Durston - X-Mid Pro 2

I’m 6’6” and have a xmid pro 2 for myself diagonally. Not wide enough for two talls on a thru hike imo. Xmid 2+ certainly is though. Trekking pole tents that will fit you almost certainly will have a large footprint. I’m sure you could make it work. Odds are you’ll have room to pitch it or be able to cowboy camp. If space is truly a concern y’all could consider each carrying 1p tents like aeon li’s instead.

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!

I'm about to take the Pro 2 on the AT. If you ventilate well with a good pitch, condensation is minimised and it's super light, plus it's big enough I'm not in any danger of brushing against the sides anyway. All Durston tents get massively glowing reviews and for good reason.

I've seen quite a few your height-gifted fellow hikers extolling the virtues of the internal room. Being aggressively average in height myself, I have a ridiculous amount of room!

As someone who is 6’ 10”. I have the Xmid pro 2 and it’s a game changer. I finally can fit without needing to curl up. I had the BA copper spur UL2 prior and it was ok but the xmid is another level.

As a 6’5 hiker I went for the x-mid 2 pro for the extra room and the ability to use it with a partner in the future. I think the slight extra weight is worth only buying one.

I have a hornet 2p and while I liked it (I def wouldn’t go with the hornet 1p) I didn’t like the way it sagged when wet. Note the hornet is semi free standing so still an issue on rocky ground. I’ve since used a Durston Xmid pro 2 as it’s so light and roomy but it’s also pricy and needs a lot of space to pitch. My next tent will be the Durston Xdome 1+. Doesn’t sag, has lots of room but less than the Xmid , proper freestanding and a good price. I’ll use that for a while before decide whether or not to sell the Xmid.

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!

Durston is my vote! I got two tents from them, was thinking to resell one but thinking to keep it if my son starts hiking on his own, so he can keep it. I want to buy the nylon one (two wall tent) next. It would be better for the winter than the one wall tent (XMidPro) that I have I think. But, the quality of their products is great! If the shipping/fees isn't too bad, consider it.

Second Durston. They could even go to for the nylon tent that is around half the price point of the dyneema tent. I have both: xmid2pro and xmid2+pro and the 2+ is roomier like you said and it is really roomy for two people with wide pads and two big backpacks and some. I slept in it on a campground in Canada through a week of rain by the lake and all stuff fitted in it. I haven't tested much in mountains except in Rockies at ~8k elevation and it was great. I am not able to give any good comparison though as I only used the two tents and even solo camping, I prefer the 2+ one.

Second Durston. They could even go to for the nylon tent that is around half the price point of the dyneema tent. I have both: xmid2pro and xmid2+pro and the 2+ is roomier like you said and it is really roomy for two people with wide pads and two big backpacks and some. I slept in it on a campground in Canada through a week of rain by the lake and all stuff fitted in it. I haven't tested much in mountains except in Rockies at ~8k elevation and it was great. I am not able to give any good comparison though as I only used the two tents and even solo camping, I prefer the 2+ one.

I had the original X-Mid 1P that Durston put out through Massdrop/Drop.........and now have the X-Mid Pro 2P. Not to sound harsh or argumentative, but I haven't a clue why one would need the pole adapters that you suggest........and am constantly surprised when I see people feel they need to put tips up/handles down. These tents naturally have a pocket/cradle that the trekking pole handles fit nicely and firmly into and you don't need to then worry about a sharp pole tip ruining the tent. Just no need to do that at all. Feel free to waste your money, but those aren't needed.

Totally agree. I have had two of Durston's tents and have my end-game with the Pro 2. I do like the the concept with the new free-standing tent, but not willing to waste money and such to pull the trigger on that. If anyone has done their research, they would see the short-comings on the Zpacks vestibule setup and entry where the screen door drops to the floor rather than to the side and out of the way. The Durston waterproof zippers are awesome and simple and reliable. Haters gonna hate, though.....

Any of the x-mid tents are going to be extremely easy to set up. It’s probably the easiest to set up trekking pole tent out there. You just need to stake out the corners, put up the poles, then tighten up the corner lines. It’s nice to stake out the vestibule and there are some other points on the tent where you can add guy lines for additional stability, but they are optional and aren’t necessary 99% of the time. I’ve got a xmid pro 2 and it’s super light. They are expensive, but I saved some cash by buying it used.

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 the XMid Pro 2 and backpack with one of our huskies almost every trip. Mika is 45lbs, Max is 50lbs. Just one dog and me fit easily with extra room for gear. Two people and one of our dogs would work but be tight. (replaced a Strat Li but below applies to both tents) To protect the floor, I bring a full size z-fold pad (generic z-lite). I cut it into two pieces - about 1/3 and 2/3rds. I place them together to put where the dog will be sleeping. I cut it into two pieces so that I can use the 2/3rd piece under my pad in the event I get cold. They can still use the 1/3rd. I lay a costco quilt over the top of the pad. The like to "dig" sometimes. Between the pad and quilt, it protects the floor long enough until I can tell them to stop. For just casual walking in and out of the tent, laying down etc, there would be no need to protect the floor. Kneeling on a sharp rock or stick would probably do more damage than a dog stepping on the floor. We also have a Big Agnes UL2 and UL3 we've used for people and dogs. Only damage to any of the tents (first time out in a brand new UL3) was when I walked away with the dog in the tent and she paw'd at the screen and ripped it. Luckily, she hit the pocket so it didn't affect the door.

I backpack with one of our Siberian Huskies (one is 45lbs, other is 55lbs) using either and XMid Pro 2 or Copper Spur HV UL2. I'm about 5'10". I like having some room in the tent for stuff or just hanging out. Both of the above tents work great for this.

I had a hubba Hubba nx2 but wanted lighter so I got a hornet osmo 2P. Returned it because I couldn’t get in the tent during rain without the poorly designed fly dropping water on tent body mesh. Now I have a Durston xmid2 pro for most trips and a BA copper spur 1 if its platform tenting. I love the hubba. Old style was just too heavy. All the Durston products are fantastic!

That will be so easy to drop a ton of base weight when you get a good tent. I was at 6 lb 2 person eureka. Got a 3.75 lb MSR Hubba Hubba in 2020. Last 2-3 years I have had the extreme pleasure of carrying the just over 1 lb Durston xmid pro 2. It’s pricy but the regular xmid is much more affordable. And double wall vs single wall of the pro. Nemo Hornet and any of the BA tents are great too.

Loved my Lunar Solo. You won't get a more spacious 1p tent in terms of ground space. Not sure about poor build quality; mine worked immaculately from the time I bought until the time I gave it to a friend years later. I finally upgraded to an XMid Pro 2 when my girlfriend started coming on trips with me, but my friend continues to use my Lunar Solo to this day. Pitching is not hard, just requires some practice and some knowhow. I don't think it's any harder to pitch than my XMid.

All of the ultralight tents especially dcf ones are expensive. I’ve got ones by Durston (XMid Pro 2), Hyperlite (Ultamid 4), and Tarptent (DR LI). I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend any of them but personally my favorite is probably the Ultamid but the DR LI is a close second. I feel like the Ultamid is bomb proof - with plenty of living space. But the DR LI has great headspace and smaller footprint. I found the XMid to be fiddly to setup compared to the other two but great space in the vestibule. For me it was worth the price … but I managed to find deals on all 3. And Tarptent has great customer service (had to have my DR LI) patched after a tree fell and put a hole in it. https://preview.redd.it/7roxru6cb8gf1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=da37b103129e341f6977062c940e8cc7fb893cf2

669 g is about the same weight as my Zpacks Duplex and my Durston X-Mid Pro 2, so this tent is NOT 100g heavier.

I love my X mid pro but it does condensate a lot with 2 people if it's closed up. I'm out West and I can't imagine always camping in a super humid and cold wet environment. If the vestibules aren't open (say due to rain) my quilt gets wet. Just the nature of single wall tents... Now if you keep both vestibules open it's much better and a non issue.

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

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 would agree that the 2+ is quite overkill for a person+dog, but the 2p should work fine for the PCT from what Ive read on here.

It’s not expensive because it is bombproof or because it will last a very long time. It is expensive because it is extremely light and there is currently no way around the fact that DCF is $$$ to source. If u want DCF, Zpacks duplex and Xmid 2 Pro are both less expensive than HMG and have completed all major (US, anyway) thrus.

Thanks for the conversation here. This thread motivated my to go check out my local consignment store to see what they've got before I buy something new.   By some incredible stroke of luck, they had just received a very lightly used X-Mid Pro 2, with groundsheet, Durston stakes, & a set of MSR groundhogs. They were selling the entire bundle for ~$460. Since that's a similar ballpark to what I was prepared to spend on the X-Dome 1+, groundsheet, & tariff, I decided to go with it.   Does the Durston warranty still apply despite the tent changing hands?

As others have said, a 3p tent may be more comfortable, unless you have one of the larger “2p” tents. I’ve got the Durston XMid Pro 2p (used for my AT thru hike), and it’s one of the larger 2p tents and has vestibules on both sides, which helped. It was a pretty comfortable size for us, but we also just use it to sleep in and don’t really hang out in it much. As for sleep system, we previously had 2 separate pads, but that was never comfortable (especially since they were different heights. You can get pad couplers, which I’ve heard somewhat good things about. You can also get a duo sleeping pad, such as the Big Agnes Rapide “tent floor” pad (very comfortable but also expensive and heavy), the Exped Ultra Duo (lighter and cheaper (I just got this)), or one of the super cheap double pads from Amazon. Also, some sleeping bags that have zippers on opposite sides and are from the same manufacturer will mate together as one big 2-person sleeping bag. I’ve never tried this though

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.

I can pitch my Xmid Pro 2P with 6 stakes whereas in my observation, Zpacks requires more stakes. I am a huge fan of my Zpacks arc zip 64 liter pack so I don’t consider myself a Durston cult member per se.

I switched from a Big Agnes 1P to an Xmid Pro 2P last year and I haven’t looked back. I love it! Like you, I always have my trekking poles and I grew wary of always having a separate tent pole. Also, my 1P tent was ridiculously small. My Xmid sleeps colder since it’s a single wall tent, so I bought a second quilt (much warmer) so that I can continue backpacking year round and keep warm overnight.

I'm 6'4". Of those, I have the XMid 2 Pro. I can sleep without going diagonal, so I think it'll work for you. The footprint is indeed very large, and that has been a constraint at times.

I will stick with my X-MId 2 that you can get for $269.

I love my Durston X-MID2P. They are so loved that they have a group on Facebook of dedicated fans that help each other out. The owner of the company listens to input given and makes improvements with each new version. He also stands behind his products. It is my favorite tent.

I’m 203 cm and use the Pro 2 — not the Pro 2+ — for solo use. It’s a tight fit and I need to sleep diagonally, but it works. That said, I do sometimes wish that I had the Pro 2+ instead.

We have a 4 person big Agnes copper spur HV UL 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids. We also have 2 dyneema ultralight tents (x-mid). When we have to pay for a tent spot we take the 4. Otherwise we take the 2 man tents. The only ultralight 4 person tent i know is the hyperlite ultamid. We just simply can’t afford a dyneema 2 person and a dyneema 4 person tent or we would buy it. The 2+ x-mid is not big enough for 2 adults and a kid, look at the stratospire tarptent with the sidecar or another 3 man in their lineup if u want a 3 person tent. Or the Ultamid. the lighter you can go the better especially with kids because you are going to be carrying all their gear and maybe them too until they are old enough. You want to buy them the lightest gear and pack possible too when they can carry their gear or they and you are going to be miserable. 7 years old is about when they can carry all their gear if its ultralight not including any food or cooking gear except their snacks for the day. Also kids like to sleep in between the two parents. They feel safer. If you are scared you sleep heavy and your kid might wander off, sleep at the door and have them between you. That way you will wake up when they try to climb over you. Check out the AlpineEarth youtube channel for gear set ups for families with kids. https://youtube.com/@alpineearth?si=2_PSoGDs_5MeDCiT

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.

I would recomend the Durston xmid pro 2+ or the solid version if you expect high winds in a dusty area. This is especially true if you guys are not in a relationship due to proximity because it’s designed to sleep head to toe and has less limitations of many tents. The 2+ version will fit two wide sleeping pads very comfortably and generally feels much bigger inside than its exterior appearance would suggest compared to other tents I have used. I have the regular two person pro version and it is a bit narrow with two wide pads and we have to be careful not to put too much pressure on the inner floor fabric. I would love to have the 2+ version but it was not created when I bought my tent. That being said it is still a huge tent compared to other manufacturers but still much lighter than competitors for similar size. What sets Durston tents apart from competitors is the location of the tracking poles right above the door or your head when sleeping or entering the tent door. It allows you to sit on opposite sides of the tent next to each door. This allows two people to sit up in the tent across from one another and have about 6 feet between your heads with the high tent ridge between you and set your gear up or play cards easily without bumping into one another . If it is raining or simply too cold to be outside, this makes a huge difference when you are in the tent, either setting up gear or hanging out . When I had my Z-Pak duplex, there was not enough room to do any of this without bumping into each other . It was literally impossible for us both to be inside the tent setting up gear at the same time let alone hang out or play cards. The Durston tent design is beyond function and has been a life changing tent experience for us. The zpacks duplex is an antiquated design but was very innovative when it came out and a pioneer in its own time and thus deserves a lot of respect! Having said that I would never recommend it unless you want to feel cramped and have your head a few inches from the wet tent ceiling versus several feet above your head using the durston. Edit: we are tall people with big feet haha… Short people can use smaller options tents…. Some camping locations may only fit small tents. Check all tent sizes to tent spots available in designated camping areas etc… https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-pro-plus-tent-ultralight-thruhiking

I’m 197cm. I had a lanshan pro 2 and it was way too small, both hair and toes got soaked from condensation. I have an x-mid pro 2 now and it’s manageable if I pitch it very well and position myself carefully, kinda wish I would have gone for the 2+ though. Tarptent dipole looks interesting too, although it seems very heavy for a 1 person single wall shelter that costs that much.

Durston recommend the x mid 1 for up to 6”4, and the 1 pro for up to 6”8. I suspect it would be a pretty tight fit, but probably manageable, especially in the double wall configuration where touching the mesh inner isn’t going to make you wet. I use a thick sleeping pad (10cm) which impacts usable room, and need space for my dog, so I went for the 2. With a good pitch on flat ground, and sleeping on the long diagonal of the 2 pro I can avoid touching the walls even as I toss and turn at night, but there’s maybe only 5cm of clearance. I mention the 2+ because it’s only 20g heavier than the 2 pro, but has steeper walls on the long diagonal so seems like it should feel a lot roomier for me.

I don’t have the X-Dome (yet) but my X-Mid Pro 2 has the double zippers for the entrance to the inner and I love them! It’s so easy to find the pulls, I don’t have to open the tent as wide to bugs if I’m reaching in or out of it, and they come together at a sharp point that has a small triangle covering them on the inside. I love my X-Mid Pro 2 but have definitely had the experience that a rock or root is hiding exactly where I need to put a stake. And after moving it a little I find a rock or root on a different corner. Of course this only happens when I have my dog along and I’m trying to beat the rain so I’m not breathing eau de Wet Dog all night.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A dyneema tent is going to weigh the same as most bivies. A few bivies will weigh less but they don’t come close in comfort or moisture management to a sub-pound trekking-pole tent such as a ZPacks Altaplex or Durston X-Mid Pro.

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

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.

Big fan of my durston xmid pro 1. I have never set up a zpacks, but I’ve seen it done. Zpacks requires many lines, stakes, etc. looked more complicated than my durston. My durston can be set up quickly with 4 stakes minimum, 6 stakes is ideal though.

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 :)

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)

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

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.

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

Checkout r/ultralight. They have the best recommendations for lightweight tents. Duston 2 is great if you want a trekking pole tent. A cheaper option is the Paria Aches which I personally like a lot. For free standing i have enjoyed my naturehike vik but it does condensate a good amount so a double wall might work better for you like the Paria Zion 2 person.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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’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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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