Durston - X-Mid Pro 1

If you are willing to shell out some money, I would highly recommend the **Durston X-Mid 1 Pro** * Lightweight at 17.1 oz * Packs small * quite roomy for a one person tent (sit upright and not touching any walls!) I used it on my 2023 PCT hike and I loved it. One of my favorite piece of gear. Held up well in all sorts of conditions.

Of all the mentioned tents, I'd say, xmid pro 1 is great but to me it's a bit big for fast packing. Why not something like the Whisper from gossamer gear? With a polycro groundsheet it becomes fully enclosed. It's light and packs small. Or maybe in the same style, the new (apparently unreleased) zpacks hexamid solo tent ! [https://zpacks.com/products/hexamid-solo-tent](https://zpacks.com/products/hexamid-solo-tent) :)

Yeah would be nice. I always personally found that having two doors and vestibule on the 1p xmid was useless weight to carry. So it’s cool to have some alternatives while having similar headroom or even better? Maybe durston will upgrade the 1p xmids now that the 1p xdome is out and with only one door and one vestibule. 

Thanks for explaining Dan, It makes sense. So I guess RIP to my x-mid pro 1 with one door and one pole setup haha!

Yes it can be great and not only for people hiking with two poles, some prefer to have a one pole shelter to be able to set up tier shelter even if they break one pole. For now, for solo use I personally prefer to use a single pole shelter as I only use one hiking pole. So maybe a 1p xmid with one door one pole and one strut that could be replaced with a stick could be the ultimate shelter for me :)

I have the Cooper Spur UL3 and it’s a great tent for 2 or 3 people. It’s not much more weight for the 3, so I’d go that route if you ever may want 3, or a spacious 2.  That being said, I also have the Durston X-Mid Pro 1.. this thing is the best tent I’ve ever owned. You could get the 2p, and even the non pro model will be fantastic.  Both tents meet your criteria! 

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.

yeah the xmid 1p pro is very light, the 2 pole ridge gives you decent enough headroom to sit up in the middle. the footprint pretty much exactly fits my tensor all season tall/wide pad with like 6" extra height left over. pack fits just fine in one of the vestibules leaning against a pole. you'd have to be in a really tight site to not be able to fit it, and if you watch the videos there's alternate pitch configurations to squeeze it in (I've never had to). also dan is really active on here.

he's already posted footprint comparison diagrams in this post. I'm very happy to have supported his company. love my xmid 1 pro (I have the silpoly floor version).

durston xmid 2p. pro if you can swing the cost. I use a 1p pro it's a great tent and dan is a great human. he sells z poles that are extremely light for them if you don't want trekking poles.

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.

Only works for the pro version though

Ah sorry, actually I meant the opposite. The non pro versions don't have the attachment point necessary.

As someone who owns both a Durston X-Mid 1 and a Pro, you can’t go wrong with either one. The regular is heavier but it’s nice to have the single wall option, the Pro is a super light tent but really spacious. If you want to save money go with the regular, but really you can’t go wrong with either one. I feel like it’s not necessary to go with a 2 person unless you’re really tall, but I find I have plenty of space at my feet and at my head, and keep my pack in the vestibule.

I'm from the Netherlands and thought I needed a double wall tent aswell. I choose the Tarptent Double rainbow DW. A nice tent but I didnt like it. To big a footprint. To big a inside tent, a bit heavy Eventually I cut my losses and bought the XMID1 Pro and never looked back. I have no condensation issues at all. I think because the walls are that steep. I'm 192 tall and have enough space inside

This is going to be depend quite a bit on how well you pitch the X-Mid, as often the limiting factor with the X-Mid (and most trekking pole tents) is how well it is pitched moreso than the tents max limits. If you get the pitch tight all over (e.g. snug up the base tight, extend the poles firmly), use good stakes, and add guylines when appropriate then it should work well. We've had lots of reports of people successfully using the X-Mid in Patagonia storms that broke other tents, but also some people go with a bad pitch or small stakes and have a bad experience. Generally, with a good pitch it should be fine to 30 mph (50 km/hr), okay but noisy to 40 mph (65 km/hr) and then above 50 mph (80 km/hr) has been done quite a few times but is pushing the limits of the tent and getting risky. With that said, the 2.5kg Hilleberg is undoubtably the more severe weather oriented tent and ultimately is going to handle a more severe storm than a 0.5kg X-Mid. If you can, I suggest to bring both tents and then if the forecast is normal I would bring the X-Mid Pro (e.g. 10-30 mph winds), whereas if the forecast is quite severe (>40 mph) then you may want to play it safe with the Hilleberg.

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 do both. Our singlewall tents (X-Mid Pro) pitch handles up (because with a single wall tent the inner wall connects to the fly here to create a natural pocket for the handle). Whereas with our doublewall tents (regular X-Mid) there is no natural pocket so adding grommet to hold the tip is simplest/lightest (lighter than building a whole pocket). In our tips up models, we have a metal grommet, protective webbing above, and then a reinforced cone above that. The cone used to be weaker so if you didn’t put the tip in the grommet it could lead to damage, but about a year ago we changed to a tougher peak cone that is fine even if someone fails to put the tip in the grommet.

Durston X-Mid Pro 1 is fantastic. It can be pitched multiple ways and why wouldn’t you go with Dan Durston? Dude literally answers any questions you tag him in on Reddit. Best customer service and very high quality tent. I have the newer dyneema x-mid pro 1 and I love it. I had it pitched in GUMO a few weekends ago with 50-60mph winds. Took it like a champ

Tbh not a real big issue. I’ve pitched it in some tiny places, often with a stump or rock in the vestibule or using the guyline intead of actual pitching a corner.  I think this is your best bet given your opinions. 

Depends on where you're going in Patagonia as it is a pretty diverseregion.  I've been to patagonia a few times: 1) The whole Carretera Austral with big agnes self supported tent; 2) Torres Del Paine with the same BA tent; 3) El Chalten with 3F UL Lanshan Pro 1P. In most official campsites you can get decent protection from the wind either by tress, rocks or man-made barricades. While I had some nights with stronger winds, both tents performed well and didn't give me much trouble. Also, I'd rather take two one man tents than 1 double wall for the sake of privacy and confort, unless I was traveling with my wife.  I believe you'll be fine either way, but from my experience the Durston should be more than capable.

The Xmid 1 Pro is definitely the best option, but I have also enjoyed using the GG The One. I have found it impressively stormworthy in wind, rain, and hail of Wyoming summers. It's much less good for me at 6'2" than the Xmid Pro, but for you it would be fine. The second con is indeed the silnylon, but I didn't find sag to be a huge problem. Only one pole can be height-adjusted without leaving the shelter, which is one strategy for coping with sag. The third con is requiring 6 anchor points instead of 4. The obvious advantage is the lower price, but another is packed size. The One can pack up much smaller than it's included sack, roughly the size of a grapefruit. I'm not sure about longevity. I never had issues with the ultra-thin silnylon in about 50 days of summer use, but it would have to go much longer to compete with the Xmid Pro (a long-term review on YouTube used one for like 10 months). If you rule out Zpacks, as I have, for the poor designs, quality control, and customer service, there are unfortunately few tents in this category.

I have the pro 2+ DCF but I’m about to buy the pro 1 as well 😂🤣 love my tent so much

The Durston tents are awesome. I have the 1 person with the separate poles (very lightweight). It's so light and easy to pitch. I use this one backpacking. I have the Nemo Osmo 2p tent for when I want a little more room and don't care so much about the weight (it's still very lightweight considering).I use this one car or canoe camping, like I said, when weight isn't so much an issue. It's very roomy inside and the "landing zone" in the vestibule is great for keeping gear dry and off the ground without having to bring them inside the tent.

I can't say enough about the X-Mid Pro 1. I mostly use it in the Olympics and haven't found a place yet that I can't pitch it in. It's more spacious inside than it appears with plenty of headroom. Granted, I'm only 5' 10", and it's roomy enough to put plenty of gear inside. I've tried a few others and the X-Mid is better than them by far, IMO.

I usually keep my pack in the vestibule, but there is room enough to store one inside, either at the foot or head. Keep in mind that I'm 5' 10".

I do as well and am still able to fit quite a lot inside. I don't think you could go wrong with the X-Mid Pro.

As someone who has exclusively used X-Mids for years now (OG, Pro 1, Pro 2+) I'd recommend going with none of them. The Lunar Solo is going to provide you with enough space for your dog, and save you $400. I love my Pro 1 but it will not fit a dog comfortably, and the Pro 2 is too big for the PCT.

My Pro 1 barely fit in some campsites and didn't fit at all in others. Though I know people do it (it's the third most popular tent on trail) I certainly wouldn't want to.

Yeah, this is the way. You really arent saving anything going with the 1p over the 2p, unless you are camping in some insanely small/limited campgrounds. I have had both the OG 2p pro and now have the 1p pro. If I could go back in time Id stick to the 2p. (I see the 2p as a big 1p, and the 2p+ as the only real two person alternative).

I have a Durston X-Mid Pro 1 with a lot of miles on it. The tent does feel very spacious on the inside and is brilliantly designed. However I am a hike all day kind of person and I don't think I'd want to hang out in the Pro 1 all day. It's extremely comfortable to sleep in but there isn't really a lot of space to hang out in.

I have an Xmid2 regular and I like it. If at least one of you has a regular length pad, there should be room for the dog at one end. It will be tight. Steven at MyLifeOutdoors really likes the newest iteration of the X-mid Pro 2+ so that could be an option for you. See his review here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TXticloH-s](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TXticloH-s) 19.2 oz / 545 g (DCF floor $779 available soon) 21.5 oz / 610 g (Silnylon floor $669 available now) I have an Xmid Pro 1 and the transparency is not really a problem for me. I prefer to camp away from other humans in all cases when possible.

I love my X-Mid 1 and have not had any problems fitting it into pitching spaces. I mainly camp in the Sierra FWIW.

Of the tents you’re considering I would go either the Durston 1p pro. The large footprint is overstated and is really not as big of a problem as people make it out to be.

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

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

how does this compare, weight-wise with the Durston 1P Pro with dyneema floor? (my current favorite pick). My (usually flawed) math is showing a 0.051-lb difference with the zpaks slightly lighter.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 got the xmid having never used another tent before other than ones my family had for car camping when I was younger. Can't say I've really found anything I dislike about it tbh. My only gripe is maybe there's not much "living space" with the inner clipped in, but tbh that isnt something that really bothers me and it can be worked around, but ive not had it out in the middle of a serious downpour yet, just odd showers here and there.

I also highly recommend this tent, I love that thing. Super easy to set up. If you dont want to spend for the "pro" the regular xmid is the same design just heavier.

I used the X-Mid this year and it was awesome. Highly recommend

2 xmids and a UL tarp is my setup for our family of four, with kids age 6 and 9, plus our 50lb dog! It works great. My kids love having their own tent (and so do mom and dad…). Hanging the tarp between the tents sounds super cool but I’m not sure you’ll always find campsites to accommodate. When it rains, we usually end up putting the tents in “porch mode” and getting them as close to the tarp as we can. Everyone in our group carries a pack, even the dog. ULA makes child size UL backpacks that adjust with them as they grow. They’re spendy but my kids love them. My 9 year old can carry his whole kit other than his food and the items we share as a family, like cookware, toiletries, water filter, and med kit. The 6 year old carries only his sleep system and clothes. I think offloading even a little weight to the kids and pets will help a lot. Plus my kids love wearing their own (lightweight) backpacks and using their own trekking poles. Makes it seem more adventurous.

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 agree it makes the alarm bells go off thinking about it but I make sure my hand is over the tip as I'm placing the pole into the tent, that the pole ends are not too wet or dirty so that it might slip in my grip, and that the fly fabric is loose/poles are adjusted down so no pressure is on it until everything is in place before using the pole extension to create tension. Never even had a close call doing that but if one was careless I'm sure it could make issues.

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.

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. 

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 loved my xmid (earlier version) on my 2022 thru. If you're hiking with trekking poles, get it. A handful of times I wished I had freestanding but not a big issue. Most people I hiked with still carried poles, but barely used them by the end, myself included. If I did it again I'd consider shipping home after the sierras/any major snow/water crossings. If I had a freestanding tent that is, I'd carry poles specifically for the xmid because it's so good. I'm not familiar with the pro, but being double walled is specifically why I bought it. Being able to use it without the inner net rules. Double walls is essential hiking in wet Appalachia where I'm at so I can use it at home too. I'd opt for the standard xmid over the pro. The weight difference isn't a big concern, but durability is. Maybe if you're good at being gentle with your gear. Similarly I'd opt for tyvek over polycro by the same reasoning, but I'm sure many will disagree. For 150ish days of use I'm glad I had the more durable option and weight was never a problem as long as your big 3 are moderately reasonable.

I don't know much about it but it looks ok, I have seen on you tube on an American channel and it looks ok. Terra nova do 4 season tents like the southern cross 1 or 2, bombproof and not too heavy. You can usually pick them up for £500. Or there's Nortent Vern 1 or 2 at the same price but heavier, really good reviews on YouTube. I use my x-mid all year round unless I'm expecting really bad weather then I use the Terra nova Southern cross. Hope that helps

I'll second that the X mid Pro ticks all boxes in my opinion

The biggest backpacking tents are usually 2 people. The best backpacking tent on the market right now for beginners and experienced backpackers is the Dan Durston Xmid. Get a 1 or 2 person.

I have the copper spur and my brother has the dan durston xmid. The xmid is better. It has more room inside and it’s lighter

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.

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. 

The biggest two problem of Lanshan: 1. It uses nylon 2. It’s not factory sealed, and they’ll charge you $35 if you want them to do it for you. Just go ahead with X-mid, they are not comparable at all.

Durston Gear X-Mid all the way, baby!

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 correct answer is both. A 4p or 6p family camping tent when you are with friends and a smaller 2p backpacking tent (Durston X-Mid, 3F UL Gear LanShan, Naturehike Star River or CloudUP, Marmot Super Alloy etc) for color trips.

I did the Dientes Circuit with an old GoLite Shangri La 2 about 10 years ago. You don’t really need a freestanding tent for the trek - but it might make your life just a little bit easier. There are enough stones laying around to secure pegs in stormy weather and it is possible to find semi-sheltered spots along the way. But of course your tent should be resistant to high wind/storm. From todays tent selection I would recommend the Durston xmid pro or wait for the freestanding version, that is announced for October.

Excellent tent and an excellent deal. I'm an Eagle Scout and I would have flipped out if my mom had ever bought me camping gear this nice. I will say, it is a "2" person tent but like most it is tight with 2 people. One person and their gear inside the tent will fit fine. For me, I much prefer ultralight tents nowadays like the Durston Xmid style, which really are around the same price and quite a lot lighter. But. For short scout trips and for a free stranding tent this cannot be beat. It's worth the $500 retail and at less than $300 it's an absolute steal. Also I'm 6'4" so the "long" version would be appreciated. What I'm trying to get at is... I'm 38 yrs old but will you adopt me and get me one too?

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.

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.

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.

I use my X-mid or just a bivy+tarp in winter. I've use these things on Volcanoes and in the cascades in winter. If its going to be windy enough that these wont work its not a storm I will be camping in. 4 season mountaineering tents are for waiting out storms when climbing Denali. Not winter backpacking.

I think it'll depend on the storm-worthiness of these tents. I have an X-Mid which'll do great for through hiking but for rough conditions, I currently use a Terra Nova Pioneer Compact 2 (double poled) weighing in around 2.5kg, so far from ultralight but in the UK we need to be prepared to face strong winds for summit camping.

Lanshan 2 Pro is a great tent for the price, an absolute palace. If I had the money and really wanted a 2 person I would go Xmid just because it's higher quality, not a Zpacks rip-off. The Lansahan is Fine. I've seen some storms with it and been peachy. I'm looking to move to an Xmid pro just because there is too much room in the Lanshan. I simply don't need it all and it makes pitching in sneaky wildcamps harder. ETA: I had to seam seal the Lanshan, twice, and spray the fly with silicon to stop misting.

Yeah, I think 2 tents are the way to go. If your gf only goes occasionally, do you even need an UL tent? I have a Durston xmid for solo and an REI Quarter dome for the wife. When I go with her the miles are not priority and even with the heavier tent I still carry less than my wife.

My kids are 5 and 7. I’ve been backcountry camping with them since they were babies. I do 2-3 short backcountry trips each year with combos of one kid, both kids, and my family of four. Here are some of my thoughts.  1. My kids’ stamina and pace is the limiting factor. I keep their bags small. I have an Osprey jet 12 and jet 18 for them. They are essentially simple frameless bags around 1lb. No need for a 3lb bag with frame when they can only carry a few pounds.  2. I have a seek outside divide I usually use with them. It’s moderately light (for the volume and load carrying ability) and carries great. I’ve had it pretty loaded down sometimes.  3. My boys have Big Agnes Little Red bags. They’re synthetic and a bit bulky and heavy. Buuuuuttttt… they dry quickly if they get wet or have an accident. And my boys haven’t ever complained of being cold over probably 100+ nights camping in them.  4. I use cut down CCF z-rest style mats for them. They haven’t complained they are uncomfortable and they are pretty light.  5. I’m constantly undecided on shelters. We currently have an x-mid 1p and 2p and a heavy 4 man tent (4kg!). This year I plan to take the 2p and 1p for all four of us. 2x2p would be nice. I might get a 4p pyramid tent for all four of us and for just me and 2 kids.  6. I got my own sleep kit ultralight. It comes on every trip (as I’m on every trip) and I won’t outgrow it (unlike the kids). I’m also quite ruthless about removing my own luxury items.  7. We have a 1.3 L evernew titanium pot. I have some GSI bowls that fit inside it. Allows me to make a light modular cookset that is sturdy and safe enough for kids. I can use it for any combo of 2-4 of us.  8. Keep your food as ultralight as possible too. Bring stuff your kids will eat. I’ve had to pack out a few backpacker dehydrated meals that my kids wouldn’t eat.  9. Bring candy for motivation on the trail.  10. Remember to keep it fun! I struggle with this when I’m feeing anxious about getting a tent spot at camp. But have fun on the trail. My kids like to play hide and seek and sing songs and for me to make up stories. 

I have a Durston xmid pro for backpacking and a CORE 10-person instant cabin tent for car camping. It’s like owning a Yorkie and a Great Dane. 🤣 You can get pretty cheap car camping tents since you don’t really have to worry about how heavy they are. Worth it for the super easy setup and tons of space. Only reason I’d opt for the half dome is if it was going to be cold. Your body heat isn’t going to keep a big tent warmer than outside temps.

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

I bought the Pro because I hit 60 and decided to way lighten up my gear. Bought my 31 year old son the regular 2P for his birthday. I on the other hand bought a Durston Kakwa 55 pack, the X-Mid and a bunch of other much lighter replacement gear.

Through the PCT and CDT I’ve had a Big Agnes copper spur, Zpack duplex, Tarptent Notch Li and a Durston Xmid Pro in search of the perfect tent. Xmid pro was my favorite. I recommend the dyneema bathtub on it.

I used a trekking pole tent on the PCT and CDT. I never had a problem setting it up, even with a trail family of 8 sharing camp sites. Always room. Always rocks. The Durston Xmid Pro with a Dyneema floor would be my recommendation

Look into the X-mid pro by Durston

My wife and I both slept in them all last summer for 5 months while hiking the continental divide. Best tent I’ve owned and I’ve owned a lot of them. The can use tracking poles so if you have some you are bringing, great. But for biking I bought the ultralight extending poles they sell for it on Durstons site to keep the weight/size down.

I’ve got 3 boys — we rock a Durston X Mid and a Big Agnes Tiger Wall ul3. I carry one tent plus bear can. My wife carries the second tent. Older boys help with cool set, etc., and they all carry their own stuff. Works great!

To much weight for me personally ,I prefer the durstin trekking pole tent,no poles just use straight sticks,it's only like 20 ounces or so.

I did the same thing! I have been sewing mosquito netting on my tarps since 1983. My primary shelter is now a ZPack 7x9 tarp modified with mosquito netting sewn around the edges. I always pitch A-frame, and as a result, it is not great in windy conditions. For those conditions, I got an X-mid 1p and added the mosquito net around the edges, very similar to your modification. I also extended the corner guy lines in case I want to pitch it higher. As you noted, with this modification, you can fit two people in the 1p shelter by angling the poles to the center. With one person, there is a huge amount of space available. As I noted, my primary shelter is my 7x9 tarp because I can pitch it in non-existent campsites and it is very light. As a result, I haven't used my modified Xmid-1p much. I never completed the modification for the netting over the vents and just close those (I get plenty of ventilation through the perimeter netting). Have you added netting over the vents, and if so, how did you do it?

I’ve used a Durston X-mid and a Zpacks Duplex. These are two of the pinnacles of backpacking tents. I also use a Naturehike Cloud Up which is the best budget tent I’ve used

The use cases to justify the extra weight of a Portal over a traditional ultralight tent don’t exist outside of bizarre edge cases on the PCT. You can save a bunch of weight and have an equivalent shelter for your needs by going with a Xmid, duplex or similar. I use my Portal 2 over my Xmid pro when I am going to be camping in exposed terrain deep in shoulder season with a forecast showing some gnarly weather in the Canadian Rockies. Otherwise the Xmid is in my pack - it’s far more resilient and storm worthy than what the weight would suggest, though it takes some effort to pitch properly as the penalty for an improper pitch is higher than with a Portal.

Looks easier to pitch than my Xmid Pro. After a year of setting it up it still pisses me off that half the time the bathtub doesn't have erected sides. The thing we do for UL.

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

I'll second the X-mid. I do not use a ground sheet and it's been fine.

I've actually owned both (though the Solomid XL I had was the older non offset pole version) and I don't think it makes much difference. I used both in some pretty nasty weather - both have been to Wind River Range and Alaska with me on trips and I preferred the Duomid, though the newer offset pole Solomid XL looks really nice too - I think either would do great. I mostly use an X-Mid 1P now, but it doesn't seem nearly as stout as my Duomid in high winds. I have sold the Solomid, but use the Solomid XL inner with the Duomid as a 1P shelter. Also - though I typically like the Easton stakes and use a mix of the 6" blue and 8" gold (when needed), in the soft tundra of Alaska, I've found that MSR Snow Stakes work really well - I'm not sure if Iceland has similar soft tundra that doesn't hold stakes well or not.

If you're open to non - freestanding shelters I'd recommend the MLD Trailstar for that particular trip as it's bomb proof in the wind for such a light shelter. For something a little more well rounded a small mid is great - the MLD Solomid XL or Duomid, the HMG Ultamid 2, or Locus Gear. I've got a Duomid and have used it twice in Alaska - once above the Artic Circle and in all sorts of exposed campsites. Typically I use an X-Mid 1P now, but it wouldn't be my first choice for Patagonia winds, I'd rather use my Duomid in those conditions. If you want something heavier, the Tarptent Scarp is very popular choice in the UK where they get similar type winds.

I’m in a comparable position as OP, and looking for a wind capable but light and freestanding 2P for camping with my partner. The Slingfin Portal 2 is high on my list but I’ll wait out this year to be able to compare it to the Durston X-Dome 2. I am using an X-Mid 1P and am very happy with it, and I suspect the X-Dome will be considerably cheaper than the Slingfin Portal (but who knows.. not much is known atm but the X-Dome 1+ will be revealed on October 8th).

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.

I just looked on the website for a visual and understand now. I assumed the geometry was the same as the X-Mid and the third zipper was smaller and went right from the center of the x/y axis. I can see the pros and cons of how it actually works. I’m someone who always loses the zipper pulls. If I go right they’re left. I think they’re too center, nope they’re bottom right. It happens for me because I’m constantly having to move them to access different parts of the tent when it’s a rectangle. With the X-Mid and X-Dome layout, it’s so much easier for me to put everything in one oblong corner without having to put some here, some there, etc. and the zipper on my X-Mid is perfect for accessing that for me. I just slide the bottom zipper open and snake my hand in, grab what I need, and zip back up. The biggest obstacle was actually teaching my dog to wait until I got both zippers open because he can’t really see the fine mesh so would try to plow right through.

I have the sharp corners on my X-Mid Pro and love them. It’s the only tent I’ve had like that though, all the others I’ve owned had the curved zippers that caused some exasperation at least once a night. I think there are pros and cons for either. Of course, it all boils down to personal preference and how each individual uses their gear.

Wind will push the walls in on X-Mid and it becomes very narrow.

My favourite is the Tarptent Notch Li. It’s a 1 man with adequate internal space and double vestibules. It’s the easiest pitch I’ve ever had from a tent including in the wind. The shape is excellent for spilling the wind and it’s done great for me in winds upto 50mph. It weighs 600g. I had the V1 for a while and then upgrade to the V2, I bought them both off eBay for circa £450. Because it’s a trekking pole tent, with adjustable poles you can set it very low or very ventilated. It’s also got some great vents and you can pitch it with the vestibules rolled back in calm warm weather for a fantastic view. The net stops midges, it’s proven strong and durable. I love this tent so much. I also think it’s worth getting the DCF version, not only for the weight saving but you can just shake the water off it and it doesn’t stretch when cold and wet. I think the closest competitor is the X-Mid pro which is pretty much the same weight but has more internal space but is less good in the wind and a little bit slower to pitch. I’ve pitched my notch on summits in minus temperatures and high winds, as long as your stakes hold, it’s been good for that. I got myself some Titan ground anchors to ensure the main-stays will defo hold in high wind. P.S if you look through my posts, you will find it in quite a few of them. I apologise in advance for all the ridiculous stuff in there :)

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.

Mine is $440 us including the ground sheet, only used once on a 4 night trip. I bought a Durston xmid pro.

I am talking about the hornet Osmo…maybe not elite, not sure, returned it. I had cables and poles snap on me. After that I would never look at the half free standing style again. It’s trekking pole or free standing tents for me. The Durston X-Mid is a great tent. So is the Big Agnes copper spur. I have a 2 person for sale.not in your $400 budget though. Unless you are meaning American dollars

I've had condensation issues in it once. High humidity. Couple. The worst case you wipe it down with a pack towel and rinse it out the door once during the night and once in the morning. It's over exaggerated.

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

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

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