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The Durston X-Mid Professional 2 is a two-person trekking-pole-style shelter that’s constructed from Dyneema composite, weighs simply over a pound, and doesn’t skimp on key options. Miles and Emily have been busy testing one for the higher a part of a yr to see the way it stands as much as bikepacking and as a brief house whereas touring overseas. Discover Miles’ long-term evaluate right here…
I’ll be the primary to confess I’m normally not a fan of trekking-pole/non-freestanding tents. Typically, I don’t discover the burden financial savings or packability spectacular sufficient to steer me away from a freestanding tent. The latter’s design is easy, simple to pitch, and normally has a fly and an inside physique, somewhat than a single-walled design like most trekking-pole tents. Nonetheless, when Durston launched their X-Mid Professional 2 tent on the finish of 2022, with its distinctive form, impressively light-weight design, and straightforward setup, my curiosity was piqued.
Owned and operated by Dan Durston and his spouse T, Durston is a two-person operation primarily based out of Alberta, Canada. Lengthy earlier than launching his firm, Dan has had a ardour for the outside and pushing the boundaries. He hiked the two,600-mile Pacific Crest Path in 2014, accomplished the primary yo-yo of Canada’s Nice Divide Path with T in 2017, and helped develop the excessive route extension of the Continental Divide/Nice Divide Path that continues up the Canadian Rockies. He harnesses these experiences and his information of technical out of doors gear to develop his designs from scratch after which has his merchandise manufactured in China on the similar manufacturing facility that makes tents for different well-known manufacturers reminiscent of Locus Gear, Sampar’s, TarpTent, and Huge Agnes.
Durston’s flagship product was the X-Mid 1, which launched in 2018 and was an prompt hit amongst backpackers and bikepackers. They adopted that with a two-person mannequin, the X-Mid 2, after which extra not too long ago the X-Mid Professional lineup constructed from Dyneema Composite materials (DCF). Their top-end shelters are at present the X-Mid Professional 1 and newly introduced X-Mid Professional 2. We wanted a spot to sleep for our journey to Australia, and I used to be curious to see what all of the ultralight backpackers have been fussing about. A number of days earlier than our flight, the Durston X-Mid Professional 2 turned up at my entrance door. I set it up as soon as within the entrance yard earlier than packing it away with the remainder of our gear.
The X-Mid 2 At a Look
Identical to the X-Mid 1, the X-Mid 2 is available in three variations. The usual X-Mid 2 has a polyester cover and full mesh inside, the X-Mid 2 Strong has a stable inside to dam snow, sand, and wind, and the X-Mid 2 Professional has the identical mesh inside as the usual model however the cover is constructed from Dyneema Composite–a high-end cloth recognized for its distinctive abrasion resistance, wonderful strength-to-weight ratio, and the truth that it doesn’t take in water like woven nylon or polyester. It’s costly, nevertheless it’s a unbelievable cloth for a light-weight bikepacking tent. The X-Mid 2 and X-Mid 2 Strong weigh in at 1,115 grams and 1,135 grams, respectively, for the shelter, stuff sack, and stakes. The X-Mid 2 Professional weighs a formidable 590 grams for the physique and 4 stakes, which doesn’t embrace your required assist poles.
The X-Mid Professional 2 I examined with all parts weighed in at 1,017 grams (2.2 kilos), which incorporates eight stakes, two Z-Flick poles, a groundsheet, stuff sacks, and some grams of Australian filth. That quantity rapidly drops by forgoing the groundsheet and the additional stakes, dropping nearer to 800 grams (1.7 kilos). Durston makes use of a 20-denier cloth for the ground of the tent, which is somewhat larger than different ultralight tents, however nonetheless light-weight and susceptible to punctures, so I personally wouldn’t ever depart the groundsheet at house.
X-Mid Professional 2 Weight Breakdown
- Physique + Stuff Sack: 571 grams
- Eight Stakes + Storage Sack: 82 grams
- Two Z-Flick Poles: 197 grams
- Floor Sheet: 167 grams
- Whole: 1,017 grams (2.2 kilos)
The whole X-Mid lineup makes use of Durston’s patented X-Mid geometry with twin-offset poles and a singular parallelogram inside/rectangle exterior form that, in response to Durston, gives best-in-class headspace, lounge, and storm worthiness. The shelters depend on two trekking poles or non-obligatory segmented poles to arrange, that are positioned midway between the middle and fringe of the shelter. The ridgeline between the 2 poles and positioning of the sleeping space on the alternative diagonal gives plenty of inside house and unobstructed doorways, and it may be pitched with simply 4 stakes, though six is right.
Like most related shelters, the X-Mid lineup is single-walled with a water-resistant, full-coverage fly, mesh inside, 15-denier nylon flooring, and zippered doorways. Each the two-person and single-person shelters have twin doorways and vestibules, twin vents, and high-end {hardware} together with YKK AquaGuard zippers, magnetic door toggles, non-obligatory peak and aspect panel guylines for harsh circumstances, and inside pockets.
X-Mid Lineup
- X-Mid 1: $240 / 875 grams
- X-Mid 1 Strong: $270 / 905 grams
- X-Mid 1 Professional: $609 / 544 grams
- X-Mid 2: $300 / 1,115 grams
- X-Mid 2 Strong: $339 / 1,135 grams
- X-Mid 2 Professional: $679 / 590 grams
As you’ll be able to see above, the X-Mid Professional 2 is considerably costlier than the polyester variations, however that worth comes with important weight financial savings, sturdy DCF materials, and a premium hot-bonded development, as an alternative of taped, for clear and powerful seams. The Zpacks Duplex, one other trekking pole DCF tent, is maybe probably the most comparable when it comes to worth and weight however makes use of the extra conventional pole positioning and a symmetrical design. The Tarptent Stratosphire Li is probably the most comparable when it comes to its form however the poles aren’t offset as far, the general weight seems to be somewhat larger, and it requires six stakes to arrange. The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P additionally falls into an analogous class however makes use of a conventional pole setup that sits instantly in entrance of the doorways, requires extra stakes, and doesn’t supply as a lot inside quantity.
Two-Individual DCF Trekking Pole Tents In contrast
Beneath you’ll discover a comparability chart of some related Dyneema composite trekking pole tents. I’ve included inside flooring dimensions, weight (physique and stuff sack, no stakes or poles included), worth, and a hyperlink to be taught extra.
| Tent Model and Mannequin | Flooring (LxW) | Weight | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Durston X-Mid Professional 2 |
90×48″ 230x122cm |
1.2 lbs 571 g |
$680 |
| Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P |
90×48″ 230x122cm |
1.5 lbs 680 g |
$700 |
| Tarptent Stratoshpire Li |
86×45″ 218x114cm |
1.7 lbs 793 g |
$719 |
| Zpacks Duplex |
90×45″ 230x114cm |
1.1 lbs 525 g |
$670 |
Setup and Takedown
One facet that units the Durston X-Mid 2 Professional from different trekking pole shelters is its pitch and setup. Because it solely requires 4 stakes, the tent is pegged out as a rectangle from every nook, which makes getting a correct pitch simpler than different tents on this class. With a pleasant rectangle and 4 pegs in place, the corners may be snugged up utilizing the built-in twine tensioners. Duston despatched alongside their non-obligatory Z-Flick Tent Pole Set, which replaces two trekking poles that assist both sides of the tent. The rounded finish (or trekking pole deal with) sits in both peak, and the underside of the pole matches up with a small elastic loop on the base of the doorway. With some apply, a correct setup may be achieved in just some minutes.
As soon as pitched, there are just a few choices to regulate the tent relying on the circumstances and stage of air flow required. The corners are supposed to sit low to the bottom and supply full safety from rain, however they are often loosened and the poles lengthened to create extra airflow across the base of the tent and the mesh inside. Each doorways will also be staked out for higher zipper perform, and vestibule space however may be left un-staked when house is restricted. Like most single-walled DCF tents, condensation is nearly all the time a problem, so I sometimes had the doorways staked out and left unzipped for correct air flow. There are two small vents above every door with small struts to help with airflow. The struts are mounted at one finish and have a small velcro tab on the opposite, permitting the vents to be propped open or fully closed in harsh circumstances.
The X-Mid Professional 2 has a bathtub-style flooring that rises just a few inches off the bottom earlier than transitioning into the mesh inside. In contrast to most tents, it types a parallelogram form that truly positions the sleeping space on a diagonal contained in the tent. Whereas it would appear to be this limits the quantity of usable house contained in the tent, it’s truly the alternative. The X-Mid 2 Professional is in a league of its personal relating to inside house and weight.
Durston claims the X-Mid Professional 2 packs all the way down to 11×5” (27x12cm) throughout the included stuff sack. As a result of DCF materials can delaminate over time, they recommend rolling the shelter as an alternative of stuffing it to extend its lifespan. I discovered it simple to roll the shelter contained in the non-obligatory groundsheet together with the carbon poles and stakes to make a Durston burrito and nonetheless match it into the stuff sack with none concern. Stuffing the shelter right into a ball would assure a a lot smaller pack dimension, however that’s not a great possibility with fancy DCF tents.
A Home will not be a Dwelling
A 2,000-kilometer bikepacking tour in Australia earlier this yr meant I’ve spent extra time sleeping in a tent than ever earlier than. Though this size of journey was a primary for Emily and me, there’s one thing actually particular about getting right into a groove with a tenting setup and the sense of familiarity that comes with sleeping in the identical house every evening. The few instances we handled ourselves to “actual” beds, we have been desirous to get again out beneath the celebs and into the X-Mid Professional 2.
Lots of this consolation has to do with the distinctive form and spaciousness of the tent. The beneficiant 48” flooring width left sufficient room for us to deliver alongside a double-wide Huge Agnes sleeping pad, a primary for us, and an actual recreation changer for a cushty evening’s sleep. We additionally opted to sleep head-to-toe so each of us could possibly be positioned with our head beneath a peak, which made the inside really feel much more spacious. If sleeping by your tent mate’s toes isn’t what you’re into, Durston says it was designed to suit two vast tapered pads oriented the identical means.
Moreover the advantages of getting the offset poles and excessive factors contained in the tent, which each add to its livability, there are a number of different particulars that didn’t go unnoticed. First, with a correct setup, the tent was comparatively simple to get tensioned appropriately, which might usually be a little bit of a puzzle with trekking-pole tents. A superb pitch means higher stability within the wind, improved drainage within the rain, and correct air flow, the latter being an essential issue to think about with single-walled tents. Due to how offset they’re from the middle, we appreciated not having to fret about knocking over the carbon assist poles when getting in or out of the tent. It was additionally good to see correct stress all through the doorways and inside mesh, making the zippers simple to function and limiting the quantity of drooping cloth, which is all the time a tell-tale signal that one thing isn’t fairly proper.
We preferred having the inside pockets raised up off the bottom, and this proved particularly helpful for Emily as she was all the time nervous about the place to stash her glasses at evening. Whereas the 2 vestibules at both doorway weren’t huge, they have been a lot spacious for us to cover our footwear, helmets, and hip packs in the course of the evening. The distinctive offset flooring additionally meant we each had some further room at one nook of the tent for clothes or private objects, and this house was exaggerated as a result of our large two-person sleeping pad solely actually match instantly in the course of the tent.
Like most single-walled DCF tents, condensation was a continuing concern for us. Throughout the first leg of our journey, temperatures dropped to simply above freezing most nights, and we noticed plenty of rain and humidity. These have been difficult circumstances as we needed to maintain the principle doorways zipped shut, however that solely elevated the quantity of condensation buildup on the within of the shelter every morning. I’m blissful we packed two small camp towels, as a result of I rapidly bought into the behavior of clearing out the tent and mendacity on my again inside to wipe up all of the condensation on the inside partitions. It was important, and for somebody who spends a lot of the yr in a cool, humid setting, it could possibly be a deal breaker. The very best case state of affairs is that it’s not too windy or wet to depart the doorways absolutely unzipped in the course of the evening, otherwise you grasp the artwork of pitching the tent to lift it extra off the bottom to extend air flow.
Identical to the tent, Durston’s Z-Flick poles are additionally a pleasure to make use of. In accordance with Durston, at just below 100 grams every, they’re the lightest adjustable carbon poles in the marketplace. They use a big diameter tubing, premium carbon fiber development, and exterior ‘flick’ type adjusters which are fast and supply steady adjustment. There are 5 sections they usually pack down to simply 12” lengthy, which is nice for bikepacking, and the included velcro loops guarantee they don’t rattle round all day inside your bag. Durston additionally claims their poles are suitable with extra tents as a result of they’ve two totally different tip types (level or deal with), which means they’ll work with nearly any sort of trekking-pole type tent.
As a result of X-Mid’s constant exterior wall slopes and comparatively reasonable angles, it does a very good job in windy circumstances. It’s good not having to fret about how the tent is set-up relative to the wind, because the angles are near equal on all sides. If circumstances worsen, there are a number of further man line factors that additional strengthen the setup. The DCF development additionally assists in windy circumstances as a result of it doesn’t sag when moist and gained’t retain moisture, permitting its form to stay constant and principally taught.
Professionals
- DCF development is light-weight, sturdy, and waterproof.
- Minimal however doesn’t sacrifice key options like bug safety, a full protection fly, pockets, and magnetic door keepers.
- Packs down small, even with out stuffing.
- Z-Flick tent poles pack down to simply 12” lengthy, making them simple to stuff inside with the shelter or right into a body or handlebar bag.
- A lot of inside house because of the distinctive parallelogram form, offset poles, and twin peaks.
- Simply 4 stakes wanted for a fundamental pitch, though six are very best when utilizing the doorways.
Cons
- DCF tents are costly. Fortunately, the polyester model of the X-Mid and X-Mid 2 share most of the similar specs (however they’re heavier and fewer sturdy).
- Condensation is usually a actual concern in humid and chilly climates. Pack an absorbent towel and restrict the quantity of substances you deliver contained in the tent at evening.
- Since DCF doesn’t prefer to be stuffed, the pack dimension isn’t as small because it could possibly be, and the ensuing packed stuff sack isn’t very tight.
- Capability: Two-Individual
- Materials: 0.55 oz Dyneema, 15D Sil/PEU nylon
- Weight: 1,017 grams (2.2 kilos) – full package
- Place of Manufacture: China
- Worth: $679 USD (physique + stuff sack solely)
- Producer’s Particulars: DurstonGear.com
Wrap Up
For those who’ve made it this far, you’ve doubtless discovered I’ve a love/hate relationship with non-freestanding tents. Combine within the added complexity of a single-walled and DCF development, and I usually begin questioning whether or not the professionals are definitely worth the inherent cons. In truth, I’ve by no means had nice experiences utilizing this type of shelter, however on paper, the Durston X-Mid design and form appeared totally different, and I’m blissful I took a chance and gave it a shot.
It seems that Durston’s lofty claims, particularly in comparison with another nice shelters, are surprisingly legitimate. After some apply, the X-Mid Professional 2 is easy to arrange, tear down, and reside in. The offset poles and inside parallelogram form are one in every of its biggest strengths, successfully rising the tent’s inside house whereas limiting any funky exterior angles that may catch wind or rain. The truth that it solely requires 4 stakes and that Durston designed a extremely packable and purposeful carbon pole package to accompany it are simply bonuses. In all, there’s rather a lot to love about it.
The X-Mid Professional 2 isn’t excellent, nevertheless. Condensation build-up proved to be a problem for us. Though this isn’t particular to the X-Mid 2 Professional and is an issue with most, if not all, single-walled trekking pole tents, it’s one thing price contemplating relying on what circumstances you usually camp in. In my eyes, the design and performance of the tent outweigh the annoyance of getting to wipe down the within most mornings. If rigorously rolling up the tent as a result of its DCF development isn’t your factor, selecting up the stuffable polyester model can be a practical possibility. It’s heavier, however I’d wager it will be simpler to pack down smaller than the professional model.
To summarize, the Durston X-Mid Professional 2 proved to be a unbelievable possibility for our six-week bikepacking journey in Australia. As soon as we bought the hold of it, it felt extra like a house than another tents Emily and I’ve used collectively.
Additional Studying
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