X-Mid Pro 1

FAQ

Q) How tall of people does the X-Mid Pro 1 work for?
The X-Mid Pro 1 is one of the best 1P tents on the market for length. The floor is a generous 90″ (versus 84″ typically) and the steep end walls mean all of that length is useable. Even at the very ends there 15″ of height and this rises rapidly (e.g. 6″ from the ends there is 24″ of height) so you can sit up almost anywhere throughout the length of the tent. We recommend this tent up to 6’8″. For average height people, this generous length provides gear storage at your head and feet.

Q) What is a singlewall/hybrid tent?
A singlewall tent is when the floor of the tent is sewn to the fly so the canopy has just one layer instead of having a second inner layer of bug mesh or fabric. The X-Mid Pro is singlewall in some parts (ends, roof) but still doublewall in other areas (sides) so it can be called a hybrid tent. The design is 100% bug proof and brings substantial weight savings. The downsides are that you don’t have the ability to use the fly and inner separately, and that there aren’t mesh inner walls in all areas to prevent you from touching the fly if there is condensation. The X-Mid Pro 1 has every possible advantage to minimize condensation (e.g. large peak vents, spacious) and it is not more prone to condensation than other tents, but if condensation does occur you do need to be more careful not to touch it. The X-Mid Pro makes this easier than most single wall tents because it is more spacious and has steep walls so condensation won’t drip.

Q) How does the angled ridgeline affect headroom while sitting?
Most noticeably, the angled ridgeline gives substantially more headroom and interior volume than comparable trekking pole tents.

Single pole trekking pole tents have generally minimal headroom as there is only one high point and you can’t sit there because the pole is there. Dual trekking pole tents are much better. In a dual trekking pole tent, the ridgeline is the part with maximum height, so a longer ridgeline means more headroom. In the X-Mid Pro 1 the ridgeline is 53″ long while competiting dual pole tents are all 28-36″ – meaning the X-Mid Pro 1 gets a lot more headroom out of two poles. This allows you to sit up throughout the length of the tent such that two people can comfortably sit together in this tent.

Q) How should I pack the X-Mid Pro?
A) You should roll the tent rather than stuffing. DCF can eventually delaminate over time if it is subject to repeated sharp creasing. Rolling the fabric reduces this and will prolong the life of your shelter.

Q) How durable is X-Mid Pro?
A) DCF is an incredibly strong material with several times the strength of normal tent fabrics. However, it can delaminate if it subjected to bias stretch and it can be puncture and abraded. This is why we reinforce stresses along the bias with DCF backed tape, and we only use DCF for the canopy of the tent which sees minimal abrasion and puncture stress. Provided the canopy is treated reasonably well (e.g. not used to sleep on top of, folded not stuffed) we expect it last 200-300 nights. Floors are commonly the weak link in DCF tents, which is why we have opted for a more durable 15D woven floor. This type of material is common in lightweight tents and will last as long as the canopy when used with the care. With a groundsheet and thoughtful use, this tent could last a lifetime.

Q) Why is the floor nylon instead of DCF?
A) We like DCF but think nylon better suited for a floor than the 1.0 oz DCF that is commonly used.

DCF is super strong Dyneema fibers laid between two sheets of mylar. The dyneema fibers make for a really strong and light material that is great for a tent fly, but because the outer layers are just mylar film the abrasion resistance is relatively low.  To be useable for a floor, most companies switch to the 1.0 – 1.2oz versions of DCF that uses extra thick outer mylar layers. This improves abrasion and puncture performance so it is good but now it has the downside of being bulky since it is about 3x as thick as a woven fabric (this causes the complaints about DCF tents being bulky). We think a woven floor makes sense because it offers similar durability and weight weight at a smaller packed size while also being easily repairable with tapes.

Q) Should I use a groundsheet?
A) The 15D floor is more durable than the floors in many ultralight tents which can be 7-10D fabrics or 0.8 – 1.0 oz composites but it is still a lightweight material that should be used with care. We have selected this 15D material because it is durable enough to use on many surfaces without the added weight and hassle of a groundsheet if care is used, but it can be damaged by harsher surfaces like gravel, pine needles, or rock. For a cleaner floor or use on harsher surfaces, we offer and recommend a groundsheet. 

Q) The appearance of the DCF is uneven. Is this normal?
A) Yes. DCF is an artisan material where the Dyneema® fibers are hand laid. As such, variation in the density of the fibers and the corresponding color of the material is normal. In particular, darker bands every 12-18″ are common where the hand laid strands overlap.

Q) Should I pitch it with the pole tips up or down?
A) The X-Mid Pro 1 is designed to be pitched with your poles oriented handle up. The tips go into the small elastic loops on the sides of the floor. If you pitch your X-Mid Pro 1 with the tips up it can damage the tent.

Q) I don’t use trekking poles. What can I do?
A) 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) How can I repair my X-Mid Pro?
A) DCF can be repaired easily with DCF backed tape, which is widely available from RipstopByTheRoll and other tent companies. We are working on having repair supplies available. For repair of the woven floor or bug netting check out our repair guide.

Q) How does the X-Mid Pro compare to [some competing tent]?
A) 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 Pro 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. To illustrate this, check out the ‘compare‘ tab.

Q) What is hot bonded construction?
A) DCF is commonly joined together using a double sided tape or sewing. Sewing is the least desirable option because unwoven materials like DCF have poor ability to hold stitching, so the seams are much weaker. Double sided tape works well and is the most common method, but these adhesives still weaken in extreme temperatures. They can slip in hot weather or fail in extreme cold. Hot bonding construction also uses adhesive tape, but with a special heat activated adhesive that is stronger and much more temperature stable. We use a double sided tape between the overlapping panels of material, plus we add single sided DCF backed tape on the outside of the seam. The DCF backed tape is important because it adds Dyneema® fibers running parallel to the seam so the seam does not stretch under load (one of the most common failures for DCF tents is when this step is skipped, leading to the seams stretching and cracking under load). Our tapes are applied at room temperature and then the seam is pressed under heat to set the adhesive. Using a heat activated adhesive and pressing every section of the major seams is a more labor intensive and costly process, but the result is the strongest possible tent with the cleanest look and much better performance in extreme temperatures.