XMid 1p Second Gen - First Impressions 

Oh sweet mercy it's even better than I thought 😅 So I just got back from 8 days on the Tour du Mont Blanc and wild camped all but one of the days, and this thing performed amazingly. I almost want to make an update video. In hindsight, I feel like I was a bit harsh on the interior space of this, it's definitely no Deschutes Plus (though that tarp is ridiculous for floor space), but I always had enough room, and even slept with my backpack in the inner tent with me a few nights. Also, we had a storm blow through when we were camping next to a refuge one night, and after a lot of hail, and some really strong gusts, 3 tents collapsed 😶 But not the XMid! My friend's Nemo tent (after a partial collapse he propped up) also held up well, and so as I was standing with the people who were now sleeping in the communal area shelter, someone remarked, "Ok, so next tent I need either a Nemo or an XMid, got it." I also got to use the peak guylines for the first time and they definitely helped. Condensation was good compared to other tents, however there were some days were it was just unavoidable and every tent was drenched. On those times, I loved being able to unclip the inner, and keep that separate from the tarp. In the noon sun, they all dried out quick. I do have one bigger complaint. During that big storm, I had one of the corner linelocs fail on me, not catastrophically, but it just let out the tension all at once and after the storm I found the line at max extension. It held, but it troubled me that during the storm, it let released tension. On later nights when I feared a storm, I staked the front facing corners at full extension for peace of mind which is annoying but not the end of the world. This might be an issue of me getting my lineloc cord order mixed up (which goes on top vs under) because at the time I didn't think to check that, so next time I take this out (possibly next weekend), I'll take a look at that. I did discover some nitpicks, I wish there were pockets by the doors. I overall prefer the new headroom pockets compared to the long trough pocket, but I want more space. Additionally, some small loops at the peaks would have been nice so I could string a line for hanging socks and shirts to dry while sleeping. That's easy to add on my own though, and I know not everyone uses them. Overall, this thing is absolutely my new go-to shelter. It's so easy to set up, storm worthy, comfortable, more spacious than I expected, and just so darn easy to enjoy. It reminds me of how I felt about the G4-20, it just melted into the background of my adventure, putting a smile on my face when I used it, and never distracting me from the journey.

Thank you! I'm hoping to use this on the TMB this summer and I'm excited to make some good memories with it

Watching this review, already made up my mind, patiently waiting for your June 16th stocking date. :D

@@BluTrollPro Did you manage to get one?

@@mrtru1te yup, got my order in, they sold out in about an hour I think

@@BluTrollPro The 2p was sold out in less than 5 minutes and the 1p did last about 1h indeed. I managed to buy the Kakwa with both X-Mids 1p and 2p. I'm used to tents like zpacks so I'll see. They look promising.

Awwww thanks! That makes me smile 🙂 I really like making videos, hoping to do more reviews like this now that it's warmer

That's very kind of you thank you :)

That's very sweet of you to say, thank you kindly!!

Thank you!

Thank you, I appreciate the comment :)

Well thank you!! Haha I appreciate you notice the editing 🙂

Thank you, that's nice of you to say :)

Thank you :) Hope you enjoy it on trail!

That's so nice to say, thank you! Haha, I would love to make more videos, I do really enjoy them :) Thanks for the encouragement

Thanks 😊 You're definitely correct, I love editing so much. Making videos is a lot of fun!

Why thank you! I was debating about doing the TRT this summer as well before settling on the TMB (I've got a good friend in Lyon).

Thank you!! I really like making videos, hope to make more but it's summer so I'm out backpacking a lot 😅

Agree. I subbed just because of this. I hope to see more gear reviews!

Thanks! I actually did finally take it out on an overnight last Friday and it performed excellently (in super easy conditions) but the best thing was that it was roomier than I thought. I stashed stuff on either side of my quilt, and even put my backpack down by my foot with plenty of space up top. I am super excited to take this onto the TMB in July, I think it will work wonderfully.

@@TaylorPassofaro I can't wait to get one. Have a great trip in July.

Thanks Brandon :)

Thank you 🙂 I'm pinning this comment for now so others can see your real-world impressions, I appreciate you sharing! Glad to hear you enjoy it and got lucky with the pre-sale!

Haha you're too kind :) I just love making videos, but I'm not nearly consistent enough for rapid growth. Too busy getting out hiking!

You're really kind, thank you :D

Thank you :) I do like how gear choices can make us outdoors people think about how and why we use certain items, it's definitely got me thinking about who I am a lot more than I expected. Cheers to you too!

Lol I'm kinda in the same position as you, as in, it touched my case when you said MSR 2p because that's actually the tent that me and my bf are about to buy ourselves!! The MSR elixir 2 right?? And then the xmid tone into the picture!! Lol it seems tempting!! But, I still want to have this MSR tent first. Let me ask though, as a couple, how did you find the space in this MSR tent? Did you have 2 wide mats? Did you have enough space for your belongings?? How cramped did it feel??

@@bluebellcrushedvelvet , ours is the Hubba Hubba NX2, and it’s a fine tent that can fit two 25” sleep pads easily. It has held up to some mighty winds in the Cascades, but it weighs nearly twice that of the Durston. We’ve now used the Durston twice and love it for its spaciousness, ease of set up and small packed size.

@@bluebellcrushedvelvet , in the MSR tent we use the vestibules for packs and boots. What little we have inside fits handily.

@@Muhlenburger ok good to know. Yeah I prefer the elixir actually, I feel like the design is much better for the climate and all the tent features actually! It's not always about just weight! Yep it's what we have been doing with our tent also. Only a small amount left over inside

Hi how do you compare your Hubba Hubba to the X Mid apart from the weight difrence.

I would love to make a video talking about how/why I arrived on my current shelter/sleep set-up, thanks for the idea! However I also have like 5 million other hobbies that I want to give attention to (plus...I have a job 😅) and there's only so much time!

Thanks!! And you read my mind, that Dandee is the next one I want to do!

@@TaylorPassofaro Looking forward to watching it!

Thanks! Haha I'm flattered 😊 Tent floor does *seem* more durable now that you mention it, but I'm pretty sure it's the same 20D material as before, just in black. I've got both hanging up to dry right now (did a trip with friends/parents this weekend and all 3 xmids I have were in use) and they both feel the same. It does come with reflective lines by default (just like the v1 and 2p) but they're just now in black instead of sage. And can confirm they light up well at night.

Thanks!! Haha I don't know much about shoes, but I found these Saucony Peregrines at REI garage sale and have always wanted to try them. I've tried Altra, Hoka, Topo, and now Saucony, but the Topo's are just so solid I don't think I'll move away from them for a while. These Peregrines are honestly more my everyday shoe since they don't aggravate a metatarsal stress-fracture I'm letting heal. Maybe if I learn a ton about shoes I'll make a video chronicling my experience.

Thanks for the field report! Haha I have debated about selling my Gen 1 XMid but it's still a good tent and I want to loan it out to people when I take them on trips :P So I think I'll hang onto it for now.

@@TaylorPassofaro G’day, Taylor. Good to have options - and friends. My best to you. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

Very lucky! I just couldn't justify the 2P Pro, I'm exclusively solo backpacking for the foreseeable future but I always have the poly 2P if that changes

@@TaylorPassofaro The 1P pro looks pretty sweet too

Thank you thank you 😊 I did all of this in the free version of DaVinci Resolve 17, the Fusion VFX editor is surprisingly powerful and a direct competitor to After Effects, but since it's built into the program you don't have to roundtrip things. I'd love to do tutorials and stuff but I'm in the deep end of finishing up a video from the Alps and that's taking up my free time 😅 (been working on it for 3 months!) I learned this by searching "glowing line tutorial DaVinci Resolve Fusion" or similar and messing around with stuff. But once I got the hang of it, making all this was surprisingly easy so I'll be including a lot more in future videos I hope!

Haha oh my god every time I stake this one out I check my feet, you're so right 😅

The width is just fine for quilt or a bag, but the v1 was also just fine for quilt and bag use. I personally don't find there to be a space requirement for a quilt over a bag, you don't really need room to drape the quilt since most of the time it's tucked around my with the cinch at the neck.

Thanks! Here's the page with the comparison table. I added a few others in (I think) manually but it should be pretty comprehensive. www.switchbacktravel.com/one-person-tents-shelters-weight-comparison-chart

Those extra 3in are noticeable, so I hope more tall people will enjoy the revisions. Can't wait to actually take this out and use it.

Good luck!! I hope everyone who wants one gets lucky.

@@TaylorPassofaro hopefully Dan ups the stock for the upcoming sale!!

I think you're probably in the clear, from what I read though you're on the upper limit. I have heard of people your height being comfortable in it, and people using long wide pads in it 25x72 with a little room to spare. I would imagine you might get a bit of tight headroom / wet footbox, but the only tents to substantially mitigate that would be a 2p model or the SoLong, so I still think the Gen2 Xmid is a good bet.

So far so good, but I only got them this winter and haven't taken them backpacking. Love the fit and feel so far, maybe not as much as my Topo Ultraventures, but they're pretty close!

Sorry, a bit confused to the question. I just copied the table from the switchback travel website and pasted it into excel, and then did some formatting. So it was just plain text copied, I didn't do anything fancy. The website is www.switchbacktravel.com/one-person-tents-shelters-weight-comparison-chart if you wanted to do the same!

I am the same height, and just tested my 1p V2 in the back yard. I think we are right near the upper limit, but I am certain it will work! (especially for me as a side sleeper - I may touch the netting a bit while on my back if I am not dead center, but I am no where near the outter)

Thank you! Your height might work, but honestly you would be on the edge in my opinion. Dan's official recommendation is that it should work for 6'3" - 6'5" (see link: www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/rw178h/comment/hr9ggh0/?context=3) but if you want to be sure of fitting, the Lightheart Gear SoLong is usually the best tent for truly tall people.

Enigma 20 regular regular with a draft collar, 10d interior and exterior, 21oz weight. I really enjoy it!

@@TaylorPassofaro 950 or 850 fill?

Oh good question! In my opinion, the Cascade Mountain Tech 3 section CF poles are unbeatable for price to performance ratio (especially on sale). I used them for years and loved them. I recently upgraded to the 2 section poles after scoring some in a flash sale and have no regrets, they're solid and unbelievably lightweight. For more traditional options, I bought my parents the Montem Aluminum poles for a more traditional/durable set, and I've only ever heard good things about the BD Alpine Cork CF poles as well, though they're expensive.

@@TaylorPassofaro Thank you Taylor. I’m an old guy, getting beck into it. Overwhelmed by choice. Another way to narrow the field. Could be, not made in China.

@@billpetersen298 I hear you. To make it simple, I'd recommend the Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork. Get them from REI with their great warranty, and you won't have to think about poles for a long while.

Thanks! You might be too tall for this in my opinion as well, although Dan's official recommendation says 6'3" to 6'5" as seen here: www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/rw178h/comment/hr9ggh0/?context=3 But if you want a sure thing, check out the Lightheart Gear SoLong, it's one of the only 1p tents actually made for tall folks and I've only heard good things.

Taylor Passofaro Thanks for the reply. The light heart is no UL. I have an x mid 2 p ordered. Dan says I’ll fit. I’ll find out in a month.

Ouch, that's a shame! They are very light, but I'll definitely be bringing spares until I get a better handle on their performance (like all new stakes).

@@TaylorPassofaro They're made for that soft Canadian ground lol.... not the SoCal desert floor I camp in :)

Same thing happened to me. They're pretty tough to use out in the hard rocky/sandy soil here in AZ.

@@rossb5104 Yep. Good thing we didn't buy the tent for the stakes eh

Yeah the titanium V stakes are really best suited for softer soils. We're looking at stiffer stake options but stake are one of those things that are super backlogged during covid so it is hard to source something stronger right now. We are working on it.

Haha I know 😭 And I know it's not Dan's fault, he's ordering as many as he can, but when factories have obligations to bigger brands, it's tough to get production time. Hopefully once supply chain stuff settles down this will be easier to get!

@@TaylorPassofaro exactly, I would love to get one of the 1p pros when they come out

@@cal8362 Talking about those 1p Pros, I'm so so so tempted!! Considering Dan's 2P Pro looked awesome, I'm very optimistic about the 1P Pro 😁

@@TaylorPassofaro I'm sure it will be amazing but extremely difficult to get 😄

Supply has been a huge challenge for sure, but we will have much better supply of all models starting this fall when our increased production starts. I think we'll be able to pretty much keep our tents in stock then. Until then, we have a batch going on sale on June 7 of the new solid inner version of the X-Mid 1 and 2, and more of the X-Mid Pro 2 in August.