Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Review

[Mustard Tiger]

Basic tarps are more of a pain to set up than a trekking pole tent like the X-Mid Pro 2. Yes, you get a bit more options and versatility with a basic tarp, but you have a bit more to think about when you’re pitching it. I used an Integral Designs Sim Shelter for years and loved it, but it definitely required more thought and planning to pitch it, otherwise you’re going to be doing a bit of readjusting. The X-Mid is pretty simple. Stake out the 4 corners as recommended, then insert your poles. For most applications you’re done. If you want to add more stakes, stake out guy lines or do a skinny pitch it’s an option but not a requirement in most situations. SO for those confused and overwhelmed or think it’s too complicated, keep in mind these skinny pitch and alternate ways to pitch are merely suggestions to add versatility, but aren’t required for the standard pitch.

[David D]

My experience is with the non pro but these points will apply to the Pro as well

Many Ontario Provincial Park back country sites designate tent pads.  My regular Xmid2 fits on a pad, but requires skinny pitch if sharing with another tent which can be tricky given the pads are often fouled by large roots and pointy rocks.  Definitely trickier than my previous freestanding tent but shouldn’t at all be an impediment to purchase, its all doable and not too hard.

Other Park pitch sites can be anything from bare rock to sandy loose soil.  I switched out all the guy lines for longer to support dead man anchors on rock, and switched out the bishops hooks and Ti pegs for MSR Groundhogs to get better grip in loose soil.

I’ve taken it in high wind and rain bombardment.  In driving rain shoulder season, the short bathtub requires a trade off between splashback (pitch fly low) and condensation (pitch fly up).  I added guy line to the center end panels and carry two extra stakes to pull them out a bit to create a bit more airflow with some but not too much splashback.

I add 2 more stakes to support the peak guylines for really hard rain.  I’ve deployed all 8.    I carry a bit of extra line for drying clothes but can deploy that on the mid panels using stick and rock as dead anchor if needing to really reinforce in nasty weather, so 8 pegs is a sweet spot for me.

It can get tricky to get the 90 degree pitch if on sloped or uneven ground.  I had to do this a few times to avoid swimming in bed in the morning, but the longer guylines make it all possible.  The stock short guylines would make this much less flexible.

For Canadians, liteoutdoors carry cost effective cord, line locks and pegs.  I used their cord: it doesn’t absorb water & is far more visible than the stock guylines reducing chance of tripping.  It doesn’t slip but is stiff (dyneema core).   I also added their line locks to areas of the tent that could use them.

It’s easy to jury rig up a DIY stargazer mode using the peak guidelines.  This mode really rocks with this tent.

EDIT: Kaviso’s support is amazing.  I ordered a patch repair kit and both Dan and Kaviso were all over it and very helpful.  Dan is so responsive I wonder if he’s really an AI?

[Jason McGrath]

Sorry I’m late to this party but I’m in purchase mode and I’m hoping for some clarification on one section that is a little confusing to me. The long term review states “At the end of the testing period, I noticed no areas of wear on the tent or issues with seams, netting, zippers, discoloration or distortion of fabric, or anything else that would indicate issues with durability. While issues related to the longevity of DCF are becoming more known and documented, it does not appear to me that any of those issues would be made worse by any inherent features of the X-Mid Pro. ” Is the author saying there is NO deformation common to DCF shelters or that it’s no worse than other shelters?

[Dan @ Durston Gear]

I can’t speak for the author, but I think they are saying they didn’t notice any durability issues while also noting that DCF does have general limitations. With the X-Mid Pro tents we are using pre-shrunk DCF so distortion/deformation should be less than most other brands of tents which don’t use this. DCF still has some limits to it’s lifespan though, since eventually it fatigue and start to deteriorate. Most people will never see that because it takes 100-200 nights of use, but this is why the lifespan of DCF shelters is often considered to be about “1 thru hike” (referring to the AT/PCT/CDT which take usually 100-150 nights).

[Tjaard Breeuwer]

I considered the Pro when I bought my X-Mid2, but ultimately decided that, as a tall hiker, I wanted the larger size of the “regular” 2. Cool to see a 2+ size Pro available now, perfect for tall guys like me and with my wife and I both using  wide pads.

Tough decision whether I keep the regular 2 or sell it and get the 2+ Pro version. Obvious weight savings for the Pro, but versatility and condensation benefits for the regular version. The latter is not insignificant here in the  humid and often calm, upper Midwest of the US.

[Jason McGrath]

So many preach that condensation concerns are overblown. I don’t know. For me, it came down to these questions:

1. Do I want to lose ability to set up fly and sit under it (on a stool or in a chair, maybe with a friend) for meal shelter?

2. Do I want to lose the ability to pack everything up including the dry inner under the shelter of the fly?

3. Do I want do lose the convenience of quickly stuffing the tent in the pack or in a pocket?

Lose these things for lighter weight and a simpler tent. It can be a hard call!

[Tjaard Breeuwer]

@Jason, exactly. I commend Dan for offering both versions, so people can make their own choice.

Indeed, when set up outer only, I could squeeze 3 or 4 people inside for a lunch break in the rain.

[Author]

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