Drop + Dan Durston X-Mid 1P Tent

Jul 6, 2018

Thanks for checking out the X-Mid. As the designer, I think you'll find it's an awesome tent. The design combines first principles thinking, innovative ideas and extensive thru-hiking experience to create the ideal solo shelter. The goal with the X-Mid was to start with a clean sheet of paper and reason from there to create the best trekking pole supported solo shelter – one that offers maximal functionality, space, storm resistance and simplicity at the lowest weight. The end result is a design that "just works" when you're tired at the end of a long day and want a tent that pitches without fiddling, or when it's been raining all day and you want a tent that pitches without getting the inside wet, doesn't sag in the rain and gives you ample vestibule space to stow wet gear. The X-Mid sets a new standard for simple, lightweight functionality. The most fundamental - and thus first - design question was: What shape should form the tents base? Most trekking pole supported tents are based around hexagons or even more complicated shapes, but as the number of sides increases, so does pitching complexity, number of seams, stakes and weight. Typically these complex tents require estimates of stake locations, angles, distances between stakes, pole lengths and pole positions. Setting that up can be fun in the backyard, but not fun in a rainstorm. The X-Mid is rooted in the philosophy that simpler is better, and thus eliminates this guesswork by opting for a rectangle base - by far the easiest shape to stake out. The challenge with the rectangle - and the reason why it hasn't been used more historically - is that it’s hard to implement a good trekking pole structure. Most prior rectangle based tents have been single pole pyramids (e.g MLD DuoMid), which are lauded for their simplicity, but lack headroom and the single pole near the center typically interferes in the living space or with access. Other rectangle based designs have used two poles to improve living space, but these have either located the two poles centrally where they again interfere in the living space (e.g. Black Diamond Beta Light) or alternatively, located them near the perimeter (e.g. Sierra Designs High Route 1) which creates overly steep (wind catching) walls, adds mandatory guylines and increased stake requirements. Reasoning from first principles, it was obvious that the ideal solo tent should use two poles to bolster living space since hikers commonly have two poles on hand anyways and it would be a shame not to utilize these resources, but how to achieve this while avoiding the long list of common pit-falls was a design challenge that resonated in my head throughout my 2014 PCT thru-hike. It resonated again during my 2017 Great Divide Trail thru-hike until I realized a solution to all of these long standing issues with the X-Mid layout:

The X-Mid layout starts with a unique idea: rotate the inner tent onto a diagonal inside a rectangular fly. No other tent in history has done this, but the diagonal inner creates vestibules and crucially, it allows for the two trekking poles to be positioned inwards from the edges of the fly without interfering in the doorways or living space. These pole locations form a ridgeline on the opposite diagonal as the diagonal inner, and thus the X-Mid becomes the first "double diagonal" tent design. These crossing diagonals of the ridgeline and inner within a rectangle form a unique layout which is the key innovation of the X-Mid and the inspiration behind its name. With the X-Mid layout, this tent pitches simply and robustly with only 4 stakes and no guylines. Like a single pole mid, there is minimal guess work because the shape of the fly dictates the length and location of the poles. Simply insert and extend until taut. It addition to preserving the simplicity of a single pole mid, this design vastly increases the living space, sheds wind and snow well with optimally sloping walls, has no poles interfering with the floor space or doorways, the fly shields the inner from falling rain even when the doors are open, and it offers class leading headroom, vestibule space and ease of entry at a lower weight than competing tents due to the more efficient geometry. If you look at metrics of design efficiency, such as surface area to volume ratios, you'll see that X-Mid exceeds any other tent out there including single pole mids, so it can provide more functionality and space for less weight. Compared to a single pole mid, the X-Mid pitches similarly quickly and weighs about the same, while offering dual doors, dual vestibules and vastly more living space. It's also similarly robust in storms because the X-Mid offsets its larger wind profile with more consistent wall slopes and the inclusion of peak guylines. By avoiding low angled slopes on the end walls, snow doesn't accumulate on the X-Mid like it does on a single pole mid. Compared to the more complex trekking pole based designs, the X-Mid is a revelation in simplicity and matches or exceeds the living area of these shelters while being lighter, quicker to pitch and better in wet and snowy conditions. Due to its efficient geometry that minimizes seams, the X-Mid weighs just 28 oz fully seam taped even while offering dual doors, double wall protection, highly functional vents, expansive headroom, no sag fabric and dual generously sized vestibules. You won't find a lighter tent that offers all this. - Dan DurstonGear.com

https://youtu.be/cVboRcwY6P0

https://youtu.be/U9vOLs12KQE

(Edited)

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Sep 7, 2019

Check out this thread for a summary of you could expect. Short answer is that it depends a lot on expectations. You can certainly make it work, but you’ll end up touching the bug mesh sometimes which many don’t think is a big deal but some people don’t like it: https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-dan-durston-x-mid-1p-tent/talk/2502003

TheMailman1

Sep 7, 2019

dandurstonOk awesome thanks for the quick reply will continue to do my homework 👌

JaleesaG

1550

Marketing Team

Apr 1, 2019

UPDATE FOR JULY, SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER 2018 PRE-ORDERS Hi all, Great news! We’re excited to announce that the Massdrop x Dan Durston X-Mid 1P Tents have arrived at our warehouse and shipping will begin soon. We now estimate we’ll begin shipping by the end of next week. If you need to change your delivery address, please contact Community Support through your transactions page (https://www.massdrop.com/transactions) by Thursday, April 4th at 5:00 pm PT. We look forward to you receiving and enjoying your tents soon!

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Crawlas

Jun 1, 2019

21% vat +13 euro to the postal service which is normal but also 12% import rights which seems pretty high since you pay only around 4,2% for most products. The item is marked as: tents from different textiles which made it more expensive then i expected. I didn't know tents where in one of the highest brackets. even tablets/phones or watches are cheaper to import.

(Edited)

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Jun 1, 2019

CrawlasThanks for the info. The various tariff rules worldwide sure make it tricky to know how things will play out.

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StringBender

Dec 20, 2018

Checking back in after a break. Any update on DCF and/or 2P X-Mid? I am sure the are hints in this [long] thread, but thought I would bring it to the top for those interested. Waiting to pounce in from the weeds. Thanks Dan.

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rel406

Jul 2, 2019

Same here! I'm actually going to be out of cell range backpacking in the Pintler's next week. I've got this fear that the 2p will drop just as I head out, and be gone before I get back.

bpchristensen

172

Jul 9, 2019

StringBenderInfo just posted on the 2P https://drop.com/buy/drop-x-mid-2-person-tent-designed-by-dan-durston/story?

REX1

Jul 10, 2018

I really don't understand why you're not using Dyneema Composite Fabric. Maybe you can explain why granite is more money but it's lighter and 100% waterproof and you can also get breathable Dyneema Composite Fabric. Specially the bathtub of the tent and outer walls which makes a tent that does not leak water. I mean I guess I understand you're trying to keep the cost down but most of us are trying to keep the weight down. I really like your design but for what it is it looks a little heavy compared to some of the competition such as the duplex Tent from zpacks granite it's three times the price of your tent but it only weighs 19 oz I would think this would be a target and goal to go after specially since it's a two person tent versus a one. Like I said I like your design I wish it was lighter and I would jump in on the drop. I wish you the best luck with your tent let us know if you make it on a Dyneema Composite Fabric.

Oct 12, 2020

I'm not sure exactly, but I think there is. The good way to do DCF is with hot bonding (rather than room temperature applied tape) because it's a lot stronger and more temperature stable (normal tapes slip a bit in hot temps, and loose a lot of strength in deep cold so they're sketchy for winter use). When you hot bond it, you have to press it for so many seconds every few feet, so I think it ends up quite a bit slower than sewing. Not sure how much slower though.

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pngbingo

Oct 12, 2020

dandurstonThat makes sense. I really like your approach to tent design and problem solving. I like your idea of a DCF fly, with your other material on the floor. If you ever do a small batch as a trial let me know. I'd also be interested in a 3p version of your current materials or a future DCF version. (I've got kids to fit in :)

TheGoose

Mar 24, 2019

24Mar2019. i would like a drop date. i have the itch to go hiking. If i can't at least order this tent i may just pick up a lanshan 2 not sure yet. any suggestions if i can wait for the x-mid?

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LoneWolfCanada

Mar 29, 2019

How are we supposed to trust Massdrop to deliver on time, when they can’t even open the drop when they say they will?? nothing against u Dan, but this is getting Ridiculous! ...........reopen Friday 2024 maybe

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Mar 29, 2019

LoneWolfCanadaIndeed this is painful. In their defense, they did just say it would be today and not a specific time, so it hopefully that it is still accurate and it opens in another hour or so. If not, that is disappointing. Edit: Drop is now open (mid-morning) Edit 2: Drop is now sold out (late evening).

(Edited)

michelle_v

Aug 1, 2019

I’ve owned the X-Mid 1P for 8 weeks and have since brought it out on 3 trips: the Lost Coast, the High Sierra Trail, and to Emigrant Wilderness. Those who’ve ordered the 1p from the last drop and are waiting on its delivery, or those who have yet to bring it out into the field, may find this helpful. I’ll be addressing:

First Test Pitch & First Impression
Performance on the Lost Coast: Minor Damage Sustained
Performance on the High Sierra Trail: Unrepaired
Repairs: How-To
Performance in the Emigrant Wilderness: Repaired

I wanted to shave a significant amount of weight from my system for upcoming trips leading up to my trek through the Alps starting in mid-August. Prior to carrying the X-Mid 1P, I used the freestanding REI Quarter Dome 2P. I knew by investing in a new tent I could easily reduce my pack weight by at least 1.5lbs. My requirements during my new tent search:

2-door, 2 vestibules
Double-walled with ability to pitch fly first and/or pitch inner only
Sub-2 lb. min weight preferred
Freestanding/semi 2P preferred, 1P non-freestanding considered

My weight requirements really narrowed my choices for 2P’s; and it’s difficult to find a double-walled, dual door/vestibule 1P tent, especially for the value of the X-Mid. Dan explains in several message boards the unique design of his tent compared to others. He also explains the geometry of his tent in a blog entry: The Volumetric Efficiency of Trekking Pole Shelters. While I had a list of required features which the X-Mid met, I was still hesitant to convert from a 2P to a 1P due to space reduction but Dan’s commitment to introduce and explain his design, as well as his responsiveness to questions, concerns, and recommendations are what ultimately won me over. THE FIRST PITCH My first pitch on the front lawn took 6 minutes; the second took just 2.5 minutes straight out of the bag.

The tent doesn’t come with a footprint so I created one using 1443R Tyvek, installed grommets, and purchased stretch cords with hooks to attach to the fly in case of high winds; there are hooks at each corner where the inner attaches the fly. First Impression Minor Concerns:

Stress on the rain fly/vestibule zippers if too taut > won’t fully close, leaving ~1” unzipped
Carbide tips from trekking poles can weaken, puncture, or tear the peaks > visible imprint of the trekking pole tips at the peaks

Despite the above concerns, the X-Mid comes with great additional features that make the tent worth owning in addition to meeting my basic requirements:

Very simple pitch
Seam-sealed
2 large vents
2 long mesh pockets
Buckles for inner height adjustment and bathtub lift
Fly comes low to the ground
Packs small

I ran water from a hose over the tent before spraying it with permethrin to check for any leaks. The water beaded quickly and immediately ran down the fly – a good sign that the tent might hold up well in rain. I’m 5’5” and 112lbs so there is sufficient room for me in terms of height, floor length, and width. Anyone over 6’0”-ish might find floorspace tight lying down and the inner height short while sitting up, especially if there are items in the mesh pockets that might cause some sag at the ridgeline. The inner floor shape is a parallelogram/diagonal -- Dan explains this design extensively across several site discussion boards. Unless you’re using a long sleeping pad, there should be unused space on both ends of the tent that creates a right triangle (see below in green). Placing mesh pockets here along the wall or corners of the mesh wall might work in theory as an efficient use of space, eliminating any possible sag at the ridgeline while creating organizational space on the floor for heavier items like phones, action cams, power banks, etc. but I do realize pockets here will add weight.

THE X-MID 1P ON THE LOST COAST During the first night's camp setup at Spanish Flat, wind was traveling at 10-12mph with ~20mph gusts for over ~5 hours in the late afternoon. I didn’t use the Tyvek footprint during this night’s setup. While I considered some minor abrasion, I didn’t think the dry sand would damage the bathtub floor. I wanted to test its fragility.

Because I couldn’t get the stake angles exact due to the conditions on the sand, the tent wasn’t perfectly taut and the ridgeline seemed to sag a bit as the poles sank into the sand, but not enough to have a noticeable affect on the inner. To my surprise, the wind died down for the rest of the night. Also to my surprise, I found a small tear on the fly at one of the peaks.

I remembered hearing a slow tearing noise that morning while still laying in my quilt. It reminded me of someone bending over and tearing their pants. I didn’t know at the time that my tent fly was tearing, nor in hindsight do I know why it tore in the morning while the air was still. It’s also worth mentioning that before continuing on the trail I met a man who stopped at Spanish Creek to collect water; he was also using the X-Mid 1P for the first time and told me that his tent tore at one of the peaks that night. He believed it to be caused by the sharpness and length of his trekking pole carbide tips. The second night was spent on Miller Flat at Big Flat Creek. There was only a slight breeze that lasted a short period, but to be safe I used the extra guylines provided and available loops on the edges of the short sides of the fly to tie a taut-line hitch for additional stakes. I didn’t want to use the provided peak guylines, nervous it would cause a larger tear. Thankfully, the weather stayed calm and warm. The following morning while packing, I found tiny holes on the bathtub floor and in the mesh.

I was surprised with what I’d found over the course of just 2 nights, especially considering the care taken when packing/unpacking the tent, and choosing and clearing a site. Despite being by the ocean and between creeks, the good news is the tent didn’t experience any moisture or condensation. Now with a small tear at the peak, small holes in the mesh, and a tiny hole on the bathtub floor, I considered leaving the X-Mid at home in favor of my REI Quarter Dome 2P on the High Sierra Trail. The X-MID 1P ON THE HIGH SIERRA TRAIL I decided last minute to bring the X-Mid on the High Sierra Trail un-repaired due to weight savings, and to test what would happen if I continued on a trail with the small tear. It also helped that my friend reassured me I could hop in her Nemo Hornet 2P should the weather turn or if X-Mid sustained more damage. Luckily, the weather was mild so I was able to get a perfect taut pitch in just a few minutes each evening; the previous damage to the tent was a non-issue and the tent was structurally sound. I’m happy to report the X-Mid performed well on the High Sierra Trail with no additional tears or holes despite the varying terrain.

The X-Mid has ample vestibule space on both sides (L - photo below). I’m able to fit all of my gear on one side: backpack, Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat used as a kneeling/sitting pad, trail runners, cooking system, bear can (before putting it away for the night), and camp slippers. 2 minor details:

I’m not sure if this is applicable to all other tents since it is not for the REI QD 2P, but the zippers on the X-Mid can easily be opened and closed with one hand. It doesn’t seem like a big deal until your hands are full and you’re trying to quickly open and close the fly and inner to keep swarming bugs out.
The line at one of the corners (R - photo below) is already starting to fray. I always make sure to relieve some tension by gently tugging the tent and holding on to the webbing to create some space before pulling it to tighten the pitch, so it’s a little disconcerting to see it already frayed. However, I understand the weight savings of using this particular cord, and I carry extra cord with me anyway in case I need to tie out extra guyline to accommodate for weather conditions.

REPAIRS No outdoor gear is made perfect. Much of the reason why we spend time outdoors is to experience elements of nature – some of which we can’t control and in unpredictable, but we prepare to the best of our abilities. With that said, I’m a firm believer in that gear should be tested and trusted to perform, but I expect my things will sustain some type of damage at some point for the abuse it’s unintentionally put through. I knew the tent was structurally sound despite the small tear at the peak – this was proven when I re-tested it at home, then brought it back out through the High Sierra Trail un-repaired. At worst it might get some drops of water running down the interior of the fly in the case of heavy rain. At best, the interior would stay dry in the rain because the tear occurred right above the black reinforcement patch (a PU-coated 210D nylon) which would catch any moisture from dripping inside. My gear and I would be going through some long and difficult trips soon so it was in my best interest to learn how to repair it if something were to happen in the field. You can’t call for a warranty replacement 10,000ft high and 100mi into the Alps. I e-mailed Dan when I returned from the High Sierra Trail to let him know about the small tear, the tiny hole in bathtub floor, and the 2 tiny holes in the mesh wall. The 1P is his first-produced tent design so I wanted to make sure he had feedback for his next iteration. It’s an incredibly well-designed tent in terms of space, ease of pitch, and weight so I want to see the X-Mid line succeed. The holes on the bathtub floor and mesh are easily repaired by tenacious tape and mesh repair patches -- routine for any tent, so the following will address repairs to the peak tear. If you’ve been doing enough research online on this tent via Drop, Reddit, Backpacking Light, etc. you’ll know that Dan is usually quick to respond to any and all comments and questions. No different with my e-mail, which I appreciated. He sent me a detailed e-mail on:

What may have caused the tear,
Suggestions on how to fix the tear, and
A recommendation on how to further reinforce the peak to prevent another tear

My trekking poles have carbide tips that protrude much further than others; they are longer/narrower. Interestingly, this is what the hiker I met on the Lost Coast believed was the cause of his tear. Dan confirmed that the initial design of the 1P didn’t anticipate such a variable, resulting in a grommet design that didn’t perform consistently well with all trekking pole tips. To be clear, all trekking poles are compatible but depending on the carbide tip, they may/not add more stress to the peaks than others. While I don’t yet have the X-Mid 2P, Dan reassured me that it has a revised peak design to better protect it from sharper pole tips. I would expect this to also be true for any of his future tent designs.

The following materials are what you’ll need to repair and reinforce. The tear took me less than 10 minutes to repair while sitting on the couch watching TV. 2 Rubber Grommets The rubber grommets should narrow the space of the original tent grommet, serving as a buffer and protecting the peaks from stress and further tears caused by the carbide tips. Someone from another post on this site used a rubber grommet from Ace Hardware with the following measurements. I was able to find the same grommet specs at Lowes.

1/2” O.D., 7/32” thickness, 5/16” groove diameter, 3/16” I.D.

Tenacious Tape This will be used on the interior side of the fly. I happened to already have tape (color: Platinum) that matched the tent color in case you need the tape for other patches and color matching is important to you. The platinum-colored tenacious tape matched more closely to the sage green tent color than the actual sage green tape color which looks too dark. The sack that came with the tent stakes Cut a piece larger than the tear to use as an exterior patch. Silicone To be used as glue and sealant.

Step 1: Install rubber grommets to both peaks Inserted part of the rubber grommet at an angle from behind the tent grommet, and pushed up/squeezed through via the edges of the rubber grommet. This is easier than placing the rubber grommet on top of the tent grommet and pushing down.

Step 2: Slide Tenacious Tape under the tear for the initial patch This step was the most difficult, relatively-speaking. The tear was so small that it was a little difficult sliding the tape underneath. I couldn’t simply flip the tent fly over and tape it from the interior side of the fly because the tear occurred right above the black reinforcement patch which was still in tact and blocking access to the tear (actually a good thing). Placing tenacious tape underneath served as the “first patch” to close the tear. Step 3: Use the silicone as glue and apply it to the exterior side of fly to seal the tear Once the silicone is applied to the tear, I placed the cut material from my tent stakes sack over it, pressed down gently, and flattened.

Step 4: Apply silicone to the edges of the patch I applied another thin layer of silicone to the edge of the patch to make sure it completely sealed to the tent fly. Scraped any extra silicone off for a cleaner look. Step 5: Let the silicone dry I let my tent sit out for 24 hours to make sure the silicone dried before placing it back in its stuff sack. The X-Mid 1P in the Emigrant Wilderness I took the tent back out the following weekend for a short test trip to the Emigrant Wilderness. During setup I could already feel the difference the rubber grommets made in relieving stress to the peaks. Now it didn’t feel like the carbide tips would tear through. The patch to the tear upheld through the night.

VERDICT At 27.9 oz for the fly with guylines + mesh inner; all of the X-Mid’s features; and the ample interior and vestibule space, the X-Mid is almost the perfect 1P non-freestanding tent. For those who are just now receiving the 1P, I would make a few suggestions and set the following expectations -- some of these are applicable to all tents, not only the X-Mid:

No matter what poles you use, add the rubber grommets to the already-existing grommets at the peaks for an extra layer to protect the tent from the poles’ carbide tips.
If the tent can’t be pitched perfectly at a 90* angle, even if taut on all sides, expect slight sagging at the ridgeline – it may be noticeable from the outside but seems insignificant once you’re inside the tent.
Reminder that this doesn’t come with a footprint so create one with Tyvek or polycro.
I would recommend this for any tent, even if not the X-Mid, whether or not it comes with a footprint or is a separate purchase – Tyvek and polycro are usually cheaper and lighter than any brand’s footprint anyway.
It’s easier to pitch the tent if all the zippers are closed.
Roll/fold the tent to protect the mesh before stuffing back into its sack or in backpack to minimize mesh stretches and holes.
If you experience holes in the mesh caused by stretch/misalignment and not by an actual tear, scratch at it with your nails semi-vigorously – the mesh should straighten back to its original form.

I'm happy with my X-Mid 1P. The repairs worked well, and I feel confident bringing the X-Mid with me through the Alps.

Jun 30, 2020

Do you have an X-Mid from 2019? The first couple batches had the higher grommet position where some tips could pose an issue like this, but I think we've got it solved now, so if this is a 2020 tent it would be good to hear more about what happened (e.g. what poles you have).

(Edited)

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martha_w

Jul 1, 2020

dandurstonOne day I hope to be able to cross the border into the U.S. and pick up the 2p X-Mid I ordered last fall and had shipped to a Michigan address, but I may be taking it out for an inaugural winter camp at this rate! Regardless, it sounds like the lowered grommet position will be more compatible with the CMT poles I use. Those CMT poles are the same ones Ive used on past trips with my 2019 iteration X-Mid, including the recent one on which I had the tear. Additionally I had just raised my pole height a bit to reduce some ridge line sagging when I got the tear. No mystery really. I appreciate your commitment to the X-Mid and its users.

TheSmizzle

May 4, 2019

Interesting how the last drop about a month ago had supposedly 300 available and it was sold out in 24 hours, with over 4,000 on the request list before this drop I would think that it would already be sold out again. This drop must be way over the 300 available on the last one because it's been 4 days and pre-orders are still open. Does anyone have any insight on how many are available or if this is a whole new order? I'm planning on using this tent on my thru-hike of the AT in April of 2020, hope it gets here before than 🤣

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JayIOM

May 27, 2019

Another for the part solid inner, for the 2 person tent when its available. It gets windy and cold up on them hills. Hopefully a mesh inner would also be available for summer glen camping for a reasonable additional price? Also a lot of folk have been adding a small inner buckle to the bottom of the fly zip, in part to take the tension off the zip, but it also allows additional venting for the tent without having the doors flapping around.

djbraide

Oct 29, 2020

JayIOMI have not seen these tents in the flesh but the design, and general quality make them highly desirable but two things hold me back, I too would like a solid inner for UK conditions and also the fly to be in a darker, less conspicuous colour. Most UK customers would choose these options if available and I would be happy to pay more for them.

Bisly

Dec 4, 2018

How would you compare the Xmid to a SMD Lunar Solo?

Dec 4, 2018

BislyHi Bisly, Sorry I've been slow to answer this one. Tent comparison questions are my favorite, so I wanted to take my time and do a good job. I should also mention I've never used or seen a Lunar Solo (I have looked over a Lunar Duo) so it's possible that something I say is wrong, but I am trying to be fair. First, the X-Mid and the Lunar Solo are comparable in many ways. They are both trekking pole supported 1P tents and they even both use 20D silpolyester for the fly fabric, which is great because it doesn't sag/droop in the rain like nylon. However, they do have one fundamentally large difference, which is that the Lunar Solo is a single wall design whereas the X-Mid is a double wall. Single wall tents are lighter since there's just one layer of material but they give away a lot of functionality to save that weight. They don't provide protection from contacting condensation and they aren't modular, so they aren't nearly as nice in sloppy conditions and you can't use just the inner tent or just the fly as conditions warrant. Basically single wall tents are a more specialized design that is better suited to moderate conditions, whereas double walls are more well rounded for a wider range of conditions. A double wall is better in hot conditions (use just the inner), rainy conditions (protection from condensation), cold conditions (a bit warmer) and outside of bug season (go even lighter with fly + groundsheet). Anyways, here are properly scaled diagrams of these two tents:

This first thing you may notice is that the floor area of the Lunar Solo is larger. Indeed it is at 26 sq ft versus 17 sq feet for the X-Mid. The floor of the X-Mid isn't particularly small - it's about average for a 1P tent - but the Lunar Solo has quite a large floor. This is an advantage of the lunar solo but there is a caveat here: the roof of the tent slopes down a lot in the Lunar Solo because it is a 1 pole design, so the roof is very low around the edges which limits the use of much of the floor area. You can only sit up near the pole in the Lunar Solo. Conversely, the X-Mid has dual poles so the height is preserved over a much larger portion of the tent. Thus the floor area advantage of the Lunar Solo does not translate into an advantage in living volume. On the contrary, the X-Mid can comfortable sit two people (e.g. to play cards) while two people can't sit up at the same time in the Lunar Solo. The low roof around the edges of the lunar solo is compounded by the single wall design, which creates a need to stay well away from the edges. With a single wall tent you need to be careful not to hit the potentially wet walls, whereas there's no worries pressing against any of the edges of the X-Mid floor because the mesh walls will prevent you (or your sleeping bag) from sliding further and hitting the fly. So the Lunar Solo floor is larger - and this is its biggest advantage over the X-Mid - but this difference is less than the specs imply and overall the X-Mid would likely feel like the more "livable"shelter. Also, the single vestibule of the Lunar Solo is very small at only 6.5 square feet (I'm not aware of a 1P tent that has less), whereas the X-Mid has dual generous vestibules space (28 square feet combined - or 4x as much area). The Lunar Solo would let you just cram your stuff in there, whereas the X-Mid lets you have your pack, shoes etc and have plenty of room to cook while still being able to get in and out. It’s particularly great for multi sport trips (e.g. packrafting) where you have more gear to store, winter trips, or sloppy wet trips where you want to leave wet gear outside of the sleeping area. Getting to the weight side of things, the Lunar Solo is spec'd at 26oz whereas the X-Mid is 27.5oz. This is remarkably surprisingly close considering the X-Mid is a double wall design. And it's even closer than that because the X-Mid comes seam taped while the Lunar Solo requires seam sealing (+0.5oz roughly), and the Lunar Solo requires two more stakes (6 mandatory stakes vs 4). So the actual weight difference is under 1oz. Another important consideration is how easy to pitch and user friendly a tent is. The X-Mid is extremely simple to pitch (see video) whereas the Lunar Solo has a more complicated six sided shape and pitching that is made even more complex because the fly doesn't extend right to the ground so you don't have the edges of the fly to guide your distances between the stakes. SMD describes it as "a bit more difficult to set up" in their pitching guide. It's not particularly hard, but nowhere near the simplicity of the X-Mid. One additional big difference is quality. The X-Mid is sewn in a top tier factory using premium components and construction methods, whereas the Lunar Solo is much lower quality. For example, as shown below the X-Mid is fully double stitched while many parts of the Lunar Solo are single stitched. The X-Mid also hides all raw fabric edges via double folding, uses generous bartacking etc, whereas the Lunar Solo uses much lower cost construction methods of raw or single folded edges and single bartacks. That quality difference extends throughout the shelter, such as seam taped (X-Mid) vs not seam taped (Lunar Solo), premium YKK Aquaguard zippers (X-Mid) versus basic YKK zippers with flaps that snag in the zipper (Lunar Solo). These tents are not remotely close in terms of build quality. They are only similar in price because we sell direct to the customer with much less mark up than normal. Our cost of production is much higher.

On top of that, the X-Mid has a long list of other advantages over the Lunar Solo:

Superior peak ventilation from dual vents (vs one)
The X-Mid vents can rapidly shut and seal via velcro in harsh weather. The Lunar Solo vents appear to be non-adjustable.
The X-Mid fly extends right down to the ground (depending on the pitch) so you can stop rain splatter, drafts, blowing snow and sand, whereas the Lunar Solo fly has an unavoidably large gap around the bottom. The large gap of the LS saves weight but gives up protection. You can raise the X-Mid up a few inches if you want more bottom ventilation.
The X-Mid uses higher end hardware. For example, it uses high end YKK water resistant zippers rather than basic zippers covered with a velcro flap which doesn't work as well and are prone to snagging. If you read the reviews on SMDs site you'll see this is a complaint.
The X-Mid fly can be used as a light/minimal two person shelter without the inner
The X-Mid has two doors versus one.
The X-Mid has dual vestibules versus one (24 vs 6.5 sq ft).
The X-Mid uses tough #5 zippers (I'm not sure but I expect the Lunar Solo uses #3 zippers which wear out much sooner).
The steeper walls of the X-Mid will shed snow better
Since the roof panels of the Lunar Solo are fairly low angle, heavy condensation may drip onto the sleeper, where the X-Mid has steeper roof panels so even heavy condensation would run down the fabric instead of dripping.

To be fair to the Lunar Solo, it does have one more advantage which is that it uses a 40D floor, which is tougher than the X-Mid's 20D floor. The X-Mid's floor is about typical for a light tent and will last hundreds of nights with proper care but the Lunar Solo floor is beefier still. So the X-Mid is about 1 oz heavier and for that you get a shelter that is more livable, modular, double wall design, higher quality, better condensation protection, better in wind and snow, vastly more headroom, much more vestibule area, dual doors, dual vents, higher end hardware, full coverage fly and a much simpler pitch. It can offer all that with only a slight weight penalty because the X-Mid geometry is much more efficient (e.g. fewer seams, fewer stakes, much better volume:surface area ratio) so you're getting more tent per $ and more tent per gram. Overall the X-Mid is a more well rounded design that excels in a much wider range of conditions.

(Edited)

Xymnslot

380

Dec 4, 2018

dandurstonI just have to say that I am neither a tent aficionado nor an experienced outdoorsman, but I LOVE reading your discussions on the X-Mid because of your thoughtful, informative, and thorough responses. Listening to experts talk about the things they love is one of my favourite things and somehow, I randomly stumbled on your posts on Massdrop doing exactly that. Kudos and good luck with your product - if I find myself in need of a lightweight tent, this will be the one I go for on the strength of your posts alone.

Lherm

Jul 24, 2018

1. Besides the pole tie outs in extreme weather, any other tie outs?
2. Can the tent be pitched higher for more ventilation without stretching the mesh inner?
3. Does the 20D SilPoly have any ripstop in it?
4. So far 131 tents have been sold with one week left. What was your/Mass Drop goal? Good enough results for 2nd run?

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StringBender

Aug 27, 2018

I have run across 2 threads recently encouraging both HL and ZP to look at and reference your design and consider making a 1P and 2P DCF version. I am sure you are probably aware of more. Clearly, you have a lot of people's attention. I guess that is good news/bad news. I am hoping that you will be the price leader if not first to market. There is that economy of scale and experience with DCF thing that might be a problem. Maybe you can work with one or the other and work out a signature model(s). Just thinking out loud……….

Vote

Thank you for the response! I'll go for adjustable 120. Thank you again

Aug 27, 2018

StringBenderWho's HL? I'd be interested to see any X-Mid related threads that I haven't noticed.
I am working on the DCF version - I had a 1P silpoly prototype set up last night mulling over various options for how it could turned into a single wall. Most of the 1P DCF design is figured out, so I'm optmistic that we can get a prototype started in the near future. I expect other companies wouldn't be that interested in coming out with a X-Mid "inspired" DCF tent because anything from them would likely be more expensive and slower to market than one from me.
In terms of experience with DCF, I've been working with DCF/cuben for over 10 years on a personal level including MYOG tents, tarps, rain jackets, stuff sacks, packs etc. So I'm comfortable managing how the seams, bias and reinforcements are designed. Thus as long as we have a manufacturer who can follow instructions well and has good QAQC proceedures, we should be able to produce a quality product. But of course it would be ideal to work with a manufacturer with as much experience as possible so less oversight is needed.
In terms of value, I think this collaboration with Massdrop is well positioned there. The regular X-Mid priced at $199 but it's equivalent to tents priced at $300 -$400. The X-Mid 1P silpoly has higher end hardware (e.g. uretek zippers) and materials than most tents in the $300 price range and also higher construction quality. The reason it's lower cost is because it's produced in scale, yet doesn't have a large retail markup like most other products produced at scale. Most other products are either produced in house with low scale / low automation manufacturing (e.g. Zpacks, YMG) or outsourced but with a larger mark up applied (e.g. MSR, Big Agnes).
With that said, my focus isn't to compete on price. I don't want to attract buyers by offering average tents at a low price. I'd much rather make great tents and then sell them for a fair price. So longer term if I do ever branch out on my own, I expect the tents would be priced similarly to what's out there, and hopefully folks would agree they offer superior functionality and performance.
With regards to partnering with other companies, I think this would be cool but hard to do practically. I think many small ultralight companies make the mistake of manufacturering in house when they don't have the expertise to do a great job of it. Certainly some small in house manufacturers do an outstanding job (e.g. HMG, Locus Gear, Hanchor) but there is also a lot of not well sewn cottage gear. So there are only a few cottage manufacturers that I would be interesting in partnering with, and even then it would be tricky to do practically since you'd have more parties expecting a profit and wanting control over the project. Other smaller companies outsource manufacturing (e.g. TT, SMD, Katabatic etc.) but partnering with these companies would be less efficient than just working with a manufacturer directly. So overall I think the setup with Massdrop is working very well and is providing a high quality product at an attractive price.
Overall, I'm well aware of the substantial interest in DCF versions and I would very much like to do this. I am actively refining the design for a 1P single wall DCF version, and optimistic that a 2P DCF will follow in reasonable amount of time. So hopefully I can get you a 2P DCF X-Mid before too long.

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