Episode 62 | Dan Durston Talks X-mids and More
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Summary
In this episode, Andrew chats with gear designer and biologist Dan Durston. Dan is an accomplished backpacker and longtime Backpacking Light member. He went from gear enthusiast to gear tester to successful gear designer and small-business owner in a remarkably short time. His most recent shelter, the X-Mid Pro 2 (see our Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Review), is one of the buzziest ultralight shelters to hit the market in quite a while. All this despite the fact that Dan doesn’t have a background in engineering or design.
In this wide-ranging interview, Andrew and Dan talk about design philosophy, the difference between designing for shelters and packs, his journey from tester to designer, upcoming projects from Durston Gear, and more.
Outline
- 0:00:34 – new public vs. members only podcast format
- 0:01:38 – introduction; Who is Dan Durston?
- 0:02:44 – the story behind Durston Gear, hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, and a minimalist philosophy to tent design
- 0:06:54 – the process of bringing the first X-mid from design to production
- 0:11:47 – What makes an X-mid an X-mid?
- 0:12:56 – first principles design philosophy
- 0:14:56 – using polyester in a shelter design
- 0:16:56 – Dan’s shelter hierarchy of needs
- 0:21:00 – weight savings vs. usability
- 0:22:42 – talking backpacks with Dan
- 0:27:38 – Ultra fabric
— Members Only Begins here —
- 0:30:18 – the X-Mid Pro Series
- 0:35:42 – What is coming soon for Dan and his designs?
- 0:41:42 – How do your personal philosophies inform your design philosophy?
- 0:44:44 – company values and vision
- 0:50:01 – wearing multiple hats in the field
- 0:51:50 – podcast wrap up
Resources
- Check out the articles Dan Durston has written at BPL here.
- Johnathan Davis interviews Dan Durston as part of the Faces series in 2015.
- Mark Wetherington recently wrote an article analyzing the Supply Chain economics of being a cottage manufacturer which includes discussion with Dan.
- Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Review
- Curious to learn more about Dan’s thoughts on design, standards, and testing? Check out Rex Sander’s Standards Watch article written after a chat with Dan!
- To peruse Durston Gear’s tents, backpack’s and more, check out their website!
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Credits
- Executive Producer - Backpacking Light; Show Director and Host - Ryan Jordan; Producer - Chase Jordan; Theme music: Look for Me in the Mountains written by Chris Cunningham and Ryan Jordan, performed by Chris Cunningham (acoustic guitar, lead and harmony vocals, harmonica), Chad Langford (upright bass), and Tom Murphy (mandolin), produced by Basecamp Studios in Bozeman, Montana.
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Disclosure
- Sponsorship Policy: Backpacking Light does not accept compensation or donated/discounted products in exchange for product mentions or placements in editorial coverage, including any podcast episode content not excplicitly identified as sponsored content.
- Some (but not all) of the links in these show notes may be affiliate links. If you click on one of these links and visit one of our affiliate partners (usually a retailer site), and subsequently place an order with that retailer, we receive a commission on your entire order, which varies between 3% and 15% of the purchase price. Affiliate commissions represent less than 15% of Backpacking Light's gross revenue. More than 70% of our revenue comes from Membership Fees. So if you'd really like to support our work, don't buy gear you don't need - support our consumer advocacy work and become a Member instead.
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