This is a follow up video to my overview of the X-Mid 1P V2 tent by Durston Gear. I had the chance to use the tent on trail, (in a 12 hour long storm), and in this video I explain what happened and share my experience with the tent.
Thanks for the story and kind works Paul. That sounds like quite the experience! For high winds, all your tips are good ones and then we do also recommend the new side panel guyouts since they are centered in the middle of the sides that are otherwise fairly large spans (as you mention). After the peak guylines, I think the side panel guylines would be the next ones I would add, and then lastly the extra stake points along the bottom hem. We are working on some new stake options that'll be more secure than the current stakes, but stake supplier are super backlogged these days so it's not easy to arrange some new options.
@@PaulandaPack ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4ityELpmjkY.html I think not. Because you are doing it wrong and you not what kind of intensions are behind it
Got my X-1 in this last February(?) batch. Absolutely love it, wouldn’t be without it now. Been through all sorts of bad weather with it (my local turf is the Lake District (UK), and not had any issues as yet. Would highly recommend, hopefully availability improves so more people can enjoy such a great tent. 👍
@@samcartmell7696 Thanks Sam! We do finally have much better production starting in a few months, so this fall we should be able to keep them in stock.
That is good to hear, I ordered som full size groundhogs for my XMid 2p as the extra length is good for where I live as there are a lot of areas where you have a thick duff and the short stakes don't work too well.
I had a similar experience with an amazing wind storm in the Rocky Mountains. I had the extra lines out and rocks on the stakes. The sides of the tent would blow in with each gust but the tent remained secured. It was a true test of endurance and stability and it passed with flying colors! Love this tent and feel secure in it!
Great video, with lots of honest feedback. I received mine last week and have only pitched it on the garden so far. I’m looking to do some wild camping in west wales nest weekend. Thanks again for another insightful video.
Thanks for the update. I've only managed to do a test pitch in the yard so far and I immediately thought to myself to add some extra guy lines at the points. Always good to have some redundancy for when things fail.
Great review! I’m looking at the x-mid 2P (I like more space to organise myself) and the review on quality and durability, as you say even with minimal pegging, was great! I think it’ll do the job well for my CWT trip. Thank you!!!!
Great video. An hour after I view your tent review you post an update! I had some stiff winds on a ridgeline this past weekend and had to deploy the ridgeline guys. The next morning I counted how many stakes I need to carry. The titanium stakes are garbage so they will get replaced, I bent 2 of them with no effort. I've been pondering if I should seem seal and waterproof before coating it in permethrin. After this update I think not. This has been very helpful. Especially comparing it to the Copper Spur which I had until a storm took it a few weeks ago.
Thanks again Garry, glad that the videos are providing some value! I've been wanting to do an update for a while but haven't had the time off work to get out on trail until recently. I'm pretty sure the X-Mid is seam sealed at the factory. I certainly experienced no issues with waterproofing, and had plenty of rain to test it!
Sorry about those stakes bending. Those titanium V stakes we include are really only well suited for softer soils and can bend on more medium-hard soils. We're trying to source stronger stakes for better all around performance, but it has been quite difficult during covid because most stake suppliers are not taking new customers. We do appreciate these comments and are trying to find something that works better.
@@durstongear if anyone lets stakes determine how good a tent is they need to consider a motor home. I keep plenty of ground hogs around. BTW, 2 trips so far and I'm loving your tent.
Good review and information. I am considering Durston X-Mid 2 or Tarptent Scarp 1 (without extra poles), which is apparently also very good in high winds. They both have pros and cons, so I am about 50/50 at the moment (will buy next year). If I buy the X-Mid, I will also buy the carbon poles that Durston will produce in a few months. But now I am worried that they may break :D. Still, your review made me even more sure about the quality of this tent, though. Thanks for that.
Glad it was helpful! They're both great tents as you mention. The Scarp has a really big following here in the UK because it's so well built, sturdy and roomy. You won't go wrong with either of them!
Good to know ! Little mods I've done to mine is shock core the extra peg points and I've 2 guys on mini clips that I can just pop on the side wall guy outs if needed and I've gone with Easton 9inch stakes , so far its been a winning combination but I've not had in the conditions you had yours .
Great review of your x-mid . I was so confused on the Kaviso website I didn't pay the expedited dollars so my x-mid 2p only arrived last week . I hope I don't have to test it in those conditions . atb
Always carry about 4 spare MSR pegs. If your tent pole snaps at least you can use 2 pegs to work as a splint and use gaffa tape and zip ties. This is what I had to do when my carbon pole snapped on my six moon designs Luna solo
Thank you for the videos! They're super helpful & relatable. I've received my 1PV2 but only pitched in the backyard so far. Hoping to give it a proper run this coming weekend! Glad you survived the storm like a warrior & that the tent did too. I'd be curious to hear if you've found any particularly effective method of packing the tent up? I'm still finding a rhythm. Or maybe its just as well to simply stuff it in the sack. Also curious what size your footprint/groundsheet is, if you use one?
Hey, thanks for watching! I pack mine up by grabbing the 2 apexes where the pole tips are inserted, (this makes it easy to shake off any excess water), then fold the tent in on itself a few times as best I can before rolling it. It's never been perfect but it's been working for me so far. Groundsheet wise I've actually not used one yet, although I've always used one with previous tents. I've never had one that covers the porches though, just the sleeping area plus 1 or 2 inches around the edge. I'll probably just end up using some tyvek. Hope you have a good first outing with your tent!
Great review! How do you find the drafts under the fly? I’m also from the uk and desperate to get one but the drafts and the gusts coming under the fly into the inner is my only concern?
Hey thanks Jordan. Obviously during the stormy night there was a ton of draft, but calmer nights I haven't really felt a problem. My sleeping bag is rated down to -6 celsius so it's a bit overkill for most conditions and no doubt helps. The fly will pull down pretty close to the ground though if you're wanting to block out as much draft as possible, just remember that if you do that, you're lowering the airflow through the tent and increasing your chances of condensation build up inside.
put rocks/"boulders" along the bottom outside edge of the fly to block the wind and deflect up and over the tent. Just don't trip over them in the middle of the night ;-)
Hi Paul Great video btw, thanks. I’ve just bought the same tent (mesh version) how did you find the gusts & wind inside the inner with the mesh (rather than the solid version) would you have preferred to have had the solid version? I was just wondering your opinion on the ‘draftiness’, as it were, of this version? Thanks a lot Dave
Hey Dave, I've actually now got both inners now and swap them around depending on where I'm going and what I expect to encounter from the weather. I did this by buying 2 whole tents and selling one outer. The mesh is definitely draftier, as you would expect. It also allows more sand/dust to be blown in if that's a consideration where you camp. To be fair, I've only really noticed the extra draft (felt cold spots on my back as I'm a side sleeper) on a couple of occasions - when there's been a strong, cold wind whipping about outside. If I'd pitched the outer lower to the ground on those occasions, it probably wouldn't have been as noticeable. The solid inner doesn't cut wind and dust/sand out 100%, but it goes a long way to doing so. It's definitely a noticeable difference if there's strong/cold wind outside.
@paulandapack currently own a DuoMidXL and before that a BA CS2, both decent sized tents. I'm torn between getting a 1 or a 2 man xmid - most of my hiking is the same as yours, but I'm concerned with the amount of rain we get in the UK that the inside of the 1 man would get very wet, very easily if hiking in day long rain where everything's wet going into it. What do you reckon? Do you ever feel the need for a bit more room? Thanks :)
Hello mate. I had the exact same problem when trying to decide which one to buy. I was coming from a Big Agnes CS2, and also a Tarptent Double Rainbow Li (that was HUGE inside). I went with the 1P X-Mid and I still use it on shorter hikes or overnight trips and it's big enough for what I want for a few days. I did, however, buy an X-Mid Pro 2P that I now use on any trips longer than 3 or 4 days. The extra space inside is great for when I'm travelling with more gear and electronics. It also helps with getting changed and sorting clothes etc. I'd say that if you're used to those 2 tents you mentioned, you might find the 1P a bit too small. If you're ever anywhere near Scarborough, you're welcome to have a look at the 1P I have if it would help you decide.
I know you weren't expecting the storm but never position a tent so that the wind is hitting it broadside. Very few tents can stand up to that in high winds.
Hey, I totally agree with you. However, in this instance, when I pitched the tent, the weather was calm. Unfortunately for me, I had no way of knowing which way, or how strong, the wind was going to blow that night.
save yourself a bad winter experience. BD firstlight tent or what we call in the NW a bibler style tent is a real winter tent. if you don't mind the weight a bomb proof tent is North Face ve25.
Thanks, I don't do a great deal of winter camping at the moment but it's something I might look at in the future. If I do, I'd probably end up looking for something that's more suited to four season conditions and heavier duty as you say.
Thanks for the story Paul. One question that came to mind: wouldn't a 1p Xmid be sturdier than a 2p? After all, in a 2p version the same two trekking poles have to deal with wind attacking a greater surface area.
That would be my thinking also, but I wouldn't like to say without any experience of the 2P. Someone who could tell you for sure would be Dan himself, who I know from experience will reply if you email him with a question or two.
No problem - no issues with rain leakage at all. I'm going to be adding lines to the tie-out points on the ends for sure though, just to help keep the end panels pulled out taut and slightly further away from the inner. I didn't have any problems with condensation - I left a decent gap around the bottom of the outer, and had the vents open on both doors. The size and cover offered by the porches means that you could *probably* partly unzip one or both of the doors if you wanted even more airflow, but I've not tested that yet.
I see what you mean, the legs are quite short. I'm trying to remember what the vent props were like on my Copper Spur and think they may have been about half as long again.
I’m a bikepacker in really bad weather currently camping on Isle of Skye, weather app says wind speeds of around 26mph with gusts of 40mph. 😞😞 I’m using a six moon designs which is good but I’ve had a pole snap on me in the past so I’ve lost confidence in it. I’m looking at getting a Durston solid in the future. I’m undecided which size to get, the 1 person or 2? At the moment I put a lot of my gear inside the tent with me so maybe a 2p would be worth getting, but is it too big? Might be more comfortable in bad weather when your stuck in the tent along time. Bit is the slightly extra weight worth it? Just over 1kg is not too heavy. Or go for the 1p solid??? would welcome your thoughts The thanks for the review, it gives me a bit of confidence in the tent being able to deal with UK bad weather
That sounds like an unpleasant bout of weather, I hope it clears for you soon. The solid interior does block out a lot more breeze, and it does also help a lot more with condensation - the mesh inner is great for dry conditions but does let condensation drip down into the tent if there's enough of it. I also had a lot of blowing dust enter my mesh inner on a trip to the Canaries, but it was very windy. I've not seen a 2P X-Mid in the flesh, so couldn't say if it was too big or not. I have to admit, going from a 2 person tent myself to the 1P X-Mid did take some getting used to, and I do still miss the interior space to put my gear. I wish the 1P was another 6 or 8 inches wider, but it's certainly not cramped - in fact for a 1 person tent it's pretty spacious! The porches are massive on the 1P and give plenty of sheltered storage space. The bonus of 2 doors means you can use one side for storage and one for entry/exit/cooking if needed. I think that the solid inner version of the 1P and 2P currently has an improved outer when compared to the mesh version which makes it more weather resistant, but please check before ordering one!
Hi mate… I also have the big Agnes CS UL2.. I have just bought the xmid 2 like you, and I’m sat here in my garden now and looking at the Durston thinking it doesn’t look very strong at all. Did you have the additional guy lines on your BA?
Hey, I did have all the lines on the Big Agnes. The problem I had with it was that the wind was so strong that it was simply bending the poles inwards - because they're so long and flexible, they were collapsing in and actually hitting me on the legs when I was laid in the tent. Looking back at it, I'm not sure how they didn't break! I think the only way something like that would happen with the X-Mid is if a corner stake popped out like it did with me. Once it's all tightly staked out, and the lines are all deployed, I've found it to be much sturdier than my old CS. It's just a matter of making sure your 2 poles are extended as far as they'll go, making sure they're not slanted, and ensuring you've got a good tight pitch with your 4 main stakes. When you deploy your apex guy lines, make sure to follow the line of the tent's ridge when you stake them out.
@@PaulandaPack Thankyou for getting back to me.. I have just watched Dans tutorial and tbh I probably didn’t pitch it as his video states. I think maybe a couple more pitches then it’ll be something like. I have had the big Agnes out in winds of about 35mph but used the delta pegs on the extra guy out points and I think that was at its max. It’s definitely one for the summer. 😄
I've used my old ground sheet from my old Big Agnes a couple of times but it's nowhere near the right shape/size. I'll be getting the Durston sheet at some point.
@@PaulandaPack G’day, Paul. Fortunately, I’ve never had to endure that kind of wind storm. I have driven extra stakes, but like the idea of rocks on top of existing stakes. Thanks for the idea. 👍 Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
Yeah, they're pretty hard to come by at the moment. I was very lucky to be able to get hold of one. I think there's another batch scheduled for release around June/July. I think you can sign up for notifications on the Durston Gear website.
@@PaulandaPack The strong hillebergs 10 mm poles Will hold up to anything And are best due to their free standing But I have noticed that some pitch them with two strength points using the trekking poles as a 90° tie out vertical point then from the pole to the ground In which case at two such strength points The resistance is 90° to the blast at those two points Hilleberg is king of the tents ⛺ But for mass and design with a trekking pole tent Durston should employ you on a royalty scale for this vid BECAUSE I AM NOW SOLD ON DURSTON POLYESTER BUT HOW TO GET ONE 🤣
Haha yeah, they've been very difficult to get hold of. I think that will be changing very soon as they've been working hard on a much larger production run. If you check out their Instagram I think there's some details on there.
No one talk much but Durston (X-Mid) cloned this tent from the Sierra Designs - High Route 🙂 Sierra Designs - High Route Was realised in 2016 and Xmid came out 2018. Sometimes reality not as you want, fact is a fact 😊.
They may look similar from the outside but they're totally different in layout. The X-Mid has an offset interior and huge porches, whereas the High Route has a straight aligned interior and tiny porches. I'm sure there are other more technical differences that someone more qualified than me could point out also. It's certainly not cloned.
