Is The Durston X-Mid The Best Ultralight Backpacking Tent? (WHW Ep5) 

Thanks for the kind words and using our gear. Glad you're liking the tent! - Dan Durston

As an American, Id have also looked at you surprised for an instant if you asked where in Canada I was from. We're too self-important to even consider someone would be joking about that. Loved the joke within the video and hope I hear a similar in my international travels.

Loving the west Highland way videos Stephen and can appreciate the time it takes to edit just one😁👍

Came here to look for more gadgets like Muzen which I just purchased, saw your title "should you unsubscribe" - watched it and found you have a gadget channel! Well that worked well - subscribed to both. I can really relate to your music for hiking and running ideas. I too have been on a run and my buds packed up - that was it, I just went home! I listen to trance music (I'm 56) but look forward to the music more than the run, but once I get going I get into a zone and a really good place and often over run my finish just to listen for longer. I have always been against music when hiking and often complain to my wife when I hear it. A month ago my wife broke her leg hiking and now I have to hike alone. I experimented with music on my phone and found that it was good company and if chosen carefully - the music totally elevated my mood. For the past month I've played music whilst hiking (mute when approaching others) - I now look forward to the hikes even more (just like when running). Now I've got my Muzen - holy moly, what a gadget! It's a thing of beauty and easy to mute. I have to thank you for this! Looking forward to watching lots more of your videos. I liked the Messner one with the cinematic bits (I'm also into this and will explore your channel in search) Thanks again, keep up the great work!

Love the vids. Supremely well made with all the giggles any normal human being can take without splitting our sides. Great work.

Thanks so much for doing this review, Stephen. I too thought the Durston looked impressive, especially at that price. And now you've helped confirm that I need to get one for myself. The toilet top tip, most impressive, as the one thing I've dreaded for my entire life is being caught short in the middle of nowhere, a particularly well exposed, middle of nowhere.

You’ve convinced me, ordering my Durston. Thank you 😊

So enjoyable to share your adventures. I've got the X-mid 2, as I wanted enough space to keep my camera gear inside. It's a wonderful tent and still super light. New Zealand gets its fair share of inclement weather and it has stood up well. The inner can get close to the outer sometimes causing sticking and damp at the top but I found not having the inner too tight at top solves that.

Never thought I'd watch a 20-minute video about a tent but here I am... entertained by stories of sheep and sausage. Thanks Sir! 😂

Brilliant review of the X-Mid and comparison between the different types, Stephen! Really enjoying all your WHW videos. They are reminding me of when my wife and I did the walk almost 30 years ago in our early 40s. Looking forward to the last part 😊

So much more entertaining than the average WHW videos. I would also highly rate the X-Mid 2 Solid (my birthday present last year), especially for all year usage, that and my son has the X-Mid 1 Solid which I once borrowed - but felt too much like a coffin with the solid sides = the 2 for me. Can't wait for the next episode.

Hi Stephen great show again, thanks for the update on the tent, I'm sure one day you will be in it and the test will be on, now that foot looked so sore.looking forward to seeing the next video, take care of yourself and yours , Alan 💯👍

The new Durston hiking poles are awesome! Highly recommended. There is nothing like them.

With those impressions you've become a pin up here in Wales🐑 been carrying OG Vern 1 on Pembrokeshire coastal path but thinking X mid for 4 days of Hadrian's wall in summer👍🏻

Great vid as always Stephen 👌 Will be getting one of these for the WHW , and for summer camps up the mournes 👍

Mate, this one is especially well made, kudos. It was entertaining, informative and had a "story" to tell.

Great video, love watching ❤❤

I'd been looking at the xmid for a cpl years and finally got 1 at the beginning of the year.the weigh saving was my main reason.i got the solid 1p I like how easy it is to pitch and the weight the headroom is great single pitch is also great.i wish the inner was a little wider tho.i don't use a ground sheet so hope the floor is going to be strong enough I like the 2 doors.i got it primarily for summer so wasn't to bothered about the 4 season side my main thing is that it takes a lot bigger space to pitch for not much living space so the foot print is same as most of my 2p tents but that's not a deal breaker.on the whole I'm happy with it.

I like how this transitions from general chat about tent requirements to overhead shots of the highlands worthy of Countryfile. Brilliant. I've always been very sceptical of trekking pole tents but I'm starting to see more and more of them. Especially on long distance hikes. I'm just not sure if I want the 1P version or the extra room of the 2P.

I've got the solid version and had it out in 30-35 mph wind and it took it like a champ. The big sides bellowed in a fair amount but it kept me safe through the night.

Since you have both I'm curious how would you compare the X Mid to the Decathlon tarp tent? Is the X mid worth double the price even if it's a little bit lighter?

I’m a beginner wild camper and the last 2 wild camps I’ve been on have shown up my lack of navigation skills. Saw you checking your watch for navigation. What watch and app do you use. Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip 👍

Currently its the only tent I own. Just so easy to pitch and as long as you don't summit camp during a storm it will be fine. It has now been on Cape wrath trail with me and the Skye trail. WHW was my first trail so I had a cheaper, heavier and worse tent then. Also on the Cotswold way I took a camo tarp because I had to stealth camp on that trail and this tent isn't very stealthy lol. That is the only issue for me really, I might get the south downs way done this year and will be taking the tarp again just to be stealthy.

Great video and what amazing views. The more I watch, the more I need to do the WHW. Thank you for sharing your adventures and laughs on the way. I've always liked the Durston X-Mid 1. However, I think the only way I'll get I'll get one of these if I ever win a competition 😅

I did the WHW in April with my xmid 2 solid. I’ve added adjustable guys in 8 places. It can handle itself in pretty decent winds when fully deployed

You've actually made me realize how useful a tarp can be for an emergency bathroom 😂

Another excellent well-informed video, even though I'm not buying a tent anytime soon, I really enjoyed how well you explained your criteria for a good lightweight tent. Not so keen on the pooing in the tent idea, but if it was an emergency then maybe!

Well, I always thought sheep say Marrr & Goats say Narrr (means No).😉 Ps, the solution to blisters is wear 2 pairs of socks. The inner pair should be a light weight & slip easily against the tougher outer sock. That way, there is no blister causing stress within the dermis. I do a lot of wet wading while fly fishing & have neoprene socks to fill the space normally occupied by wader booties. Walking overland in neoprene socks will give you blisters in 10 minutes or so. You aren't going to get far like that, but with a sock liner you can go all day & the next and so on. I have never had a blister since adopting this practice some 30+ years ago.

I really wanted an X-Mid but now i think i have the best budget big 4 products you can buy. The Asta Gear yun chuan 2p £125-£150. The Asta Gear down quilt £60. The Naturehike R 5.8 sleep pad £80 and the Naturehike Dyneem Rock 60 + 5 backpack £65. Obviously this is because im in the UK and importing some of these US brands makes it not viable for me. I would love to see you use this set up and truly say if the bigger brand kit is truly so much better.

Great video, Stephen. I bought this tent 2 months ago and have to say I've been very impressed with it so far.

Hi Stephen. Another issue with Dyneema is that it's virtually see-through. Therefore, think twice if you want to engage in a bit of adult fun 😂😂 Tfs, Paul

Fantastic video Stephan , And not a carrot in sight 🥕 I’ve been looking at the x-mid 2 + pro Might put it on my Christmas list 😂

love your videos dude, you have me in stiches 🤣🤣 Question for you , what stove you using with the new Fire Maple pot? I bought one but my MSR pocket rocket 2 doesnt fit 😵‍💫

re the blisters - have you tried using 2 pairs of socks? Ive never had a blister since starting to do that. also - what is the 4 season tent you prefer to the xmid solid 2?

First time I visited Scotland I pretended I was Canadian ... it was during the Bush years ... but I also wore a Boston Red Sox cap so I wasn't fooling anyone least of all Eilidh the proprietor of the inn I stayed at. Of course I called her Eye-lid because I thought she would think I was cute, and of course she didn't ... I asked my pal from Maghera who met me in Edinburgh for the weekend why his black pudding looked cooked to perfection and mine was oozing blood into my eggs and he said "Because I'm not making fun of her name you t^@#!" 😆

Excellent video, I have the solid version and I am also unsure about the performance in wind. I might be taking it out in 40mph gusts.

As a bikepacker I'm still looking for more brands to give options for different poles with their tents. Most tents have poles with 35-45cm sections which aren't very packable onto a bicycle, and very few companies offer "bikepacking pole" versions of their tents like Big Sky does. Currently looking at their lineup and they tick a lot of boxes + have freestanding options. Otherwise I'd buy a Durston, but hiking poles take too much space and buying a set of lightweight tent poles is a bit rough.

If pitching is limited probably best not to do the cat hole under an outer first pitching tent. I did but the weather was so bad that I had to give up on my planned hike and return to my used and abused pitch. Served me right!

Never mind your feet, my sides are sore from laughing, my lawyer will be in touch

speaking of a toilet tent... I've been there & done basically that.... was out on Dartmoor and I always split pack the inner & fly of my Lanshan, I was almost all packed up except for the fly so when I desperately needed a poo I just dug a hole, did my business and then took the fly down.

Enjoyed this one. I have the x-mid 2 solid. I wouldn't say it is true Scottish 4 seasons but definitely 4 season for the glens. The bag is too small and not waterproof so I keep it in a 5 litre dry bag. Wind? It does quite well if battened down and using all the guy points. It is less flappy than my helium 1. Like you, I love my x-mid. Niggles? Large footprint but it is a palace inside. I never get the pitch right if I try it all in one so always pitch fly first and then hang the inner.

I have the same running poles, the 125cm length. Would these work with the X Mid 1?

Good idea to mix the WHW content with other stuff. Plenty of people doing " I walked here, then I walked there." type videos.

Good Sheep impressions 😂. Another great video mate.

Unfortunately my xmid2 v2 ripped yesterday in high winds on my last day of the CWT. Gutted love that tent. Forecast was on 18mph but large gusts cought it and slammed the pole through the roof. 😕 Will try a repair but it's not looking good.

yes, it will bend in wind because its a tipi tent. for it to be best in wind, line the ridgeline parallel with the wind.

clicked like the instant of the "which part of canada" joke :D I liked it :-P

Have my eye on one, but difficult to get in UK at a reasonable cost. Looking at £320 + to get here.

I’m from far south Canada… Flarda 😂

Well done on spreading the cheese with a sausage 😂😂

Do you always try to pitch a tent length-wise into the prevailing wind? Guess that's the smartest thing to do, but your pitch-site might not always allow for this, and those darn winds have the nasty habit of changing all the time of course :-)

Got the Pro on oder - wise i am

I get the humor. I’d of probably tried to pull off my best(which is bad) Canadian accent and made up a place…

If you really have to dig a cat hole at least have the curtesy to drop an acorn or walnut in it 😅 Just for fun

why does no one in the uk mention the nemo hornet is it because we only talk about things people send you ?

Wait, have you just invented Reid's Poop Tent™??

Did the Americans ask what part of Scotland you were from?

My toilet bag contains the trowel, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bio-degradable wipes and a large poncho..... you just never know when you gotta go....Take care out there.

Making the sound of sheep is fine Stephen, but Bah is how it’s spelt, how you pronounce it is up to you, so let’s see your spelling for all of ‘you’re’ new sheep sounds😳🤷🏻‍♂️

That joke was like me saying what park of Scotland are you from just not funny probably why they didnt laugh😑

Nighttime bro? Exposed area? Leave the tent and drop the shorts. End of. Keep it simple. Sheep do it and don’t feel the need to dig holes. Just a thought. But then I am a dirty mother trucker. Take the lead from our Woolley friends.