DURSTON X-MID PRO MODS FOR BAD WEATHER 

I do the same thing with the Ridgeline. I didn’t know it was supposed to be any other way. It just made the most sense in the area physics. And I did that in some 30 mile an hour winds and it was rocksolid.

Hey Marmalade! Thanks so much for demonstrating your mods! I recently got a Durston X-mid 2 and have also been trying to figure out the best way to add extra guy lines in case of windy/bad weather. This video has been super helpful. Thanks again. 😊👍

Yup, tensioning the ridge line sure added a lot of stability to the whole setup, as I expected. The other adjustment option you have available for removing the last bits of slack from the walls is the trekking pole length. The two poles may end up being different lengths to compensate for unevenness in the ground. I think if you can get the rectangle shape as we discussed (looked really good in the video), and then work with the pole length to get it all pretty tight, and then tension the ridge line, the whole thing should be more taut. Then do the side guy-outs last.

Glad to see you working out the bugs! Wind is a pain to deal with regardless of the tent. Hope your mod helps! 👌🏻👌🏻

👏. Good explanation. I’m still (slowly) figuring out how to best draw out the head/foot sides of my Duplex w/o using sticks under those guy lines. Re ur Durston, imho, the more vertical side walls are a huge selling point.

You need to pitch that tent a lot more taut than it currently is in that video. That's why you're having problems.

The extra lines look like a smart addition.

What is the shoe situation for this season? I had a pair of Topo Pursuits for my road trip, and I'm not going back to Altras.

The 1-person looks so much smaller than the 2-person. Really interesting to see the space difference and your experience with it. I hope the 2-person will do okay for me and the dogs, but I'll definitely take some of your hacks into consideration as I prep for my two-week trip coming up, just as a precaution. Thanks for the video.

It looks like your technique with the ridgeline is better, but I guess it needs to be tested in real, blustery wind. I think the Durston is a great tent, but I wouldn't want the 1 person for the reasons you mentioned, I just don't like the narrow head room with or without wind. I used to have an MSR Hubba 1P which I loved. During covid I didn't do any camping, then when I pulled it out to go to the Sierra and set it up and got inside, I wondered why I ever loved that tent previously. Thereafter I bought a Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2 and I love all the extra room, including head space. However, admittedly it's much heavier than a cubin fiber tent, so that's a downside. Anyway, I hope your next test in big wind works out well for you.

Definitely seems like your method on the ridgeline was better. Very helpful video.👍

Nice video. I'm wondering where you saw Dan Durston recommend staking the ridge guylines over the Durston logo. His storm setup video on his website says to stake out the ridge guylines inline with the ridgeline like you did in the last part of the video.

What does the extra clips, guide lines, and stakes weigh? 3 or 4 ounces?

I don't understand why Durston recommended guying out across the company logos. As you noted, that induced a torquing motion--something you wouldn't want. Tensioning the ridgeline makes much more sense. That said, I smiled when you were lying in the tent and extending your arm to show the tent wall being nearly three feet away--but that was only on one side! At that moment, even without much wind, the other tent wall nearly touched your shoulder. I don't see how touching there will be avoidable in a high wind, given that the sleeping position is set diagonally. Your posterior will be well removed from the walls, but your head and feet always will be near them. (One advantage of your Triplex is that you sleep smack dab in the center, with the side walls equally distant from all parts of your body.) The present guy-out points on the sides of the Xmid don't seem to expand the area near your head and feet but the area near your middle, where you least need the walls to be tensioned out. Your extra lines may help, compared to what you first experienced on trail, but it's hard to see how they will be enough to keep the walls away from your face if the wind is high.

What is that small carabiner called? Trying to find similar on to shop on the net.

Read great analysis Ryan Jordan’s Review and comments at Backpacking Light for how to stake it out for wind and pros and cons of stability

Mike that is going to be the tent for the Pct I be thinking 🧐

I hope that works for you!

If you had bought the 2P you wouldn't have the sides blowing in on you. Only 3 ounces heavier.

Just being honest but this tent is a mess to set up at times. Jealous of my friends stand-alone 😂