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We're working out what we think - we'll add our view here!
Durston says:
The X-Mid 2 Solid is a variant of the award winning X-Mid 2 that is tilted more towards use in the shoulder season, cooler conditions, and wind-swept areas like Northern Europe, while remaining an excellent all around backpacking tent. Like its sibling, it has been developed from the first principles of geometry to be the most weight efficient design for a trekking pole shelter. No comparable tent under the 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) mark offers such a well rounded mix of stormworthiness, spaciousness, and simplicity, which is why the X-Mid 2 has become one of the most popular and highly awarded tents in recent years including top awards from BackpackingLight, The Trek, and Section Hiker.
STORMWORTHY
Most ultralight tents are designed more as fair weather shelters where they achieve their low weights by compromising in durability and stormworthiness. With the X-Mid 2 Solid, performance in tough conditions is a top priority, therefore the X-Mid saves weight through efficient design. This allows us to make a tent that is both ultralight and capable for tough conditions.
The X-Mid 2 Solid has a comprehensive set of protections including a full doublewall design, full coverage fly (extends low to the ground to blocks drafts and splatter), fly first pitch (keeps the inner dry during setup in the rain), polyester fabric (doesn't sag and loosen like nylon), large adjustable vents, robust waterproof coatings, durable 20D fabrics, factory waterproofed seams, and protected doorways that keep rain out even when open. No other tent offers this full list.
In addition to this set of protections, the X-Mid shape is well suited for windy and snowy conditions because every panel is at a consistently moderate slope. Other tents have flatter roof panels that catch snow and flatter sidewalls that catch wind, while the X-Mid 2 puts every panel at a balanced 50-55 degrees to deliver strong all around performance.
USER FRIENDLY
When you're tired at the end of a long day or the conditions are rough, it's essential to have a tent that performs simply and intuitively. To achieve this, the X-Mid 2 Solid is designed from obsessive attention to detail and from Dan Durston's extensive backcountry experience.
The result is the X-Mid's simple pitch with only 4 required stakes. There are no mandatory guylines, odd angles, or guesswork, which is a refreshing contrast to most trekking pole tents that require numerous stakes, guylines, and struts as part of a complex pitching process.
The eye for usability continues when the tent is set up including large doorways that are not blocked by trekking poles, roomy vestibules that are located beside the doors instead of blocking them, magnetic door toggles, a collection of 4 thoughtfully placed pockets, and one handed operating zippers.
Even the packed size of the tent has been obsessed over and optimized into a short shape that can store horizontally in any pack.
SPACIOUS
The patented X-Mid geometry is the most space efficient architecture possible for a dual trekking pole tent. It accomplishes this with an innovative design that sets the two poles further apart for greater volume and headroom, while keeping them set back from the edges to avoid a boxy shape that would be less stormworthy and require more fabric.
The result is a generously sized 2P tent that provides ample space for two adults. That includes a 52" wide floor that fits the widest pads, and a long 92" length that accommodates hikers up to 6'4". The diagonal ridgeline also allows the two occupants to move further apart for greater personal space.
The dual vestibules are also generously sized and accommodate large packs and everything else - all without blocking the doorways.
QUALITY
The X-Mid 2 Solid is built at the most experienced tent factory in the world, who have been building nothing but premium tents for nearly 70 years.
In partnership with them, we go beyond high standards to specify premium components and robust construction methods including full double stitching, double folded edges, waterproof seam construction, and generous bartacking. We know of no other tent that uses double stitching as extensively as we do.
This focus on quality gives the X-Mid 2 Solid a higher cost of production than competing tents, yet the X-Mid 2 Solid is priced affordably because we sell it directly to you with only a slim markup.
PATENTED GEOMETRY
The X-Mid shape has been developed from the first principles of geometry to be as weight efficient, simple, and functional as possible.
That includes avoiding all the common pitfalls of trekking pole shelters such as a complicated pitch, mandatory guylines, poles blocking the doorways, and a lack of interior volume.
The X-Mid 2 Solid is a spacious and simple ultralight tent that shines when the weather turns challenging. It's a well rounded tent ready for everything from hillwalks in the UK's Lake District to remote traverses of Alaska's Brooks Range.
Our Verdict
We're working out what we think about Durston's X-Mid 2 Solid Tent, we'll add our comments here in due course.
- Reviewed by Ultralight Outdoor Gear
Features
- Optimal Geometry - Patented X-Mid geometry with twin offset poles provides best in class headroom, living space, stormworthiness, and ease of pitching.
- Spacious - The diagonal (offset pole) ridgeline increases headroom and interior volume by 15-35% compared to similar shelters.
- Non Sag Fabric - The X-Mid has been a pioneer of lightweight polyester fabric because it doesn't absorb water and sag like nylon, so the shelter retains its structural integrity in wet conditions. Our passionate advocacy for polyester was initially met with resistance from many established companies using nylon, but has since led to polyester becoming widely recognized as a superior material and with many competitors now following our lead.
- Stormworthy Shape - The X-Mid shape provides consistently moderate panel slopes which balance wind and snow shedding to provide excellent all around performance. All the panels are an ideal 50 - 55 degrees, while most tents contain a less consistent mix of shallower panels (worse for snow shedding) and steeper panels (worse for wind performance).
- Full Coverage Fly - Full coverage fly extends low to the ground to block drafts and rain splatter, but can also be raised higher for increased ventilation.
- Doublewall - 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 and using the fly as a tarp shelter for up to 4 occupants (ideal for ski touring).
- Dual Vestibules - Dual vestibules are large, tall and put the main area beside the door instead of blocking it. A large backpack fits easily in the main area.
- Dual Doorways - Dual doorways are large, not blocked by trekking poles, allow for cross ventilation, have a protected design to keep rain out when the doors are open, and a easy reach to close the fly doors.
- Dual Vents - Dual adjustable peak vents minimize condensation yet can close during harsh conditions.
- Optional Guyouts - Optional peak and side panel guyouts plus eight additional stake points around the base allow the shelter to be solidly reinforced for harsh conditions.
- Protected Setup - A protected (fly first) setup keeps the floor and inner tent dry during setup in the rain.
- Simple Pitch - Ultra-simple pitch with just four stakes. The inner tent can be added separately or left clipped inside for a quicker setup.
- Small Packed Size - With light fabrics and no tent poles or struts, the X-Mid packs remarkably small including packing short enough to store horizontally in any pack.
- Magnetic Door Toggles - Magnetic toggles allow the fly doors to be closed easily with one hand.
- Four Pockets - Four interior peak pockets including dual sidewall pockets and dual peak pockets allow for storage and provide a convenient way to suspend a headlamp in the tent.
- Collapsible Vestibules - Vestibules can be collapsed to fit the tent into small sites.
- Fully Waterproofed Seams - Unlike many trekking pole shelters, our seams are factory waterproofed so user seam sealing is not required. We use a mix of seam taping and proprietary waterproof seam technology.
Specifications
- Flysheet + Inner weighs: 1057g
- Total weight: 1057g(excludes pegs & bags)
- Pegs x7 weigh: g
Durston Specs
- Fly: 21.8 oz / 620 g
- Inner Tent: 15.7 oz / 445 g
- Complete Tent: 37.5 oz / 1065 g
- Stuff Sack: 0.5 oz / 15 g
- Stakes (Included) 8 DAC J Stakes: (4 x 6" @ 7 g; 4 x 8" @ 16 g)
Dimensions
- Floor Length: 92" / 2.34 m
- Floor Width: 52" / 132 cm
- Floor Area: 33.2 sq ft / 3.1 sq m
- Peak Height: 48" / 122 cm
- Fly Footprint: 83 x 100" / 210 x 254 cm
- Vestibule Area: 11.5 sq ft x 2 / 1.1 sq m x 2
- Packed Size: 12 x 6" / 30 x 15 cm
Material & Construction
- Canopy Fabric: 20D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm HH in Sage
- Floor Fabric: 20D Sil/PE Polyester 3500mm HH in Grey
- Inner Fabric: 15D Ripstop Nylon in White
- Fly Zippers: YKK #5 AquaGuard with buckles
- Inner Zippers: YKK #3
