Is it worth it? X Mid Comparison with the Yun Chuan 2
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ม.ค. 2024
- There has been a lot of controversy around the new Asta Gear Yun Chuan tent that is a "copy" of the @durstongear X Mid. Hopefully I explain all the true differences between these tents and also the reasons why a bit of competition isn't a bad thing and @durstongear shouldn't be worried about it. (which I am sure he isn't)
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I didn't have time to give this a full watch, but my goal with the X-Mid is to have people want to buy it because it actually is worth it, rather than charging a premium based on brand/image. Of course I don't love it when people copy my ideas and designs, but rather than get upset about it I prefer to focus on delivering as much benefit with our products as I can.
With the X-Mid we have it priced at about $220 USD (1P) or $280 USD (2P) which I think it quite affordable for a tent that is using high quality materials and construction. Competing tents to this are often quite a bit more expensive and we do truly have pretty minimal markup on the X-Mid tents. The prices are quite low for what it is, but yeah is it possible to build them cheaper with cheaper materials, quicker ways of sewing etc. I don't recall the exact price of the Asta Gear version but it looks like it is about $165 USD for the 1P. So roughly $165 vs $220 but with a real step down in materials/quality and also Asta Gear doesn't fully understand the design like I do, so there are a variety of aspects of the tent that don't work as well as they could (e.g. how they design the corners, orient the fabrics etc).
I would think most people would be better off with the real thing for $55 more ($165 vs $220) but Europe does have that import tax loop hole where items under $150 avoid that 12% tax. So saving 12% there and free shipping, and maybe some other sales I can see why some people would prefer to opt for the low cost version even if there is a notable loss in quality/function. I am always working on making my gear as affordable as I can without compromising quality, so we do have some improvements coming in a few months. The regular and X-Mid Solid tents will start to be sold directly on DurstonGear.com where we will be able to lower the shipping cost to Europe further, and also potentially avoid the import tax if we can ship the fly and inner separately. I'm not sure of the details yet, but I think we can keep the cost difference between these tents fairly small and all of that is going into making a better tent (rather than paying for brand) so if someone is on a really strict budget then the Asta version make be the choice for them, but for most people I think we can keep the cost difference small enough that it makes sense to get the higher quality and function real thing.
I made a point of saying that pretty much. It's not up to the quality or the material of the xmid and as I own one I know this well. Problem with uk is we pay 20% vat then import tax on top of that so suddenly it becomes a lot more. Asta gear is £160 delivered to the uk and the xmid 1p around £300 with import tax and vat. However I did state that at the end of the day, people won't prefer the asta gear over the xmid, they'll just buy it if the xmid is out of their budget or they may buy something else but either way it wouldn't affect the sales of xmid in the uk. They'll either buy it or can't afford it so no matter what they buy it won't be an xmid if out of the budget. This gives someone the option to have a cheaper albeit inferior version. I'm still pushing the xmid as a great tent 👍 if someone could sort our governments taxing regulations out it would be so much better
@@NoviceWildCamper See, he replied haha ;D ...you both are right and yeah, our government sucks and make it difficult for us with all that tax nonsense.
Exactly. Fuel, vat, death tax, income tax, way more than any other country.
Importing an xmid to Sweden it would end up more expensive than a brand new Hilleberg. That's why people in Europe like Ali express.
@northernswedenstories1028 if I ever get to Sweden I'll be sneaking a hilleberg back 🤫
Thank you! You're the first person I've ever seen talk about the Sierra Designs High Route. Dan was clearly "inspired" by it. He simply slapped a Utility Patent on the geometry and declared himself a genius who can now sue anyone who steals "his" design. The Chinese couldn't care less though.
I think almost everything has pretty much been done before by now and improving on a design is a good thing but this tent is just another option for those who can't afford the xmid 👍
I mostly agree with the sentiment there. It's horses for courses - I have the Lanshan2 which I think is a great tent for the money, but I just bought the XMID-1 as well (50th present to myself!!) and the difference in quality is very, very evident. We all need to just accept the fact that whatever tent you buy the manufacturers are using the same materials made in the same factories (mostly) and it is the assembly/stitching/accessories that make the difference. 30D ripstop nylon/PU etc is mostly bought on huge rolls from the same places in reality. If you can afford it - buy Durston/Hilleberg etc but if on a budget then look at the copies and go with them. Ultimately it is the pleasure gained from these items that is what we are after
True. I love my fjallraven. The quality is amazing and little thoughts in the design that go un noticed. But then again, cost me £700 but I enjoy it all the more for it. And we have to start somewhere. First time wild campers aren't gonna spend £5-700 on a tent. They need decent budget gear to make their minds up as to whether they're going to like it or not otherwise they'd lose a shed load of money.
It’s the same argument with the jetboil from about 3 years ago. Jetboils a great product but if i pay £40 for a Chinese knock off I know it’s not going to be as a good as a £130-£150 jetboil. But I don’t have the spare money to spend that much on a gas cooker when i need to purchase other stuff as well. Great video mate
Cheers buddy. At the end ofnthe day it's just boiling water. Paying £100 more to boil it 30 second quicker is just a waste of money to me. I'm not camping to rush things, I'm there to enjoy it 👍
great analogy. it's about time someone shed some light over the situation. great video by the way. always like a balanced honest review.
Cheers buddy. There's just too much faff going on around Chinese made product. Nearly everything is made out there from top brands to the cheapest but brands get the applause. 👍
The bottom line is: people love the feeling of belonging to an "elite club" of expensive/brandy stuff and when someone pops up with something similar, they don't feel special anymore. While in reality, when the "elite stuff" is really from a superior quality, the product itself proves their point and this should be enough to make you feel better.
It happens to everything. I remember when Chinese car brands started their business, they were mostly ripoffs and only the brave bought it. Then, after some years, they didn't need to rely on copies anymore, they had their own stuff with highlights and lowlights. Copying is part of the process. And finally...
"Copying is the most sincere form of flattery". Dwight Schrute
Exaclty what I said about imitation and flattery. Most people who have the high end gear started out with the cheap stuff anyway. Who buys a £1k tent when they first start wild camping? No one 👍
Great video - I agree with the comments you make I have a very limited budget so l can get together kit to enable me to enjoy the outdoors 👍
Exaclty. No one is going to spend the best part of £2k on the best gear to start out wild camping as if you don't like it then that's a shed load to lose. We all start with budget and a lot stay with budget as cheap doesn't mean rubbish 👍
Great vid and I totally agree, was thinking exactly the same with tge sierra designs. I had both and thought the x mid was a take on it. 👍🏻
There's been so many tents made over the years that all new tents are a variation of a previous one. There's only so much you can do with tent design and it's only the material thet can improve with new technologies but then it costs a lot more so its just down to budget and cheap doesn't mean rubbish.
Good point, good review, I got X-Mid and also prefer it, more expensive but way better and reliable for Scottish weather and my long distance walks to feel safe inside.
Now waiting for Dan's comment here to read, but im sure he agrees with you as haha
Not sure he'll see this. I'm not that big a channel but who knows. It's certainly not oke I'd take on a more extreme weather camp but for £160 ots as good as any other in that region 👍
Hi Michael, joys of winter camping eh? Burgers looked tasty, I liked that little ketchup bottle 😊 The morning sky was something 🌅
Thanks Rachel. Yeah it was a stunning morning 👍 atb
Spot on Mike, ivd been saying exactly the same thing since i first saw Andys vid, i was like oh come on, you all going ape but most of you have cloud peaks or havent kicked off about those, and yes i also knew about the seirra designs tent which came out years before the xmid, again the danfans seem to chose to ignore that little fact or go on saying ahh but it was slightly different, well so is this if thats your argument!!!
Great vid mate and Happy New year to you and yours 👍
Cheers mick. Yeah most of the big tubers who only use top end tents now started out with Naturehike or 3FUL. but that's how it works when starting out on a new hobby. If you took up photography you wouldn't go straight out and spend £20k on the best camera, you'd spend a few hundred on a decent but cheaper low end camera as let's face it, you may not like the hobby and then you've wasted a fortune. Buy cheap, buy twice all the well off people say. But how many people have you seen who've bought a hilleberg then sold it and bought another? Cheap doesnt mean rubbish, rubbish means rubbish. It should be buy rubbish buy twice. Nothing wrong with cheap.
@NoviceWildCamper exactly, I have some 3ufl tents and there spot on, cheap yes but not rubbish, you just have to be aware of their limitations, if you push them to the extremes and conditions they're not meant for of course they gonna break but more than likely so would any tent that's not designed for that use, I bought my taija for summer low land or higher camps in good weather and not gale force storms, I have my vango hydra or my helm 2 for high up and winter bad weather camps 👍
Hi happy new year I have camp in that same spot thanks for the video 👍
Cheers buddy. Its a lovely spot 👍
I like the point you made about price range and product competition. As a budget camper, I purchase what is within my means and I’m happy with it. I’m not getting sucked into tent snobbery. 🤨
I see both sides. At the end of the day we all buy what we can afford. And if that's hillebergs then fine but it's horses for courses and if someone really wants a durston but just can't afford it then this is a great option and thsts what we need, competitive options. 👍
Another great video.. mainly because I feature haha. It was not a fart…. It was the floorboard. Loving the new camera.. deffo better than the go pro. Liked the tent but probably wouldn’t buy one. See you on the next one.
Cheers buddy. You little stinker 💨
Great review as always Mike, but the important answer we all need to know is... Did Ash sh:t himself? 😅I like the new camera, although it seems to have the same low light issues that most action cams have. As for the tent, I really don't like it and I'll never have one... unless they get in touch and offer me one of course 😅
Cheers buddy. The camera is a load better than the gopro in low light. It was really dark when I was filming outside and only had one tiny light on when inside the tent. Normally with the gopro I would have a light attached to the gopro itself and even then it wasn't great. I wanted to see how low it could take on that vid and I'm pretty impressed. Im going to find a cold shoe system so I can add a light for real dark filming. 👍
I’ve never been your biggest fan regarding your opinions, but, your opinion on copying manufacturers products for a totally different budget level of customer I do totally agree with, so we have finally found some common ground.
Thanks. What opinions do you not like?
The points you made at the end of the video was bang on, i would love a Xmid but the chances of me being able to afford one is remote, i have looked at the High route 3000 the european version of the tent for two reasons the design and the small footprint but this is £200.00 plus, there will always be variations of tents similar to successful ones.
Shame about the weather but still lots of people out and about, but well argued the point accross.
Only downside I see to the high route is the lack of vestibule but I've not tried it. The door also seems to be the wrong way round for sitting in and cooking but I may be wrong. 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper thanks for replying yes that is the down side, I have seen mods to extend. Thanks
Securing the peaks on any tracking pole tent is absolutely imperative because that's where the structure needs to be supported in high winds and is most likely where we structure fails in the high winds.
I think this tent will have a higher chance of failing in high winds compared to the xmid. Those poles will have a lot of give.
It's pretty cool that you can connect at the top with a tree though and I would absolutely be adding a line to the top to secure it when the pole is inside as well
If I took it out in bad weather I'd certainly have guy lines from those connectors at the top of the pole section. I think it would fair ok but only with a fix that could lower it without the inner touching the outer or sagging down. Someone in these comments said they had done some mods thst worked but I'd have to use it a few times to see what would work best. Maybe I'll do a follow up video one day if I can get the right weather to seam seal it first. 👍
Good review and your point on plagiarism is spot on. Used my Yun Chuan a few times now and made a couple of modifications to the inner to make it less saggy. My main gripe with the tent overall is the foot print size, love the big porch but putting it up in tight spaces like woods it can be quite tricky. 👍
Cheers buddy. That's the trade off. Decent space inside the tent without being massive outside. I'm sure with a few mods it could be a pretty decent tent. 👍
能不能问问你是怎么改造的😅我也觉得外帐屋脊下垂太厉害了，正在寻找解决办法。
@@user-wheniseeyouagain94 english?
Oh, I just wanted to ask him how he modified it, because the tent does have a sinking top problem.@@NoviceWildCamper
Some wise words here, and a cracking review of a cheaper option to the xmid.
Cheers buddy 👍
Excellent review - I had been wondering when an X-Mid style tent would appear on AE. I have an ASTA pyramid tent, I really want to love it because of only needing one pole and the amount of space it allows for gear. But I have played around with it endlessly to get a pitch that works - the same problem you mention in the video about the inner touching the outer - it's almost like the two sections have been built by different teams. Frustrating but I m not giving up on it yet. Cheers
Yeaj I've seen that one and oddly my first tent was the onetigris smokey hut single pole tent which I paired with an ali express inner and fitted better than the inner you get with one tigress 🤷🏼♂️
@@NoviceWildCamper Why don't you do a retro "back to where it all started" video with the smokey hut ? A good opportunity to reflect on a few years worth of gears, reviews, and videos. All the best.
@cyrilhaessig27 good idea. I've still got most of my original gear 👍
Thanks for the video! I picked on one these up (3season, 1person) on the aliexpress Christmas sale for about 100 usd. Figured I couldn’t pass up the deal. Very few videos out there about the specific tent since it’s so new. Glad to have found yours. Haven’t gotten to test mine out yet. I ordered some waterproof spray to spray the seams. So you set up the outer first then the inner?
Yes you have to set the outer first as there's no way to set the inner without it. Did you not get seam sealant? This came with two tubes. Not sure spray would work.
There was a similar issue in the rebuildable high end vaping market at one point, there were very high end expensive vaping products from Switzerland and Germany costing hundreds and were made in really small numbers and then Chinese companies made clones of them for a fraction of the price, all close in looks and design, BUT, some of them altered the design slightly after seeing reviews of the original product and ended up with an improved version at a much lower price. Nowadays, almost all rebuildable vape products are far more affordable and attainable but still very good quality, and those more expensive higher brands still exist because they have an air of exclusivity about them that will always attract customers… the only thing these “clone tents” really are doing is bringing a lower priced product to those that want it and possibly even adding improved ideas that will more than likely be considered for the future versions of the next higher end models… the Chinese companies are very good at tweaking designs to maximise their market and sales… if that then gets applied to the higher end ones in turn, that can be a very good thing…
Spot on 👍
Great reasoning there Mike, well said.
Cheers buddy 👍
Just posted a comment on another channel about how I've pre rigged mine to be strug from a ridge line! As you kinda said!
Yeah it's certainly another option 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper I didn't like how my poles seated! As well versed tarp and line hammock user I thought it would be well suited to a line and a couple of prusik loops!
Definitely. Lack of trees on dartmoor though 😂👍
@@NoviceWildCamper agree! defeats the object a bit but you could use the poles externally and a line and it would be more ridged!
I've never been a fan of trekking pole tents. But I do love different cooking sprays. What was that you sprayed to cook the burgers?. Butter spray?? 😂❤
No it was that 1 calorie oil spray. Think it's the sunflower one. I don't like the butter one.
Another great video mate. I have seen this tent on the other videos & its certainly creating a HooHa. I have an Xmid2 solid bought via Kaviso & had to pay the extras. When I 1st got it I was amazed by the quality & how it just works. Since then its been tested in all sorts of weather & has held up well.
To me your expert video shows the many deficiencies well but as you say its £160. I generally pay up for crucial gear & take risks with less important stuff.
As the saying goes "Buy cheap, Buy twice"
Cheers buddy. It certainly gives those who can't afford it another option but yes it's not up to the quality of the durston for sure. Atb 👍
@frambo7. Can I ask what your the xmid cost all in was when imported into the uk.
Love this video. It makes me lean to finding the extra for the xmid and to be honest it’s an advert for the xmid. Not the other way round.
It certainly wasn't meant as an ad for this tent but it gives an option for those who can't afford the durston. It's not as good as the durston but still an ok tent for money. I can't remember exaclty how much. Somewhere around £300?
@@NoviceWildCamper Could be good ,imagine if Dan D starts sending you stuff cos he thinks your part of his marketing campaign🤣
That would be nice 😂 not much chance though @durstongear 😉
I agree with you 100%. it's just like some of the camping gear on temu. I have some, and it so far has worked just fine. so my question to those people that complain about the Chinese companies . Why should I be held back from camping and enjoying the outdoors because I can't afford that overpriced expensive gear? That is an elitist way of thinking, and it's just not right and if they gave me too much grief I would probly give them a black eye.
Dwayne
The world needs competition to drive improvement, change and pricing. Simple as that. I'm looking forward to the day they bring out a decent hilleberg competitor 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper oh that would pass a lot of people off😅😅😅😅
Only the camping snobs 🤣
Spot on about the "plagiarism", I couldn't understand why people had a bees in their bonnets about this tent but not the hundreds of other copies out there. However, I have a Trangia burner copy which works perfectly, but I've just bought the real thing because... well I can't really explain why!
Would love to see a follow up if you can mod it to your requirements.
Cheers buddy. I've got original trangia gear and copies too. Competition makes the world go round and gives options for everyone's budget. And people who go on about chine se made gear and buying from your own country, look at BooHoo. Has made in UK all over it and proud and they've now found out its made in Asia. All over the news yesterday 🙄 can't trust anyone
Agreed 💯 % 😊👍Thanks for sharing this Video !
I have the Yun Chuan 2 / 4 season as well. I my opinion the x-mid 2 is not worth double the price. At least not the way I use this tent! I go hiking and camping 6-10 weekends a year. Sometimes I also go fishing with it. Since we have regulations in our country that you can only have a tent without a floor when fishing, I chose the ASTA GEAR Yun Chuan 2. I am very happy with it for this price. I also prefer to buy a new tent every 3-4 years instead of using the same tent for 8 years.
Cheers buddy. I never knew that about fishing tents. I used to fish when I was in my teens and when night fishing used one of those massive brolly tents with sides. 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper The laws in Germany and Austria are stupid. A tent is only considered a tent if it has a floor. In order to circumvent this law, the tents with removable Unnenzelt are very practical for fishing at night on state waters such as the Rhine. A tent without a floor counts as shelter here. A brolly is too heavy for me to carry because I always want to fish in remote places where not everyone is fishing. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 🤗
@roastntoast7550 there are some mad laws about. Some here are just ridiculous. 🙄
Regulating no floor on a tent while fishing is a new on me. No footprint legislation is pretty dumb. They are not saving the planet or anything unless hundreds and thousands of people are there at one time.
@@johnreilly8672I don't know what our politicians want to achieve with it either! Really stupid rule!
Awesome review
Cheers buddy 👍
Not a 3ful. You owe me a grand 🤣
You're spot on with Chinese "copies", couldn't agree more with it driving innovation & it causing a trickle down of technology and design...I know it doesn't sit well with at least one youtuber.....who loved his cloud peak 2.
Exactly. There's a lot of double standards out there. At the end if the day it's the same in any industry and never an issue. Tesla bring out the main ev car and now the Chinese are bringing out more affordable ones that compete well and gives people with lower income the opportunity to own these products initially only available to people more well off. 👍
I've not even watched the video more than a couple of minutes but I just wanted to say the quality of the film, the look is superb. What camera do you use.
Thanks buddy. Its the new DJI Pocket 3. Still getting used to it as it was my first try out 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper well the quality is superb, nice one.
Cheers. I'm well impressed with it. 👍
I have an xmid, i had a high route. Very different tents. High route needs to be guyed out and has tiny vestibules, i was very disappointed with it, not so with the xmid
Totally agree. But the offset pole design was there. I saw it when it first came out and immediately ruled it out because of the vestibules.
Sounds like you have a very cool hike - nice video! I'm thinking about getting this tent, but I hike mostly in Sweden and this tent isn't really made for my country conditions - what do you think? I own the NatureHike Opalus 2 tent and I like it - how do you think it's worth upgrading to the YunChan 2 !?
I love the opalus 2. Was very nearly my first purchase but changed my mind last minute. I regret that. Its an OK tent to be honest, the long term weather test will be the proof though and I'm not sure when I'll get time to seam seal it first so not sure. If you want a lighter trekking pole tent you could do worse than this though 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper NO one talks but, Durston (X-Mid) cloned this tent from the Sierra Designs - High Route 3000 1P 🙂 this tent was released several years earlier than X-mid
That's what I said in the video 👍
Was realised in 2016 and xmid came out 2018
Not taking anything away from your video but please use this tent in high winds/bad weather to so we can see its quality. Great video and a very balanced explanation.
Cheers buddy. Depends if I get the chance to seam seal it first. I don't have any doubt that it would perform well tbh as the design is good for winds and asta gear make some nice stuff but I'll see when I can get one done. 👍
@@NoviceWildCamperseam seal video?
that would be nice. @@CuriousGoose
Not sure I'd do a video on it. It's a pain to do and would be a really dull video 😂 plus I'd need 24 hours of dry weather which let's face it, ain't gonna happen for some time in this country in January
@@NoviceWildCamper that's a fair point lol
Well said that man.
Cheers buddy 👍
Hey , did you ever think it might be designed to let air in , even when it's cold.
This tent is lightweight for summer . .
Hyped up
The x mid is lightweight, and for the winter
@@NoviceWildCamper sorry I realise this isn't the xmid . But looking at all the tests of all these tent types , there are some very sad faces . My tent has two modes for height but in both modes it lets the air in .
Trapping the air inside makes me colder , cause it's damp air .
You always need ventilation even more so in winter. This one sits high for ventilation and the x mid can be set at different heights to suit but depends if you got driving snow or rain coming in under but if you position it correctly with the vents facing the wind it should be fine.
I've got a Lanshan, and picking up the Yun Chuan 2. But, if it gets a lot of use this year, I'll certainly look at the X Mid and forking out the extra. But the extra cost has got to make sense. I can already see the inner sagging being annoying & will try and mod that out in the meantime.
There's definitely the option to mod it for sure and I reckon it would work well then. Just a shame about seam sealing it.
@@NoviceWildCamper I've had a lot of "fun" doing the Lanshan 2 Pro indoors. I "can't wait" to do the Yunchuan too! It's quite challenging if I can't pitch it and have the silicone cure (as it needs summery conditions)!
@KeirMurphy yeah one tent I did I left for two days to dry and it still stuck together after I'd packed it
@@NoviceWildCamper Yuck! I thought I did a good job in the conservatory & tying guys across the room onto the window handles. But after a test (in one of our winter storms!), it was apparent that I'd basically glued the silnylon ~1mm either side above the seam. When under tension, this would rip and expose the seam again. Few more attempts and I think it's there but yes it's a real faff.
Absolutely agree with the plagiarism thing… In fact, if somebody buys one of these and likes it, there’s a good chance they may then aim to upgrade to an x-mid one day, so it’s actually a positive. Plus, if it wasn’t for this tent, would there be so much publicity for the x-mid right now?
True. Its all about competition and giving people options 👍
Nice night out there ! Think you know my thoughts on this , think the “copying” issue is that is China v small cottage manufacturer not v a big manufacturer
Plus who actually pays proper import duties from “Chinese” won’t mention specific companies, factor that in and suddenly Durston doesn’t look so bad just we get stung on paying proper vat and import duties from US 🤷♂️ anyways very good viddy very comprehensive but I would have expected no less 👍
Cheers buddy. Yeah the Ali Express price is £160 all in which is decent and tbh its not gonna harm durston.
@@NoviceWildCamper maybe I should lower my morals and get a bunch in 😂😂😂
🤣 no, I'd go for the proper copies on ali baba 😂🤣
@@southcoastoutdoorsuk6301if you got a proper copy I'd get one. I will eventually get a Durston though as I want to help smaller companies
@@CuriousGoose I’ll keep you informed 😉
Love the drama who would have thought a tent could cause controversy. You mentioned another tent like this Asta one that was a clone of the X mid on Ali baba do you have a link or any place I can look at that? I have looked at this one but was unaware of another copy tent of the X Mid. I do like my X Mid 2 its a great tent
I know. It all kicked off after the first review on it. Madness
@@NoviceWildCamper what was the other tent you mentioned that is on Ali baba like the Durston? Also do you still make the ultra light weight camping table still?
I haven't got a link for it I'm afraid. I asked a colleague who buys from there but there's no real details it just looks identical and you have to order 300 minimum. You'll probably find they'll just buy and x mid and build copies from it. The tables are available at www.outdoorgearessentials.co.uk 👍
Xboil 🙌 yes a man of culture! 😁👍 I'm 6'5" Do you think I would actually fit in this tent? 🤔
Love that cook system. My favourite alcohol set up 👍
@@NoviceWildCamperIt's the only cook system that I know of where you can actually pull a car with it.😅 I can also say that because I've tried it.😂👍
How do you pull a car with it? And I'm 6'4 so you'd be fine sleeping at an angle like I did 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper It does require some setup, but surprisingly not as much as you think. 😅👍
For the YC @ £160, I'd add a few quid and buy the Dusrstam Xmid2 for @ £224 ... No-brainer!
You wont get it for £224 in the uk. Got to pay import tax and vat. Will be around £320. That'd the issue. The YC is £160 all in so it becomes double the price.
@@NoviceWildCamper You may be right, But I'd still pay more for the better product ...
@Fantic156 yeah true but there's some that just can't afford to go to that amount so it gives them an option. I habe the xmid and would always use it in ace of this however durston has noted the two way zipper and may introduce this to his. Doesn't help me though as I'm not buying another one 😂
Personally i dont have a problem with companies copying things.but i think people should be aware that the materials and the slight difference in design may make the product not as good like the outer fly not being polyester which doesn't sag as much when wet so keeping more tension or the ridge line guy out again providing more tension. its those little things that makes the durston arguably a better product and its those things we as customers pay for.
The @@durstongear xmid is certainly a better quality and built product there's no doubt. But my main point is around those that can't afford it wouldn't buy it anyway so he'd never lose out and there will always be his loyal customer base. Of which I am one 👍
Most of the materials we get are crap. They have exotic materials technology. You ain't having it. That's how these "people" are.
Why are you always able to test the equipment I just bought? Start with the naturehike rock 60L backpack😂I totally agree with you. I just bought this tent. The reason I didn't buy Xmind is that it's too expensive in China and I can get a single person DCF tent for almost the same price. So I bought this tent to save money. By the way, Astagear isn't really a big company, it's similar to a small craft store. The stitches aren't perfect. It looks like a trainee tailor made them.
😂 sorry, probably because it comes from China I get it much later than those already in China. I didn't notice any bad stitching on the tent but if I get round to seam sealing it I'll give it a thorough check. Cheers 👍
What Dan has done really well, is interact with his customers and creating almost a feverish, cult like group of fans. He seems to have a niche group of fans who forget the realities of life for most people and in business. I’ve seen his personal responses in a few places now, and I’ve yet to see acknowledgment from him or his followers that the xmid itself is a copy with minor changes. This rubs me up completely the wrong way. The Yun Chuan is simply another copy with minor changes. To me it’s outright hypocritical to be up in arms about this, even if you are a small cottage company, when you yourself have done the exact same thing. Not to mention that it shows a great misunderstanding of how consumers behave, and that people place different value in different places.
No one is up in arms about the Naturehike tents because the original creators of the (Hilleberg, Fjallraven, Big Agnes) aren’t actively generating the discussion themselves like Dan does. There’s no point in them doing that because, as you rightly point out, people who can afford the “original” version, will buy the “original” version.
I’m personally not prepared to drop $1.5k on the xmid (you think your import tax is bad!), it’s simply not value for money for me. I can’t look / touch / try. I’m not risking that much money on something I don’t even know will work for me. I would buy the Yun Chuan at $300 though, as that’s a low risk investment for me. If I could get past some of the (xenophobic at best) commentary on the Asta Gear version, and I decided i need a more durable or “collectors” version of it, I may keep an eye out for a second hand Xmid, but only if I could get it for under $500, which isn’t happening in my country, ignoring all the dominoes that would have to fall to get me there in the first place, because my values just outright don’t align with this bullying behaviour towards people who cannot afford a higher end, higher cost product.
If you could see ourside with the tent closed , that would be a fresh design .
You mean a window? 😂
@@NoviceWildCamper yes . Clear windows all around .
There are some budget tents that have them. Makes them heavy though.
The tent review starts at 8:56. Before this is just load of cooking and eating various meals plus rambling about weather conditions.
It's called a wild camping video. Never titled it as a review video.
That's all fine and dandy. I'm just trying to save some time for people that comes exclusively for the tent review and can't give a sh*t about bad english food and worse english weather 😃
well that's what the fast forward bar is for. I started the review of the tent at 1.24 not 9 minutes in and clearly state that due to it getting dark I would continue in the morning after I had actually slept in it to give better feedback and my thoughts on it. Not sure what else I can do really. Can't please everyone.
@@NoviceWildCamper It's all good. Thanks for clarifying!
Does the astra need seam sealing??
As noted in my video yes it does. However I had no issues that night with ice but in a storm it may be a different story
Good video. My concern has never been about copying but more about how can these cheap tents be produced and shipped half way across the world for £160? I always get suspicious when something appears too good to be true. The real problem is that with most of what we buy (expensive or cheap) we are not able to know if it’s been ethically produced. By the way how did you find the sil nylon of this tent compared to the x mid being sil poly? I’d be concerned about it sagging when wet.
It will sag when wet. No two ways about that and that's a big plus for the xmid. But no different to the lanshan or a hundred other lightweight tents I suppose. The thing with ethical production is a moot subject to me. I've had people telling me my old Chinese made down jacket isn't ethically made however if you look at big manufacturers like Montane, mountain equipment etc. they're all made in third world countries and their have been cases in the past where large companies that claim RDS certified down have been proven that the companies in those third world countries were lying to them so its hard to know what to believe. The price reflects many things. Durston is bound to be more expensive as he uses better materials and produces in small numbers. The Chinese companies mass produce for next to nothing. This brings into question how much mark up the bugger companies like North face, apple etc. that sell by their name yet get the gear made in China and put a massive mark up on it. The way I see it is importing yourself, ali express etc. is somply cutting out the middle man's mark up.
It’s so difficult to know, I’d hate to think that something I’d bought was made in some sweatshop with poor working conditions, though I’m sure I have unwittingly many times. I tend to go with gut feeling, my point is we should be able to trust and know the products we buy are ethically produced.
@stewartgregson8479 that's the problem. It's hard to trust any large companies nowadays. They start as small businesses, get popular and thrive, then end up selling to a conglomerate who just looks at the proft and how it can be increased in any way. Then gets outsourced to china or India and the whole ethos is out the window. Shame but that's the way the world works. Even in this country I've worked in the Hugh end car industry. A small company starts promising fantastic surroundings, food and care, make loads of money, start opening more care homes then sells the group to the highest bidder who are generally wealth management companies that know little about care but a lot about business. Over time they whittle the quality away to save a penny here and there to please their investors and suddenly you've got poor care with poor pay and no money being spent on the upkeep of the homes. Sad state but that's life 😔
I don't see what the deal is with copying design. For example Snugpak. Used to been really good but recently went up in price like the world was coming to an end as well cheaper materials. Then we have other companies coming in with the same design but cheaper and better materials. It can really go in both ways and sometimes it is a god send when you see another company trying to make a better version.
Competition makes the world a better place and makes life more affordable to all. 👍
Great review! None of these cheaper Chinese tents are ever true 4 season. If you want the Durston buy a Durston. Quality and durability on these copies are rarely identical or similar let alone as well designed. There is a reason why it is cheaper after all. Anyway, if you want quality and anything other than at most three seasons don't buy this.
True but its down to budget. This is half the price of the x mid and a lot of people don't have the extra money or are starting out and let's face it we all buy cheaper hear at first as we may fund we don't like it and then lose a lot of money. And yes I know the durston fetches good money second hand but that can't be said of all gear.
The xmid is made in Asia either way. It's overpriced.
@@northernswedenstories1028 made in the same factory as MSR. Nearly everyone gets their gear made over their no matter what the budget.
@@northernswedenstories1028 Perhaps, however many of the more premium better known brands are usually better quality so although the item maybe made in the same locale the better known brands demand more quality in the manufacturing process. Although obviously this come at a premium and is usually reflected in the price. My point being is that the cheaper less well known brands you find on Ali don't tend to be as good or fit for the purpose they advertise. For example the 4 season lanshan - No way is that tent suitable for 4 season usage. Truth is you only ever get what you pay for.
I agree but that's a Chinese design made in China. American design or elsewhere has control over the quality and materials used. They don't class the Lanshan as a four season tent just give the option of a four season inner i.e. less mesh for colder climates. Its never a four season tent. Whereas the x mid fly goes to the floor, sheds snow and rain and is strong in wind so it's a full four season tent. MSR control the quality of their tents made in Vietnam the same way as durston controls the quality of theirs.
13:24 this is the one thing i wish the x mid came with.
Yeah double zipper would be a better design 👍
@@NoviceWildCamper @craigy1872 I am considering adding a double slider on the zipper. Over time I think I will gradually separate the regular and 'Solid' versions of the X-Mid more, so the regular version gets lighter while the Solid version gets some foul weather extras. It already has some now (e.g. added guyouts, zipper buckles) but I probably will take it a step further and add the extra slider on the Solid models.
@@durstongear that would be a great addition 👍
You're probably on your own if you have a warranty issue... I'll stick with the xmid.
Asta gear are pretty good with problems. It's just the distance involved which, in the uk, is the same as with the x mid really as no uk dealers. I've returned Chinese stuff and got refunded or replaced before, just takes longer 🤷🏼♂️
this channel is not as popular as it should be. Damn algorithm
Why thank you buddy. Much appreciated. I agree, the algorithm picks certain channels and I can't work out how 🤷🏼♂️
Youre not "Clickbaity" enough mate lol. Maybe put a ghost or two in the Thumbnail ;) @@NoviceWildCamper