Ultralight DCF Tent Showdown | Durston X-Mid Pro 1 v.s. Zpacks Solplex v.s. Tarptent Notch Li 

I had my silnylon Tarptent Notch for 10 years of abundant use (probably 2500 miles and 8 months worth of overnights) in all sorts of wind and driving rain. Could set it up in the smallest slivers of spots even if they were uneven. Kept me bone dry and sleeping soundly until the floor material finally wore out the waterproofing. So i ordered the Durston Pro 1 and took it on a 5 night trip. First night, i couldn't find a spot big enough to see it up, so had to cowboy and didn't sleep well. Second night, heavy winds and uneven ground, the noise from the dyneema was unbearable and didn't sleep well. Hostel 3rd night. 4th night again heavy heavy winds, that tent feels like a sail, unlike the tarptent which is shaped like a bullet. 5th night i cowboyed again because i has given up on getting a good night in the noise tunnel and shaking walls that shakes the floor which keeps me up. I also prefer the fact that i don't have to adjust my poles at camp for the Notch bc i hike with them at 115cm, which is ideal for the Notch setup. So i can set it up in about 30 seconds. I prefer the solid wall even in summer to keep the dust from blowing into my face and for privacy (I'm female), i can keep the doors open and still sleep "thermally exposed" if i want, or change clothes without having to close the doors. So i sold the Durston and bought myself another Notch. I got the silpoly this time bc the Li version feels even smaller than the sil versions and it was a little too tight for me. Happy tent hunting! - Piñata

Thank you sooooooo much!!!! You posted a comparison between the tent I have (the Solplex, which they don't even make anymore), and the two main tents I have been considering! I've watched this video a couple times. I surely loved my Solplex, if the vestibules went closer to the ground I'd still be using it until it had holes.. but the rain splash is too much in any storm (I thru hiked the AT with it). The Notch Li looks pretty great but I don't like the limited headroom, plus it is heavier. I will probably go with that Durston Xmid Pro 1, but with the DCF floor. Thank you so much for helping me decide!!!!! But I probably won't follow suit and sell my Solplex because I wore it out on the AT... don't think anyone would want it. 🤣

I picked up a vanilla X-Mid last season and I absolutely loved it all season and can't wait to get it out again this year. No problems setting it up in heavy rain, even with moderate wind it was fine. Lots of room inside, never had any issues stashing gear around the tent and in the vestibules. Zippers all worked flawlessly. A very well thought out tent from Dan.

Cool shelters. Cannot wait to see your Arctic tour.

the durstan also has a similar double tent that they recommend for known adverse conditions, and everyone forgets the first time to hook the floor support around the pole giving you even more room.

Love my X-Mid Pro. It's never let me down yet. Great vid

Lucky you. Thanks for the honest review...if you change your mind I will take any of the three 🤠

Interested to hear about your results with the X-Mid Pro, especially with regards to condensation. I have been using the Notch LI for the past few years and it has mostly worked well for me. One of the main reasons I chose the Notch LI is that it is a double wall tent, and I was hoping that it would handle condensation better that the single wall tent I had been using (Gossamer Gear The One). It definitely handles condensation better than the GG tent, although I have still had issues in very wet conditions. The Notch LI is a bomber tent, but it can be a little awkward inside if you are stuck in it for extended times, especially when you have a pile of soggy gear after hiking all day in the rain.

A couple Fridays ago, Zpacks had a $50 off sale expiring that day, I ordered the Solplex at 10:45pm with the coupon expiring at midnight. Next day cancelled the order after seeing various vids. Decided I needed something a little more substantial.

You've gotta try minimalist shoes. Just as light weight but 100x more packable, plus they allow your foot and ankle to move properly which can relieve knee pain

Great video! I'm considering the Durston!!

Those are some awesome tents. I love Tarp Tent. But, I love my Duplex. New follower here. Great video. Crow✌️

Have you used the xmid Pro 1 in humid conditions, witer & summer? I'm between the 1 and 2. The 1 looks like it has fantastic room even for a guy your height and great ventilation. I'm going to purchase once back in stock. Incredible review! Great videos. I'm going to subscribe. 😊😊

If you search xmid narrow pitch you can find some ingenious ways of setting up the xmid with the vestibules collapsed down to narrow the footprint. If you have not found that already, I feel it could be a useful tool to have.

No surprises on the tent choice. Noce review, thx.

The altaplex may work well for height... not that you need another tent! :D I think I've been purchasing things from you from the beginning. Is it about a decade? I've used your tent stakes on the pct and all over Europe! Love your clever engineered titanium products. The altaplex is made for tall people, but I have it for being roomy and ease of enter/ exit since I'm older.

Okay, since I know I can count on you. I’m 6’5” and wear a 52XXL jacket (very broad) and I’m looking for a single trekking pole shelter with a small footprint. I have a Duplex and X-Mid Pro 2, which are fine, but not what I’m looking for, and I’ve tried the X-Mid Pro 1, Gossamer Gear The One and The Two, and Altaplex, and none suited my needs. So….I need you to do more testing OR (engineering opportunity) make me one. Not too much to ask, right?! Make it so. ;)

I'd like to see the dipole 1 in this video!

The tent has a SilPoly floor (not silnylon), no stretch or water absorption in the wet. DanD says the floor is more durable that DCF. For saving an less ounce, why would you opt for noisy, poor Durability and the likely hood of getting pinprick holes in the Mylar layers?

Taprtent Li models are in thier Lithium product line.

Four 'tripless' stakes is the winner. Tarptent is a pain. It doesn't like wind and you'll be wet at those tight elbows.

Gossamer gear dcf the 1 weighs less than all those tents lol

every review or comparison ov the x-mid ive seen has no actual use yet.

You are using new tents without a ground sheet and you plan to send one or both back. That's the customer no company wants.

"gigantic"