X-Mid Pro 1

X-Mid Pro 1 gets the job done on JMT

Just wrapped JMT NoBo from Horseshoe Meadow to Happy Isles w Whitney and other side trips. The X-Mid Pro 1 was bomb proof and dry under the full range of conditions, including 4 days of afternoon thunderstorms, high winds, and a healthy dose of BB-sized hail. The dyneema floor held up great without a ground sheet. The external zippers do get a little finicky in the Sierra pumice and grit. This is an area for improvement in the design.

My home on the JMT

Got this tent when I desperately needed to reduce my pack weight for injury and it’s been phenomenal. Light, sturdy, no condensation, quality etc. all the things everyone knows about Durston. Why four stars not five? Because I think there are some identifiable improvements that would take it to five for me and bc I know Durston is always iterating. - a user friendly way to hang a headlamp - I could see there was a tiny loop. For the life of me, when tired and getting into the tent at night I could not get to it easily to use it. My favorite option would be a small orange mesh pocket near the peak - Nemo does this to give a warm glow in the tent and it’s awesome. Yes; I know Durston competes on grams and measurements so adding things that add grams might not be feasible. - instructions. Seriously. Like I knew how to get a pitch, but omg on the trail I wished so badly that I had a reference guide for uneven ground, the narrow pitch etc. I had so much time to tinker but my pitches never got better bc I had no way other than trial and error - improved guidance around the footprint. The product page heavily implies the footprint is only needed on hard surfaces/rock/gravel. I felt - bc of this - that I was being extra carrying a foot print and using it. So one time I pitched on soft dirt, in a heavy storm. That one time? Tore a 2 inch flap in the tent floor. Obvi I know tent floors can tear and get repaired. But it’s frustrating to have relied on Durston guidance that the footprint isn’t really necessary, and the one time I skipped it to get a tear. I don’t think the tent needs improving from this perspective, I think the instructions and user guidance is what needs adjusting. Have a small issue with the thing that wedges the peak vents open breaking; waiting to hear back from CS on that but I assume that’s repairable. Lots of folks complain that the Durston tent is massive and you can never find a spot to pitch it…. I honestly never had an issue. And I pitched it in some tight spots, without even knowing how to do the narrow pitch! (See earlier, instructions). To reiterate - it’s a great tent. Ultralight, intuitive to pitch, well protected from wind and rain. Super easy to pitch using rocks when ground doesn’t allow for stakes. Haven’t tried in snow or sand yet. But I’ve had this on the trail now for 200 miles and 17 nights and highly highly recommend.

Premium in quality.

This is my second time purchasing X-Mid Pro 1 tent from Durston. The first one was a gift for a friend, and this time I bought one for myself. I had a great experience on both occasions, and the delivery to New Zealand was surprisingly quick. The tent is excellent and feels premium in quality.