Ultralight tenting and chilly climate often don’t mesh nicely. Typically talking, should you plan on tenting within the late fall or winter, it’s best to anticipate to pack on the kilos with the gear you’re carrying.
That stated, Durston Gear, a boutique firm positioned within the coronary heart of the Canadian Rockies, is doing its greatest to maintain that winter weight down with the X-Mid 1 Strong tent.
Coming in below 3 kilos with poles, the X-Mid 1 Strong is a cold-weather improve to Durston’s normal X-Mid 1. Storm-worthy, user-friendly, and simply the suitable measurement, the X-Mid 1 Strong is designed to maintain you on the market even when the climate will get tough.
I initially obtained the tent in September however wished to check it out within the chilly rain and snow. Sadly, it took till late January to choose up nearly 6 inches of the heavy, moist stuff. So, I trekked into the woods and had myself one heck of a Saturday night time. And it solely bought hairier from there.
In complete, the X-Mid 1 Strong was pitched out in snow, ice, and rain for six wild nights. And it was a complete rockstar the entire time.
Briefly: The Durston X-Mid 1 Strong is a contemporary marvel of a tent. It’s a double-wall, single-person, ultralight tent — sub-3 kilos — that’s good for year-round tenting, however is particularly tailor-made to nights within the winter months. Whereas most ultralight tents, by design and composition, favor honest climate circumstances, the X-Mid 1 Strong is a superb tent to tackle solo winter adventures — particularly in case your favourite nights embody the worst climate.
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Sort
Ultralight backpacking -
Seasons
4 -
Weight as examined
2 lbs., 7.5 oz. -
Waterhead
3,500 mm / 138″ -
Doorways
2 -
Sleeps
1 -
Flooring dimensions
32″ x 90″ -
Top
46″ -
Footprint with fly
67″ x 100″ -
Carry measurement
12″ x 5″ -
Value
$340 (Tent = $270, Poles = $35 every)
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The general design and rugged construction -
Low weight for a storm-worthy winter tent -
Straightforward setup protects you from the weather -
Magnetic toggles = No brainer
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Be ready to fine-tune your stake placement the primary time round.
Durston X-Mid 1 Strong Tent: Evaluate
GearJunkie named the usual X-Mid 1 one of many greatest backpacking tents of 2024. It excelled in sturdiness, design, and ease of setup. Nevertheless, the best-of reviewers did discover it somewhat heavy for an ultralight tent.
Now, whereas I agree it is likely to be somewhat beefy to hold in the summertime months, the X-Mid 1 Strong is a breath of recent air by way of ultralight tents for winter tenting.
Design & Options
With the X-Mid 1 Strong, Durston got down to create a cold-weather, ultralight tent that was additionally storm-worthy. To perform this, the model targeted on the right combination of supplies and geometry.
Made out of 20D Sil/PE polyester and 15D ripstop nylon, the X-Mid 1 Strong doesn’t use conventional tent poles. Like different ultralight designs, it units up utilizing your trekking poles. Alternatively, Durston additionally provides Z-Flick telescoping carbon fiber poles (offered individually).
Carbon fiber tent poles, and trekking poles for that matter, are recognized for his or her unimaginable sturdiness and suppleness. These properties help within the X-Mid 1 Strong’s skill to face as much as nasty climate.
There’s science behind the geometry of the X-Mid, which Durston fine-tuned to construct tents which can be “weight environment friendly, easy, and purposeful.” The fly and inside tent on the X-Mid don’t marry one another geometrically. As an alternative, they use opposing angles, tie-downs, and two poles to create a inflexible construction that requires minimal setup.
First Impressions
My preliminary first impression of the tent was one in every of shock. Having extra expertise with expedition-style 4-season tents, I used to be shocked at how small the tent was in its stuff sack — concerning the measurement of a loaf of bread. I used to be additionally pleasantly shocked at how mild the Z-Flick telescoping poles have been.
I’m certain some people would throw a match that this tent weighs nearly 3 kilos, however to me, that’s insanely light-weight. But it surely’s doubly spectacular when you think about what this tent can stand up to (extra on that in a minute).
On the primary setup, the X-Mid 1 Strong required a little bit of a studying curve, as I’m used to tent poles that type an entire construction across the tent (like widespread domed tents). You’ll must work with the angles and alter your stakes just a few instances to get it nearly good.
However I managed to set it up for the primary time in about 10 minutes — and I ended just a few instances to examine my Instagram feed.
Setup Science
Ultimately, I discovered the easiest way to arrange the X-Mid was to stake out the fly, ensuring the corners have been staked as near 90 levels as attainable. This can prevent from having to return and make changes.
If you set it up, set the pole top to 210 cm and insert them by way of the vents at both finish of the tent. This ensures that the construction is inflexible, so you possibly can go in and clip the highest of the inside tent to the 2 side-release buckles (close to the cup the place the poles seat).
From there, clip the strains that reach from every nook of the tent to the D-rings in every nook of the fly — tighten them up.
Remember the fact that the 2 opposing tent corners (northeast and southwest) might appear to be they’re too far-off from the connecting level on the fly. They aren’t. Belief within the science, it might appear somewhat bizarre, however it works.
That stated, the twine tensioners on this tent are nice. They make for simple one-hand adjustment, whether or not the twine is dry or moist. However remember, you’re not organising journey wire in a distant jungle to lure your enemies. Don’t overtighten the strains, as it’s going to carry the tent ground off the bottom. That might harm the tent.
I don’t assume I reinvented the wheel by inserting the poles by way of the vents, however Durston recommends getting into by way of the massive entry doorways on the fly. Both approach, it’s a reasonably simple setup that retains you out of the weather. You can throw all of your gear inside through the course of and reserve it from getting moist. That’s nice should you get to camp late and the climate is dangerous.
Within the Area
Seeing as this tent is geared towards winter climate, I waited till it snowed earlier than I pitched, and lived in, the X-Mid 1 Strong. As soon as that occurred, I sort of bought caught on the market with it. Positive, I might have lower bait and introduced a moist tent house, however I felt this was an ample alternative to embrace the chance, so I dug in.
It snowed, then there was an ice storm, after which it snowed once more — after which there was a day of rain. Lastly, on the final day, it warmed up and the solar made a fast look. So, I used to be capable of take the tent down, shake it off, and start the method of drying it out.
In complete, the tent was up for six days and 5 nights. My children bought sick in the midst of all of it, so I solely spent 3 nights out in it. All 3 nights have been under freezing, however I stayed heat inside.
To maintain myself off the bottom, I used my Therm-a-Relaxation NeoAir sleeping pad and Sea to Summit Reactor Fleece Liner. The mixture did an incredible job of maintaining me heat and elevated.
Although at no time did any moisture get contained in the tent, the ground was very chilly. One solution to fight this could be to make use of a groundsheet.
Getting Located
Contained in the X-Mid 1 Strong, there’s loads of room on the bottom, however there isn’t lots of headroom or house to maneuver round. You’ll be capable of sit up or roll over, however there’s no room for ballroom dancing. And that’s what you need within the winter. The much less house to maintain heat inside, the higher.
This will likely require you to go away just a few gadgets outdoors the tent, however you’ll be shocked how a lot you possibly can retailer inside.
When you do have to go away some gear outdoors the tent, the vestibules on the fly provide full safety from the weather. I left my Blundstone boots out all night time, in addition to a few different bits of kit, and except for being chilly, they have been dry.
I’ve spent fairly just a few snowy nights in conventional dome tents and a few higher-grade, double-wall four-season tents. I even wakened one morning with a kind of tents collapsed on my chest attributable to 6 inches of snow sitting on high of it.
The material on the X-Mid 1 Strong will stretch below the burden of ice and snow, however attributable to its distinctive design, the partitions of the fly by no means contact the partitions of the tent itself. This leaves you dry as a bone inside — and the tent gained’t collapse on you.
Drawbacks
The one factor that is likely to be off-putting concerning the X-Mid 1 Strong is that it’s not a freestanding tent. Within the colder months, this might jam you up if the bottom is frozen.
A fast treatment to that is to deliver a superb hammer. The stakes that include the tent are approach higher than these hottest tents provide. These will endure just a few good whacks into the bottom.
That is essential as a result of past its well-thought-out design, a part of the X-Mid 1 Strong’s skill to resist adversarial climate circumstances is its should be tethered to the Earth.
You’ll be able to’t combat science, wonderful design, and stable engineering.
Durston X-Mid 1 Strong Tent: In Conclusion
I might have by no means anticipated a tent as mild because the Durston X-Mid 1 Strong, which depends on two poles that aren’t even related to the tent, to face as much as one winter storm. But it surely did. And I’m certain it’ll do it repeatedly if want be.
The X-Mid 1 Strong is one massive innovation; the suitable materials mixed with the suitable design. To say I’m impressed can be an understatement. Regardless that Durston designed the Strong for winter climate, for my part, it’s a true four-season tent that may deal with any sort of climate the gods throw at it, all yr spherical.
Two essential notes should you’re contemplating this tent for buy: First, if you have already got trekking poles, you don’t must pony up for the carbon fiber Z-Flick poles Durston provides. They’re superior poles, however go forward and save the $70 and 6.8 ounces of weight.
And second, it is a true single-person tent. You’ll be able to’t squeeze your sweetheart inside this one. When you do, you run the chance of knocking into the pole and dropping the tent. As I stated, you don’t need further room in a winter tent, since you’ll find yourself getting chilly prematurely.
If the change of seasons does nothing to have an effect on your tenting calendar, then I extremely suggest you look into the Durston X-Mid 1 Strong for light-weight, snug adventures in any climate.
