Durston - X-Mid 2

I’m 6’2” and I fit but just barely. I keep my pack in the vestibule portion. You could look at the Xmid-2 or the Xdome 1+ maybe but both weigh a bit more of course.

I use a Tarptent Rainbow which is kind of a 1+ tent with my St Bernard, and that's about as tight as I'd be willing to go. I also have a triplex but obviously that's plenty (and too much) room/footprint for a lot of sites. I think a 2 person is the right size, especially if they get wet and you don't want them snuggling your nice down quilt and would lean towards the xmid 2 for that reason, and it has double doors so they can get in and out without stepping on your inflatable pad. A good dog trick is to put their pad in first, then give them their "go to your bed" command, and then set your stuff up. I find doing it in this order he doesn't try to step on or steal my pad.

🧡🧡 x-mid 2. It packs light and small and has a remarkably discreet footprint. And it's tough enough that a big dog doing dog things won't shred it to pieces.

If you can stretch the budget just a llittle or do some sales hunting, consider the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 OR MSR Hubba Hubba NX 2 OR Durston X-Mid 2. [11 Best 2-Persons Tent for Camping and Backpacking](https://alaskanarrows.com/11-best-2-person-tent-camping-and-backpacking/) can help with the others. They’re are all 3-season tents with better fabrics, stronger pole architecture, roomier vestibules and more thoughtful details (doors, vents, zips) than budget models. They’ll be heavier and cost more than the Cloud-Up versions but they’re way more durable and comfortable long term, take it from me, I’ve gone on countless trips with various types of tents so yeah! If $300 is a hard cap, watch for sales or used tents online, you’ll find something!

I got a Xmid 2 for me and my medium size dog too. I also considered the lunar solo and was looking at the 1p Stratospire. I haven’t had issues with the footprint being big, but that might just be luck/locality. I’m glad I got a double wall tent - the condensation from a panting dog+regular environmental concerns is intense even in a double wall. I do use it when I’m solo (and it’s overkill), but have considered picking up a one person tent for the weight savings.

I also use a Xmid 2 with a dog. I like chilling on warm evenings with both vestibules rolled back, but net zipped closed. Lots of space for me and the dog and gear.

For less than $200, the Lanshan 2 or the pro 2 is a good option. It's popular as a budget trekking pole tent. If you don't already have poles, I use $30 cascade aluminum trekking poles from amazon and they're solid and reasonably light if I'm carrying them instead of using them. For a little more money, I really like my Durston Xmid 2, but it's \~$260.

That’s a long lead time! It’s a solid tent tho, I’m really happy with mine. You could check r/ulgeartrade - I feel like I see someone selling a xmid every week.

I have a Durston Xmid and love it - I also considered Six Moons Lunar Solo and Tarptent Stratospire and rainbow. They have some other tents in your budget too. Gossamer Gear has affordable single wall tents.

You don't need a 3 person tent, you need a Durston X-mid 2. It's SO SPACIOUS for a 2-p tent. Our sleeping pads don't touch each other's, and there's room at the foot of the tent for our clothes and my camera and anything else we want to bring inside. Big vestibules, and very lightweight.  It's a hiking pole tent, so you do need poles.

Lanshan 2 is a perfectly decent tent for the price point, I have no complaints about mine other than the typical trade offs that style of trekking pole tent has, but the durston X-mid 2 is not much more and is probably a better value.

Depends on the dog but my 6kg hiking buddy is an idiot with single walls. He ends up wet in the morning as he has no awareness of the condensation on the tent walls and then proceeds to shake it off. Sounds like you’ve pretty much decided on the x-mid 2. Again, depends on the dog but if mine can see something out the mesh he wants to get to he will run at it forgetting it’s there or paw it. A solid interior stops him from doing this.

I own the Xmid two (non-pro) and I had a Lanshan 2 Pro. I've tried sleeping two adults and a dog in the Xmid. I would not recommend it. The dog is going to be sleeping on your mat and if they are wet your sleeping bag will be soaked through in no time.

The Xmid, hands down. I like the double wall design way better and the SylPoly holds less water and pitches taughter than the SylNylon. It's also a more comfortable space for two adults, the inner tent gives you a little extra protection from condensation which is nice when you are stuck in a downpour ...

I have the solid only because they were sold out of the mesh when I needed mine. I would have bought the mesh if I had the choice, I only use a solid inner if it's below -5 C.

I have never regretted purchasing a Durston XMid 2. Not the pro, just the regular. I've brought it on a few solo missions too, it's lighter than most 1 person freestanding tents. It's luxury for one and comfortable for 2. It's a bit of a pain for a bike trip because you have to bring poles you aren't using to hike but still very light.

Joining the chorus here, I have both a Lanshan 2 Pro and Durston Xmid 2. I like them both but generally I would recommend spending the extra money and getting the Durston. The polyester fly doesn't sag half as much as the SilNylon on the Lanshan. It's got more usable space to.

I've got a lanshan 2 Pro and an Xmid 2. I've had them both out in heavy weather and they both work fine but the Xmid is definitely a better tent. The lanshan sylnylon sags a lot and condensation is a big problem, but if you seal the seams properly it will keep you dry in high wind and heavy rain. The Xmid is way more flexible, you can set it up without the inner to get out of the weather in a hurry and the sylpoly doesn't sag as much. Also a much more solid pitch and way less flappy in the wind.

I have an xmid but probably wouldn't buy knowing what I do now. The giant footprint of the tarp will be a huge liability when trying to share a small established campsite with climbing partners, and the non-freestanding design, while storm worthy, makes pitching trickier anywhere there isn't the usual packed dirt for a campsite (snow, vegetation, rocks, etc.)

This. I repurpose the peak guylines, quick release tied to the inner's upper buckle, cinch wrapped around my upside down pole tip in the middle and then tied to a stake. No need to carry any extra weight to enjoy stargaze mode.

One consideration in the regular Xmid2 is that one of the two sleepers will have the end wall mesh pretty close to their face because of the geometry. I use it two up with my son and he elects to sleep face to foot to avoid that, even on a low profile CCF pad. The Pro would obviously not have the mesh so would have a bit more interior room to the end wall, but then you have condensation to think about (and cost)

One consideration in the regular Xmid2 is that one of the two sleepers will have the end wall mesh pretty close to their face because of the geometry. I use it two up with my son and he elects to sleep face to foot to avoid that, even on a low profile CCF pad. The Pro would obviously not have the mesh so would have a bit more interior room to the end wall, but then you have condensation to think about (and cost)

I have an x-mid 2 and had my dog in it a few times without issues. Get the stargazing kit and you can use it without an outer on summer days.

I have a Durston X-Mid 2P, and I really enjoy it. It's very spacious, but it packs down light and small. It was well worth the money. 

I’m the same height as you and tents I’ve had that have worked for me are as follows Big Agnes copper spur 2 XL Locus gear Khufu grande Tarptent scarp 2 Luxe hex peak F6 Durston x-mid 2 (but only in tarp mode as not enough room with the inner)

I'd opt either for the Xmid or a Lanshan2 (a cheaper version of the GG but actually better built IMHO).

I like the roominess of my X-mid 2. It is a well designed tent, perhaps the others are too. That's all I can offer.

The Durstin X-Mid 2 is $300 but well worth it.

I shared a Durston X-Mid 2 with my partner for a big chunk of the PCT and it was the perfect two-person tent for us. Really roomy, easy to pitch, and pretty light when you split the fly and inner between too people. The price is very reasonable for what you get. Otherwise you might like to look into a Six Moon Designs Lunar Duo, a Tarptent Double Rainbow, or a Gossamer Gear The Two. I don't have personal experience with any of these but they're all fairly popular UL shelters. A friend of mine has a one-person Rainbow and it's supposedly very luxurious. IMO it is worth it to buy a trekking pole tent instead of a freestanding one for weight savings and affordability. Freestanding tents that compete with trekking pole tents in terms of weight tend to be quite a bit more expensive, all else equal. Good luck on your search!

The Xmid 2 is certainly a nice tent. I have one that I use with my dog (a use case where I do think double-wall is more important). But The Two is still much lighter and I think the better choice. Although with the Xmid, you have the option to leave the inner at home and hike with just the fly. You could do that in order to gain some experience with a tarp that has no floor or bug netting. But even the Xmid fly alone is about the weight of The Two.

Dope, I've been wanting to do this with my xmid2 for a while. So you did nothing special to the doors other than cut excess mesh and let it overlap itself? I had more complicated solutions in mind, involving a longer skirt that slopes inward toward the interior, some kind of tensioning system, and magnets or something at the doors. Maybe that's all overkill. Could you share the Roman Dial podcast?

Yea, an early Drop version from my Dark Ages. Don't worry, it's my car camper, or what I backpack with when I have both a +1 and a dog. I agree that the thing is pretty dang heavy. Hence why I want the perimeter netting. But thanks for keeping me honest old buddy

Nice, great you have an open mind to it! A lot of us will never go back. Durston Xmid is a great tent, and it would serve you well. But it's also pretty hyped, and there are comparable tents that go more under the radar. If you're trying to avoid DCF (which is expensive), then some other options that weigh no more than the xmid are - Gossamer Gear The Two (single wall) - Tarptent Preamble (single wall, floorless, bring your own groundsheet) - Six Moon Designs Heaven UL (double wall, full-enclosed) - Six Moon Designs Owyhee (single wall, technically a tarp, with a bathtubfloor and perimeter bug netting, so basically fully-enclosed) - Outdoor Vitals Fortius (double wall, fully enclosed) If you were only considering the fully enclosed, double-wall options, probably the xmid is the way to go. But the other options here are cool too

I'm digging my Durston X-Mid 2. Haven't found a better bang for my buck. Incredibly roomy, light, easy to set up after some practice, price is lower than most big brands.

Can’t comment on the others, but I use the xmid-2 with my 35 pound dog and it’s fantastic. Plenty of room even with my non-ultralight setup (25” sleeping mat).

I have the X-Mid 2. I had a 1p, but I wanted more room, and it was the best decision I could've made. Sols my 1p to my brother and he loves it too. It's roomy, packs small, is lightweight, has huge vestibules, super fast setup and takedown, the new 2s have have updated vents and magnetic holders when you roll up your fly, it's very wind resistant, sturdy, and I've been in all night storms a couple times and stayed bone dry. I haven't even setup the extra wind support guy lines and it's been fine. I use my hiking poles for it. It has loops inside at the corners, and I set up a guy line to dry my socks at night, and can even hang my collapsible lantern from it.

Durston X-Mid 2. Light. Roomy. Two entrances. And, easiest set up. I'm in mine and snoring while my partner is still setting up her tarp.

Yeah this pretty much checks all the boxes. Or Xmid-2 if you want more space (esp if you're on the larger side) FWIW, I recently did an analysis on Reddit data for camping tents, ranking them by aggregated sentiment. Might be helpful: [https://redditrecs.com/camping-tent/](https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&q=https%3A%2F%2Fredditrecs.com%2Fcamping-tent%2F) You can filter by capacity, ultralight, price, and setup type and see a breakdown of what ppl have said about the most often recommended ones (disclaimer some links are affiliate they fund the analyses you don’t have to use them)

I am 6'3", have both and used them a bunch (when I take people hiking they get the Lanshan and I get the xmid). The Lanshan is terrific- like some have said, you will need to seam seal. But I have found it can be even roomier than the xmid as long as you use the two side wall guyouts. There is a technique where you take a stick, wrap the guyout around it near the top and then continue to the ground and into a stake. This pulls out those sidewalls and makes it seem so much bigger, especially for head room. That being said, my original silpoly xmid2p is a near perfect tent and the one I use on most trips. My only gripe is the large footprint can sometimes be problematic in heavily wooded or uneven terrain. I believe the Lanshan is silnylon, so based on your climate I would go with an xmid. It won't sag in heavy rain and won't absorb water if you have to pack it up slightly wet.

Why pay more for BA for what might be, at best, an equivalent design? Looking at the String Ridge 2.5 design, I'd much rather keep my X-Mid 2, which is cheaper, more structurally sound, and of similar weight. Durston customer support is great. 

Durston Xmid 2 is plenty big enough for two people plus packs. I love mine. The footprint can be a bit large if you need to pitch the tent in a confined space.

We downsized the tent we take on kayak trips to save on space and a bit of weight. Our 3 person marmot is almost 8 lbs vs my Durston XMid but if I didn't also want something for backpacking a Naturehike Mongar 2 would be a good balance between size, weight and costs.

I also camp in the Cdn shield (Nopiming) out of our kayaks and we recently switched to the XMid 2. You can get poles from Costco that are under $50 (they were on sale recently for $38) and will work well for what you need them to do. Also note that the old Copper tent's floor is tapered so you can't use two 25" pads. That may not matter for you but it's something they addressed in the new version which is why the old one is now on sale. The XMid is much larger inside. If you do buy the Copper Spur, GearTrade might be cheaper as you'll only pay GST and not provincial tax. [https://geartrade.ca/products/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul-2?variant=44376691245351](https://geartrade.ca/products/big-agnes-copper-spur-hv-ul-2?variant=44376691245351)

I just got an X-Mid 2P that’ll be used solo and for my wife and I

Obviously a great option and what I also use but they said free standing is a must. I’d suggest they watch a video on how easy the X mid is to put up though before swearing off trekking pole tents.

Those Stormbreaker tents are solid choices....for car camping. You don't want to carry that much weight on your back though. Durston X-Mids are excellent value. Look up the Youtube videos on how to set them up...they're not difficult so don't let the trekking pole issue scare you. Also trekking poles can be purchased for reasonable prices as well...Costco for example. Freestanding tent options are plentiful. There's a couple of things to consider, namely weight and entry style. Personally I vastly prefer dual side entry vs just a single head end door but that's a personal preference. The Naturehike Mongar 2P is well under $200, about 4lbs trail weight and is a big 2P. If you're willing to spend more you can lower the weight with similar models from MSR, Big Agnes, Nemo etc

Just buy the Mongar. It's a much better tent if you're looking at the lower price points. If you can stretch budget then the Durston XMid's better suited to backpacking given the weight savings but that doesn't sound like the issue for you in which case the 20D Mongar's a great choice.

Durston X-MID 2P gives me that little extra room inside when by myself.

I have used it in the rain and the snow. It did not sag and drys quickly. Besides the learning curve of setting up a trapezoid tent, it has been the best tent that I have owned. It is so light and small when packed.

I love my Durston X-MID 2. It is 3 seasons but have used it for 4 in the snow and it did well.

At the end of every season Tooth of Time Traders sells some of their tents that have been used by scouts on the trail. They are made to survive scouts beating them up. They are pretty nice tents that are 4 season. They an MSR Thunder Ridge specifically made for Philmont Scout Ranch. I just checked and they don’t have any right now, but will around August. The last ones were $75 a tent. That is a steal for a durable backpacking tent. I know it does not help now, but is worth considering if you are keeping your budget low for stuff. Local Scout Councils have stuff from collapsed Scout troops as well. They give that stuff away most of the time. I love my Durston XMID 2. I bought mine new but some sell theirs to get the next model up. New, mine was $320. Used may be in your price range. It is a SilPoly tent that I have used in 4 seasons without issue. (Rain, snow, high winds, high heat..)

I have an XMID 2 from Durston. It is a great tent. It is small in your bag, light, and fairly easy to setup with some practice. I used it for Philmont and quite a few other backpacking trips. It is a great tent that is very affordable in the backpacking world. If you compare it to a Walmart tent, it looks expensive. You are paying for a light compact good quality tent that will hold up. The key to a good backpacking tent is that you can carry it easily with all of your gear so it needs to pack somewhat small and needs to be light. If you are willing to spend the money for DCF and/or single wall tents, understand that they are more prone to moisture inside the tent issues. They are lighter and pack smaller in most cases, but that is the trade off. The XMID 2 is made of SILPoly. This material does not sag as much when it gets wet and drys fairly fast. Packing size and weight is important.

Check out the Durston X mid 1p and 2p. Fantastic tents. Get one before the tariffs kick in!

[Check out the x-mid 2p.](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking)Great tent and light. It’s not freestanding though so you’ll need trekking poles or equivalent.

My durston Xmid 2 sleeps me and my girlfriend with room for water bottles and a small amount of gear. She's 5'7 I'm 6ft. We both use thermarest inflatable pads and mine is the wide version. No fitment issues. Packs and boots stay in the vestibule.

There are some pretty good clearance deals right now as the big brands are changing their lines over for spring. Big Agnes and Nemo have a few left on Amazon and REI still, I think. I snagged a ba fly Creek ul 2 for 200ish on Amazon that's going to serve as a backup/summer tent, and a 3p nemo tent (that isn't ultralight) for family trips with 2 people and dogs. If you can't find an amenable deal on sale, get an x-mid. It's the best value overall.

I ended up with an xmid2 for me and my large dog. The larger footprint was a selling point, though i did very seriously consider the lunar solo... I just can't help but worry I would end up sleeping next to 80lbs of wet dog with no space to keep the wet off of my quilt. (I would still consider it as a solo shelter, or if I wanted to backpack with my chi mix instead) The 2025 iteration of the xmid is a more stealthy dark olive, though, so it'll hide a bit better than the previous aqua versions. I also heavily considered the stratospire 2 from tarptent, but I think it's out of stock and it will largely share the cons of the xmid2.

I was also between some of these tents for backpacking with my 70lb husky mix. I ended up ordering the x-mid 2, but since it won't come until March, I might still order the tiger wall if I see a smoking deal from Amazon or REI (anywhere i can return it, really). I considered the tarptent stratospire 2, the tiger wall, the nemo hornet osmo 2, and the durston. I picked the durston because it had the largest floor print of my chosen options, seemed easy to pitch, and the trekking poles seemed to be in a place where my clumsy mutt won't knock them down. Since it's very unlikely I'll have human backpacking companions, the low weight and no poles of trekking pole tents was really appealing. If you have another person along, I would give the big agnes or a nemo tent more consideration.

If you use trekking poles then how about the Durston X-Mid 2? It's well within budget, weighs like a third of what your Vango does, pitches both all in one & fly first and has bags of space. Sure its listed as a 2 person vs your current 3 person tent but I would wager when you factor in the two huge vestibules the Durston will have very competitive livable space compared to the Banshee. And a shed load more headroom to boot. And if you are not using trekking poles...start! They are like a cheat code. (or order Durston's Z-flick poles and still be well within budget)

I use my Durstan X-Mid 2 as a solo. Way too many critters and crawlers in TX to leave my gear out in the vestibule and not expect to find a scorpion in my backpack. For actual 2p I have a 3p REI half dome. Split the weight between two bags and all set!

I own the Xmid 2 and love it. You can get cheap but good trekking poles from Walmart for $28 or Carbon Fiber ones for $35.

If you go with a Durston X-Dome 2p or X-Mid 2p that will fit two people easily if you are ok with putting the gear into vestibules. Outdoor Vitals, Naturehike and other brands also have tents that can fit two 25" wide pads. The X-mid 2p is under 2lbs and the x-dome 2p is under 3lbs. A real 2p tent can fit two 25" wide x 78" long sleeping pads in them. Many 2p backpacking tents have tapered floors (like the Big Agnes Tiger Wall, Nemo Dragonfly etc) are realistically are 1p tents some gear.

Having used both...i honestly prefer the standard model. Its cheaper and i like the net wall being sepperate. Save yourself so money. The Xmid 2 is an amazing tent.

Im surprised this hasnt shown up yet... The Xmid-2 is an absolute amazing light weight tent. Its one of the most popular tents out there for a reason.

Both me and my partner love my Durston x-mid 2. Rock solid tent, fairly light weight, wasn’t ridiculously expensive, and decently roomy! Once you get the hang of setting it up it’s super easy and quick. My partner has a big Agnes, which is great, a little lighter but super tight for both of us.

The xmid is the best shelter I’ve ever used

I second the Durston. If you’re hesitant to get a non-freestanding tent, don’t be. I had mine staked down in packed sand during a rainstorm that dropped 1.5”-2” per hour for 3 hours according to a ranger station nearby and it took it like a champ.

You can find big brands on sale generally between $200 and $350 depending on the tent. For cottage brands you're generally going to pay MSRP with maybe the occasional 10% discount, and they range from $250-$700 depending on materials. I kinda gauge tents by the Durston Xmid for non-free standing and use the Big Agnes Tiger Wall or similar tent for free standing. The Xmid is under $300 and the Tiger Wall is about $400 (but you can find discounts) iirc.

The xmid is easy to set up. I just got a tiger wall UL1 and it takes me longer to put up than the xmid. If you want a two person shelter that’s lighter you can check out the Gossamer Gear The Two. You lose floor space and double walls though. That’s kinda the tradeoff you’ll find most often.

Excellent choice, Patagonia! Message me if you have questions or want recommendations. I have done 6 trips backpacking in Argentina. On tents, I will second the Durston X-Mid 2. No need for a 3 person tent when you have two vestibules that will hold/cover your backpacks. The Durston is a low cost tent for its weight, the double wall version breathes well, and the tent is durable. If you want a really wind-proof, storm-proof tent, the Moonlight 2 from The Tent Lab is a great tent. Freestanding, instead of using trekking poles like the Durston.

This is my favorite tent. https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking

Look at Durston. I have an X-Mid 2P and an X-Dome 2P and love them both. You can pitch just the fly, just the inner (with the Stargazer kit for the reg X-Mid) or both. During cold weather I don’t usually bother with a mesh inner, no bugs or snakes out. Having said that, I got the X-Dome with the solid inner, because it does add warmth in cold weather, where a mesh inner really doesn’t. Either would be a solid choice, just depends on if you’re okay with a trekking pole tent, or would prefer freestanding.

If you can go up about 20 bucks I think the Durston X-Mid 2 is pretty much the biggest bang for the buck on the market IF you use trekking poles. [https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking) If not, then it comes down to how much weight you want to carry. You can definitely find 2P tents in the 5 -6 lb range within your budget. REI makes a decent one (Trail Hut) and you get a year to see if it works for you. Or maybe the Nemo Aurora (via REI for the guarantee) would work. REI Half Dome is popular too for like 330. You can wait for a sale on that one. But all the gear stores have discounted 2P tents. Just want to make sure of the length (if you're taller you want the upper 80 inch range) and weight. Less expensive usually means heavier. If you're new to backpacking a little heavier for cheaper isn't necessarily the worst call. You can save a little for other gear and upgrade if you want if you get in to it. Good luck with the search.

I know you said you don’t want a trekking pole tent, but get a trekking pole tent. Durston X-Mid 2 has been amazing and they sell tent poles if you don’t want to use trekking poles. Much better, roomier, lighter, and easier to pitch than any free standing tent I’ve used. It’s very stormproof, works very well in Northern Europe at least, and I’ve been amazed how little to no condensation I find in the morning. I have the “solid” version for three season use. They do have a free standing tent too: X-Dome. I haven’t tried that, but if it has the quality of X-Mid it has to be great too.

I actually have both the Tiger Wall 3p and the X-Mid 2p, and use both regularly. If you use trekking poles, the X-Mid is the pick. If you don't the Tiger Wall is the pick. I like the vestibules on the X-Mid a bit more, but appreciate the semi-freestanding nature of the Tiger Wall. Both are storm worthy. All that said: for me, the deciding factor is the trekking poles.

Because you haven't actually bought your tent yet, I'd recommend that you try to do some research first. Durston Tents are not obscure/hard to find anymore like they are a few years ago. If you live within a reasonable distance of any population center, it's likely you can find individuals that own the various models of Durston tent for you to try out. Your major concern - because of your height - is that they'd be long enough. By default you've chosen probably the biggest possible configuration - the 2 Pro +. I'd encourage you to find people who have these tents that would be willing to allow you to lay down inside of them to see if it truly does require the largest possible configuration to make you comfortable. I say this as an owner of a 1 Pro, a 2 Pro, and a standard 2P. The 1 pro is surprisingly roomy and longer than you might think. It also weighs 125 grams less than the 2 Pro +, and can fit in smaller footprint areas (which is sometimes a concern.) Other stuff: * If you REALLY feel like you need a groundsheet, consider polycro instead of the Durston groundsheet. It weighs about a third of the weight and is a small fraction of the cost * Consider using your tent stuffsack stuffed with whatever clothing you are not wearing to bed as your pillow * 135 grams for your 750 ML pot is heavy. A Toaks 750, with handles and lid (both of which are unnecessary) is 100 grams. And the mesh bag for it could be replaced by a ranger band. * I recommend splitting the fuel canister into the empty can weight (100 grams) and the fuel weight (110 grams). The fuel weight can be marked as a consumable. * Your S2S sponge and detergent seems excessively heavy. You can likely cut a small chunk off of a sponge in your house, acquire a Litesmith container, and take a fraction of the detergent. I'm not familiar with that specific detergent, but Dr. Bruhners is a concentrate, meaning you could get bye with even less of it. I personally carry a 10ml Litesmith bottle and 10 ml of Dr. Bruhners for a total weigh total weight of 14 grams. And my sponge is a chunk of a scotchbrite sponge that weighs 3 grams. * Consider a McDonald's McFlurry spoon (5 grams) vs the 18 gram titanium version * Consider an Rovy Von flashlight for 18 grams vs. your headlamp's 80 grams. * I'd list out each and every item in your first aid kit with weights for each one. You should rationalize exactly what you NEED for each item. 120 gram FAK might be overkill depending on what's inside. And that's not even counting the "medics" line item you've got. * A couple things to think about with respect to emergencies in the backcountry: First they are very rare events. Second, you have the rest of your gear with you, so the need for a space blanket, when you've already got a quilt and shelter, is dubious. Third, there's often not much you can do about them. Stabilization and evacuation are your best bet for anything beyond basic cuts and scrapes. Which brings me to a concern: you have cables listed for your Garmin, but haven't listed a Garmin. * 460 grams in camp clothes seems excessive, and again, is all bundled together under one opaque heading. LIst each item separately so it can be evaluated individually. If those items aren't made of Alpha Direct, that would be one easy way to cut the weight. And I'd make your camp clothes the same garments as your "hiking merinos." It's unlikely you'd be hiking in those garments every day. You may start out in those garments, but will likely change out of them after a few minutes and you begin to warm up. They should serve double duty as your sleep clothes * 416 grams for a par of conversion pants is excessive. My $30 ones from Academy (Magellan) are 307 grams, *and that includes the belt.* * If you're not familiar with Litesmith, you should check them out. They have all sorts of trinkets to cut your weight. For instance, they have lighter versions of several of your listed items: Lip balm, tooth brush, bottles for repackaging liquids, etc. For example, I 'd repackage both your sunscreen and bug repellant and cut those weights by two thirds. * I see you have hiking *boots* listed, as well as camp sandles/slippers. If you're old school and refuse to try trail runners, OK. Otherwise, I'd recommend you try them out. Trail runners are generally comfortable enough that s separate pair of camp shoes is unnecessary. One of the nice things about PackWizard is that you have a ready-made database of other folks packing lists that you can study, and a tabulation of everybody's base weight. If you haven't taken the opportunity to use that resource, I encourage you to do so. Every individual has their own cost/benefit/comfort balance they need to strike. I encourage you to study PackWizard and see what stuff other folks used to accomplish the same tasks you have. Some will be expensive and not meet your cost/benefit/comfort balance, but some will be cheap and easy (like the Litesmith stuff.) Good luck

I just got back from a week on the AT in Virginia. My Durston X-Mid 2 is the only tent that stayed dry inside during high heat and humidity and then rain.

I have the Durston X-Mid 2 and love it. As long as you get a good tight square staked out, it goes up easy and sturdy. It needs a fairly large space to set up, but the ability to take out the mesh without taking down the fly is also nice. Plenty of room.

Durston Xmid2 is very roomy for 2p backpacking tent and very light.  Way better yhan my old one.

If he's a trekking pole user, then the Durston X-mid 1 or 2 are pretty great for tall people. Not cheap at all, but high quality gear for sure. And there are pro versions of both that use a dyneema upper that is makes the tent very light for its size. These are serious tents for serious hikers.

Pretty sure a Durston XMid 2 would work. It has a diagonal floor layout that should let a single tall person lay flat.  It's also just a great tent. 

MSR Hubba Hubba 2LT Freestanding Packaged Weight: 3.375 lb (1.54 kg) $549.95 Durston X-Mid 2 Trekking Pole tent Typical Setup (Tent, Sack, 6 Stakes) 2.125 lb / 965 g $289 USD ($299 with stakes) If you use trekking poles, I think the Durston tent is the way to go. If you prefer freestanding, the MSR tent is obviously a good choice. If you like freestanding tents, the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 is similar price to the MSR tent and slightly lighter so may be worth your consideration. These are all good choices but weight is a concern for me so I go with the lightest option I feel safe and comfortable in.

XMid2 is a good shout, space for two large dudes is space enough for one moderately sized person and a hefty doggo. Personally I would make (or buy I guess) some little paw booties to stop the claws wearing out the floor, I’d also have whatever the dog sleeps on double up as a towel so I can rub the bugger down and shake it out before bedtime to minimise the amount of crud that ends up in the tent. The issues are space (easily sorted), damage and crud. With a bit of planning and even a tad of myog you can solve it all pretty well.

I recommend the durston xmid 2 but its not freestanding

I love the X-mid 2p! Super easy to set up fly-first and tear down fly-last, which was a game changer on a particularly cold and wet trip. Enough space for two people and our inside-tent crap, but packs and boots had to stay out in the vestibule, which thankfully is also nice and roomy, and they stash out of the way of your entry/exit path. Good number and placement of pockets. Love the magnet toggles to keep the vestibule door open. The X-dome looks like it will be awesome too and the only reason I haven't put an order in is the little voice at the back of my mind whispering that would be greed rather than need to buy it when the x-mid already works great for me 😅

I use a durston xmid 2 and 2x25" sleeping pads which i hook together with a double quilt. There is extra room above head and at feet for some essentials that we want in the tent, then the backpacks fit comfortably on each side in the vestibule. With this setup we can survive up to 6-7 days worth of food with one 45L and one 35L backpack.

Zenbivy double and light bed, for when my girlfriend is with and when im solo. ( Quite expansive, but i would buy it again if i lost it ) And maybe not so crazy expansive, but I'm really impressed with the Durston X-mid 2. Only wished I had gotten the solid version, the winds in iceland manage to blow quite under the fly, but it holds up well otherwise and has Aloot of space. I think my next semi premium item will probably be a durston kakwa 55, as im currently using entry level backpack.

I like where your head’s at for the free standing options. My first thought was the BA copper spur bike packing variant. I’d take a look at the durston xmid 2p (non dcf) and add a set of his poles. Think they are called z flick? Considerable weight/space savings.

People downvoting this are wild. Durston makes great lightweight tents and are cheaper than most of the bigger brands. I’ve got a XMid 2 and love it.

I wouldn’t pay full price for the MSR Hubba Hubba LT2. I got one super cheap, set it up and ultimately sold it and got a Durston XMid 2. If you need freestanding, they also have the XDome 2.

I am transitioning from hammock camping so I can bring my daughter along and so I have a setup for sub alpine camps. I do think the MSR Hubba Hubba LT2 is a nice tent that is a true 2p tent, but is grossly overpriced for what it is. I’m not a fan of Sil Nylon as a fly material as it sags when wet. Not a big issue for most, but I’ve always used with a Sil Poly tarp or a DCF tarp, so I appreciate a tarp/fly that doesn’t sag or absorb water. It also won’t handle wind as well as the XMid2. A great feature of the MSR are the near vertical walls which makes it roomy, but then they will catch wind a lot easier. Finally, a lot of my camp gear are from small manufacturers and I appreciate the thought and detail they put into their products. Durston is a small company based in BC Canada and is an active member in camping/hiking communities and is constantly revising his products based off of feedback.

I run a 1p and 2p mids with netting in settings similar to u/0n_land They're definately fiddly and when bug pressure is high, you'd be suprised how much stuff you have to stack on the netting to make it work. Plenty of bugs get in the meantime. If you want a minimal shelter quiver or a good do-it-all shelter for a thru, the sewn on netting is great when you factor in the low weight and cowboy camping flexibility.

https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-2-tent-ultralight-backpacking Weighs just 1085g (+2*80g if you don’t have hiking poles)

A budget would be helpful. I’ll give you some recommendations in a range: Overall, I believe Durston tents represent the best all around value on the market. You could go X-Mid 2 if you are comfortable with a trekking pole tent or X-Dome if not. Check the specs but I believe the x-mid 2 is 52” wide so it can hold two wide pads. It is storm worthy, durable, has some nice features like the magnetic door toggles, etc. It is a premium quality tent at a lower price. My go to if solo (I have the x-mid 1). I think the X-Mid 2 is around $300. Unsure if the x-dome 2 is actually on the market yet but price should be around $400. EDIT: X-dome 2 is out and is $469. Big Agnes Copper spur is a mainstay that is widely used. It’s a nice blend of light and durable but it isn’t cheap. Nemo Hornet is another option similar to the Copper Spur. I think these are generally $400+ but are a very nice tent intended to stand up to regular use for a decade or more. The REI half dome is very popular and is a good value if you buy it on sale. There are better tents out there but this one is a good entry level option that is durable, just light enough to backpack, and won’t break your wallet. I have one and use it when freestanding is the best option. You can find one under $250 during REI sales. I’ve heard great things about Tarptent double rainbow. You can customize it a bit with the poles in carbon fiber or aluminum. It falls at a mid price point, $300-400, something like that. On the cheaper end, I’ve heard good things about the naturehike and featherstone tents but know little about them. I think they are around $150 or so IIRC.

The 1 isn't big enough with a dog. But the 2 is bothersome for the PCT due to its footprint.  Get the Pro1 for the PCT and a regular Xmid 2 after.

For sleeping pads: Air Temp (C) | 10 | -1 | -4 | -12 | -18 | -26 :--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:--|:-- Air Temp (F) | 50 | 30 | 25 | 10 | 0 | -15 Min R-Value | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 Your pad is more important than your sleeping bag/quilt in my opinion. The ground is a giant heat sink that your sleeping bag does nothing to protect against. Plan for 10°C below what the forecast predicts. Had a number of trips where I was a day or 2 in when an unexpected cold front moved in. Hiking at higher elevations makes this even more important. Now, despite what I just said above, I'm a very warm sleeper so I'll use a 30°F/-1°C (with that rating being between the comfort and lower limit rating according to the manufacturer) down to 20°F/-6.6°C. If it gets colder than that, I start putting clothes on, starting with a base layer and socks. I prefer trekking pole tents for weight savings over freestanding tents. Slight learning curve to trekking pole tents, so definitely practice before going on a trip if you go this route. Currently, I'm use a Durston X-mid 2. Speaking of, I like to use a 2 person tent even though I solo. 1 person backpacking tents tend to be too small. I don't care for hammocks for only one reason. I sometimes hike in areas where hammock setups won't work. Tents offer me more flexibility.

My wife and I share a durston X-mid 2. It has a vestibule and entrance on both sides. We each have our own pad and bag/quilt.

I've had a naturehike for years and love it. Just upgrade to a Durston 2 Mid X. It was a hard decision upgrading because the naturehike has just worked so well for so long.

For me the difference between the one entrance at the head end to two entrances (one on each side) would be the big selling point. I’ve hiked with a naturehike tent once, while sharing the tent. And found that one entrance to be a dealbreaker for me, while I’ve shared tents with two side entrances no problem as that allows you that little bit of freedom to comfortably exit without bothering the other person. Might be less important when it’s your partner, but I know it really matters for me. So I would definitely think the upgrade to a xmid 2 is worth the price even if it’s not that much weight (already significant enough with the v3 I’d say).

The xmid 2 is pretty solid if you use all guy points. If you want something sturdier that you can take into the mountains, look at sling fin.

I think it really depends on how big the two people are and how big your tent is. My husband is 6'4 and he takes up his entire side of the tent, but I'm 5'4 and I sleep on my side comfortably with our 37 lb dog at my head. We're planning to get another 20 lb dog without upgrading our tent. As others mention, check your dimensions and find one that works for you! We have an xmid 2 and it works well for us.

My two suggestions are basically more about the companies. The less budget suggestion is Durston. Though, not all of their tents are actually that expensive. Some of them are pretty affordable. When you get into the dyneema tents that's where it's expensive. The X-Men Pro 2 plus is going to be expensive. But it's lightweight. It's easier setup you just have to learn how to do it right to get a tight pitch. However, an XMid 2 it's still pretty light. Both of these options are trekking pole tents. If you were going to use trekking poles anyway, you could look at these to save weight. But they also sell polls for these tents which are not that heavy if you didn't want to use trekking poles. There's also the Durston X Dome 2. That's freestanding ish. If you want a more budget option, look at Naturehike. They're pretty affordable. And review well. My understanding is that because Durston sells direct, they aren't likely to be on sale. I don't know that Naturehike will be on sale. But you may keep an eye out for a Black Friday special on them. Be aware of where you are ordering them from and if there are any tariffs on them. Amazon should tell you if there is one.

Hi all, First ever post on Reddit, so bear with me. :) I'm looking for advice on tents. I currently have the Lanshan 1 (3 season). It's my first ever light weight tent and I bought it because it's relatively cheap (EU, €150/$165) and I wasn't sure how much I was actually gonna use it (new to multi-day hiking). I've used it for a few short trips over the past year and I like it: easy to set up, weight etc. The thing is that I (will) use the tent in bad weather. I'm based in the Netherlands (rains a lot) and plan on hiking the West Highland Way (Scotland, 96 miles/154 km) en Kungsleden (Swedish Lapland, 273 miles/450 km) this year. I'm not a 'hike all day, go straight to bed' person and prefer to wait out really bad weather in my tent. For just sleeping, the lanshan 1 is fine. But when spending more time inside in bad weather, it’s too small. I can’t comfortably sit up straight without touching the inner. Also, because the open space between floor and vestibules is quite high, my bag (mariposa 60) only stays dry if I keep it in the middle of the vestibule. Having only 1 vestibule, this is a bit annoying going in and out (especially in the middle of the night when it’s raining). So I’m thinking of upgrading to a new tent. Things to consider: - Will use the tent for 1p and I'm 6 feet tall. I use a wide rectangular sleeping pad ((I keep falling of mummy shaped pads) my pad is 183 x 65 cm / 72 x 25.6 in). - Tent will be used in humid/wet/stormy climate like Swedish Lapland and Scotland. - I always hike with poles, so free standing doesn't really make sense for me. - Tarp not an option, I don't like mosquito's and mud/water inside :) - I like the idea of two doors/vestibules: more storage space, my stuff not begin in the way when getting in and out and the option to open both vestibules when chilling inside. - Budget: I don't mind spending a bit of money since I will use it quite a lot, but a tent like the Bonfus 2p just feels like too much (€700/$760) compared to the lanshan and durston tents. I'm based in the EU and many cheaper US options are not so cheap over here. I'm now considering the - 3 season Lanshan PRO 2 (price in EU: €230/$250 & 1060 gr/37 oz) - Durston x mid 1 (price in EU: €345/$377 & 795gr/25 oz) - Durston x mid 2 (price in EU: €395/$429 & 880 g/31 oz). Wondering if people can say something about spaciousnes of these tents when spending some time inside? Can you sit up comfortably etc? Advice on other tents/options also very welcome! :) EDIT: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and ideas, really appreciate it! I decided to go for the x mid 2 and while looking for EU vendors, I found a second hand x mid pro 2 on an online marketplace in my country. So I now have the extra space of the 2p for less weight than the regular 1p (although I am spending more than initially planned tho, oh well). I expect the condensation will be manageable since I’ll be sleeping alone in the 2p and won’t touch the walls. We’ll see :) thanks again!

Thanks! I decided to go for the x mid 2 :)

Thank you! Great points. The sagging fabric of the Lanshan is a bit annoying, especially when hiding out from the rain and I feel the tent becoming smaller and keep reorganizing my stuff so nothing touches the inner. Decided to go for the xmid 2! I’m keeping the Lanshan 1, nice to have an extra option.

If you are Canadian and want to support a Canadian company buy a durston gear tent. Depending on your budget for two people I would go with the x mid 2 or the x mid 2+ pro. The floor on the 2+ pro allows for two wide pads. If you don't care about the Canadian aspect of it look at the tarptent stratospire models or the new mesospire models. Z packs also makes good light tents but I have always felt their two person tents are a little small for two people.

Have Durston xmid2 - the product is unbeatable at this price point and they struck the ideal value proposition for UL gear. Sure, a few extra hundred dollars might get you 1oz lighter from a premium brand, but it's not usually as good in terms of practicality.  Durston hit the exact point of maximizing quality, features, and weight before diminishing returns on price

2 vestibule tent is ideal. Single (top) entry works too but isn't as convenient... And in a 2p tent the 2 vestibules will be helpful for stowing gear. A 3p tent will be more comfortable for most folks, but it depends on the model. My wife and I have used both, and we prefer a 3p tent for the extra room... That being said we love our Xmid 2. It has more interior room than most 2p tents and we use it nearly all the time. We changed to separate sleep pads and individual quilts a few years ago and it not only improved comfort but also lowered the weight we carry. We each have our own cook pots and stoves as well, but generally only use one. The other tends to be a backup. We also carry a separate coffee cup so we can boil water for 2 cups in a pot and use the cups to drink it. But YMMV, you'll figure out what works for you and what doesn't over time... Eventually things wear out or you just want to upgrade ... So you will have opportunities to change up your kit down the road.

The Xmid is pretty easy to set up by all accounts, and the only way you can get something lighter is to 1. spend a *lot* more and get a Dyneema tent such as the xmid pro or the zpacks duplex, or 2. use a tarp, which isn't good for bugs.

I only used Durston but it is not free standing (the one I used) and in very windy Utah wild areas and by the California beach winds, it was untouchable. But I have used a hammer and stronger stakes than the ones they offer (the lightweight ones bend). I have XMidPro2 and 2+ (but it is one piece), here is the two part - XMid 2 - they updated it even more, not much more heavier than the pro2, but again they use trekking poles and I used rocks on the flaps during very heavy storms. Lol. I don't know how to use the storm lines yet. They send them with tent but I never learned how to use it. Though, at 300 price tag and below 2.5 pounds and the space inside, you may wanna check, got my comment removed for link, so had to remove the link. For hammer in hard soils, I used MSR mountaineering one, the link doesn't go through, sorry!

Same here I have a xmid2 and a gossamer gear the two for backpacking.  How does the Amazon basic hold up in the rain does it need wp on the seams?

I disagree with the people saying that your question isn't suitable for the UL sub. Ultralight isn't about being below five kilos in pack weight. It's about removing any needless weight for the job you are doing. If you're in 17 miles an hour of course you're going to need a stronger tent than if you're in five miles an hour. And if it's -30 C then your clothes are going to be heavier than if you're in 10C in order to keep you warm. On the topic of the tent question the only genuinely lightweight tent that you will find for four season will be a pyramid or tarp style tent. The MLD Trailstar is exceptional against wind but awful against snow so you need a more classical pyramid shape like the MLD Supermid. A classic pyramid shape will be very good against snow loading as they are so steep the snow can't reach thick enough to cause a collapse and they are still pretty good in wind provided you have a strong enough pole in the center and they came with enough guidelines because some like the hyperlite ultra-mid apparently underperform quite a bit in wind compared to something like the super mid (please will everyone stop calling their tents something mid). Quite a few people sleep on the pyramid 10 ignoring how strong they can be if designed for strength. Designed puts all of the force onto the pole but through compression instead of bending which is the force a pole will be strongest in and so they can survive lots of pressure put on that pole which comes from the wind and due to their fairly aerodynamic shape the wind will also not be applying that much force onto the pole to begin with. But pyramid tents do still have an upper limit, morso in wind than anything else. If you need a stronger tent then you need to ask what exactly you will be camping in to determine what type of tent. A geodesic dome like the Soulo or abisko dome will perform best under snow loading and wind particularly from any direction so if you're in places where wind speed might change often they are very good choice. Tunnel tents however are more weight efficient for the amount of strength and space they give. In the lengthway they might even be slightly stronger than 4 geodesic Dome as they are that little bit more streamline although from the side they will be worse but still pretty strong. The biggest factor of a tunnel 10 however is that the snow loading will be less than a dome tent. But there is a reason tunnel tents are the favorite for expeditions. But also what is your pack size because if you are cross-country skiing because the snow is that deep and pulling everything on a pulk to make it a lot easier to carry the weight you need then having the extra space in a tunnel tent will be very helpful. If the snow isn't all that deep and so you're able to just walk with boots or snowshoes and stick everything in a pack then a dome will probably be the best as for the same way you can get a lot stronger and so take it out in even worse conditions then you are planning. And lastly if there's just going to be high wind instead of very high wind then a pyramid tent will be more than adequate. The scarp is a strong tent, I'm not really sure how you're getting it to double the price unless hillerberg offers Swedish discounts because in most places they are half the price of a hillberg. The Xmid2 isn't really cut out for Swedish winters. It's fine under snow loading because of the steep angles and can reach surprisingly high winds for a two pole tracking pole tent particularly with all the guidelines but is ok up to 45mph (reports of higher but even Dan himself said he doubted those reports). For through hikes and what most people will be doing in ultralight that is more than strong enough but Scandinavia and the UK receive very high winds in winter and you will normally assume you will experience at least a 40mph and if the weather becomes worse than expected it won't be unrealistic to say that you might experience 60mph on any large hill or mountain at least once a week and quite often not all that predictable for when it will happen. A couple other brands you should look at are Fjallraven, Nortent and the Nordisk Seiland. All are Scandinavian manufacturers. Terranova makes some strong four season tents such as the Southern cross which might be the lightest weight four season tent you will be able to find that is a classic tent instead of a pyramid tent. But you really need to ask yourself what you will actually be doing on these hikes. If you are summit camping then you will need something like a nallo, Seiland or abisko dome because nothing else could be strong enough for the wins that you might get. If you are camping in the forest however the trees will massively reduce the wind you receive and so even an X-mid could be strong enough and a pyramid tent will definitely be strong enough.

Seconding the X-Mid. I have the 2P. Double wall, VERY light for a non-ultralight tent (silpoly rainfly and bathtub, mesh inner walls), TONS of room, huge vestibules. It IS a trekking pole tent. Not sure if that's a deal-breaker for OP. My X-Mid 2P, without the stakes, is 36.2 ounces (1025 grams). I don't include stakes here cause everyone has their own preferences. I use eight inch Big Sky Intl. Tube Stakes (yeah yeah, good joke). Same structure and strength as Easton Nano stakes, but waaaaay more available.

I have an Xmid 2 that I like really well. Folks say you don't need a footprint but I'm huge and heavy and put a  tiny hole in the floor last time I was out from a rock I did not see when pitching. Live and learn, I guess.  If you do get the Xmid, practice pitching until you get it right BEFORE going out with it. It's not hard to do but you will get a bad pitch if you don't follow the intended procedure. The company has a pitching guide video on their YouTube. Also, bring extra guylines. This said, it's a fantastic tent, and well worth the money. 

You won’t be getting any lighter than the XMID2 without spending a few hundred more dollars to save a few ounces. Ultralight gear has exponentially diminishing returns past a certain pricepoint. Xmid is extremely easy to set up; I taught a 9 year old how to set it up with basic instructions, no intervention. >>> being older, generally out of shape, less practiced Best thing you can do besides buying lighter gear is to train your body. A few overnights on free weekends (even if you’re hiking in just 3-5 miles) can help you dial in your equipment, prepare your body, and learn its needs in the outdoors. Happy trails & your kid is lucky :) PS in my experience, kids in the wilderness take on the mentality you have toward it, and if you show seriousness and respect to the outdoors, they’ll do the same. Hunger takes a back seat when I explain the tent and equipment has to be set up before dinner. Maybe I’ve been lucky with the children my friends have brought along on our trips, they’re resilient lil fellas.

Two vestibules, easy & quick setup, both of us can sit up without touching condensation, plenty of room, only need 4 stakes most of the time, and under 700 grams including stakes. They also have a 2+ version ([link](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-pro-plus-tent-ultralight-thruhiking?srsltid=AfmBOorJkEz2XUdJeNxCUj26AGVdqUjbsrcm35ElWu85BKvKXRHfGnDK&variant=46399423807779)).

XMid2—buy once, cry once. If not, the Lanshan 2 (not the pro version) comes seam-sealed from the factory. If not, the Gossamer 2.

Hey Dan. It’s a great tent, no question. I have the v2 (and a Kakwa 55, not that that matters). I just don’t see it as a great fit for OP’s use case spending extended time in the tent. Xmid2 would be the better fit. 

The Lanshan 2 Pro is pretty compelling for the price. I don't like the peak vent design, but otherwise I really prefer it over the GG2. It comes in cheaper and lighter than the XMid 2, but the XMid is much more livable and better built and more stormworthy.

I’m 6’3”. My wife and I recently used the X-mid 2P (non-pro) on our thru-hike of the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trails in Iceland. I never had issues with my feet touching the sides (even with the crazy wind we encountered). You can stick your pack liner or rain jacket at the end of your bag/quilt if you’re worried about wetting out your foot box. As others have said, the skinny pitch is super easy to do.

The terrain variability is always tricky with trekking pole tents, but packing a variety of stakes (e.g., 6” and 7” groundhogs, Easton 8” nails, titanium hooks) and knowing things like how to double stake (e.g., using the titaniums with a groundhog at one point), big rock / little rock, and how to bury an anchor stake can make a big difference in bad weather. As far as the X-mid goes, I never felt like the poles were at risk of collapsing when properly staked out. Granted, I used our longer tent stakes for the peaks to help prevent this.

I love my X-Mid 2 Solid. Used it on mountain ridges in awful weather.

Durston X mid 2 It’s a great tent

Own the pro 2 and xmid2. Both are really big tents, and great tents. You'll be able to sit up easily and get changed in both. They have big footprints. So keeping hold of your lanshan 1 is a good shout. The xmid2 has two advantages. The fabric does not sag and the walls by the feet and head are steeper. At 6ft, you'll just about be fine with the lanshan. I'm a bit taller and if the ground is sloped (so im sliding down the floor) and rain has caused the fabric to sag, then the my footbox or head could touch the fabric. This isn't an issue with the xmid. There is a bonus advantage in that the xmid2 is easier to pitch (needs less stakes) The lanshans advantage is the price. At your height both are viable, but the nonsag fabric of the xmid is a huge plus in rainy climates that you'll be hiking in.

I have the Xmid2 (cheapest one) and it's SO easy and fits both me and my husband great. I actually picked up a Copper Spur for another trip where I was afraid my XMid would be too big and found it such a pain to set up compared to the XMid.

It’s generally advised to decide on your sleep system, tent, and other main gear to get an approximate total carried weight and volume, __then__ select the pack that will carry it. I don’t think you need to fully drill down on the former at the first stage (as you say you’re not looking to go full ultralight, which would have suggested striving for a daypackish total volume and failing everything but the bag in first). But it would be good to know things like your base weight target, whether you’ll be using a trekking pole tent/need to carry other poles attached to the pack, whether you’ll need room/attachment for a bear canister vs a bear-specific bag vs neither, whether you’ll be packing bulky ccf foam for your sleeping pad, whether your sleeping bag/quilt will be compressible down or higher-volume synthetic. I like my main items and think they’re mainstream ultralightish value choices that would be among the many options that would work for you (subject to fitting your height but, but I think the tent would): Gossamer Gear Mariposa 6O pack Outdoor Vitals top quilt NeoAir XTherm pad Durston X-Mid 2 trekking pole tent Cascade Mountain Tech carbon fiber trekking poles Ursack

With our doublewall tents including the X-Dome the fly can be rolled back as much as you want. You can expose a corner or two (I show this in the pitching video) or the entire interior. So the X-Dome 2 can have any amount of ventilation from fully covered to 100% inner exposed. The regular X-Mid can do this too, but the singlewall Pro version has the fly and inner attached so the versatility is less.

The regular X-Mid has always been tips up, and the Pros have always been handles up. The main reasons for that is that a doublewall tent (regular series) doesn't have a natural pocket for the handle, so the lightest option is a grommet for the tip, whereas the Pro series are singlewall/hybrid tents so the inner wall connecting to the fly creates a natural pocket that we use to go handles up. You can go handles up without adapters in the regular X-Mid too, but it doesn't have that wall there to positively stop the handle from sliding around. It works normally but in high winds the greater security of a grommet or an adapter can be nice.

We’ll be announcing an update to the X-Mid 2 in a week or so. The 2025 model is now lighter.

The ‘solid’ inners for our X-Mid have a panel of mesh (on the upper part of the doors) that can’t close, but with the X-Dome this mesh panel is accompanied by a second layer of solid material that can be closed to have it ‘full’ solid (no areas of exposed mesh). I don’t have a great photo of it, but [this shot](https://durstongear.com/cdn/shop/files/16_-_Durston_X-Dome_2_Ultraight_Tent_-_Solid_Inner_446.jpg?v=1757631867) shows it when the solid layer is shut behind the mesh

The short answer is that it is a combination of sewn on and zippers, and is included in the weight. The long answer is that the ‘flap’ of solid fabric is a triangle that is sewn along the bottom edge (permanently attached & part of the weight). So the bottom edge is ‘sealed’ such that any snow building up on the solid panel isn’t going to slide down into the tent. Then the other two sides are both sewn for the lowest 4-5” to further prevent wind blown snow from sneaking in, and this creates a pocket that the rest of the flap can be tucked into when it is open. Then above that, the side of the triangle along the main zipper has a zipper to zip shut. The zipper is not vertical, but angling over the flap, so it does a nice job of raising up the flap to cover the mesh. Operating the zipper is what closes the flap. As it does that, the final side near the top is pulled closed and sits shut with a bit of overlap. It is an overlap closure for the upper part of the ‘top’ side, such that the mesh is covered but the edge here is not ‘sealed’. We could’ve put another zipper here (or Velcro etc) but it’s at the top, sits shut nicely now, and is shielded by the fly. If it’s so windy it’s forcing snow through there, it’s probably not the right conditions for this tent anyways, but if a user wanted it would be easy to add a bit of velcro

Some of the things you would be getting with the X-Mid are a simpler pitch, non-sag and fast dry fabric, higher end build quality, and it’s more spacious.

I think the xmid should be fine, I go in the spring with the xmid non solid version or a hammock (with a rainfly). Just do a little snow building, use the guy lines, all that.

The newer version was revised with a grommet for the tip, Dan said in an explainer video that it was less likely to slip and allowed for a sturdier setup. So now you need to go handles down. I think pro series still goes handle up but regular and solid are tip up. Edit: hear it direct from Dan at [ 4:22 in this video ](https://youtu.be/fOJ4BKIoKGs?si=hYzemLr8ZoBpXFw1)

I've used mine probably 40+ nights now and never had an issue with water apart from the standard condensation. I've used it 30 nights in the desert in the PCT, 5 or so nights in Colorado, and 5 or so nights in WA (during winter). The X-Mid is also a great tent however!

X-Mid 2 footprint is 7.67 feet/2.34m long and 52"/132cm wide. It can fit two wide large 25" x 77" rectangular pads. Please explain to me how this is only meant for dwarfs.

I've not heard a single report of anyone having a problem with *any* 15D floor treated appropriately.

Unless you’re all small a 2P tent will be too small. I’d recommend a 3P tent or a 2P tent that is really a 2+ like the X-Mid 2 which has space at the ends to fit a medium sized dog and has space for two wide mats. You could even go for a 4P tent like the TarpTent Hogback and still come out lighter (and more durable) than the Sierra Lite tent.

The X-mid is a sturdy tent. I’ve used my 1P for years, no issues. It’s also very popular with folks newer to UL and lightweight backpacking.

Buy once, cry once. I'd go for the x-mid 2. It is a super solid and useable tent which can't be said for many on that list.

We have an X-Mid 2, she carries that while I carry all the food. Separate pads and bags - but we can zip them together if we want.

X-Mid 2. Ridiculously good value (even being the most expensive on the list) and lighter than the other options. I got the Pro 2 for the AT later this year and the amount of room, ease of setup etc. is awesome, though the Pro is... not cheap. It hurt... but it won't hurt my back!

pioneer a 1.5 person tent, i found the helm 2 too tight for 2 and personally i think it is overrated, saggy inner and unless you are under 6 foot too short either side of the centre. I have a hubbahubba clone and we find it fine for 2. Our main tent is an X-Mid 2 and that appears to tick all your boxes. Easily best 2 person tent we have used.

People do the JMT with a lot more weight than that even if you do carry the Copper Spur solo. A good option is an Xmid 2p, you really shouldn't be carrying the weight of a poleset when you have 4 trekking poles between the two of you (and if you don't carry trekking poles then you're trolling and you should start, it will make the trail a lot easier and safer).

Really like my xmid 2P. Roomy for 1 and light.

The Stratospire and X mid 2 are your best bet - just get a couple of CCF pads to protect the floor.

The X-Mid 2 is fine for me to fit a large and a regular S2S inflatable pad head-to-head and not touch the pads against each other or jammed into a corner of the tent. Yes, the person on the side with the more sloped wall is not going to have a ton of headroom, but you're not even close to actually touching the tent wall if you're positioned properly. This is with a pillow and sleeping on the back. Not that it'll matter anyways once you put your sleep mask on 🤷

Being a shortie with a shortie partner is always surreal when reading this sub and other ultralight resources. "A 2 person is really a 1 person tent" "for me personally the X-Mid 2 is simply unusable for two people with position head to head" meanwhile me and my partner both fit into a X-Mid Pro **1** lmao

If you’re comfortable with a trekking pole tent, get the xmid 2. It is a fantastic tent for the money and you won’t feel like you need to upgrade later.

I have two X-mid 2 to accommodate the fam and it is excellent! Recommendation - buy the [Tarp Tent Pole Adapters](https://www.tarptent.com/product/trekking-pole-handle-adapter/). When putting my poles handle down, pack rats ate my handles. These allow you to put the tips down.

+1 for the x-mid 2P. I’m 6’5” and was able to share it with my 2 pre-teen boys. Pretty much the only 2 person tent that I don’t consider a 1 person.

Have used the Xmid 2p and Gossomer Gears "the two". Both solid trekking pole tents which are easy to set up after a trial run. I'll be running "the two" on my upcoming solo trip. Haven't used zpacks, but im sure its comparable. Trekking pole tents are a great way to save weight.

Well directly below your question was the right answer in another post. 😁 A Durston X-mid. Unfortunately a bit out of your price range,. Though cheaper/lighter and better designed compared to its competitors. https://preview.redd.it/04q8n421bgue1.png?width=2204&format=png&auto=webp&s=f97bf5397b034706d0032fc991044a0aa840af21

The Nemo is however more expensive then a much roomier X-Mid 2p. Which also pitches in around 3 mins with outer on. So ideal for random and often wet UK weather. Packs into my 5L cargo pack too \[just\]. Not freestanding though which was the \[minor\] compromise I made.

Separate tents is usually best for thru hiking, but for shorter trips like you’d probably start with more couples seem to like sharing. You’ll often hear that you need to switch to a 3-person tent to be comfortable, but I think you should be fine with a comfort-minded 2-person tent, eg two side entry doors with generous vestibules and 50+” wide interior to accommodate 2 wide pads (eg X-Mid 2P, Pro 2+ or X-Dome 2).

Its not as easy/roomy to fit two people side by side without one person having a tent wall in their face. Not my video but a good example [https://youtu.be/2l8Hqb8zYD4?si=dSYSbnOw6OY-KNu0](https://youtu.be/2l8Hqb8zYD4?si=dSYSbnOw6OY-KNu0)

What is your budget? Do you want a 2 person tent where you can fit two 25 inch wide pads in it, a tent for just him, or a tent for two people and their gear? Some tents will have a space outside the main tent called the vestibule where you can store gear as well. An Xmid 2 person will fit two 25 inch pads, has dual doors with vestibules, and is pretty lightweight at 31 oz/1.9 pounds which is great for backpacking, and costs 310, which is very reasonable. It's a trekking pole tent, which is great for saving weight because you use your trekking poles as the support for the tent. 2 person lightweight freestanding tents will cost much more. I'm a big fan of trekking pole tents.

We have both the SS2 and the xmid 2p. 160 nights on the SS2 and about 60 on the xmid 2. Both are good tents. I would say the SS2 just has the edge in wind and it's slightly easier to find placement for areas which are hard to find a pitch. It also has a tougher ground sheet. It also has a deeper more usable porch space when closed down, all over the door zips are a bit of a pain sometimes due to the distance from the inner and they often curve under tension. Due to the low vents SS2 has better ventilation options. Having said that, the last 2 years, we've only used the xmid due to, it being lighter and slightly more convenient accessibility, and simplicity. It's also slightly easier to pitch, although both tents are pretty easy. Once you get the sequence and understand how to adjust them dialled in. Though if I was planning to do something where I was expecting consistently wet and windy weather every day, I would probably choose the SS2. They are both good tents, just a bit different. The main reason we bought the X-Mid was that it's silpoly, and our ss2 is silnylon, and it got rather heavy when saturated with rain or dew (Which is common here in the UK). However, current SS2s are silpoly these days.

Xmid 2 (or Tarptent Stratospire2 if got at a good price). We've used both extensively in the Pyrenees. They do well and you get a little more ground space and sitting up height than a heavier tent like the Hubba Hubba, though a little less volume at the ends. Lanshan 2 is a good lightweight cheaper option, but not as quick to erect or as protective from wind . My friend has one, and I've had to help her erect it in windy conditions recently, and it's definitely more faff to set up than Xmid or Strat.

Mongar 2 UL will be the best freestanding tent on your list It's a toss-up between the x mid and the 3ful. Depends on if you want the top top quality or saving money. 3f UL isn't bad it just isn't the x mid.  All these UL options are fragile, don't forget. UL great needs to be treated carefully

Love my copper spur for sure but my vote would be for the Xmid.  The 2p Xmid is lighter than most 1p freestanding tents. It can do double duty. I use it as my solo tent.  Got it cuz it’s affordable and easier to justify if you’re doubling up on a 2p system.  I do think you could carry the copper spur - I did that before I snagged a Xmid. It’s totally doable if you’re used to it and in good shape. But if you want peace of mind, the Xmid is a great option and a fraction of the price of a zpacks ETA - I use my Xmid in the mountains or for 1p adventures. I use my trusty copper spur(s) in rugged desert environments where pitching is tougher (not skilled enough with the Xmid yet and the low bathtub kicks a lot of sand into the tent) or if I’m out with my toddler. 

Ya. Just the regular Xmid 2p. Also, another thing that helped me purchase is that the tent is so popular. If I ended up trying it out and not liking it I could sell quickly on a used gear forum/group/sub. Which helps! 

I know I’ll get downvoted but I tend to agree with this. I own an x-mid so don’t at me universe. But I think durston is a bit over-hyped. There are lots of quality issues - especially with the x dome series - just peep the gear heads sub.  Durston makes good tents imo, not great ones. They seem to do a lot of r&d with paying customers which I’m not a huge fan of - especially if you’re paying tariffs.  My x mid is fine - suitable for certain trips, while my freestanding tent (big Agnes) is great. Both have great customer service imo. But I’ll take the Xmid when I really have to count ounces and I’ll take my big Agnes into the desert where a trekking pole tent would just be a nightmare to fiddle with - weight penalty be damned. 

The Price is Right and the setup is fairly straightforward. Plenty strong for three season use as well.

I'd second this. I had my Xmid 2 solid out in the cairngorms last summer. Winds we hit were pretty consistent at 30mph through. The tent outer deforms a little and it does flap, but inside I was fine. I only bought mine a year ago so I'm still getting used to how I should guy it out in those conditions. Size would be perfect for you though - myself and my partner have been out in it several times with our kit and our collie. If you're only occasionally trekking out in those conditions the xmid could be a good call

Starting with a lighter pack is great. Also, where/when you're camping, how long, budget, etc.  Maybe a sling/fanny/bag for the kids to carry their water bottle and snacks. If you're carrying all the gear, it might be lighter/easier to do a double pad, like the exped duo large (3r/5r) -- you can sometimes find them cheap (saw one at REI for ~$80 once). I think that'd fit in a x-mid 2, which is a great tent that can be found for ~$200 shipped usually. Things seem really on the cusp if you'd be able to fit everyone on that pad, in that tent, but once you step up cost/weight gets much higher (3p tent + 3 pads). And in the long run, you could also have the kids use/split the tent while you upgrade to another solo setup (the tent/pad weigh about 2lbs each, so once they can sleep more alone, they'd be able to handle the weight). You can also fairly easily MYOG a couple apex quilts that snaps in the middle to make a big double quilt, for way cheaper than anything you'd buy.

You're probably not going to like hearing this but I'd suggest saving for the x-mid 2. Speaking from experience its an amazing tent. Yes its pricey but it has lots of room, is already seam sealed (unlike the lanshan), and is very well designed. I've had the tent for about a year and have gone on 10 trips with it and has been an amazing time every time. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about buying it, definitely worth it if you go backpacking often

The Lanshan really takes some effort to get tight, and you need that in the Pyrenees. But I've seen many hikers using it. Knowing me, it would keep me awake in windy nights, so I imported the x-mid as well. Also the material is not so stretchy, so the mist doesn't make it sag so much. Buying too cheap may ruin the fun before it even started... Maybe borrow or rent for your first experiences? 

Love my xmid. I was new to backpacking and tried a semi freestanding Sea To Summit Alto for a few years. X mid is way easier to pitch. X mid has huge very usable vestibules. 2 is huge, I'm going to save up for a 1 pro to make it easier to find places to pitch.

The X-Mid (non-Pro) has the advantage of being a double-wall tent, so even if you brush against the walls, you won’t get wet. However, when it comes to height support, I find that Durston tends to overestimate. I'm 198 cm tall, and only X-Mid Pro 2+ is usable for solo use. I definitely wouldn’t go for the one-person X-Mid 1 if you're around 193 cm or taller. As for solo tents, the now-discontinued Zpacks Offset Solo was the only one that really works for me. A friend of mine, who’s 195 cm, uses the Tarptent Dipole 1 and says he can sleep comfortably in it, but considering the weight, I’d personally lean toward the Zpacks Offset Duo, X-Mid Pro 2+, or even the standard X-Mid 2 for solo use. If you want a tent for two people that can fit a tall person, get Zpacks Offset Trio.

The X-Mid (non-Pro) has the advantage of being a double-wall tent, so even if you brush against the walls, you won’t get wet. However, when it comes to height support, I find that Durston tends to overestimate. I'm 198 cm tall, and only X-Mid Pro 2+ is usable for solo use. I definitely wouldn’t go for the one-person X-Mid 1 if you're around 193 cm or taller. As for solo tents, the now-discontinued Zpacks Offset Solo was the only one that really works for me. A friend of mine, who’s 195 cm, uses the Tarptent Dipole 1 and says he can sleep comfortably in it, but considering the weight, I’d personally lean toward the Zpacks Offset Duo, X-Mid Pro 2+, or even the standard X-Mid 2 for solo use. If you want a tent for two people that can fit a tall person, get Zpacks Offset Trio.

Yes, that's very true; I thought about it myself. However, the XMid 2P has a larger footprint and sometimes I tent in small spaces so I decided to go with the 1P over the 2P. But I did seriously think about the 2P!

You cut it in half with a saw…. Seriously though, get a 2 person Dan Durston Xmid. Good price, tons of space, very light. Everyone worries about trekking pole tents at first but there’s nothing to be afraid of. Their great. Backpacking is different than camping. Embrace the differences. Ditching tent poles is one of the best ways to save weight while backpacking.

First off, which Kelty Mummy bag are you looking at? They have different ones with different temp ratings. I'd strongly advise you not to go with the Ampex tent. ITS WHITE. My friend got herself a white decathlon tent and it attracts bugs like CRAZY. Go with a darker shade, optimally green/brown. Since you want lightweight take a look at the lanshan 2. Its a pretty light tent for \~$150. Its a trekking pole tent tho so keep that in mind. 3F UL Gear also makes a freestanding tent but thats gonna cost you about $200. I cant say much about the freestanding one but my friend has the lanshan 1 and once you get the hang of how to pitch it (pretty easy) its a decent tent for the price/weight. But to be fair its not very tall and the doors are pretty high up off the ground so you might get some cold drafts in cooler temps. If you'd spend some more on the tent I can highly recommend the Durston Gear X-Mid 2. Again a trekking pole tent but thats what most people in this sub are going to recommend. I have the X-Mid 2 and its a GREAT tent. Its got loads of space and headroom, is really light at \~900g / 32oz and not that far from your budget at $250. I had to import mine to Germany so it ended up being 350€ /\~$400 but even thats more than worth it. Takes some practice to pitch it but its pretty easy if you try it out a couple of times in your/someones backyard. Its my first trekking pole tent and I didnt have any problems getting it pitched perfectly after the first few times. Loads of videos out there on how to pitch it as well. Cant say anything about the Naturehike backpack. Ive heard pretty good things about their tents so I'd imagine the backpacks to be decent as well. I started out with the Osprey Kestrel 48 and can only recommend you to get something larger. If youre doing anything over 3 days and dont have the super ultralight & compact gear, get something around 60l. But I'll add that the backpack is probably the one thing where you should be "cheap". Having a bad pack can ruin any trip you go on. Osprey is a great brand, tho most of their packs are outside your price range. I havent really invested a lot of time researching budget/beginner backpacks because I'll buy one of the expensive UL packs this winter. If you have any questions lmk, Im always happy to help

Xmid was my first tent. I love it.

I’m selling my xmid 2p used once if anyone wants it 👀👀

A really warm underquilt for my hammock. Worth every penny when it's 25° out and I'm cozy.  My Durston 2p tent and a cozy 2 person sleeping pad allowed us to enjoy the wilderness with our baby until she was old enough for a hammock at 2.5/3. The Morrison baby sleeping bags are a must splurge for baby campers. 

I have a Stratospire 2 and my hiking buddy has the Durston 2P, and we've used both. The Stratospire is a palace, especially when you consider the huge vestibules. It is excellent if you have a dog, for instance, or plan to be inside the tent for longer periods of time. When my 2 boys were young, I fit my 25 inch pad and both of their 20-inch pads in the Stratospire no problem. Setup is fine. The Durston is the one we carry now on our trips. It's lighter and roomy enough for us since we don't stay in it very long.

Not sure that's the case at all, they only recently moved stock to the US due to tarrifs. I shipped my durston to Ireland and it came shipped from Canada via the US. Paid about 25% in vat and fews

No. I just upgraded from a 2 person North Face to a 2 person duration. Saved over 4 pounds. The Durston has tons more room, much simpler to set up, packs in about a third of the space and handle just fine in a thunderstorm and high winds. It’s better in every way so far.

Standard double wall Xmid with z flick poles (instead of trekking poles) is my setup for bike packing and kayaking (~$300 total). I’m 6’0 and it’s long enough to avoid hitting even the inner mesh. I also like having the option to swap the poles for trekking poles when hiking.

I have the Lanshan and the X-Mid. Both 2 Pro. Both are terrific tents. The Lanshan is perhaps the better value because of its low price. The X-Mid is the better performer because of its lighter weight and clever design. Both are fine 2 person tents with excellent materials and well performing layouts; although both are cramped for two people.

If you live somewhere damp, you can’t go wrong with the X-Mid.  If you live somewhere dry, consider the single-wall The Two from Gossamer. It’s a tad harder to set up but quite a lot lighter. 

So if you would after all be open to the idea of a trekking pole tent i would definitely get the X-Mid, ordered one to finland and even with all duties and customs it was still around 400€ and i’m not going to find anything better at that price point. They have the X-Dome now, which is a freestanding version, slightly pricier but it could still fit in your budget. I’d check it out. Ships from Canada though. Alternatives you should check out: Tarp tent Scarp 2 (this is quite wind resistant too especially if you get the extra crossover poles) Marmot superalloy 2p Hope this helps!

I’ll second the lanshan. Surprisingly good build quality for the price. I like that the 1p only requires one trekking pole to set up. I have the pro version and it’s like 650g or something… Otherwise I’d also absolutely recommend the X-Mid. Probably the best overall tent on the market and reasonably priced

bug mesh is annoying and unnecessary in the snow. xmid is fine but a true mid will offer more protection and stability

works just fine. pitch is similar to a mid, other than one more pole.

I had one and didn't like it either, struggled with it for a couple years. Hard to get it pitched just right, it seemed to need endless adjustments to get it somewhat taught and even then mine flapped a lot in the breeze. The geometry of mine looked slightly off, I think it wasn't quite sewn correctly. I had a similar issue with condensation. I much prefer the steeper walls of the x-mid. I can also pitch it i much quicker.

That's a great idea.  I've used the x-mid a few times without the inner in the snow and in low-bug situations and really liked it.  I also contemplated buying the deschutes + with the bug netting some years ago.   An x-mid with a bug skirt sounds brilliant. 

Hey, good for you! My kids are teenagers and finally able to carry gear and actually have fun on extended self powered trips. Air mattresses have become much better per ounce (also more expensive). Quilts might also be your answer for getting more coverage and more longevity out of gear. Kids outgrow sleeping bags fast, but quilts are useful forever. Tents have gotten lighter too, check out the Durston semi-frestanding tents. More than gear, I'd say the main thing is planning fun trips. Good food, friends, things to do (slingshots eventually became a big motivator for getting my kids out). Also, patience, they may/probably won't like the same things you do. I went years dragging my kids out backpacking more or less against their will until somehow the switch flipped and now they are planning thier summer trips here in march. For a few years there I just took them on canoe/car camping/rafting trips, and that was fine. Type 2 fun doesn't turn on until kids are a bit older. Do a couple of short simple trips first, before dropping a ton of $ on gear.

Durston Gear X-Mid all the way, baby!

"Camping gear" is so broad as to be almost meaningless.... I love camping, I've camped all my life, but it's impossible to reccomend anything with such a wide remit. My lightest backpacking tent (Xmid) weighs less than 700g and is fabulous for what it does. My heaviest 'tent' is our family folding camper (a Pennine Pathfinder) at 1000kg. That's also fabulous, but completely incomparable. Then there's a whole range of tents in between. The same applies to all my other camping gear, from pans and stoves to sleeping solutions and chairs... it's such a massive case of fitting the item to the purpose. And some certainly is BIFL worthy, while other stuff may compromise durability for lightness or some other priority. Tell us a little more about what you want to do? - car camping, backpacking, trailer camping - and in what terrain/environment and you might get something more useful.

Look at the X-Mids. Superb value, superb tents.

I've never heard of them but products from their parent company, DAC are ubiquitous in high end backpacking gear. I'd give a design like the sololite a try. The vestibule comes separately adding a lot of cost. I see two big problems with this tent; * Shipping stuff overseas to Canada can be a big PITA. I'm not sure where you are purchasing it but but "Bigtent Explore" option may largely avoid shipping being a PITA and that store seems to be the main place to buy them. * If you decide to sell this tent it will be difficult due to the lack of name recognition. Durston's a Canadian company that manufacturers extremely popular tents and if you want a high end option they are worth a look. I'd recommend starting with a freestanding tent like the X-Mid. I primarily use a different tent but I've been extremely impressed by one of their trekking pole tents I own. Another option is more budget oriented tents. NatureHike makes a bunch of fairly light tents (CloudUP, Mongar) and imho they are more durable than the extreme ultralight tents. If you do get serious about backpacking, you can later upgrade from a budget tent. Personally I use less expensive tents when camping close to vehicles as weight isn't a major concern and I'm less worried about damaging them. If you later decide to get a ultralight 1 person tent, the extra space of a two person will be greatly appreciated when weight isn't a concern. Go to MEC or another outdoor store (Not Atmosphere / Sportchek) and start trying on packs and find one that fits well. Keep a few in mind and purchase one that will fit the rest of your great and aim for a 60L or smaller pack. As long as you have a sleeping bag designed for backpacking that uses down and / or synthetic materials and has an appropriate comfort temperature rating its hard to go wrong.

From north of Europe here. After getting winds through an MSR tent once I woved to stay with local brands, of whom you have several.  Hilleberg, Fjellreven, Helsport and Barents Outdoor are all made for rough conditions. But not ultralight, even if lighter versions.  A few years ago we went above the arctic cirkle with a local brand dome tent, and a Durston Mid trekking tent. We got really strong gusts that hit the camp, and the local brand poles snapped straight off, while the Durston stood firm. I was really impressed.   Personally I prefer dome tents, as they are easy to move about, and can stand without any plugs if fair weather. Also can pitch anywhere, unlike those that rely on plugs.  If I was in the market I would try the Durston Dome now. The lay out off outer vs inner tent gives the greatest length and height on the market, by far. Get the 2p and you can lie even more diagonally inside. 

In addition to the durston tents as already suggested (I have the x mid and while its very light because it’s a trekking pole tent, the fabric feels quite durable), I want to suggest the marmot tungsten 1 person tent. Less than 4lbs, durable, comfortable, less than $300. It’s the first backpacking tent I bought and it’s still the one I reach for on shorter trips where I’m not worried about weight. It’s so easy to set up, stays stable in wind and rain, and fits it pretty small spots without feeling claustrophobic inside. Others have suggested big Agnes — while I love the big Agnes fly creek 1p I have I would not describe it as very durable. I do a lot more patching of holes on that tent than the other two I mentioned. Still a great tent and I’m not getting rid of it anytime soon, but I don’t think it’s what you are looking for.

Lots of X-Mids cope fine in NZ condition. Love mine, and its held up great.

I think it's part of the appeal of the X-Mid series, only 4 stakes really needed is kind of nice. But realistically I often pitch the two vestibules too because why not, so... There's also the Ounce Designs Bunny and Abodi V2, both requiring only 4 stakes and very light (less than 200g). And then the classic mids which need 4-5 stakes.

The main tent that comes to mind as stronger, cheaper, and lighter that doesn't make large compromises to usability is the durston x-mid. And it still makes some compromises in that it isn't freestanding. For 3 season backpacking in Colorado/rocky mountain US the copper.spur is solid.

Durston X-Mid. The 2 person felt like a personal palace and I’m 6’5”. $240 for 2.5 pounds is also a great price point relative to weight, only “downside” is that you need to carry trekking poles

The Durston comes in two flavors the mesh inner, would definitely let spindrift and snow into the tent, and the solid inner would prevent a lot of that. The other thing about the Durston X mid is it’s a pyramid-esc tent, which would not have to carry a snow load. The weather on Shasta is pretty fickle, but for most cases the Durston would probably be fine. What I’d do is bring extra guy lines in case the wind is really bad. My climbing partner is pretty set on renting a 4 season tent/mountaineering tent from the local university outdoor program when we do Rainer this year, I’m a bit skeptical of that, but I’ll go with it. The problem as I see it, is even the Hilleberg “ultralight” four season tents are 5 to 6 pounds, and that’s more to carry up the mountain. But I suppose with two people that could be divided up.

I really like the Durston mid

100% agree with this. I went with a Durston X-Mid tent. At the time, there was only the 1-person, non-freestanding version, but there are other configurations now. All of them are excellent. My guess is that they'll be more challenging to acquire in Europe, but I think for the money they're the best tents around right now.

Set up on the X-Mid is by far the easiest of the tracking pole tents, but in reality it’s only slightly lighter than a Big Agnes Copper Spur. I know trekking pole tents are the big rage, but if you’ve never used one, there are conditions where it’s more difficult. Rocky or sandy conditions make it difficult at times.

Check out the X-mid by Durston. Two doors on it, loaded with features, ready to go out of the box. My list looked almost identical to yours and then I looked at backpackers subs and the x-mid kept popping up. It’s 30$ more than the Lanshan 1 but man is it worth every penny. You can swap out inners for winter or summer, pitch it without the inner or with the kit you can pitch the mesh inner without the fly.

I have a 6.5lb two person free standing tent but I only paid 130 for it. Free standing tents are heavier and 2 person also adds weight. Umder 200 there are options for tents but most are going to be over 4lbs for a two person and over 2lbs for a 1 person. If you bump up to 250 the durston xmid is a great tent but it uses trekking poles. You can really dive into the weeds when it comes to backpacking tents. When it comes to tarp camping remember you are sleeping on the ground with nothing between you and the bugs unless you get a screen tent but the why not just buy an actual tent.

Durston X-mid if you use trekking poles. Huge vestibule if you want your pup outside but still next to you (depending on behavior), pretty light, and cost effective. You can also look for used gear on /r/ULgeartrade

You might want to check out the Big Agnes Copper Spur in either 2xl or 3 person versions. Will likely go on sale on Black Friday. If you buy the groundsheet, you can set the tent up fly first if it’s raining. If you want light and already use trekking poles, check out the Durston Xmids. It’s sort of a tight squeeze for two if you have wide sleeping pads, but my wife and I just did 23 nights in the xmid two and were totally fine. Feel free to DM me if you have any questions.

Yep x-dome is an option too, would be a bit lighter (half a pound I’m guessing) than the Copper Spur 3 but a lot less roomy. Haven’t been in one personally but I have a couple clients who have told me that it’s a tight squeeze for two 25inch pads. The 1+ really interests me but I typically stick with trekking pole shelters to save weight and bulk. But there are definitely times when freestanding shelters are nice to have.

TNF Stormbreak 2P is a good tent. It's heavy at 5.5lbs /2.6kilos range. It's quick to set up. Utilizes clips instead of sleeves. Water-resistant bathtub floor with taped seams. It's a decent mesh-to-solid ratio, though I'm not sure why the top of the dome is solid. It's not the best design for stargazing / big open sky. You may want to expand your search and look into trekking pole tents. Trekking pole tents will offer you the most weight savings. There's a bit of a learning curve to trekking pole tents, so you will need to do practice pitches. The Lanshan Pro 2 (3 season) is affordable. You'll have to seam-seal-it yourself, but that's cheap and easy to do. Durston X-mid is a lot nicer than the Lanshan. But it's also more expensive. Alternatively, you could go straight up bushcraft with a tarp and bug net combo. Mountain Laurel Designs' Cricket Pyramid tarp is pretty neat. Though you'll definitely get rained out without a bathtub.

You should consider asking this on /r/ultralight. It depends on your budget, but I really like the Durston X-mid tents if you always have trekking poles anyway. 

I've used the X-Mid 1 for 4 years, 2000+ miles. It would be a good, light weight choice for under $300.

Of the two you've linked the Indie is the better tent - has more space and headroom. The Ranger is a coffin - might as well get a bivybag. Some other options: [Macpac Sololight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-sololight-1-person-tent-v3/121720.html?dwvar_121720_color=Citronelle%2FWoodbine&dwvar_121720_clearance=no) [Macpac Microlight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-microlight-1-person-tent/114084.html?dwvar_114084_color=Kiwi&dwvar_114084_clearance=no) [Macpac Duolight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-duolight-2-person-tent-v3/121721.html?dwvar_121721_color=Citronelle%2FWoodbine&dwvar_121721_clearance=no) On Aliexpress, search for 3F UL gear lanshan 1 pro or 2 pro [The Durston X-Mid 1 and 2 ](https://durstongear.com/pages/tents)are great tents but need trekking poles or sticks for for support. A 3mx3m square flat tarp is what I use when the sandflies/mosquitoes aren't bad.

Of the two you've linked the Indie is the better tent - has more space and headroom. The Ranger is a coffin - might as well get a bivybag. Some other options: [Macpac Sololight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-sololight-1-person-tent-v3/121720.html?dwvar_121720_color=Citronelle%2FWoodbine&dwvar_121720_clearance=no) [Macpac Microlight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-microlight-1-person-tent/114084.html?dwvar_114084_color=Kiwi&dwvar_114084_clearance=no) [Macpac Duolight](https://www.macpac.co.nz/macpac-duolight-2-person-tent-v3/121721.html?dwvar_121721_color=Citronelle%2FWoodbine&dwvar_121721_clearance=no) On Aliexpress, search for 3F UL gear lanshan 1 pro or 2 pro [The Durston X-Mid 1 and 2 ](https://durstongear.com/pages/tents)are great tents but need trekking poles or sticks for for support. A 3mx3m square flat tarp is what I use when the sandflies/mosquitoes aren't bad.

Thanks to everybody for all the suggestions , much appreciated ! I’ll be going with the Durston X-Mid as I already own a pair of trekking poles and I believe it best suits what I’m aiming for

Thanks for the variety , the durston and lunar solo really look like what I’m looking for in a tent I’ll look into them more