X-Dome 2
The first batch of the X-Dome 2 (shipping late May) has sold out but our second batch (shipping late June) is available to pre-order in most versions. Versions sold out for June will be available again in early July.
Functional Freestanding Tent Design
The X-Dome™ 2 is an ultralight freestanding tent developed from our focus on efficient design to be more spacious, protective, and simple to use. It combines our weight efficient and simple X-Mid floorplan with a structurally optimized pole set to provide unprecedented space and protection for the weight. The result is a generously sized and fully freestanding two person shelter that is highly liveable in tough conditions for just 2.7 lbs (1.25 kg).
SPACIOUS
The X-Dome 2 is a generous sized, true two person shelter that is noticeably more spacious than comparable tents. That spaciousness starts with the floor, which has a width of 52" (130 cm) for the full length so it can easily accommodate two wide pads. The floor length is suited for taller hikers with an 88" (224 cm) length that is made more useable by the near vertical end walls.
What really makes the X-Dome 2 spacious though is the taller interior height combined with a shape that preserves that height over more of the tent. The interior height of 43" (1.1 m) is 3 - 6" taller than comparable tents and the full length crossbar extends this peak height over to the doorways (creating vertical sidewalls) while the geometry extends the height towards the ends (creating near vertical end walls). The result is 20 - 40% more volume than comparable tents including outstanding headroom and shoulder room - allowing partners on two wide pads to comfortably share the tent.
The dual vestibules are also generously sized at 9 sq ft (0.83 sq m) each. Each vestibule can easily fit a large pack while having extra room for cooking, shoes, and wet gear.
PROTECTIVE
X-Dome 2 is designed to keep you protected and comfortable in tough conditions. That starts with the structure of the tent, which is stronger than most ultralight tents due to the larger diameter tubing in key areas, and the premium high strength carbon fiber poles that are stronger for the weight than aluminum. This makes the X-Dome sturdier than comparable tents, plus trekking poles can be optionally added to complete the crossbar into a robust third arch which adds substantial vertical and horizontal strength for snowloads and high winds.
What is often overlooked - yet usually matters more than outright strength - is how liveable the tent is during tough conditions. Here the X-Dome excels with overhanging doorways that keep out falling rain, 100% polyester fabric that is non-sag and fast drying, a fly first pitch that keeps the interior dry during setup, a full doublewall design to separate any condensation, and a fly that extends low to the ground to blocks drafts and rain splatter. No other ultralight freestanding tent has all of these protections.
The X-Dome 2 is also highly spacious so you have room to live when riding out a storm, and the details that matter have been obsessed over - such as taller doorways so you can enter without touching a wet fly and generously sized vestibules for wet gear. It's the shelter you want to have when wet weather rolls in.
SIMPLICITY
Simplicity and ease-of-use are an obsession with our tents because at the end of a tough day or in rough weather you want a shelter that is fast and intuitive to use.
Most notably, the pitch is simpler and more versatile than other tents. The rectangle based geometry allows the tent to naturally pitch in any order, including fly first during wet weather or inner first on a starry night, and it can pitch with the fly and inner pre-connected for the fastest pitch. It is also 100% freestanding, so you can let the conditions determine which stakes you use instead of the tent dictating certain ones.
Another important aspect is the doorways, which are often overlooked. The X-Dome uses a crossbar and angled zipper to create doorways that are larger, taller and more vertical so they are easier to step through and keep rain out. The doors secure with easier to use magnets, and the reach to close the fly door is intentionally shorter than other tents so you can comfortably do it from inside.
The X-Dome also has numerous other details that make the tent user friendly like one handed zippers, vestibules that position the main area beside the doors instead of blocking them, interior hang loops, 4 pockets, and a fully connected pole set with no parts to lose.
External Carbon Fiber Poles
The X-Dome 2 uses premium Easton carbon fiber poles which are positioned externally (outside the fly) so the tent can naturally pitch fly first to keep the interior dry during setup in the rain, while also being able to pitch inner first for stargazing.
Since the poleset goes to the same 4 corners as the inner and fly, the X-Dome can pitch in any order, with the inner tent combined or added separately, and it is 100% freestanding with no mandatory stakes - including being able to deploy the vestibules without stakes via a trekking pole.
Crossbar + Trekking Poles
The X-Dome 2 uses a cross bar to increase the interior headroom and create a doorway that is taller (for ease of access) and overhanging (so rain doesn't fall inside).
The crossbar also enables trekking poles to be added to complete the cross bar into a sturdy additional arch. These trekking poles anchor to the bottom of the tent fly where they are counter balanced (angled inwards) to directly support the sidewalls against deflection during storms while giving the X-Dome 2 higher strength than comparable ultralight tents.
High Tenacity Polyester
Unique among ultralight freestanding tents, the X-Dome 2 uses 100% polyester fabric (instead of nylon) because polyester doesn't soak up water, expand and become slow to dry like nylon. With polyester the X-Dome 2 stays lighter, tighter, and dries faster than other tents.
We've been able to create a tent this light while using polyester thanks to a new high tenacity version which offers unprecedented strength for the weight.
Generous Vestibule
The vestibule on the X-Dome 2 is generously sized (9 sq ft / 0.83 m) and positioned beside the doorway instead of blocking it (like most tents) so you can cook or store a backpack in the vestibule while still easily getting in and out of the tent.
The vestibule is also highly versatile. You can protect the area by staking the smaller fly door flap with a tent stake or trekking pole or fully open the fly and the vestibule is still protected by an overhanging awning. The interior can open on both sides to fully open the side of the inner tent and allow excellent vestibule access.
Highly Spacious
The X-Dome 2 is one the largest 2P tents with 52" of width for the full length, an 88" floor combined with near vertical end walls for tall hikers, and a peak height that is taller than other tents and extended over more of the interior by the crossbar and geometry. The result is 20-40% more interior volume than comparable tents and ample room for two wide pads.
QUALITY
Our fixation with detail also extends to the quality of the tent, where we take every opportunity to build the best tent we can.
Durston has long been a leader in advancing polyester fabric for lightweight tents due to its excellent properties including non-sag and fast drying. With the X-Dome 2 we are using our latest high tenacity 15D silpoly and combining that with premium Easton carbon poles that cost 2-3x what an aluminum poleset does, but leads all other poles in strength:weight.
We craft these premium materials into the X-Dome 2 at one of the most experienced tent factory in the world with high end tents, while using advanced construction methods like high precision narrow seams, narrow seam taping, waterproof seam construction, generous double stitching, and double folded edges.
Overall, the X-Dome 2 advances what is possible in an ultralight two person freestanding tent. With a weight of 2.7 lbs (1.25 kg) it is among the lightest fully freestanding doublewall 2P tents while providing increased strength, protection, spaciousness, and ease of use. It is the ideal two person freestanding tent for backcountry hikes on the Arizona Trail to the Annapurna Circuit.
Customer Reviews
Good good very good !!! 👍
It’s a good tent. Orderd X dome 1+ first and found it too small for me personally, return was easy and appreciated.
X dome 2 is more my size (6’6”), but I feel the floor layout would be better if it was only 1 vestibule. Personal preference.
Other than personal wishes the tent has only 1 real flaw. The top centre clip in fly could be offset to top centre pole intersection.
This is my first Durston tent and im in love already. Super easy set up and I love that the rain fly can be set up first. I havent been able to get on the trail with it yet because I live in Texas i.e. the surface of the sun. Her maiden voyage will be a few nights on the TMB in Europe next month so I will update my review then.
I really like the tent, it is pacious, lite weight, freestanding, easy to pitch. However, I do regret that I had not waited for the solid inner (they were out of order), so I hope there will be a possibility to order a solid inner seperately later, so I can choose per expedition which one to take. It was very cold ony last expedition, thats why :). And miss a bigger loop in the inner to hang my lamp. The side pockets are very big and can provide forethat. But a bigger loop could be handy :).
I got this tent as an upgrade from my REI Half Dome 2 and this tent has far exceeded my expectations. For two people with a border collie, it's the perfect size tent. The parallelogram shape gives just enough space for Galileo at my head (where he likes to be) and extra leg space for my husband. The details makes it stand out like the colour-coded zipper pulls, the ability to tuck the window flap and the inclusion of loops for clothesline. It's really nice that it includes the stakes and the stake bag too. Thought it might get hot or stuffy with the fly on and solid inner in from 26-15C night with two people and a dog but had the windows down, vents open and it was totally fine.
The tent isn't perfect though... [1] I wish the middle clip of the fly was a centimeter or two to the left or right instead of dead center because of the middle pole is in the way and causes the subsequent side to stretch. [2] My husband and I were using the point where the 3 zippers meet as a place to thread our water hose (my husband has a water bladder, I have a 48oz nalgene connected to a hose) and I wish that the zippers didn't open so easily or better yet, it would be cool if there was a port to thread our hose on both sides of the tent to stay hydrated in the night. [3] Instead of fixed knots on the inner tent floor, I would have liked the inner floor tension to be slightly adjustable by a few centimeters with the ability to self adjust to prevent over-tensioning. [4] If guylines were included on the doors I probably would assume that I had to stake the doors and my husband felt the need to stake the doors but I was fine with rolling the doors so I'm on the fence about that one. [5] Lastly, the poles come out a little too easily from the metal attachment points, I know that in the X-Dome 1+ the design was changed to be easier to insert but I wish the design was kept tapered because it kept falling out under slightly windy conditions.
Get started with our comprehensive X-Dome pitching guide.