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We're working out what we think - we'll add our view here!
Durston says:
The X-Dome™ 1+ is a generously sized one person freestanding tent made by combining our unique X-Mid floorplan with a maximally weight and strength efficient pole set to improve spaciousness, stormworthiness, and simplicity in an ultralight tent. At just 35 oz (985 g), the X-Dome 1+ is amongst the lightest fully freestanding doublewall tents in the world, while being more spacious, stronger, and more user friendly than comparable tents. It is the ideal 3+ season shelter for any solo hiker preferring a freestanding tent.
PROTECTIVE
The patent pending X-Dome 1+ achieves improved strength for an ultralight tent through its unique geometry, use of carbon fiber tubing, high tenacity silpoly fabric, and a pole set designed for optimal structural efficiency via larger diameter spine tubing. The result is a highly capable shelter with up to 3x the strength of other ultralight tents.
While you'll probably never need to do this, the X-Dome allows trekking poles to be added to complete the crossbar into a robust extra arch to further increase strength. The poles are added in a unique counter balanced position where they support the sidewalls from deflection and provide greater rigidity.
What usually matters more though than outright strength is "practical stormworthiness" - how liveable the tent is in tough conditions. Here the X-Dome excels with an overhanging doorway (so rain doesn't fall inside), a fly first pitch (to keep the interior dry during setup in the rain), 100% polyester fly fabric (non-sag and dries fast), dual peak vents (to minimize condensation), and double wall protection. No other ultralight freestanding tent can claim this list.
SPACIOUS
The X-Dome 1+ is a palatial 1P tent with a large floor, outstanding headroom, generous length, and a spacious vestibule. It can fit one person easily with room to spare, and can even squeeze in two adults.
The floorplan is based on the unique parallelogram design of our X-Mid series tents, but with the floor expanded to fill the back vestibule - giving an excellent 23 sq ft (2.2 sq m) of space. This floor widens to a luxurious 50" (1.3 m) at the head end, while the length is 85" when sleeping straight and tall hikers can sleep diagonally for an outstanding 90" of length - all of which is highly useable due to the steep end walls.
The interior volume and headroom is increased by the variable radius pole set which curves the end walls steeper to increase volume, while a cross bar expands the peak height over more of the interior. The interior height of 42" (1.1 m) is generous (3-5" taller than comparable tents) and extends over a larger portion of the tent. Even on a thick pad, you can sit up anywhere.
Lastly, the vestibule is conveniently positioned beside the main doorway (instead of blocking it like most tents) and has a generous size of 9.2 sq ft that easily fits the largest packs with extra room for cooking, shoes, and wet gear.
SIMPLICITY
Simplicity is a huge focus with our tents because when you are tired at the end of an ambitious day, or rough weather is rolling in, you want a tent that is fast and simple to use.
That starts with the pitch, where the fly, inner, and poles all extend to the same four points so you can pitch the tent in any order. It can pitch fly first to keep the inner tent dry during setup in the rain, but just as easily pitch it inner first to stargaze on clear nights. The X-Dome can pitch with the fly and inner added separately or pre-connected to save time, and it is 100% freestanding without need for any stakes, cords, or guylines (you should always stake your tent but with the X-Dome you can let the conditions determine which ones).
Another big focus was the doorways, which use a crossbar to increase the height and an angled zipper to widen the opening - giving an oversized door for easy entry. The smaller side of the door can be secured with a stake or trekking pole to shelter the vestibule, or rolled back to completely open the tent. All doors secure easily with magnets and the unique floorplan gives a short reach to close the fly door.
The X-Dome also improves your experience with fast dry/non-sag polyester fabric, a fully connected pole set (no pieces to lose or step on), interior hang loops, dual pockets, and a compact footprint that fits onto any tent site.
QUALITY
In addition to the high performance design, the X-Dome offers exceptional quality. That starts with premium materials including high tenacity 15D silpoly and optional Easton carbon fiber poles which enable substantially higher strength for the weight. Durston has long been a leader in advancing polyester for lightweight tents, so with the X-Dome we are introducing a next generation high tenacity silpoly with unprecedented strength for the weight. This high tenacity silpoly allows us to make a lighter 15D silpoly with strength that is similar to most 20D silpoly.
We take these materials and craft them into the X-Dome at arguably the most experienced tent factory in the world for premium tents. We use advanced construction methods like high precision narrow seams, narrow seam taping, waterproof seam construction, generous double stitching, ample bartacking, and double folded edges.
Overall, the X-Dome 1+ is a truly special freestanding tent. With a weight close to 2 lbs (less than 1 kg) it is among the lightest doublewall freestanding tents while being more spacious, stormworthy and user friendly than comparable tents. It protects with a fly first pitch and robust structure, comfortably accommodates with class leading interior volume and floor area, and is simple to use with large doorways and a zero stake pitch. The X-Dome 1+ is the ideal freestanding tent for adventures from the Appalachian Trail to Argentina.
Our Verdict
We're working out what we think about Durston's X-Dome 1+ Tent, we'll add our comments here in due course.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- Optimal Geometry - Our patent pending X-Dome geometry combines our unique X-Mid floorplan with a freestanding pole structure to enable generous space and a large vestibule inside of a simpler and lighter rectangular fly. This rectangular fly enables higher strength, greater simplicity, and a 100% freestanding zero stake pitch at a lower weight.
- Structurally Efficient Pole Set - A single larger tube can be stronger and lighter than multiple smaller tubes, so the X-Dome pole set modifies the classic dual arch design by combining the dual arches together across the top of the tent, while also upsizing this "spine" tubing to offer the strength of a dual arch tent at a lower weight. This pole set also uses optional premium Easton carbon fiber to further improve the strength and lower the weight.
- Spacious - The X-Dome 1+ is a highly spacious 1 person tent, including a floor large enough to store packs, kids, and dogs inside. Headroom is about 5" taller than normal with a 42" interior peak height and this extends over a large portion of the tent, while steep end walls provide excellent length.
- Trekking Pole Supports - Trekking poles can be optionally added to complete the cross bar into an ultra strong extra arch, giving the tent 4-season levels of strength. Uniquely, these trekking pole supports are counter balanced so they directly support the sidewalls from deflection and further increase the vertical and horizontal stability of the tent.
- Non Sag Polyester Fly - Our tents have pioneered the use of polyester in lightweight tents because polyester doesn't expand and sag like other fabrics, so the shelter dries fast and retains its structural integrity in wet conditions.
We introduced this back in 2018 when lightweight polyester was viewed with apprehension by most other companies, but our passionate advocacy for it has since led to polyester becoming widely accepted as a superior material for tent flys, and with many other companies now following our lead.
With the X-Dome, we are introducing a new generation of high tenacity polyester which provides unprecedented strength for the weight. Our previous silpoly has been rigorously proven in real world conditions including over a million user nights with exceptional performance. Our new polyester provides builds on this by providing similar strength at a lower weight. - Large Doorway - The doorway is very large thanks to the crossbar (which increases the height) and the angled zipper (which widens the opening). This large door provides easy entry and can be enlarged further by also opening the smaller side of the door to completely open the side of the tent. In addition to the generous size, the doorway is fully protected (overhanging) so rain won't fall inside. The fly provides an awning over the vestibule area even if both doors are opened. When using only the main door, the smaller door can be secured with a stake, but also anchored by an angled trekking pole.
- Large Vestibule - The X-Dome 1+ vestibule is large, tall and puts the main area beside the door instead of blocking it for improved ease of use. The vestibule has a healthy 22" (0.55 m) of depth at the door zipper which widens further to 27" at the end of the tent, giving room for even the largest packs. From inside the tent you can easily access the vestibule through the main door, plus you can open the smaller interior door to directly access the vestibule space.
- Doublewall - A full doublewall design with separate fly and inner components avoids potential contact with fly condensation and allows for modular use, including pitching the inner only in fair weather, pitching the fly first to keep the inner tent dry in the rain, and using the fly + poles without the inner as an even lighter shelter (24 oz / 680 g)
- Dual Vents - The dual adjustable peak vents minimize condensation yet can close during harsh conditions.
- Optional Guyouts - The X-Dome has a wide range of optional guyouts including the ability to add dual guylines at each corner, plus guylines at the hubs and cross bar ends (12 guylines in total). When using the corner guylines, wrap them around the poles for the highest performance.
- Versatile and Protected Pitch - The simple yet unique design of the X-Dome allows it to pitch naturally in any order. You can pitch the fly first to keep the inner tent dry during setup in the rain, but also pitch the inner first for stargazing on warm summer nights. The tent can be pitched with the two parts pre-connected together (for faster pitching) or separately (so they can be stored apart). However you want to pitch the tent, the X-Dome can do it simply and easily with no extra parts or practice required.
The design is also 100% freestanding including not even needing the vestibules to be staked out. Instead of staking the vestibule you can secure it with an angled trekking pole, or roll it back and still have it sheltered by an awning. Of course you should use some stakes so the tent doesn't blow away, but you can let the conditions determine that instead of the tent requiring you to use certain stakes. - Full Coverage Fly - A full coverage fly extends low to the ground to block drafts and rain splatter.
- Magnetic Door Toggles - Magnetic toggles allow the fly and interior doors to be closed operated with one hand.
- Dual Pockets - The X-Dome 1+ has dual interior peak pockets including a smaller pocket beside the door (ideal for phones) and a larger pocket at the end (ideal for clothes, stuff sacks). The X-Dome also has 4 hang loops that allow for a wide range of clotheslines and other setups.
- Fully Waterproofed Seams - Our seams are factory waterproofed with high precision narrow seam taping to provide a tent that is ready to use out of the box while staying light.
Specifications
- Flysheet weighs: 427g
- Inner weighs: 314g
- Poles weigh: 290g
- Total weight: 1031g(excludes pegs & bags)
- Pegs x 8 ( 4 small, 4 long) weigh: 29g small, 66g long)
Durston Specs
- Fly: 14.3 oz / 405 g
- Inner Tent: 11.1 oz / 315 g (Regular) 12.9 oz / 365 g (Solid)
- Pole Set: 9.3 oz / 265 g (Carbon) 13.0 oz / 365 g (Aluminum) 11.1 oz / 310 g (Carbon Short)
- Complete Tent: 34.7 oz / 985 g (Regular interior + Carbon poles)
- Stuff Sacks: 15 g (main), 7 g (poles), 3 g (stakes)
- Stakes (Included) 8 DAC J Stakes: (4 x 6" @ 7 g; 4 x 8" @ 16 g)
Dimensions
- Fly Area: 56.5" x 88" (1.45 m x 2.25 m)
- Fly Height: 45" (1.15 m)
- Inner Height: 42" (1.08 m)
- Floor Width: 29 - 50" (0.75 - 1.3 m)
- Floor Length: 85" (2.15 m) straight, or 90" (2.3 m) diagonal.
- Floor Area: 23.5 sq ft (2.2 sq m)
- Vestibule Area: 1 x 9.2 sq ft (0.85 sq m)
- Packed Size: 19" x 4.5" / 48 x 12 cm (Carbon) 18.5 " x 4.5" / 46 x 12 (Aluminum) 13" x 5.5" / 33 x 15 cm (Carbon Short)
Material & Construction
- Fly Fabric: 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE Poly 3500mm HH
- Floor Fabric: 15D Sil/PE Nylon 3500mm HH (Regular) 20D Sil/PE Poly 3500mm HH (Solid)
- Poles: Easton Carbon 3.9 / 6.3 blend, or DAC NFL 8.7 / 9.3 blend
- Zippers: YKK #3 AquaGuard (fly) or #3 (inner)
