Is The X-Mid 2 worth the hype? End of the season gear review.
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- čas přidán 11. 07. 2024
- After a summer of usage, I take a look back on my Durston X-Mid 2 tent and decide if it lived up to the hype. Was it a total dud, or did I become a lover of the sage tent?
Thanks so much for the kind words. I'm glad you're liking the tent!
For the stakes, I am working on having better stakes. We started shipping them with a bit better stakes recently (ones that are a bit larger and stronger) and then next spring we'll have even nicer stakes.
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Your tents are absolutely awesome and I’m sorry for my criticism of the stakes it really is the only thing I had issues with and it is such a small thing. It really is the best tent Ive ever had, now I just have to save up for a pro, haha. Thanks for all you do!
@@Everydaybackpacker It's a fair critique. I wish our stakes were better. These tents got popular during covid and stakes were extremely backlogged so we had really limited options. I've been working on it but it has taken a long time. Myself and everyone will probably be happy when we start having better stakes :)
@durstongear that’s awesome and it’s a completely understandable issue. I work in outdoor retail and am aware of the major issues with aluminum and such.
I received my Xmid-2 just a couple days ago and was pleasantly surprised with 4 longish titanium stakes and 4 smaller titanium stakes. Thanks for upgrading. I had some titanium stakes to use with the tent that I’ve been using for a few years so they now get to go into my get home bag for my tarp-tent setup.
Great review. I'm just about to order an XMid2(solid) after my old faithful died on me in a gale last weekend. The Durston will be half the weight and twice the price of old faithful but hopefully will give me the same 20+ years of service!
Thanks! I hope you love the Durston!
Thank you for your review. I have just bought a X-Mid, but have not gotten it out to set up yet. I was very impressed with Dan Durston's 'how to' videos, and his clarity and through explanations. Like wise with your self. I am looking forward to using this great tent!
Thank you for your kind words! It really is a great tent and I hope you have many great adventures with it!
Nice review, definitely getting colder. Thank you for sharing 😊
Thank you for watching
Enjoyed. Happy you warmed up to the new tent.
Thanks for watching!
Great review man! 👍 Hope you reach your YT goal soon. God bless!
Thanks!
That's great. I like how you explained it in a timeline using past trips and scenarios.
For my uses, I'll probably stick with my cheap single walled 1P freestanding tent for the tiny footprint and being able to pitch almost anywhere quickly. I considered the Durston but it has the same issues as my Lanshan 1.. large footprint and not easy to pitch on hard or uneven surfaces. It definitely would be a tent I'd pick up first if I didn't have one already.
Absolutely! It’s all about finding what works for you and using to the fullest! There are definitely going to be times I don’t use the Durston due to the size haha. Thanks for watching and for your support!
Glad to hear you love it bc we just bought it a little while ago. We did a first look video already that is yet to come out but I was hoping for the same success you had with your first Durston Video. Even though we haven't used it on trail yet I can see that I agree with your overall assessment. Hahaha yes definitely keep the two attached. I got the footprint later and I haven't set it up with it yet... not sure whether or not you can keep the footprint attached and roll all 3 components up together! Great video!
Awesome! I hope you love it and that your video rocks! I’m sure it will. Yes I am definitely going to play around with keeping all three components connected. I’m currently able to get all three in the bag at the same time so I think it will work! Thank you for the kind words!
Excellent, honest review. Thank you!
Thanks!
Great honest review. Thanks! I have over 1,000 miles on a set of 20-year old MSR ground hogs and those things are amazing. Heavy but they’re reliable beasts.
I agree 100%, groundhog stakes are pretty bomb proof.
Such a great in depth review. Thank you!
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!
I'm in a similar camp as you. Got the tent in February and was my first free standing tent. Pretty much only car camping or not going more than 3-4 miles into the Backcountry until this year. So also my first lightweight tent. But so far used it about 15 nights couldn't be happier
Awesome! I agree I couldn’t be happier with the tent. Thanks for watching!
I also had 3 multi-day trips this summer and all the same positives and negaitves... i also started with msr minis and moved to full size and as you say made a HUGE difference in soft soil, rocky soil and wind/rain. I love the tent but you need to know how to use it!
I couldn’t agree more! Thanks for watching and commenting!
this tent plus a few groundhogs is phenomenal. All season high quality light small easy glorious tent.
Perfect comment! I added groundhogs to my tent too and believe I’ve found my best and last tent.
Excellent!
Thank you sir.
Doesn’t have to be the end of the season. I winter also, give it a try.
Oh I definitely still do stuff year round. Fall is my favorite time to backpack. But I don’t have a lot planned so I’m filling in with videos if that makes sense, haha. Just the end of the summer season😉
i bought the drop edition xmid back in 2019 and it completely changed the game for me, hype is warranted. i use this tent in iceland all the time and even gale force winds can't topple it
Awesome! Glad you like it! I definitely agree it’s worth the hype.
Hey, I am planning a trip to Iceland to hike at multiple locations (possibly hornstrandir, Laugavegur , Mulagljufur) next year in mid-June to July. I am considering the X-mid 2 or 1 for the trip. Do you think those would be enough or do you think a more stormworthy / wind stable tent is needed?
@@handzar0 weather dictates everything there...learn to read the weather forecast on vedur first and foremost. but yes the tent is fine. you need a lot of stakes. Laugavegur is highlands so personally i would probably only try that with an xmid if weather looks ok
I'm on the fence regarding tension tents in general. I can see how these would be absolutely perfect for a through-hike, or an end-to-end hike, where you don't plan to stay more than one night somewhere along the way.
I think about the times I've left my tent behind when I summit a peak for instance. With a tension tent I have to either leave my trekking poles behind or take my tent down. Perfect examples would be leaving your tent set up at trail camp on the way up to Whitney, or in the Chicago basin while summiting the peaks there (it’s not unreasonable to stay two nights in the CB).
If I do decide on a tension tent, it will probably be the Durston X-Mid. Then I'll just have to decide whether it's going to be a one person or two-person period.
Thanks for the review!!
Yeah, there are definitely pluses and minuses to all gear. If you do a lot of base camp type backpacking then I could see some issues with using a trekking pole set up. That said, you can also get poles for the x-mid that would free up your trekking poles but would certainly add weight. Thanks for watching!
Im looking for a good backpacking tent, my bikepacking tent is 7 pounds. I’ve been looking at this tent. It’s a bit pricey but the weight makes it worth it if its durable.
When taking down the X-Mid, would you recommend keeping the ground cloth clipped-in as well as the inner tent(provided it is reasonably dry)? Excellent review; thank you!
To be honest I’m not sure yet. I plan to play around with that some this next season. I will say that it usually is the wettest part of the tent so Im inclined to think that it might be wise to unclip it and then store it elsewhere but I will be experimenting with that as soon as Montana thaws out. Thanks for watching!
I love this tent probably more than a person should love any tent lol, but that footprint size has definitely made things tricky for me at least a couple times. Have you played with the “skinny pitch” at all by chance? I have seen a couple videos on it, but have yet to try it. Might be worth looking into if you’re in a pinch. Great review!
Cheers! 🤙🏼
Thanks! Yes Ive looked into it but have not tried the skinny pitch yet. So far I’ve been able to make it work haha. I also love this tent!
@@Everydaybackpacker For sure, just curious to see if others and had success with it. Luckily, I have also been able to make it work so far. Lol I have another smaller tent, but I have a hard time NOT taking the X Mid every time lol I appreciate the input! Happy hiking!
with any non free standing tent - take a little extra cord and learn 'little rock, big rock'
most of the time they're better than tent pegs anyway
I am aware of the technique. Thanks for watching!
If you want to remove the inner bug net easer change out the bottom clips for small carabiniers instead ..Use colored ones for the 4 bottom sides so easer to hook up ... Then you can use bug net by itself if want ... I got 4 long stakes for the 4 corners of my tent only there 8 inches long and round bought 8 of then for another 4 stake tent ...
If you want to use the bug net by itself do not buy star gazer kit just use rope on top two parts instead ...This is what I do ..
I love my X-Mid but unfortantally on our last outing we was in old growth beautiful tall trees the only promblem was acorns falling from that distance they blasted a hole right threw it hahahah not the tents fault but hey watch out for them killer acorns.
Oh man no doubt. I’ve been hit in the head by one of those falling death missiles and I saw stars hahaha. Sorry about your tent though! Thanks for watching!
No way is. A acorn going through a tent
Sorry if you’ve already said it but how tall are you? I have the xmid 1 pro and it is a palace but I’m only 5’7”. 160 lbs.
No worries, if you already asked I don’t remember and besides, I’m always happy to answer. I’m 6’1”
So why the four-star review if many of the issues of the tent are issues caused by user error?
That is a fair question. First I don’t ever give out perfect numbers because there is really no one perfect fit for everything and honestly these numbers are a bit subjective. Second, there were a few things about the tent that would limit it in various situations such as sandier soils and exposed sites that could limit it, and the extra large footprint, though nice in some ways would also be limiting factor. It’s a great tent for most situations.
@Everydaybackpacker I have this same argument with HR professionals who refuse to allow maximum ratings because "nobody is perfect".
It's terrible, faulty logic that does nothing but make your 4/5 rating system nothing more than a 4/4 system.
If "nobody" can get a 5/5 then it shouldn't be an option and it implies that nothing is "great".
The solution to the problem is a multiple tier rating system or a caveat that it's your subjective rating.
Cool vid. 😊
Durston (X-Mid) cloned this tent from the Sierra Designs - High Route 🙂 Sierra Designs - High Route Was realised in 2016 and Xmid came out 2018.
Thanks for watching. I will have to look into that sierra designs tent. I’m not familiar with it.
To a great degree, all tents are iterations on a theme. The Xmid is another tool in the box. I have the SD meteor3000 2p which is great 3 season freestanding though on heavy side. When I considered the High Route, I got the Durston X Mid solid instead for its better design.
The differences, the HR has the inner in same direction as outer, and its biggest innovation (unless someone else did it first) on other trekking pole tents was to offset poles. If anything, I see Dan greatly solved the biggest problems of the High Route: big vertical wall and no vestibule space. Dan carried the pole offset forward with a few points of innovation for wind deflection, vestibule/porch and stability. With that, it ended up a much bigger footprint. All in all, a very different animal. I just wish the Xmid also carried the double zip on the outer to be able to peek out easily, from the top.
@@ipedros7 Thanks for info
Great review. Dan Durston is the man! Just a share here - I came across a great little video “Hacks for the Durston X-Mid Solid” by CZcamsr - Hans Kirk. Worth a watch. He also did a video about his experiences managing condensation in the wet, rainy Netherlands. Also good. Thanks for the Vid.
Thanks for watching! Yes Dan is definitely the man, great guy all around! I will check out that video!
I also love my X-Mid (1p) and also changed the stakes (4 MSR GroundHog for the corners + mainly Groundhog mini for the other attachment points). Regarding the plastic clips, you don't need to attach them to the plastic D-rings which are hard to clip/unclip. Check at 6'20' on the last video Dan posted: czcams.com/video/fOJ4BKIoKGs/video.html
Right on! I did not know that. Thanks for the heads up!
@@Everydaybackpacker Dan posted the video just a few days before I left for a 2-weeks hike, and I can assure you that trick changes everything after a long day hike 🤩
@eric_festinger I bet! Thanks again!
I LOVE MINE....................
Same!
Tents . . . (sigh) . You never know one until you have to live with it .
what type of OR gloves are those?
If you are referring to the sun gloves, they are the ActiveIce Chroma gloves.
Thank you
You are welcome!
I also have those gloves, fantastic for hiking and photography
No
Ok