent is amazing and I am hoping for a dyneema / Xdome Pro Version to be released. Everyone will say get the Durston, you just have to figure out which one is best for you

FWIW, you could start with the regular X-Mid that is 1/2 lbs lighter, and then add the solid interior later if you were getting into winter backpacking.

I never loved pitching my Xmid, it's a genius design and fabulous when pitched properly, but I always felt like a slightly wrong pitch made it perform worse than you'd think it would. But, I'm 99% a hammock guy and only take a tent when a trail isn't great for hammocks. So, most likely because I wasn't pitching it enough to get a feel for it.

X- mid with a solid pitch (harder to achieve on uneven sites) is quite sturdy. I carry a couple of MSR Groundhog stakes to use in looser soil.

The short answer is that it is a combination of sewn on and zippers, and is included in the weight. The long answer is that the 'flap' of solid fabric is a triangle that is sewn along the bottom edge (permanently attached & part of the weight). So the bottom edge is 'sealed' such that any snow building up on the solid panel isn't going to slide down into the tent. Then the other two sides are both sewn for the lowest 4-5" to further prevent wind blown snow from sneaking in, and this creates a pocket that the rest of the flap can be tucked into when it is open. Then above that, the side of the triangle along the main zipper has a zipper to zip shut. The zipper is not vertical, but angling over the flap, so it does a nice job of raising up the flap to cover the mesh. Operating the zipper is what closes the flap. As it does that, the final side near the top is pulled closed and sits shut with a bit of overlap. It is an overlap closure for the upper part of the 'top' side, such that the mesh is covered but the edge here is not 'sealed'. We could've put another zipper here (or Velcro etc) but it's at the top, sits shut nicely now, and is shielded by the fly. If it's so windy it's forcing snow through there, it's probably not the right conditions for this tent anyways, but if a user wanted it would be easy to add a bit of velcro

Idk how big you are but I've got the XMID 1P and it's plenty comfortable for me and my gear. You've got two spacious vestibules (I put my bag in one and then enter/exit/put boots in the other, can also cook in one if bad weather provided you ventilate well). My friend got the 2P so he and his wife can go out together and let me tell you it is HUGE, like significantly bigger than the 1P. I was shocked by how much bigger it was. He was very limited on our last backpacking trip on where he could pitch it bc of its footprint size. Mind you this was a densely forested area and we were camping at some of the marked campsites along the trail. If he was backcountry camping with no marked sites he would have had a tough time finding a spot with everyone else. Even the 1P can be challenging sometimes. Just my initial thoughts if you're on the fence. Save the weight, save the money, save the space imo.

If you live somewhere damp, you can't go wrong with the X-Mid. If you live somewhere dry, consider the single-wall The Two from Gossamer. It's a tad harder to set up but quite a lot lighter.

I suspect the x-mid 1 would feel bigger but not by much, at least inside the tent, vestibule space would be considerable bigger. A 2 person would certainly give you plenty of space. I have the lanshan 2 and it's a perfectly decent tent for the price, but I think the x-mid could be worth the cost difference for the easier setup and sil poly fly material. The price difference in the US is a bit less than the EU though. Also, you're comparing a single wall tent to a double wall. IMO for your climate a double wall makes more sense.

I forget how wind is a big factor. I don't really pay much attention to site selection with the x-mid because of it's stormworthiness.

I have a Durston Xmid and love it - I also considered Six Moons Lunar Solo and Tarptent Stratospire and rainbow. They have some other tents in your budget too. Gossamer Gear has affordable single wall tents.

Would definitely be some kind of hot tent for me. I've been eyeing up a Naturehike Massif 2 recently. Use a Durston X-mid 1 with the solid inner as my lightweight tent.

I've never heard of them but products from their parent company, DAC are ubiquitous in high end backpacking gear. I'd give a design like the sololite a try. The vestibule comes separately adding a lot of cost. I see two big problems with this tent; * Shipping stuff overseas to Canada can be a big PITA. I'm not sure where you are purchasing it but but "Bigtent Explore" option may largely avoid shipping being a PITA and that store seems to be the main place to buy them. * If you decide to sell this tent it will be difficult due to the lack of name recognition. Durston's a Canadian company that manufacturers extremely popular tents and if you want a high end option they are worth a look. I'd recommend starting with a freestanding tent like the X-Mid. I primarily use a different tent but I've been extremely impressed by one of their trekking pole tents I own. Another option is more budget oriented tents. NatureHike makes a bunch of fairly light tents (CloudUP, Mongar) and imho they are more durable than the extreme ultralight tents. If you do get serious about backpacking, you can later upgrade from a budget tent. Personally I use less expensive tents when camping close to vehicles as weight isn't a major concern and I'm less worried about damaging them. If you later decide to get a ultralight 1 person tent, the extra space of a two person will be greatly appreciated when weight isn't a concern. Go to MEC or another outdoor store (Not Atmosphere / Sportchek) and start trying on packs and find one that fits well. Keep a few in mind and purchase one that will fit the rest of your great and aim for a 60L or smaller pack. As long as you have a sleeping bag designed for backpacking that uses down and / or synthetic materials and has an appropriate comfort temperature rating its hard to go wrong.

Get a used durston 1 or 2 "I need an X-Mid" facebook group. Can def get one under 200 for 1 man.

I've had the Durston X-mid 1p and a set of Durston z folding poles for a couple of years now. I primarily use it moto camping & strongly recommend, it's quick to erect, and can be done in the rain without ingress into the inner. Has barely felt it in winds that have seen my friends pop up tents collapse. Only downside I've seen in it is its fairly large footprint for a 1P.

The only negative with the Durston is the amount of real estate needed for a proper pitch.

Durston Gear X-Mid all the way, baby!

Durston X-Mid Edit: missed that you said freestanding. I haven't personally used the X-Dome but it's made by the same guy out of the same materials, so I'd assume similar quality. The X-Mid has worked really well for me on all types of terrain.

Look at the X-Mids. Superb value, superb tents.

I got a xmid 1, used it for like half a dozen nights, then got a girlfriend and never used it since. I wish I would have gotten the 2p version tbh. If I wanna be UL on a solo trip I use a tarp now.

I have a Durston X-mid 1p but want to make a switch regarding shelter systems. I weighed it, and it's just shy of 2 lbs. However, I am trying to lower my base weight. Here is my lighter pack if you are interested. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Also trying to trade my quilt for a 20F short length 850fp if anyone is interested. [https://lighterpack.com/r/h9xltz](https://lighterpack.com/r/h9xltz) I need advice on what tarp, bivy, guyline, groundsheet, guylines/stakes, and anything else in between to get as I have trouble with choosing. Links are appreciated! And if you are selling please send me a DM! * Usage: Mainly for 1 person and rarely 2. Also I will likely use 2 trekking poles * Location: Sierras and Southern California (LA/OC) * Budget: $100-$225. I am planning on getting these items used or will purchase them directly. * Tarp Size: 7x9? I'm only 5'3" so is it overkill? I tend to go backpacking with groups so finding a site that offers enough space for my tent can be hard. * Tarp Shape: I don't know which shape but I'm leaning towards a catenary shape for A-pitch for general setups. I hear that a flat shape is more versatile but, it tends to be less taught when the guylines are cinched down. * Tarp Material: Silpoly. Can't afford DCF. * Bivy or Groundsheet: I don't know if I should go with a head net/groundsheet first, or a bivy, or both. * Groundsheet: What size? Tyvek may weigh too much so Polycryo might be the way to go. * Bathtub: Sounds nice but do I need it? * Guylines: What should I pick? Do I need liner lockers or should I learn how to tie knots?

I've had one for about 5 years. It might take a little practice to pitch well if you haven't used trekking poles tents before, but I don't think it's very hard. I ended up switching to an xmid1 just because my head and quilt foot box would touch the sides if I didn't use the extra tie out points (I'm 6'1" for reference). The only other downside I noticed is that ventilation wasn't great with the door closed, so condensation built up easily in wetter conditions.

I'm UK based and recently got an xmid directly from Durston. You can get a lot of the duty charges back too, which really keeps the cost down. EBay is also an option if you're open to second-hand. Gossamer Gear's 'the one' or 'the two' can be picked up on Ultralightoutdoorgear and are on sale. The One is £239 and 529g (albeit, you'd need to pick up some trekking poles or Durston a-flicks too, which would add a bit of cost/weight). Alternatively, if you really want v little spend, your best bang-for-buck might be a foam pad. An exped or Thermarest will cost £20-50, would have about the same r-value, but should be ~300g.

I have the Lanshan and the X-Mid. Both 2 Pro. Both are terrific tents. The Lanshan is perhaps the better value because of its low price. The X-Mid is the better performer because of its lighter weight and clever design. Both are fine 2 person tents with excellent materials and well performing layouts; although both are cramped for two people.

Xmids are extremely easy to pitch. Watch the Dan Durston pitching video on YouTube, it's very versatile. If you pitch it square and taut it's pretty sturdy, I've camped above treeline in torrential rain and it's held up perfectly with a little seepage through the zipper. For stuff like summit camps i would use a sturdier 4 season tent though. It can be pitched inner only with the stargazer kit.

The 'solid' inners for our X-Mid have a panel of mesh (on the upper part of the doors) that can't close, but with the X-Dome this mesh panel is accompanied by a second layer of solid material that can be closed to have it 'full' solid (no areas of exposed mesh). I don't have a great photo of it, but [this shot](https://durstongear.com/cdn/shop/files/16_-_Durston_X-Dome_2_Ultraight_Tent_-_Solid_Inner_446.jpg?v=1757631867) shows it when the solid layer is shut behind the mesh

I have the Tungsten UL 3p and we love it. Not sure how different the UL is other than materials? Easy setup, very roomy, great in rain. One vestibule is smaller than the other, stakes out closer to the tent so my wife who is 5'3" can reach the zipper easily. It is very similar to the Limelite that we used to have, but half the weight. Our other tent is a Durston X Mid, which we use most of the time. But we take the Marmot when we want a little bigger space or if we are taking the dog.

the xmid-1 will fit you but not any other animal or human. The area under the xmid tarp is huge, even for the 1, but if you only care about the part that is inside the inner, it's about average size.

The regular X-Mid has always been tips up, and the Pros have always been handles up. The main reasons for that is that a doublewall tent (regular series) doesn't have a natural pocket for the handle, so the lightest option is a grommet for the tip, whereas the Pro series are singlewall/hybrid tents so the inner wall connecting to the fly creates a natural pocket that we use to go handles up. You can go handles up without adapters in the regular X-Mid too, but it doesn't have that wall there to positively stop the handle from sliding around. It works normally but in high winds the greater security of a grommet or an adapter can be nice.

"Camping gear" is so broad as to be almost meaningless.... I love camping, I've camped all my life, but it's impossible to reccomend anything with such a wide remit. My lightest backpacking tent (Xmid) weighs less than 700g and is fabulous for what it does. My heaviest 'tent' is our family folding camper (a Pennine Pathfinder) at 1000kg. That's also fabulous, but completely incomparable. Then there's a whole range of tents in between. The same applies to all my other camping gear, from pans and stoves to sleeping solutions and chairs... it's such a massive case of fitting the item to the purpose. And some certainly is BIFL worthy, while other stuff may compromise durability for lightness or some other priority. Tell us a little more about what you want to do? - car camping, backpacking, trailer camping - and in what terrain/environment and you might get something more useful.

An incredible trail through the French Alps. We did it in 10 days and the ease of setup and takedown of the X-mid 1 as well as packability and, incredibly, the price, was enough to make me a Durston fan for life. Like the first place I will ever look for new gear is there. I've used the X Mid in the Alps a lot and there are a ton of reviews on it that can say anything better than I can but it's a legit piece of gear and I'm happy tongive his company my business. I didn't have the inner since it was summer and at altitude, so bugs weren't an issue luckily. Lived it and will look into an X Dome as well. https://www.ultimatefrance.com/hiking/french-alps/tour-des-ecrins-gr54

Save the weight and get the xmid 1 if its just solo use. I have both the xmid 1 and 2. The extra space is a bug on the 2 for solo use because its often hard to find spots that fit it. I keep it for when I camp with my son and use it 2-up. My 2025 xmid 1 with its more vertical walls is generously spaced for a 25" pad with some extra room and the mesh doesn't get in your face like the v2 version could (other son has that). There's ton of space in the vestibule. If there is risk of flooding, just flip your pole upside down and hang the pack off the ground from the strap. I've never needed to keep my pack in the tent I went with the kakwa 55 for when I need to do really big food and water carries. the weight penalty over the 40 was easier to swallow than buying 2 packs.