Really torn between X-Mid Pro 1 and Pivot Solo

“Craftsmanship, engineering and material choice seems to be inferior to the X-Mid”.

How exactly? Is that assumption based on solid evidence or is it more about what you’ve seen/read on social media?

Also you can choose .75 DCF with the Pivot Solo, which is stronger and lasts longer than .5. However you might read spin that says otherwise.

My assumption are based solely on other peoples opinions. I have spent the last 3 days deep diving in reviews, comparisons and what not. I’m not stating any of my thoughts as facts, if it is perceived that way i apologize. It is only my ideas of both products after researching. And i would love to stand corrected on any misconceptions i have.

In the end, what i want is the best product for my needs.

FWIW…

I bought a Duplex in .75 a month after they were released in late 2013.  I loved that tent until I replaced it with an X-Mid 2 Pro in 2022.

The Duplex was a great tent and was in perfect condition when I sold it on…it held its value well. I never had any quality issues with it.  There were 2 things I didn’t care for: 1.the need to orient a particular end into wind less the outside overlapping door act like a scoop (not an issue with the Pivot).  2. The floating floor, which the Pivot retains, was less than confidence inspiring in storms. However if the X-Mid had not come along I would likely still own it.

IMO, the X-Mid construction and design is best in class.  Careful attention to detail is evident in every aspect. Everything about the X-Mid is a significant step up from the Duplex…nice taught pitch, much more storm worthy, and as a result much more comfortable.

That said, the Pivot is a significantly different design from the Duplex, however from inspecting the photos I see many design and construction similarities.  I have not seen a ZPacks shelter made after 2013 so I cannot directly comment on current product quality of construction.

“Craftsmanship, engineering and material choice seems to be inferior to the X-Mid”.

How exactly? Is that assumption based on solid evidence or is it more about what you’ve seen/read on social media?

Admittedly, it’s been a while since I’ve bought anything other than a stuff sack from Z-Packs but everything I bought from there looked like it was MYOG and sewn in a garage.  Perfectly functional and nothing wrong with that, but sewing, cutting, and patterning seemed sup-par compared to the top tier cottage brands like MLD.  Z-packs does make light stuff though, but I’d certainly say their fit and finish is a step below others.  (I’ve owned a shelter, backpack, and quilt from Z-Packs at various times)

I can’t speak to the Durston XMid Pro-1 – it’s not an option for me since I don’t use two trekking poles. However, the Zpacks build quality is excellent, and I’m pretty picky. It’s close to on par with Tarp Tent.

I’d suggest you order both, set them up on a ground cloth, and return the one you don’t like.

Oddly, for all the digs at Zpacks, the duplex is consistently the most popular tent on the AT and PCT. I think Justin Outdoors tested the Plex Solo and X-Mid in 40+mph winds and the Zpacks tent bested the Durston so it can’t be that bad.

Obviously, the Zpacks performs better than it looks and the Durston vice versa.  One is made in an offshore factory and the other by hand in the US.

Not sure where the claim that the Durston tent is made with better materials comes from.   Both tents are DCF, which comes from one company.

Craftsmanship, engineering and material-choice seems to be inferior to the X-Mid.

Aren’t the main materials basically the same? As to construction, on the Offset Duo we bought a year or so ago, as with bradmacmt, the build quality is similar to our Tarptent Dipole Li.

…the fact that Zpacks didn’t even get a taut pitch in the product video, worries me as to the storm worthiness of the tent.

The many photos of poorly pitched Zpacks tents has always puzzled me. We’ve owned several Zpacks tents and they’ve all pitched good and taut.

Personally, I’d go for the design that best suits you, rather than worry about differences in quality.

Personally, I’d go for the design that best suits you, rather than worry about differences in quality.

Exactly!

@WilliamChilton

Regarding the materials, my understanding is that the floor DCF used in the X-Mid is layered different, with all reinforcing fibers on the side towards the ground. As opposed to regular DCF wich has those fibers on both sides.

Regarding the dcf fly, i saw some video comparing the opacity of the Durston dcf and Zpacks dcf (of same weight) and it showed the Zpacks fabrics as more transparent. According to the video, this meant worse quality. Wether that is true or not, i do not know.

As to the matter of taut pitch, that’s reassuring!

I would really love to go with the Pivot Solo, but since there is limited testing i think i’ll end up with the X-Mid. Although, no final decision just yet.

@baja bob

Just watched the wind test, this was a X-Mid pro 2, and it was never fully pitched before taken down, as Justin was afraid it would be destroyed.

I don’t doubt the wind performance of the Plex solo, it’s a small mid. Unfortunately that does not help me in my decision. Although i wish i could fit in that one.

“Regarding the dcf fly, i saw some video comparing the opacity of the Durston dcf and Zpacks dcf (of same weight) and it showed the Zpacks fabrics as more transparent. According to the video, this meant worse quality. Wether that is true or not, i do not know.”

Both 0.55 osy (ounces per square yard) DCF used by both companies are the same. Absolutely no difference. Someone is trying to scam you. Don’t believe them.

Zpacks has 0.75 osy – thicker DCF which will last much longer than 0.55 0sy DCF.

There is one person who has used the 0.55 osy Plex Solo for more than 11,000 miles (triple crowner). This just proves that craftsmanship etc should not be a concern one bit – meaning their construction methods are the same irrespective of what tent you buy.

ZPacks makes awesome gear. My experience with their customer service has always been excellent. Returning items is so easy. While returning items to be shipped back to Canada is not that easy – it is a little more expensive – at least with backpacks. What should have cost $10-15 for return cost close to $30 for Durston backpack. Of course you can sell it on BPL or reddit – which is what I did after I tried to return it using USPS.

As indicated, buy both and try it out and return the one you don’t like. Only you will know what you will like.

Don’t be swayed by any of the subtle poison dripping that’s been underway for some time regarding ZPacks tents. Propaganda and exaggerated claims are often taken as fact by gullible consumers. I have no doubt the X-Mid Pro is a very fine shelter, but many Durstonheads are convinced every tent that’s not a Durston is obsolete junk. They’re all over YouTube and social media with an almost cult like zeal. It’s amusing to behold.

I can’t speak to the Durston XMid Pro-1 – it’s not an option for me since I don’t use two trekking poles. However, the Zpacks build quality is excellent, and I’m pretty picky. It’s close to on par with Tarp Tent.

I’d suggest you order both, set them up on a ground cloth, and return the one you don’t like.

Pontus, I forgot when I typed the above that you live in Sweden, so taxes and returns make it more difficult. Still, I have to believe you could sell one or the other on an EU hiking forum or ebay and get your money back.

https://www.tarptent.com/product/notch-li/

and don’t forget the above.

All of these tents are very, very good.

edit: wait I forgot that the Notch is a double wall tent. Someone is going to flame on my bringing up a double wall tent in a single wall thread. Double flame. Mea culpa!! I’ll say three thousand hail Jardines and fast for a week. Honest!

@bradmacmt

I think i Will start with ordering the X-Mid. And if i dislike it for any reasons that the Pivot will solve, i Will sell it.

The X-Mid is really easy to sell for close to retail here in Sweden as it’s trending big time on national UL-forums. Haven’t heard a Word about the Pivot.

@jscott

Unfortunately the Corner struts of the TarpTents are a dealbreaker as they limit how i pack my gear. I’ve been using the Aeon Li for the past 2 years.

Really wish you could split them, as i mostly appreciate their function. I did struggle with removing them before packing up, but this was too time-consuming

I’ve owned a SolPlex, AltaPlex, Offset Duo, Offset Trio, and three Duplexes. I’ve also owned an X-Mid Pro 1, X Mid 2, X Mid Pro 2, and X Mid Pro 2+. I still have the X Mid Pro 2 and 2+ and two of the Duplexes. I can say that in my personal experience, and based solely on the tents I have owned, the Durston shelters are superior to Zpacks in their craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Now, please don’t read that to mean that Zpacks shelters aren’t any good or won’t last, because there are countless customer videos showing that they are reliable and they do last if properly cared for and used. My Duplexes have plenty of nights on them and they have many, many more left in them. In fact, I prefer the Zpacks shelters over the Durston shelters, though primarily because the X Mid design solves for issues I don’t encounter and that design causes me to compromise things I’d rather not.

I haven’t seen the Pivot in person, but I would pick it blindly over the X Mid Pro 1 based on my experience with the latter. I find the Pro 1 way too confining when seated inside it on a thick air mattress. And again, as above, it’d be solving for issues I wouldn’t have and demanding I give up livable room inside which I wouldn’t want to do.

Every tent design involves a series of tradeoffs…pros and cons.  With rare exception, modern tents, from cottage makers to large corporation, are well made and reliable.  Pick the design whose pros align with your needs/concerns and whose cons do not bother you.

What JCH said. 👍🏻

[The X-Mid Pro 1] seems to be great in length for someone like me 6’1” but somewhat cramped in width. The huge vestibules seems excessive and offers more problems ..to the increased footprint size.
I have been steadily working on refining the balance between floor area and vestibule size. The original X-Mid 1 had a 28″ wide floor and 27″ deep vestibule (almost 1:1 ratio). The gen 2 X-Mid 1 widened the floor and then the X-Mid Pro 1 has a slightly wider floor yet while reducing the vestibule depth and footprint size, so it is 32″ floor with 23″ deep vestibules (closer to 1.5:1).  So this balance has been improving. Here are the footprints to scale:

“Justin Outdoors tested the Plex Solo and X-Mid in 40+mph winds and the Zpacks tent bested the Durston…Obviously, the Zpacks performs better than it looks and the Durston vice versa.”
Justin opted to take the X-Mid Pro 2+ down due to quite a bit of movement, but then reviewing his footage realized he didn’t have it pitched well (e.g. guylines not angled properly) so he said that it was a pitching issue and not indicative of its potential. The Plex Solo is a fairly small single pole tent while the X-Mid Pro 2+ is quite a large dual pole tent, so I would expect the Plex Solo to be capable of higher winds due to the different classes. The Pivot Solo and X-Mid Pro 1 are much more comparable types of tents.

@WilliamChilton

Regarding the materials, my understanding is that the floor DCF used in the X-Mid is layered different, with all reinforcing fibers on the side towards the ground. As opposed to regular DCF wich has those fibers on both sides.

Regarding the dcf fly, i saw some video comparing the opacity of the Durston dcf and Zpacks dcf (of same weight) and it showed the Zpacks fabrics as more transparent. According to the video, this meant worse quality. Wether that is true or not, i do not know.

While sticking by my advice to choose the design that best suits you, I’d like to point out that for the same weight as the X-mid Pro, you could get the non-Lite version of the Pivot, which not only has a thicker, more durable floor than the X-mid, but also a stronger, more opaque fly.

If you want the best livability for someone 6′ ish in this style tent I’d choose the Offset Solo over either of those.

I would follow Brad’s advice-order both tents and set them up together and really test out if the interior is good for you. At 6’3″ I can’t tell you how many times I have excitedly gotten a tent that was advertised for tall hikers only to be disappointed with the real interior volume. I am very skeptical of any tent claiming-‘fit’s up to 7′ users!’.  The one tent I have been inside and actually lived up to it’s claim was the Offsett Duo.