I had the XMid 2Pro and i used it on the Skye Trail. It does not cope at all well in Scottish Windy weather. It is very flappy (huge sail) and Noisy. The footprint is huge which is both good and bad. Although its a 2 person, and the space inside is large, it is actually very difficult for 2 people to use it owing to the very sloping sides. I had the DCF version and at some point my tent must have rubbed on something as the next time i used it on the Southern Upland way the DCF ripped in higher winds. I also noted that the bottom of the sides were also frayed in some parts. I honestly lost faith in it after that and went to the ZPacks Duplex Zip. It is a far, far better tent in my opinion. If you could imagine a Lanshan 2 Pro made in DCF its that. I used it on the Cape Wrath Trail and absolutely loved it...
Really David!?! That's pretty unfortunate I'd be gutted! Would you say its hype? (X-Mid) Yeh, I looked at the Duplex when researching this vlog and seeing some big TH-camrs going back to it. Even though its a knock off, It was really noisy. I think the more space you have the more you need 😉
@@greyhikes5236 - I have to say as i get older i do like a bit o' space in my tent. I think the XMid has become the new Hilleberg Soulo with everyone trying to get one. I think its overrated for what it is... and what it costs (which was painful). I would definitely recommend the Duplex Zip for Scottish backpacking though. I will probably use it on the TGOC next year.
@@davidcressey Totally agree with the space! Its a pity I made plans as I would be doing the TGOC this year but will be in 2025! I'm doing the SNT in April-May should be on the CWT part from the 6th May onwards so may bump into you 😉
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think for the footprint the main factor is that the fly extends lower to the ground, so it's not going to float over objects as well as a high cut fly like the Duplex but does provide more protection against drafts and splatter. The actual footprint area is very similar (only about 10% different). What can help is to instead of staking out the fly, stake out the floor area first similar to how you'd pitch the Duplex, and then the porches can be folded back or rolled up if the site is small. For the flappiness, I'm not sure what was happening here but I have a newer pitch guide video that shows how to get a tight pitch all over and is quite a bit more helpful than my older video. The 'troubleshooting' section in particular shows how to get it very tight: th-cam.com/video/fOJ4BKIoKGs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7JOgcRKsuZOJPbbN&t=412 But it sounds like you've moved on, so all the best with your new tent, Dan
Hahaha I literally just watched a @stuoutdoors1961 video for the first time and loved it and your video was the next in my list. So I know I’m going to enjoy this now. You both have a next subscriber.
Great video, wish I'd seen this before I ordered my 4 season 2 person version. Luckily I was able to cancel the order. I paid £139 but that's before any import & tax duties (I'm assuming the Tax man would be waiting for me....) So thanks for making my mind up for me.
Hi Phil, I'm glad you found it useful. Will do a follow up video soon as Ive pinpointed the leaking issue of where they haven't seam sealed it. I'm still going to try and fix it tho. Thanks for watching 👍
You are brave reviewing this tent 😂 I have the x mid 2 sil poly version and love it. Like every tent it has its pros and cons. Would I use it for a cwt type walk in Scotland, I’m not sure. I haven’t used it in rough weather enough to judge and I have a terra nova pioneer 2 for more dodgy conditions. Im a great believer in Picking the right tool for the job and I’m privileged to own two great tents . There isn’t a tent out there that does everything. Whilst the x mid is easy to pitch, refining the pitch to get it just right takes practice. Dan durston has an excellent video on this, another reason to support the original. I must admit I find very cheap versions of anything difficult (not just tents), I just get this nagging feeling that someone, somewhere is getting exploited to keep the costs down ( and I know this can happen with bigger brand stuff also). I just wish things were a bit more transparent when we buy stuff, so we can make more informed decisions. One thing I do love about the x mid is how easy the inner can be removed, which is great for wet conditions. Be interested to hear your longer term thoughts on this tent.
Yes Stewart your probably right there 😅 Absolutely picking the right tool for the job and knowing its limitations is a great shout. As I said in the vlog I'm going to put it through its paces next month. I totally get the detachable inner is great and I think the outer on its own would make a reasonable tarp tent setup which Im going to try also. Thanks for your feedback very insightful 👍
I doubt it is Durston's invention. I forget what the tent is called, but about 2 years before Durston brought his tent onto the market, there were already at least 2 other pyramid tents. I think that was in 2016.
Do you think it's possible to pitch the inner and outer together or even just the inner on its own. I've just received my 3 season 2 person but I'm going to wait until it's a bit drier before I give it a practice and test if it's possible to pitch it all in one. Thanks for the video, really helpful.
Absolutely you can pitch both together. Where I struggle is getting the ground sheet right. I'm in it now as I'm doing the South Downs Way and I've tried as best I could to pitch on the dark in a wood and it took 30 minutes as I'm not that used to it. But it's up and passable as a tent 😉
@@greyhikes5236 thanks for getting back to me, that's great news that it can be pitched as one. I'll be walking for a week next summer along the Pembrokeshire coast path so I'm hoping it will be fine. When I get it pitched and if I figure out some upgrades etc I'll pop a video up and let you know. Enjoy your walk.
Would you use the Lanshan 2 footprint for the Yun Chuan 2 ? I've sold my Lanshan 2 and i still have the footprint. I don't want to buy another footprint if not necessary...
To start with I would use a flat bit of grass for the first pitch, I went to the local park to seam seal first also. After that Its been fine to pitch. The only bit of caution I would have is the footprint of the tent, its a lot bigger than most 2 person lightweight tents 👍
A rocky beach if it was just one with pebbles in the sand then any tent (free standing would be more suitable) as long as you put some protective layer under the bath tub of the tent like a tarp that you get from a DIY store. If you were going onto a beach that is quite abrasive or sharp rocks I would probably use a tarp tent that doesn't come in contact with the floor. I would then have to concider what sleeping system I would use as an air pad wouldn't be a good idea. Hope this helps?
@kapper772 yes I got some plastic clips off amazon and used shock cord to attach onto the fly sheet. Works well on flat ground but on uneven ground I need to make them more adjustable tbh.
Looks to be a ‘work in progress’, ie the inner doesn’t seem to marry too well to the outer, in dimensional terms - a lot of wasted cloth on the inner at the moment, and not quite enough across the top of the fly, too much of a dip in the centre ridge, leading to the contact between inner and fly. All personal and subjective observations, of course.
Absolutely a work in progress my friend. I have another video on the channel where I have it in the rain for 16hrs. We have done a bit on fixes on it since this video and we now have an X Mid 2 to compare 'objectively' video will be out next week 👍 but your observations are spot on. 😉
@@Jason-ke2nj yeh there are lots of different, cheaper and better made tents out there Jason, if you have a look at my xmid comparison video you can see a few issues with this tent 👍
I had the XMid 2Pro and i used it on the Skye Trail. It does not cope at all well in Scottish Windy weather. It is very flappy (huge sail) and Noisy. The footprint is huge which is both good and bad. Although its a 2 person, and the space inside is large, it is actually very difficult for 2 people to use it owing to the very sloping sides. I had the DCF version and at some point my tent must have rubbed on something as the next time i used it on the Southern Upland way the DCF ripped in higher winds. I also noted that the bottom of the sides were also frayed in some parts.
I honestly lost faith in it after that and went to the ZPacks Duplex Zip. It is a far, far better tent in my opinion. If you could imagine a Lanshan 2 Pro made in DCF its that. I used it on the Cape Wrath Trail and absolutely loved it...
Really David!?! That's pretty unfortunate I'd be gutted! Would you say its hype? (X-Mid) Yeh, I looked at the Duplex when researching this vlog and seeing some big TH-camrs going back to it. Even though its a knock off, It was really noisy. I think the more space you have the more you need 😉
@@greyhikes5236 - I have to say as i get older i do like a bit o' space in my tent. I think the XMid has become the new Hilleberg Soulo with everyone trying to get one. I think its overrated for what it is... and what it costs (which was painful). I would definitely recommend the Duplex Zip for Scottish backpacking though. I will probably use it on the TGOC next year.
@@davidcressey Totally agree with the space! Its a pity I made plans as I would be doing the TGOC this year but will be in 2025! I'm doing the SNT in April-May should be on the CWT part from the 6th May onwards so may bump into you 😉
Thanks for sharing your experience. I think for the footprint the main factor is that the fly extends lower to the ground, so it's not going to float over objects as well as a high cut fly like the Duplex but does provide more protection against drafts and splatter. The actual footprint area is very similar (only about 10% different). What can help is to instead of staking out the fly, stake out the floor area first similar to how you'd pitch the Duplex, and then the porches can be folded back or rolled up if the site is small.
For the flappiness, I'm not sure what was happening here but I have a newer pitch guide video that shows how to get a tight pitch all over and is quite a bit more helpful than my older video. The 'troubleshooting' section in particular shows how to get it very tight:
th-cam.com/video/fOJ4BKIoKGs/w-d-xo.htmlsi=7JOgcRKsuZOJPbbN&t=412
But it sounds like you've moved on, so all the best with your new tent,
Dan
@@greyhikes5236 - that would be ace. I may have a wee dram or two to spare!
Thanks for sharing this Video! 😊
Just subscribed mate, excellent video, we've got very similar channels so I can see myself enjoying watching your videos.
Thanks Stu, subed back mate will have a wee noisy 👍
Hahaha I literally just watched a @stuoutdoors1961 video for the first time and loved it and your video was the next in my list. So I know I’m going to enjoy this now. You both have a next subscriber.
@weka6533 thank you my friend 👍
Great video, wish I'd seen this before I ordered my 4 season 2 person version. Luckily I was able to cancel the order. I paid £139 but that's before any import & tax duties (I'm assuming the Tax man would be waiting for me....) So thanks for making my mind up for me.
Hi Phil, I'm glad you found it useful. Will do a follow up video soon as Ive pinpointed the leaking issue of where they haven't seam sealed it. I'm still going to try and fix it tho. Thanks for watching 👍
Very nice vid. thanks and have a happy Xmas 😊 Durston cloned this tent from the Sierra Designs - High Route 3000 1P Tent 🙂
Thanks! you to friend 🎄
You are brave reviewing this tent 😂 I have the x mid 2 sil poly version and love it. Like every tent it has its pros and cons. Would I use it for a cwt type walk in Scotland, I’m not sure. I haven’t used it in rough weather enough to judge and I have a terra nova pioneer 2 for more dodgy conditions. Im a great believer in Picking the right tool for the job and I’m privileged to own two great tents . There isn’t a tent out there that does everything. Whilst the x mid is easy to pitch, refining the pitch to get it just right takes practice. Dan durston has an excellent video on this, another reason to support the original. I must admit I find very cheap versions of anything difficult (not just tents), I just get this nagging feeling that someone, somewhere is getting exploited to keep the costs down ( and I know this can happen with bigger brand stuff also). I just wish things were a bit more transparent when we buy stuff, so we can make more informed decisions. One thing I do love about the x mid is how easy the inner can be removed, which is great for wet conditions. Be interested to hear your longer term thoughts on this tent.
Yes Stewart your probably right there 😅 Absolutely picking the right tool for the job and knowing its limitations is a great shout. As I said in the vlog I'm going to put it through its paces next month. I totally get the detachable inner is great and I think the outer on its own would make a reasonable tarp tent setup which Im going to try also. Thanks for your feedback very insightful 👍
I doubt it is Durston's invention. I forget what the tent is called, but about 2 years before Durston brought his tent onto the market, there were already at least 2 other pyramid tents. I think that was in 2016.
@@bosconian91 exactly! That was what I searched for. Thanks a lot! 👍
Do you think it's possible to pitch the inner and outer together or even just the inner on its own. I've just received my 3 season 2 person but I'm going to wait until it's a bit drier before I give it a practice and test if it's possible to pitch it all in one. Thanks for the video, really helpful.
Absolutely you can pitch both together. Where I struggle is getting the ground sheet right. I'm in it now as I'm doing the South Downs Way and I've tried as best I could to pitch on the dark in a wood and it took 30 minutes as I'm not that used to it. But it's up and passable as a tent 😉
@@greyhikes5236 thanks for getting back to me, that's great news that it can be pitched as one. I'll be walking for a week next summer along the Pembrokeshire coast path so I'm hoping it will be fine. When I get it pitched and if I figure out some upgrades etc I'll pop a video up and let you know. Enjoy your walk.
Would you use the Lanshan 2 footprint for the Yun Chuan 2 ? I've sold my Lanshan 2 and i still have the footprint. I don't want to buy another footprint if not necessary...
Yes I use that for the moment but it's too small, trying to sorce a better one 👍
Is it easy to pitch? Looks a bit of a faff to get thr angles right?
To start with I would use a flat bit of grass for the first pitch, I went to the local park to seam seal first also. After that Its been fine to pitch. The only bit of caution I would have is the footprint of the tent, its a lot bigger than most 2 person lightweight tents 👍
Could you use 130cm poles instead of the recommended 135? Or do I need to invest in new poles if I get this?
Yes you can, I've had it at 125 with the bottom of the tent on the ground. You just need to watch the ventilation around the tent., 👍
Hello mate. If you’d camp on a rocky beach what tent would you recommend? Thanks
A rocky beach if it was just one with pebbles in the sand then any tent (free standing would be more suitable) as long as you put some protective layer under the bath tub of the tent like a tarp that you get from a DIY store. If you were going onto a beach that is quite abrasive or sharp rocks I would probably use a tarp tent that doesn't come in contact with the floor. I would then have to concider what sleeping system I would use as an air pad wouldn't be a good idea. Hope this helps?
What would be the best buy between this and the Lanshan 2 person?
For me it would be the Astra Gear. I'm not just done testing it yet but I've done more camps with it than the Lanshan 2. Hope this helps? 👍
@greyhikes5236 Thanks. Did you succeed in tweaking the inner to make it less saggy?
@kapper772 yes I got some plastic clips off amazon and used shock cord to attach onto the fly sheet. Works well on flat ground but on uneven ground I need to make them more adjustable tbh.
Looks to be a ‘work in progress’, ie the inner doesn’t seem to marry too well to the outer, in dimensional terms - a lot of wasted cloth on the inner at the moment, and not quite enough across the top of the fly, too much of a dip in the centre ridge, leading to the contact between inner and fly. All personal and subjective observations, of course.
Absolutely a work in progress my friend. I have another video on the channel where I have it in the rain for 16hrs. We have done a bit on fixes on it since this video and we now have an X Mid 2 to compare 'objectively' video will be out next week 👍 but your observations are spot on. 😉
does this tent come seam sealed do you know??
Hi Jake, unfortunately not if you watch my other videos about the tent and the xmid comparison vid it will explain an important area of the tent. 👍
@@greyhikes5236 Thanks the speedy reply. I have actually just watched that video haha! thanks!!
Your "budget" is different from my budget.
How's that John? Is it to much to fall into budget? I'm just going by top, mid and budget? Seriously interested in your feedback 👍
There are much better tents for far less...
I have vango's ..dearest is 110 quid..real 4 season..with blackout inner..😊
@@Jason-ke2nj yeh there are lots of different, cheaper and better made tents out there Jason, if you have a look at my xmid comparison video you can see a few issues with this tent 👍