Durston Gear X-Mid 1P Ultralight Backpacking Tent (V2)

Durston Gear X-Mid 1P Ultralight Backpacking Tent (V2)

Regular price $240.00
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SPECS

    Materials

  • 20 denier 420 thread-count 100-percent polyester in desert sage (fly) or monument grey (floor)
  • 3500mm sil/PEU coating
  • Peak reinforced with 210d black nylon
  • YKK #5 AquaGuard (water-resistant) zippers (fly)
  • YKK #3 zippers (inner tent)
  • 8 aluminum V stakes

  • Dimensions: Typical Values

  • Fly: 67 x 100 in / 170 x 254 cm
  • Fly area: 46.5 sq ft / 4.3 sq m
  • Fly peak height: 46 in / 117 cm
  • Inner peak height: 43 in / 110 cm
  • Floor width: 32 in / 81 cm
  • Floor length: 90 in / 230 cm
  • Floor area: 20 sq ft / 1.85 sq m
  • Vestibule area: 20 sq ft (10 sq ft x 2) / 2 sq m (1 sq m x 2)
  • Packed size: 12 x 5 in / 30 x 13 cm

  • Weights

  • Fly, including guylines: 17.3 oz / 490 g
  • Inner: 10.7 oz / 305 g
  • Tent (Fly + inner): 28 oz / 795 g
  • Stuff sack: 0.4 oz / 12 g
  • Stake sack: 0.2 oz / 4 g
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (6 in / 15 cm) @ 10 g
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (7 in / 18 cm) @ 12 g
  • Complete package: 31.6 oz / 897 g (tent, stuff sacks, 8 stakes)

    Features

  • Ultra-simple four stake pitch
  • Tent pitches fly first (inner tent stays dry during rain setup)
  • Twin pole structure provides generous living space
  • Double-wall design and dual vents protect from condensation
  • Dual doors & dual vestibules give easy access/ample gear space
  • Protected doorways can be left open in light rain
  • Doorways are large and not blocked by trekking poles
  • Polyester fabric does not sag in the rain.
  • Polyester fabric does not absorb water, so it is fast dry and stays light.
  • Interior peak pockets provides handy storage
  • Large vents provide excellent ventilation and close easily during harsh conditions.
  • Excellent snow shedding via steep roof panels
  • Optional peak guylines and side panel guylines plus 8 optional stake points around the base for harsh conditions
  • Fly extends to ground to block drafts, can be raised for more ventilation
  • Packs short enough to store horizontally in a pack
  • Fly and inner can pitch independently
  • Magnetic door toggles for quick operation
  • Fully Waterproof Seams (Seam Taped or Waterproof Construction)
  • Non-slippery floor
  • Fully double-stitched construction
  • Premium materials and hardware (e.g., YKK AquaGuard Zippers)

  • Included

  • 2-year warranty
  • Stuff sack
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (6 in / 15 cm)
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (7 in / 18 cm)

  • Not included: 2 trekking poles or tent poles required for setup
    Recommended Trekking Poles: Kaviso x Fizan Compact Trekking Poles
  • Recommended Tent Poles: Durston Gear Z-Flick (Pair)

Check out some common questions:

The X-Mid is built at the same high end factory as respected brands like MSR and Mountain Hardware. Our price is only lower because we sell direct to you rather than having a large retail markup (retailers typically double the price). By eliminating that markup, we can pass most of the savings onto you, while also investing a portion into building even better gear. For example, the X-Mid is the highest quality as we insist that literally everything is double sewn, and we use premium components such as waterproof YKK AquaGuard zippers that are rare even on the most expensive tents (e.g. Big Agnes doesn’t even use them on their $1000 tents), and yet our price is lower than anything comparable simply because of the slim markup.

There are a few other tent companies that also sell direct yet are still priced similar to tents at retail. That’s simply because they’re enjoying generous profit margins while hoping you wrongly assume their higher prices means higher quality. Take a close look and you’ll see those tents often aren’t even seam taped nor fully double stitched yet cost 50% more. Even at a higher price, you can’t find higher quality than the X-Mid.

The X-Mid 1 has a very typical footprint for a reasonably spacious trekking pole tent and is only sometimes considered large when it is compared to relatively tiny freestanding tents. This should not pose difficulties with site selection, as it is still smaller than almost every 2P tent (which are widely used everywhere).

Trekking pole tents do have a bit larger footprint than freestanding tents because freestanding tents can steepen the sidewalls to trim the edges, plus many mainstream freestanding tents are quite tiny. So certainly there are tents with smaller footprints but X-Mid is very similar to any other reasonably spacious 1P tent and smaller than almost every 2P tent. There is a trade off here between the amount of space and footprint size, where we think providing a comfortable amount of space is the right approach because it benefits you every night, whereas only on rare occasions is the bit larger footprint a small inconvenience. The X-Mid is one of the most popular tents on the Appalachian Trail where smaller campsites are common, which shows that this is not a substantial issue even in areas with limited sites.

There are tents with traditional pole sets that are as light as the X-Mid, such as the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 (27oz). Those pole sets are heavy (often about 8oz) to get those tents as light something else has to give. Commonly that’s space, performance, and durability. A traditional tent as light as the X-Mid is almost certainly far smaller and uses more delicate fabrics and much thinner waterproof coatings. You’ll also typically find they cut features (e.g., lacking vents) and use less durable #3 zippers (vs. #5), which are a common failure point. The X-Mid offers a more durable and high-performance shelter for the same weight to give robust 3 season performance.

Yes. The inner easily disconnects via buckles at the peaks and clips at the four corners to leave just the fly. If you want to pitch just the inner, you can remove the fly peaks’ guylines and tie them to the inner peaks while adding knots for the pole tips, but makes inner-only pitching much easier as it has separate guylines that clip right on plus grommets for your pole tips and tensioners for quick adjustment.

The X-Mid 1 and 2 are designed to work with almost all adjustable length trekking poles and some fixed length trekking poles. The length of pole needed can vary based on how it is pitched and uneven ground, but the X-Mid tents typically pitch with the poles in the range of 46-48" and almost always in the range of 45 - 50". Adjustable poles are ideal for fine tuning the pitch and the X-Mid is compatible with every telescoping adjustable pole on the market. At Kaviso, we recommend Fizan Trekking Poles.

The X-Mid 1 and 2 tents are designed to pitch with the pole 'tips up' by fitting the tip into a grommet. Almost every pole will be compatible with this grommet but it is possible that rare models of poles have unusual tips shapes that are incompatible. At present, we only know of the Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z poles as being incompatible as they have thicker tips. These poles can still be used in a 'handles up' orientation with Tarp Tent adapters.

Durston Gear offers folding, adjustable length poles called Z-Flick poles that can be used instead of trekking poles. These are the lightest adjustable poles on the market and can be purchased in X-Mid tent bundles as well.

There are also less common folding style adjustable poles (e.g. Black Diamond Distance Z Carbon) which have more limited ranges and may only work in certain sizes so you should check the specified adjustment range to ensure it spans at least 46-48" (117 - 122 cm). Fixed length poles can also be used in the 115 or 120cm lengths, although these can be slightly too short or too long such that additional techniques are needed (e.g. angling them to make them lower, or shimming them up to be taller).

The main reason is that nylon absorbs water in wet conditions. That results in 3 big problems: First, it expands (or “sags”) about 4% which makes for a saggy tent in wet conditions. This is a common problem in nearly all lightweight tents, but low weight polyester fabrics are finally available which solve this. Second, nylon’s water absorption makes the tent slow to dry and heavy with up to a pound of water in the fabric, and third, nylon weakens by about 10% when wet. Polyester doesn’t absorb water, so it doesn’t have any of these issues plus it’s far more UV resistant so it lasts longer.

For the most weather resistant pitch, you should pitch it low to the ground (shorten the cord at the corners as much as possible), use the optional stake out points around the base to spread the load, and deploy the peak guylines. Orient the guylines towards the long sides of the tent to support those larger walls. For extreme conditions, you can add a second peak guyline by tying cord inside the peaks and running it out the vents. This way, you can guyout each peak from two directions, which makes it extremely strong.

The X-Mid geometry is the most volumetrically efficient shape possible. Thus, it is impossible to design a lighter tent unless you use lighter materials, fewer features, or make it smaller. If you find a more lightweight tent, it likely is a single wall design that isn’t nearly as good in sloppy conditions, or it uses DCF fabric and thus costs at least 2.5x as much.

Any tent that uses similar materials and is also a double-wall usually is quite a bit heavier. Of the few tents that are not, these are always smaller, less featured, or both. We could make the X-Mid smaller or less featured too, but its current design is carefully considered so that it is among the lightest tents in its class while still offering a comfortable amount of space and a useful feature set. Basically, the weight is similar to the lightest woven double-wall tents out there while providing more space and features. To save another two ounces would require large compromises in function or durability, such as hard to use door clips instead of zippers, smaller or omitted vents, and delicate hardware. Tents that make these compromises are much less well rounded.

The 20D floor is designed to be durable enough to use without a groundsheet, whereas many other UL tents use more fragile 10-15D floors. However, it still requires care not to pitch on sharp sticks and rocks, and the floor could be damaged on harsh surfaces like gravel. For harsh surfaces or a cleaner floor,

A) Check out the Durston Gear repair guide.

Every X-Mid tent purchased from Kaviso includes a 2 year warranty against manufacturing defects.

View the full warranty overview here.

The Warranty does not cover: normal wear and tear, tents that have been modified, neglected (e.g., not drying after use), or damaged from accidents or extreme conditions, material failure due to exceeding the durability of the fabric, or other signs of use that are reasonably expected with ultralight equipment. The Warranty repair requests will be honored at Kaviso’s sole discretion.

To initiate a warranty request, please submit the form through the following link:


Domestic Orders:

Orders will ship UPS Ground or USPS Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. All orders will ship from Columbus, OH and arrive within 1-6 business days.

International Orders:

International customers may have the option to select FedEx, or USPS shipping at check-out (depending on your country).

Pre-paid Duties/Taxes Included: FedEx Economy and Priority: Duties and Taxes can optionally be collected at check-out and no additional fees, duties, or taxes are due at delivery. FedEx is our recommended shipping method and typically takes 2-8 business days depending on your country.

Due on Delivery (Duties/Taxes): FedEx Connect Plus or Priority / USPS First Class or Priority: Duties and Tax estimates are provided at check-out* for your reference and are due on delivery. Shipping times vary by country but may be up to 30-45 days for First Class Mail, and up to 30 days for Priority Mail. If you have a trip deadline, we always recommend FedEx to ensure on-time and reliable delivery. FedEx Connect Plus and Priority can be selected without pre-paid duties & taxes and is typcally the cheapest option. Delivery times are 3-10 days depending on your country.

With USPS, it is not uncommon for 14+ days to pass without any tracking updates. Unfortunately, USPS is unable to provide any additional information not displayed on the tracking page. Please be patient, Kaviso is unable to ship a replacement unless 45+ days have passed (For USPS International shipments). While this may be frustrating, this policy is borne out of experience and nearly 99.9% of packages are eventually delivered.

Your local carrier (Royal Mail, Canada Post, La Poste, etc.) will reach out to collect duties and taxes before the parcel is delivered. Once the shipment leaves the US, most countries allow customers to pay their duties and taxes online using your USPS tracking number. This process can lead to customs and delivery delays if you do not make timely payment.

International USPS availability: Due to delivery issues with recent sales, USPS availability has been slimmed down exclusively to countries with delivery confirmation: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, and the United Kingdom. Countries excluded from this list will be shipped via FedEx.

*If using Apple Pay, duties and tax estimates do not display at check-out. To get estimates, select payment through Credit Card to see estimate and then revert to Apple Pay for final payment. Pre-paid duties/tax options such as FedEx Economy and Priority do display correctly.

Pitching Instructions

The X-Mid tents are very simple to pitch, however, there are some things to consider for maximum performance. For this, we recommend watching the video below but we also have written instructions following that.

Basic Pitch:

1. Stake out the rectangular base (i.e. stake one end, pull out a 3rd corner at 90 degrees, pull last corner taut).
2. Inspect your rectangle to make sure it’s reasonably accurate (not skewed into a diamond). Adjust if needed.
3. Tighten the corner tensioners to pull the base tight (this will limit the poles to the right height)
4. Add the two poles and extend firmly until the fly is tight (poles will be handles up in the Pro series tents and tips up in the other models).

Durston Gear Pitch Guide

Troubleshooting

It is best to correct any issues with the pitch before you add more stakes to reinforce it. There are two common issues which are explained the most clearly in our video above (please watch that), but if you prefer text here they are:

1. Loose Sides

Problem: The rectangular base was not tight when the poles were added. Like this, when the poles are added it pulls the corners in.
Solution: Lower the poles to take tension off the corner seams, snug up the base, re-extend the poles.

2. Loose Ridgeline or Wonky Canopy

Problem: The base was not staked in an accurate rectangle but instead was skewed left or right. Depending on the direction of the skew, the fly will be loose on one diagonal (along the ridgeline, crossing the ridgeline).
Solution: As the diagram below explains, use the corner tensioners to adjust the corners back into a proper rectangle. Most likely you will loosen two opposite corners that were quite tight and tighten the two opposite corners so the tent is more evenly tensioned. Then extend the poles more to make everything tight.

Durston Gear Pitch Guide

Storm Pitch

To strengthen the pitch for storms, we recommend the following in this approximate order of importance:
1. Make sure your basic pitch is good (tight everywhere). It is best not to add more stakes to compensate for core issues. Get the core pitch right and then add more stakes to reinforce.
2. Add the peak guylines. Stake these out along the ridgeline or angled more towards the door walls if the wind is to the broad side.
3. Stake out the doorways. Angle the stake to reduce tension on the zipper. If your tent has shockcord at the door and/or end wall stake points, consider replacing this with static cord and stake these points to better anchor the peak. The static cord eliminates stretch for a more solid pitch.
4. Add the side panel guylines and stake these down on the same angle of slope as the roof panels so they are pulling against the peaks. Do not pull the sides out substantially.
5. Add more stakes around the perimeter as needed.

The X-Mid 1P

Awarded one of the best backpacking tents by OutdoorGearLab, The Trek, and Section Hiker, the patented X-Mid is developed from the first principles of geometry to achieve the most weight efficient design for a trekking pole shelter. The X-Mid is exceptionally capable, spacious, and stormworthy, while anything lighter is smaller, lower function, and/or using less durable materials.
SIMPLE, SPACIOUS TREKKING-POLE SHELTER
Designed to be the best double-wall solo shelter supported by trekking poles, the X-Mid is the brainchild of Dan Durston, an experienced thru-hiker and established member of the ultralight community. It aims to solve the common issues seen in trekking-pole-supported tents: Most are single-trekking-pole pyramids, which lack headroom, or overly complex multi-pole designs, which are tedious to pitch. The X-Mid, on the other hand, offers a generous living space (now 30% larger) with dual doors and an easy setup using four stakes and no guylines. All told, it’s simpler, roomier, and more functional than its competitors—and at just 28 ounces, it’s lighter, too.
Durston Gear X-Mid 1P ultralight Backpacking / Trekking Pole Tent Dimensions and Size exclusive to Kaviso
Durston Gear X-Mid 1P ultralight Backpacking / Trekking Pole Tent Dimensions and Size exclusive to Kaviso
INNOVATIVE DESIGN, STORM-WORTHY MATERIALS
The X-Mid achieves its impressive specs through an innovative design with a diagonal inner inside a rectangular-based fly. This allows the poles (not included with X-Mid purchase) and peaks to be moved inwards from the edges without interfering with doors and living space, eliminating vertical, wind-catching walls and the need for peak guyouts. The tent is made of 20D polyester with a 3500mm sil/PEU coating. Tested under extreme lab conditions simulating 1.5 months of continuous high winds and heavy rains, the fabric still came out above 1500mm.
Durston Gear X-Mid 1P ultralight Backpacking / Trekking Pole Tent exclusive to Kaviso
PITCHING YOUR TENT
Pitching the X-Mid is similar to pitching a single-pole mid tent. Stake out the rectangle with just one 90-degree angle to guess for the third stake, then insert the two poles (not included with X-Mid purchase). There’s no guesswork with pole locations or pole lengths, because the fly naturally limits the length of the poles. Simply insert them into the grommets and extend until taut.
THE NITTY GRITTY
The peak features 210d black nylon used to form a reinforcing cone, along with a quarter-inch grommet for the trekking pole tip. Vents consist of overlapping panels of fabric that can be propped apart with a strut. In tough conditions, the peak guylines can be deployed, along with extra stakes at the eight additional stake points around the perimeter. The inner uses a unique parallelogram shape to take full advantage of the area inside the fly. In addition to accommodating even tall hikers, this shape provides protected area for gear storage at both ends. It also features dual ridgeline pockets, which conveniently hold a headlamp for reading, provide a secure area for valuables, and keep important items in close reach during the night. Finally, the fly uses tough #5 zippers to ensure a long life, even in tough conditions.
A LEADER IN OUTDOOR GEAR
The X-Mid is made in the epicenter of high-quality outdoor product manufacturing, home to factories that produce tents and apparel for the top brands in the world. The factory that produces the X-Mid also produces some of its top competitors from well-known companies such as MSR and Mountain Hardware, maintaining the highest level of materials sourcing, construction techniques, and testing with all of the tents it produces.

Even More Spacious

More spacious, more stormworthy, more user friendly – just as light. The inner is now larger in all dimensions, increasing interior volume by 30% while maintaining the same 28 oz weight.

SPECS

    Materials

  • 20 denier 420 thread-count 100-percent polyester in desert sage (fly) or monument grey (floor)
  • 3500mm sil/PEU coating
  • Peak reinforced with 210d black nylon
  • YKK #5 AquaGuard (water-resistant) zippers (fly)
  • YKK #3 zippers (inner tent)
  • 8 aluminum V stakes

  • Dimensions: Typical Values

  • Fly: 67 x 100 in / 170 x 254 cm
  • Fly area: 46.5 sq ft / 4.3 sq m
  • Fly peak height: 46 in / 117 cm
  • Inner peak height: 43 in / 110 cm
  • Floor width: 32 in / 81 cm
  • Floor length: 90 in / 230 cm
  • Floor area: 20 sq ft / 1.85 sq m
  • Vestibule area: 20 sq ft (10 sq ft x 2) / 2 sq m (1 sq m x 2)
  • Packed size: 12 x 5 in / 30 x 13 cm

  • Weights

  • Fly, including guylines: 17.3 oz / 490 g
  • Inner: 10.7 oz / 305 g
  • Tent (Fly + inner): 28 oz / 795 g
  • Stuff sack: 0.4 oz / 12 g
  • Stake sack: 0.2 oz / 4 g
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (6 in / 15 cm) @ 10 g
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (7 in / 18 cm) @ 12 g
  • Complete package: 31.6 oz / 897 g (tent, stuff sacks, 8 stakes)

    Features

  • Ultra-simple four stake pitch
  • Tent pitches fly first (inner tent stays dry during rain setup)
  • Twin pole structure provides generous living space
  • Double-wall design and dual vents protect from condensation
  • Dual doors & dual vestibules give easy access/ample gear space
  • Protected doorways can be left open in light rain
  • Doorways are large and not blocked by trekking poles
  • Polyester fabric does not sag in the rain.
  • Polyester fabric does not absorb water, so it is fast dry and stays light.
  • Interior peak pockets provides handy storage
  • Large vents provide excellent ventilation and close easily during harsh conditions.
  • Excellent snow shedding via steep roof panels
  • Optional peak guylines and side panel guylines plus 8 optional stake points around the base for harsh conditions
  • Fly extends to ground to block drafts, can be raised for more ventilation
  • Packs short enough to store horizontally in a pack
  • Fly and inner can pitch independently
  • Magnetic door toggles for quick operation
  • Fully Waterproof Seams (Seam Taped or Waterproof Construction)
  • Non-slippery floor
  • Fully double-stitched construction
  • Premium materials and hardware (e.g., YKK AquaGuard Zippers)

  • Included

  • 2-year warranty
  • Stuff sack
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (6 in / 15 cm)
  • 4 aluminum V stakes (7 in / 18 cm)

  • Not included: 2 trekking poles or tent poles required for setup
    Recommended Trekking Poles: Kaviso x Fizan Compact Trekking Poles
  • Recommended Tent Poles: Durston Gear Z-Flick (Pair)