X-Mid Pro 2

$679.00 USD$689.00 USD

X-Mid Pro 2 Tent

SKU: DXM-4021 Category:

Description

The X-MidTM Pro 2 is the pinnacle of ultralight tent design. It combines our maximally weight efficient and stormworthy X-Mid geometry with Dyneema® composite fabrics (DCF) and a singlewall design to create a tent that is both incredibly light and incredibly capable. The 2023 version weighs just 19.6 oz (1.2 lbs / 555 g) while also bringing unprecedented stormworthyness, simplicity, spaciousness, and build quality to the super ultralight tent niche.

Until the X-Mid Pro 2, if you wanted a 2P tent for just 1.2 lbs you had to settle for something cramped, delicate, and/or lacking in weather protection. The X-Mid Pro changes that. It provides a spacious interior for two large adults with a generous 90″ floor length, steep end walls to maximize useable length, best-in-class headroom, and dual spacious vestibules.

Stormworthiness is excellent with extremely strong Dyneema composite fabric, protected doorways that keep rain out, dual adjustable peak vents, and a full coverage coverage fly that can extend right to the ground to block rain splatter, snow, and drafts but also can be lifted higher for increased ventilation. The tent pitches solidly with just 4 stakes but also has peak and side panel guyout points plus 8 extra stake points around the base should the conditions warrant.

The X-Mid Pro also retains the user friendliness that the X-Mid tents are highly regarded for. Unlike most trekking pole tents, the rectangle based X-Mid has a simple 4 stake pitch with no mandatory guylines, no measuring or estimating odd angles, and no struts. Once pitched, the intuitive minimalism continues with magnetic door toggles, doorways that aren’t blocked by poles, vestibules that put the main area beside the doorway instead of blocking it, a tensioned floor so it lies taut and wrinkle free, and one handed operating zippers. The X-Mid Pro also has a remarkably small packed size for a DCF tent because it uses a durable 15D woven floor that is more abrasion resistant and smaller packing than a composite floor.

In addition to the highest performance design, the X-Mid Pro boasts the highest quality. It is assembled at the most experienced tent factory in the world for Dyneema® composite fabrics using premium hot bonded construction for the strongest and cleanest seams.

Additional information

Weight.825 kg
Dimensions30 × 15 × 15 cm
Stakes

Yes (Aluminum V Stakes x 8), No

Features & Specs

Features

  • Patented X-Mid geometry with twin offset poles provides best in class headroom, living space, stormworthiness, and ease of pitching.
  • Dyneema® fabric is extremely strong, highly waterproof (8,000mm), and does not sag or absorb water
  • Dual doorways are zippered, not blocked by trekking poles, and keep rain off the floor even when open.
  • Dual vestibules are large, tall and put the main area beside the door instead of blocking it.
  • Dual adjustable peak vents minimize condensation yet can close during harsh conditions.
  • Dual interior pockets provide convenient storage (2023 version).
  • Generous length accommodates hikers up to 6’4″ (dual occupancy) or 7’0″ (solo occupancy).
  • Full coverage fly blocks drafts and rain splatter, but can also be pitched higher for more ventilation
  • Excellent performance in snow and hail by avoiding flat roof panels.
  • Optional peak and side panel guyouts plus eight additional stake points around the base can be used for harsh conditions
  • Ultra-simple pitch with just four stakes
  • Vestibules can be collapsed to fit into smaller tent sites
  • 15D woven floor provides better abrasion resistance and a smaller packed size than a thicker composite floor
  • Premium hot bonded construction
  • Dyneema® core guylines

Weight

  • Tent: 19.6 oz / 555 g
  • Stuff sack: 0.4 oz / 12 g
  • Stake sack (optional): 0.2 oz / 4 g
  • Stakes (optional): Aluminum V stakes (4 @ 6″ (8.5 g  ea) and 4 @ 7″ (12 g ea).
  • Tent with required stakes: 20.9 oz / 590 g

Returns: 30 days in new condition
Warranty:
2 years against defects

Materials

  • 0.55 oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (CT1E.08) in Spruce Green
  • 15D Sil/PEU nylon in grey (floor)
  • YKK #3 AquaGuard water-resistant zippers (fly)
  • YKK #3 zippers (inner tent)

Dimensions

  • Fly: 80 x 100 in / 203 x 254 cm
  • Fly area: 55.5 sq ft / 5.15 sq m
  • Peak height: 46 in / 117 cm
  • Floor width: 48 in / 122 cm
  • Floor length: 90 in / 230 cm
  • Floor area: 30 sq ft / 2.8 sq m
  • Vestibule area: 23 sq ft (11.6 sq ft x 2) / 2 sq m (1 sq m x 2)
  • Packed size: 11 x 5 in / 27 x 12 cm

 

Concept

The goal with the X-Mid was to start with a clean sheet of paper and reason from there to create the optimal trekking pole supported shelter – one that offers maximal functionality, space, storm resistance, and simplicity at the lowest weight.

The most fundamental – and thus first – design question was: What shape should form the tent’s 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 pitching these complex tents require estimates of stake locations, angles, distances between stakes, pole positions and measuring pole lengths. Setting that up can be fun in the backyard but not fun in a rainstorm. The X-Mid eliminates almost all of this guesswork by opting for a rectangle base – by far the easiest shape to stake out.

The challenge with the rectangle – and 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, which are lauded for their simplicity but lack headroom since the pole occupies the only high spot. The single pole near the center also typically interferes in the living space and/or doorways. Other rectangle based designs have used two poles along the perimeter, such as the classic pup tent design. This substantially increases living space but having the poles along the perimeter creates vertical side walls, which catch wind and require guylines and more stakes. It’s also a more boxy and inefficient shapeand the poles still typically interfere in the doorways.

Reasoning from first principles, it was obvious that the ideal tent should use two poles rather than one to bolster living space since hikers commonly have two poles on hand, but how to achieve this while avoiding all the 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 patented X-Mid layout:

The X-Mid layout starts from the realization that two poles can’t be positioned near the edges (or you’d have flat sidewalls that require guyouts) nor can they be near the center (the tent would lack headroom and have poles on the floor) so they must be a positioned about halfway between the center and the edge. In order to have two poles here and also be able to sleep in the center, there is only one way to do it: place the poles and ridgeline on one diagonal while putting the sleeping area on the other diagonal inside the rectangular fly. With this patented layout, the poles provide abundant living space while being out of the way of the doors and living space, and not complicating the pitch. It’s a spacious shelter that pitches easily with only 4 stakes and no guylines. This layout also creates vestibules on either side that are more useful because the main vestibule space is beside the door instead of blocking it.

The X-Mid geometry is also lightweight because it is the most volumetrically efficient shape for a trekking pole shelter. If you do the math, you’ll find any other comparably sized trekking pole shelter uses more fabric, stakes, or both, resulting in a heavier geometry. Any comparable tent as light as the X-Mid is either much smaller, using more delicate fabrics, or quite a bit less featured.

The X-Mid also provides outstanding performance in stormy conditions. When it’s rainy, the X-Mid keep you protected with a full coverage fly to block rain splatter, generous living space, large vestibules with space for cooking and wet gear, no-sag fabric (DCF), fully taped seams, protected entryways that can be left open in light rain, and large vents that open and close easily to reduce condensation. No other tent can claim that entire list.

The X-Mid is also stable in the wind and snow due to the weather-resistant shape, durable materials, and additional guyout options. Unlike most tents, the X-Mid geometry results in wall slopes that are highly consistent and moderate. Most tents have quite variable wall slopes (e.g., low angle roof panels but steep sides) so there are often low angled roof panels that accumulate snow yet overly steep sides that catch the wind. The X-Mid is rare in having consistent panels, and importantly, they are all at a moderate slope, which balances performance in the wind and snow. In addition to this high-performance shape, the tent also buttons down solidly in harsh weather with numerous optional stake out points around the base, vents that quickly shut to block wind and snow, and peak guylines that can be deployed to strengthen the shelter further.

Overall the X-Mid layout is the optimal design for a trekking pole shelter because it is maximally simple, spacious, and lightweight while providing robust weather protection.

Video

Compare

The X-Mid Pro 2 provides unprecedented stormworthiness, user friendliness, and space for a superultralight tent. To illustrate this, the table below compares the X-Mid Pro 2 to two of its strongest competitors.

X-Mid ProHMG UnboundZpacks Duplex
Stormworthiness & Durability 
Fly coverage (extends low block drafts and rain splatter)FullMediumHigh cut
Peak vents
(reduces condensation)
YesYesNo
Fly zippers
(ease of use, increases rigidity)
YesYesNo
Floor material (puncture and abrasion performance)1.2 oz woven0.8 oz DCF1.0 oz DCF
Space 
Interior volume63 cu ft56 cu ft56 cu ft
Floor width48″48″45″
Floor area30 sq ft30 sq ft28 sq ft
Length (inside fly)106″100″100″
Ridgeline length (determines headroom)58″48″53″
Vestibule area 11.6 sq ft x 28 sq ft x 27.3 sq ft x 2
Vestibule positionBeside doorwayBlocking doorwayBlocking doorway
Fits two wide tapered padsYesYesNo
User Friendliness 
Minimum number of stakes488
Measuring poles required?NoYesYes
Overall ease of pitchingEasiestMediumMedium
Doorways blocked by poles?NoYesYes
Mesh inner doors fall on groundNoNoYes
Tensioned floorYesNoNo
Magnetic door togglesYesYesNo
Packed sizeSmallestSmallMedium
Build Quality 
Main construction methodHot bondedCold tapedSewn
Double folded and stitched edges?YesYesNo
Price & Weight 
Price$679$699$699-$749
Tent weight19.6 oz / 555 g24 oz / 680 g18.5 oz / 525 g
Tent + minimum number of stakes21.0 oz / 595 g26.8 oz / 760 g21.3 oz / 605 g

Overall, the X-Mid Pro 2 is more spacious, more stormworthy, higher build quality and more user friendly than the Duplex while weighing less when stakes are factored in. Compared to the Unbound 2P, the X-Mid Pro 2 is much lighter by 6oz while again being more spacious, user friendly and stormworthy.

FAQ

Q) Do two people have to sleep opposite ways?
No. We recommend that two people sleep the same way. The sleeping area is a bit different on each side, but the tent is quite spacious with 20-35% more interior volume than its main competitors, so two people can comfortably sleep the same way.

Compared to most trekking pole tents, the X-Mid’s diagonal ridgeline is substantially longer which gives greater headroom in the tent. This extra headroom is gained diagonally, so two opposite corners get outstanding headroom, while the other two corners have more regular head room. You could sleep opposite so both people get extra head clearance, but when sleeping the same way the person on the regular side still has as much or more head clearance than competing tents so there is no headroom disadvantage on one side – just extra headroom on the other.

Since the X-Mid Pro 2 is longer than comparable tents (106″ long canopy vs 95-100″) the person with the lower corner at their head can slide down to leave that corner as a space for gear, while the other person slides up from the lower corner at their feet to leave that for storage. This puts both people in a normal side by side position with ample headroom and handy gear storage at both ends of the tent, as you can see below:

You could sleep opposite so both people have extra headroom, but it really is very comfortable for two people sleeping the same way.  If someone is quite tall (e.g. 6’4″) they will prefer the side with added headroom. Only if both people are taller than 6’4″ do we recommend sleeping opposite. These people wouldn’t fit at all in most competing tents.

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) Does the X-Mid Pro 2 have a large footprint?
The X-Mid Pro 2 is designed to be a reasonably spacious 2P tent and thus does have a larger footprint then some 2P tents which are quite tiny when actually used by two people, but it is still quite normal (see diagram). Our original X-Mid 2 had a larger footprint but it has since been refined smaller and the Pro has a smaller footprint yet. We think a more spacious tent is the right trade off because the extra space benefits you every night, while a slightly smaller footprint is only rarely helpful and even then you can collapse the vestibules of the X-Mid Pro 2 to have a tiny footprint if needed.
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 2 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. In any trekking pole tent, the ridgeline is the part with maximum height, so a longer ridgeline means more headroom. In the X-Mid Pro 2 the ridgeline is 60″ long while competing tents are 45-50″ – meaning that the X-Mid Pro has 20-35% more headroom.

The other difference is the position of this headroom. The X-Mid ridgeline is diagonal, so when two people share the tent one person will have the highest area a bit above the center while the other person has it a bit below the center. This offset is fairly minor as the the highest areas are only about 6″ away from the centerline and the tent is quite tall so you don’t need to sit exactly there, but you may find that you prefer to shift your position slightly as you sit up to take full advantage of this headroom. This is something that quickly becomes second nature, and when you do gives a large increase in personal space because the two people sit slightly offset from each other instead of shoulder to shoulder. So the headroom layout is unique but gives more total headroom and personal space.

Q) Does the X-Mid Pro 2 fit two wide pads?
Sometimes. The X-Mid Pro is carefully designed to be just large enough for two wide tapered pads. Wide pads are spec’d at 25″ width but typically measure a real world 24-24.5″ when inflated for a combined width of 48-49″. The floor width of the X-Mid Pro 2 varies depending on how it’s pitched (a lower pitch also lowers the floor walls for a wider floor and vice versa) but typically the floor width is about 48″. Thus, two adjacent wide pads will bulge the sidewalls out only slightly. This is normally fine with two wide tapered pads (e.g. Thermarest NeoAir) since >90% of the pad length under 24″ width and thus the bulged section is minor and not stressing anything. We do not recommend the X-Mid Pro 2 with two wide rectangular pads (e.g. Nemo Tensor) since it would bulge the full length of the floor and thus stress the corner connections. When using wide pads, we recommend pitching the tent lower for the widest floor. To do this, adjust the corner cords short before staking out the tent.

Q) How tall of people does the X-Mid Pro 2 work for?
The X-Mid Pro 2 has a length inside the fly that is 6″ longer than it’s main competitors because the X-Mid, Zpacks Duplex, and HMG Unbound are all 100″ long but in the X-Mid Pro you sleep on a 20 degree angle to the fly so the length inside the fly is 106″. The floor is still 90″ but this longer fly gives create headroom and clearance at both ends.

When sleeping two people in the tent we recommend it to 6’4″. That is a realistic estimate of what we think 90% of people would agree with (not some inflated marketing answer) but the actual outcome varies depending on several factors including how thick your pad is, if you use a pillow, how large your sleeping bag is, how straight you sleep (e.g. side vs back sleepers), and how much space you think is enough. If you have a bulky setup and want a lot of extra room you might only find it suitable to 6’0″ whereas if you have a compact setup and aren’t too fussy it can work to 6’6″+. We recommend sleeping in the same direction, but note that the headwall will be steeper for one person than the other, so if one person is taller we recommend they on the steeper headwall side for a bit more clearance at their head end. If you are considering using this tent solo, the parallelogram floor gives one diagonal that is very long and we think it works well for up to 7’0″.

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) 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. We have selected this 15D 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 or use on harsher surfaces, we offer 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 2 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 2 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.

Pitching

The X-Mid tents are very simple to pitch, however, there are some things to consider for maximum performance in stormy weather. Below we describe the basic pitch and then how to troubleshoot issues and get a very robust pitch for stormy weather.

Basic Pitch:
1) Stake out the rectangular base (e.g. stake one end, pull out a 3rd corner at 90 degrees, pull last corner taut).
2) Inspect your rectangle to make sure it’s reasonably accurate (not skewed into a diamond). Adjust stake positions if needed.
3) Snug the rectangle tight using the corner tensioners (important so the poles don’t overextend).
4) Add the two poles with your handles up and extend firmly until they are taut.

Troubleshooting
Before adding more stakes to beef it it up, it is best to correct any issues with the basic pitch. There are two common issues:

1) Loose Sides
Problem: The rectangular base was not tight when the poles were added. This pulls the corners in and allows the poles to overextend giving an overly tall tent with loose sides.
Solution: Lower the poles, snug up the base, re-extend the poles.

2) Loose Ridgeline or Wonky Canopy
Problem: The base was not staked in an accurate rectangle but instead was skewed into a diamond. Depending on the direction of the skew, the ridgeline will be under or over tensioned.

Solution: As the diagram below explains, use the corner tensioners to adjust the corners back into a proper rectangle. Most likely you will loosen two opposite corners and tighten the two opposite corners.

Storm Pitch
To beef up the pitch for storms, we recommend in approximate order of importance:
1) Make sure your basic pitch is good (tight everywhere). It is best not to use more stakes to compensate for core issues.
2) Add cord to the peak guylines and stake these out along the ridgeline or angled more towards the door walls if the wind is broad side.
3) Replace the shockcord at the door and end wall stake points with static cord (included) and stake these points to better anchor the peak. The static cord eliminates stretch for a more solid pitch.
4) Add cord to the side panel guylines and stake these down on the same angle of slope as the roof panels. Do not pull the sides out substantially.
5) Add the stakes below the main door panels.

Video
If you are the video type, the below video shows how the to pitch the X-Mid 1 but the X-Mid Pro 2 uses the same process.

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