Thanks for your really nice and sympathetic review! I ordered mine and it was shipped today to its long way to Germany. And now I can hardly wait to hold it in my hands. ❤
Yeah, it really is. A lot of thought went into the design and you can tell that an avid backpacker designed it specifically to address the issues of previous backpacking tents that have driven most of us nuts for years. The actual changes are pretty minimal, but they're smart changes that make such a big difference. That's what makes it so great, imo. Work smarter, not harder, as they say. :)
Also, I didn't say in this video the weight of my Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (what I'd been using for the previous few years before being introduced to DCF), but it's almost 40oz. And I thought THAT tent was revolutionary when I bought it.
The Zpaks takes so many stakes to pitch. I used 5 for my x-mid pro 2 a couple of weeks ago and it was great. One for each corner and one for the vestibule/door I used. I'm glad for the pockets. I added small cord loops for the guy line tie outs near the pole points to make it easier to run my guy lines through. I have also ordered some dyneema adhesive loops from Zpaks for inside to hang a light and/or a clothes line. Those adhesive loops just shipped today, so I maybe I can install them by this weekend and hit the trail again. Can't wait to get out and use it again.
Agreed re/ the Zpacks and so many stakes. Too many guy lines, too. I was blown away by the fact that--even in high wind--the X-Mid Pro 2 was doing so well with only 4 stakes. I'll probably end up doing what you mention and only stake out the one door/vestibule I end up using. But I'll likely pack a couple of extra stakes until I've been able to use it in all conditions and know how it's going to handle them.
Congrats on the purchase of a key item to lighten your load. I loved watching you geek out! Great job with the video. I've watched many Durston tent videos (as I geek out with my research until I buy one) and you showed a few key features that I hadn't seen before. Thanks for that! Enjoy! Ps. I plan to use Sheppard hook stakes also.
@@KevinRStrauss Yeah, definitely. It's the Alpha Cruiser, made by FarPointe Outdoor Gear (www.farpointeog.com/store/p/farpointe-alpha-cruiser). They make limited batches of their products each month and sell out fast, but sometimes you can find it in stock at Garage Grown Gear (www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/farpointe-outdoor-gear/products/alpha-cruiser-by-farpointe-outdoor-gear). Not extremely durable, but has a great warmth to weight ratio. Perfect as a mid-layer. There are other companies using this "Alpha Direct" material as well, like Senchi Designs, Timmermade, and High Tail Designs, among others.
I bought my Pro 1 the same way....by selling my Duplex. :-) Those center tie outs on the short sides you were talking about, when you stake those out it makes the tent twice as rigid. So much so that it almost completely negates the need for the two peak guy outs. I just noticed this was posted 3 weeks ago, so I'm sure you figured that out. I love the way you say vestibule btw. :-) And I'm still trying to figure out how to fold this thing up.
Congrats on your Pro 1! Yeah, staking out those tie outs on the short sides makes a big difference. To be honest, I hadn't planned to use any guy lines at all. And I'll probably only stake out those short ends if it's storming. I've had it up now 3 times in high West Texas wind, and this thing really is a beast with just four stakes. Love it.
Oh yeah, re/ folding: I'll try to do a video about this, but I found a way that works for me: fold length-wise in half once, then again, then fold end to end once, then length-wise again, then roll. lol. Hard to type that out and make any real sense. Will try to do a video about it in the next few days. :)
@@lovedogsontheloose Cool thanks. Normally I fold up a tent so the upper is isolated from the dirty bottom of the tent, but with this one it's almost impossible.
@@spuriouseffect Yeah, I normally try to at least protect the netting from debris by folding it inside the outer parts of the tent and keeping the floor on the "outside" of the fold, but with this one it's pretty much impossible. I just try to wipe off as much dirt and debris as I can as I'm folding and rolling. I can imagine some mornings on trail it'll probably just get stuffed into the bag. lol.
@@lovedogsontheloose Exactly. I just ordered a medium sized nylofume bag so that I can just fold the tent loosely and lay it in that bag inside the top of my pack. Struggling to get that thing back in its stuffsack every morning isn't going to happen. :-)
Thanks for your really nice and sympathetic review! I ordered mine and it was shipped today to its long way to Germany. And now I can hardly wait to hold it in my hands. ❤
I'm glad you enjoyed the video/review. Enjoy your new tent when you get it!
I like that it is lightweight and also sturdy. I can see where you see that it's a work of art.
Yeah, it really is. A lot of thought went into the design and you can tell that an avid backpacker designed it specifically to address the issues of previous backpacking tents that have driven most of us nuts for years. The actual changes are pretty minimal, but they're smart changes that make such a big difference. That's what makes it so great, imo. Work smarter, not harder, as they say. :)
Also, I didn't say in this video the weight of my Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (what I'd been using for the previous few years before being introduced to DCF), but it's almost 40oz. And I thought THAT tent was revolutionary when I bought it.
Awesome. Glad you're loving the tent!
Thanks for making such a great tent!
The Zpaks takes so many stakes to pitch. I used 5 for my x-mid pro 2 a couple of weeks ago and it was great. One for each corner and one for the vestibule/door I used. I'm glad for the pockets.
I added small cord loops for the guy line tie outs near the pole points to make it easier to run my guy lines through. I have also ordered some dyneema adhesive loops from Zpaks for inside to hang a light and/or a clothes line. Those adhesive loops just shipped today, so I maybe I can install them by this weekend and hit the trail again. Can't wait to get out and use it again.
Agreed re/ the Zpacks and so many stakes. Too many guy lines, too. I was blown away by the fact that--even in high wind--the X-Mid Pro 2 was doing so well with only 4 stakes. I'll probably end up doing what you mention and only stake out the one door/vestibule I end up using. But I'll likely pack a couple of extra stakes until I've been able to use it in all conditions and know how it's going to handle them.
Great video, thank you for making it. I've recently bought this tent too and will try it out in a few weeks. Looking forward to it!
Thanks, Adam! I’m glad you liked the video. Congratulations on the new awesome tent!
They are absolutely awesome!!
At the end I decided to stay with my big Agnes but totally loved the durston.
Big Agnes still rates at the top of my list of backpacking tents that I would recommend to people. They make great tents.
Congrats on the purchase of a key item to lighten your load. I loved watching you geek out! Great job with the video. I've watched many Durston tent videos (as I geek out with my research until I buy one) and you showed a few key features that I hadn't seen before. Thanks for that! Enjoy! Ps. I plan to use Sheppard hook stakes also.
Excellent! I'm glad the video was helpful. I'm definitely geeking out over this tent. :D Let me know if you have any questions about it.
@@lovedogsontheloose Thanks! One quick question... can you share a link to the fleece top you're wearing in the video? It looks comfy and warm!
@@KevinRStrauss Yeah, definitely. It's the Alpha Cruiser, made by FarPointe Outdoor Gear (www.farpointeog.com/store/p/farpointe-alpha-cruiser). They make limited batches of their products each month and sell out fast, but sometimes you can find it in stock at Garage Grown Gear (www.garagegrowngear.com/collections/farpointe-outdoor-gear/products/alpha-cruiser-by-farpointe-outdoor-gear).
Not extremely durable, but has a great warmth to weight ratio. Perfect as a mid-layer. There are other companies using this "Alpha Direct" material as well, like Senchi Designs, Timmermade, and High Tail Designs, among others.
Very informative overview, thank you!
Thank you! I'm glad it was helpful to you!
They make a ground sheet to protect the tent its made for the tent
Indeed they do. They were out of stock when I purchased the tent, but I've since purchased one and it works well.
I bought my Pro 1 the same way....by selling my Duplex. :-) Those center tie outs on the short sides you were talking about, when you stake those out it makes the tent twice as rigid. So much so that it almost completely negates the need for the two peak guy outs. I just noticed this was posted 3 weeks ago, so I'm sure you figured that out. I love the way you say vestibule btw. :-) And I'm still trying to figure out how to fold this thing up.
Congrats on your Pro 1! Yeah, staking out those tie outs on the short sides makes a big difference. To be honest, I hadn't planned to use any guy lines at all. And I'll probably only stake out those short ends if it's storming. I've had it up now 3 times in high West Texas wind, and this thing really is a beast with just four stakes. Love it.
Oh yeah, re/ folding: I'll try to do a video about this, but I found a way that works for me: fold length-wise in half once, then again, then fold end to end once, then length-wise again, then roll. lol. Hard to type that out and make any real sense. Will try to do a video about it in the next few days. :)
@@lovedogsontheloose Cool thanks. Normally I fold up a tent so the upper is isolated from the dirty bottom of the tent, but with this one it's almost impossible.
@@spuriouseffect Yeah, I normally try to at least protect the netting from debris by folding it inside the outer parts of the tent and keeping the floor on the "outside" of the fold, but with this one it's pretty much impossible. I just try to wipe off as much dirt and debris as I can as I'm folding and rolling. I can imagine some mornings on trail it'll probably just get stuffed into the bag. lol.
@@lovedogsontheloose Exactly. I just ordered a medium sized nylofume bag so that I can just fold the tent loosely and lay it in that bag inside the top of my pack. Struggling to get that thing back in its stuffsack every morning isn't going to happen. :-)
This does look like a smarter design compared to the duplex, just the door placement alone makes it worth it.
Yeah, definitely. Small things that make a big difference on trail.
This tent was in my sights, but the Tarptent Double Rainbow Li won out.
From what I hear those are great tents, too. I’ve got a friend who has one and really likes it.
How has your X-Mid Pro 2 held up to your dogs? Also, which floor version is this, DCF or sil-nylon?
Pretty well, though I am still using 1/8” foam on the floor. No holes or tears yet. Mine is the sil-nylon floor.
Good to hear. Thanks for the reply.
@@e2dub No problem!
Video goes ff during the critical part.
Sorry. See my other videos about this tent for more details.