X-Mid 1

To understand the useable length in a tent you have to consider both how long the floor is, and how much the length slopes inward off the ground.

The X-Mid 1 has a 90" floor length, which is good but not that much longer than most other tents which are 84-90". However, other trekking pole tents normally slope inwards substantially such that 12" off the ground (at the height of your sleeping bag) the length is much shorter.

With the X-Mid 1 the end panels are steep, so it preserves more of the length. How well it works for you will depend on many factors including your height, sleeping pad thickness, sleeping bag size, expectations, and sleeping style but typically it works for hikers up to 6'4" (193 cm).

The 20D floor is more durable than the floors in many ultralight tents which can be 7-15D fabrics or 0.8 – 1.0 oz composites. We have selected this 20D material because it is durable to use without the added weight and hassle of groundsheet, provided care is used not to pitch on harsh surfaces like gravel, pine needles, or bedrock. However, for a cleaner floor, added safety margin, or use on harsher surfaces we do offer a groundsheet.

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, cut features, or make it smaller. With the X-Mid we have designed the lightest possible tent that is still reasonably spacious and functional. Thus, any lighter tent and even other tents at a similar weight will provide less space, function, and stormworthiness for the weight. Commonly those tents are smaller, use more delicate materials, and lack peak vents, a full coverage fly, door zippers, and a tensioned floor.

We like to fold and roll the tents because it is easier to get a smaller packed size, but it is also okay to stuff this model.

There are tents with traditional poles that are as light as the X-Mid 1. Even with the lightest tubing those polesets are still heavy (about 8oz) so 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) and the lightweight poles they use are not nearly as robust as trekking poles.

Compared to the lightest freestanding tents, the X-Mid offers a more spacious, durable and high-performance shelter for the same weight.

The X-Mid is built at the same high end factory that builds for many of the worlds top tent brands and it is constructed from premium fabrics and components. Our price is lower only because we sell it direct to you rather than selling through retailers who would increase the price about 50%.

We eliminate that markup and pass most of the savings onto you, while also investing a portion into building even better gear. For example, we insist that everything is double sewn, and we use premium components such as waterproof YKK AquaGuard zippers that are uncommon even on more expensive tents. Even at a higher price, you can’t find higher quality than the X-Mid.

The X-Mid tents have been influential in the recent trend towards polyester in ultralight tents, with many other companies criticizing our fabric choices and then later switching themselves. We weren't the first to use silpoly, but the X-Mid was the first popular ultralight tent to opt for polyester and our passionate defence of its merits has been a key reason for its resurgence.

The main advantage is that nylon absorbs water in rainy conditions. That results in 3 big problems: First, it expands (or “sags”) about 4% which makes for a saggy tent. 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 sag, dries faster, remains strong when wet, and doesn't gain as much water weight.