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Drop + Dan Durston X-Mid 1P Tent
MichelleEH
54
Jan 29, 2020
As a lifelong designer and Engineer, it is my practice to see new designs and compare them to what has come before. The design that I suggest be considered against the X-Mid 1P would be the Tarptent Contrail, now out of manufacture.
Since the sadly accepted practice of creating an inner tent of mesh being somehow thought to be, "a layer," has being going on for some time now, I must submit that mesh as an inner tent is entirely single use, keep bugs out. It will not stop rain, fog, wind, Bigfoot, etc. from incursion. When designing a two layer tent, to me, mesh does not qualify, for these reasons. A single layer tent with full mesh, is accurate, albeit impractical. Mesh provides breathability but nothing in the area of warmth, as the term, "double or two layer," intentionally describes.
The exterior space, under fly, is extraneous, too much. Therefore, fabric providing it is also extraneous, as is its weight. I suppose that is why the Contrail pleases my sensibilities. Mesh is used where best used only.
In this case, though a reasonable offering, I feel it would have been best built using cuben to reduce weight.
dandurston
5116
Dan Durston
Jan 29, 2020
MichelleEHTents don't have full mesh inners simply because it's a "sadly accepted practice". A partial versus full mesh inner offers different functionality which is why companies like TarpTent make tents in both styles. TarpTent did make the Contrail and still makes many similar tents with singlewall/hybrid style inners (e.g. ProTrail) but they also make many tents with a full mesh inner (e.g. the Notch and StratoSpire) because these offer different function for different uses. Their StratoSpire in particular is much more comparable to the X-Mid than the Contrail.
The main purpose of the full mesh inner tent is to aid in managing condensation. In humid/wet conditions condensation can be unavoidable, but having a full mesh inner tent makes that more livable because it prevents accidental contact with the wet fly, and also does a lot to catch drips should be they occur (depending on the angle of the mesh). In the X-Mid the mesh is never anywhere near horizontal, so if drips of condensation do occur in very sloppy conditions they will tend to run down and be absorbed by the mesh rather than land on the sleeper. A full inner also allows modularity where you can pitch the fly alone as a tarp, or the inner alone as a bug shelter. I think it is incorrect to say that mesh is "entirely single use" as bug protection and that it "will not stop wind" and "adds nothing in the area of warmth". Mesh does stop a lot of wind as anyone that has worn a noseeum netting headnet can attest to, and it does add a couple degrees of warmth inside plus warns you when you coming close to touching the fly. Of course solid fabrics are warmer and more wind blocking yet, but having a mesh inner is a useful middle ground between a singlewall tent and having a fly with a solid fabric inner.
A very comparable tent to the X-Mid except with a partial mesh inner is the Yama Mountain Gear Swiftline 1P. That tent is about 26oz. Tent comparisons are always fraught with confounding factors, but the X-Mid is only 2oz heavier despite having a full mesh inner. Actually the full mesh inner only adds about 1oz and the other ounce comes from differences like two doors and two vents. So basically for 1oz more you get full double wall protection from condensation, modular tent and warmer. That's an ounce pretty well spent.
I do agree on a cuben/DCF version being attractive. I'd really like to do that.
(Edited)
C.rad
54
Feb 13, 2020
dandurstonI'm totally with you on this Dan, I cant' say if MicheleEH (op) has camped that much or in different environments other than her own but I am in defense to your design and others who use a double wall designs. I really don't think there's much need to defend double wall tents as there's already a plethora of info about there positives and negatives. However, Michele fails to mention in her negative opinionated comments that mesh always come with bathtubs (massive benefit) and if tall enough then YES it does spare the ones inside & gear from rain bouncing upward, blowing sand and moisture being blown in under the the fly gaps, lets not mention the huge gain in condensation management and not just bugs. Of course single walls tents can be great and gaining traction, they have there place but after spending many nights in them and getting wet down due to condensation, not having good ventilation during storms becomes a big issue which a double wall does brilliantly. I also have to defend the large vestibules, you now don't need to keep bags inside leaving more room for humans and pets, or just humans and keep pet in large protected vestibule, not to mention at same time still have good space for cooking during crap nasty weather while still keeping sleep area dry and clean.
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