X-Mid 1

FAQ

Q) I heard the X-Mid has a large footprint that can make site selection more difficult. Is this true?
The X-Mid 1 is designed to be a comfortably sized 1P tent and thus does have a larger footprint then that some 1P tents that are quite tiny. There is a trade off here since a tent that is larger on the inside will also be larger on the outside, but the footprint of the X-Mid 1 is still quite reasonable since it is not that much larger than other 1P tents (see diagram) and still smaller than almost every 2P tent which of course are widely used on all trails

We think providing a comfortable amount of space is the right approach because it benefits you every night, whereas only on rare occasions is the bit larger footprint a small inconvenience and even then you can collapse one or both vestibules to fit into smaller sites. The X-Mid 1 is one of the most popular tents on the Appalachian Trail where smaller campsites are common.

Q) The X-Mid doesn’t seem lighter than mainstream UL tents using tent poles.
There are tents with traditional poles that are as light as the X-Mid, such as the Big Agnes Fly Creek UL1 (27oz). Those pole sets are heavy (often about 8oz) to get those tents as light something else has to give. Commonly that’s space, performance, and durability. A traditional tent as light as the X-Mid is almost certainly far smaller and using more delicate fabrics and much thinner waterproof coatings. You’ll also find they cut features (e.g., lacking vents). Compared to the lightest freestanding tents, the X-Mid offers a more spacious, durable and high-performance shelter for the same weight to give robust 3 season performance.

Q) Should I use a groundsheet?
Our 20D floor is more durable than most ultralight tents (which are 10-15D) and will last a long life without a groundsheet if it’s used with care. However, it is still a light fabric so recommend a groundsheet if you may be pitching on harsher surfaces like gravel or bedrock, or if you like to keep the floor cleaner. We sell X-Mid groundsheets here.

Q) Can I pitch just the fly or inner?
Yes. The inner easily disconnects via buckles at the peaks and clips at the four corners to leave just the fly. If you want to pitch just the inner, you can remove the fly peaks’ guylines and tie them to the inner peaks while adding knots for the pole tips, but our Stargazer kit makes inner-only pitching much easier as it has separate guylines that clip right on plus grommets for your pole tips and tensioners for quick adjustment.

Q) I don’t use trekking poles. What can I do?
We offer folding, adjustable length poles called Z-Flick poles that can be used instead of trekking poles. These are the lightest adjustable poles on the market.

Q) Why polyester over nylon?
The main reason is that nylon absorbs water in wet conditions. That results in 3 big problems: First, it expands (or “sags”) about 4% which makes for a saggy tent in wet conditions. This is a common problem in nearly all lightweight tents, but low weight polyester fabrics are finally available which solve this. Second, nylon’s water absorption makes the tent slow to dry and heavy with up to a pound of water in the fabric, and third, nylon weakens by about 10% when wet. Polyester doesn’t absorb water, so it doesn’t have any of these issues plus it’s far more UV resistant so it lasts longer. Check out our materials page for more detail on this.

Q) How can I repair my X-Mid?
Check out our repair guide.

Q) How should I pitch it in stormy weather?
For the most weather resistant pitch, you should pitch it low to the ground (shorten the cord at the corners as much as possible), use the optional stake out points around the base to spread the load, and deploy the side panel and peak guylines. 

Q) How does the X-Mid compare to [some competing tent]?
The X-Mid geometry is the most volumetrically efficient shape possible. Thus, it is impossible to design a lighter tent unless you use lighter materials, fewer features, or make it smaller. If you find a more lightweight tent, it likely is a single wall design that isn’t nearly as good in sloppy conditions, or it uses DCF fabric and thus costs at least 2.5x as much.

Any tent that uses similar materials and is also a double-wall usually is quite a bit heavier. Of the few tents that are not, these are always smaller, less featured, or both. We could make the X-Mid smaller or less featured too, but its current design is carefully considered so that it is among the lightest tents in its class while still offering a comfortable amount of space and a useful feature set. Basically, the weight is similar to the lightest woven double-wall tents out there while providing more space and features. To save another two ounces would require large compromises in function or durability, such as hard to use door clips instead of zippers, smaller or omitted vents, and delicate hardware. Tents that make these compromises are much less well rounded.

Q) How is the X-Mid so affordable?
The X-Mid is built at the same high end factory as respected brands like MSR and Mountain Hardware. Our price is only lower because we sell direct to you rather than having a large retail markup (retailers typically double the price). We eliminating that markup and pass most of the savings onto you, while also investing a portion into building even better gear. For example, the X-Mid is the highest quality as we insist that everything is double sewn, and we use premium components such as waterproof YKK AquaGaurd zippers that are uncommon even on more expensive tents, and yet our price is lower than anything comparable simply because of the slim markup. Even at a higher price, you can’t find higher quality than the X-Mid.