X-Mid 1 Solid
The X-Mid 1 Solid has been completely redesigned for 2025 into a third generation model that is more spacious and user friendly. Full details on the third generation improvements are here.
Pinnacle of Lightweight Tent Design
The X-Mid 1 Solid is a variant of the X-Mid 1 oriented more towards use in colder conditions including winter use and trekking in windswept areas like Northern Europe and Patagonia, while still being an excellent all around backpacking tent. Like the regular X-Mid 1, its shape is developed from the first principles of geometry to create the ideal balance of weight, simplicity, and weather protection. With a weight of just 31 oz (890 g) while being stormworthy, user friendly, and spacious, it won numerous awards for best tent including from The Trek, Outdoor Gear Lab, and Section Hiker.
STORMWORTHY
Many ultralight tents are designed for fair weather conditions and thus make major concessions in stormworthiness in pursuit of weight savings. That includes questionably thin fabrics, weak pole structures, thin coatings that are barely waterproof, and trimming away vents, guyout points, and even areas of the fly.
With the X-Mid the focus is on creating a tent that is ultralight while still thriving in tough conditions. To create a tent that is both light and capable, we focus on saving weight through efficient design with our X-Mid geometry that makes more efficient use of fabrics and structural elements.
The result is a tent that protects with its fly first pitch, full doublewall design, non-sag poly fabric, robust coatings, large adjustable vents, factory waterproofed seams, full-coverage fly (blocks rain splatter and drafts), stormworthy shape, tough #5 zippers, and protected entryways. No other tent can claim that list.
USER FRIENDLY
Simplicity and user friendliness are a major focus for the X-Mid because when a storm rolls in the last thing you want is a tent that is a hassle to use. The X-Mid improves your experience with a design that is rooted in simplicity and refined through extensive backcountry use and obsessive attention to detail.
The ease of use starts with the X-Mid's ultra simple 4 stake pitch that has no mandatory guylines, no odd angles to estimate, and no need to measure anything. With a bit of practice, it can be pitched in under a minute with just 4 required stakes and 2 poles that are extended without measuring.
Once pitched, the ease of use continues with large doorways that aren’t blocked by poles, vestibules that are large and put the main area beside the door instead of blocking it, magnetic door toggles that are quick to operate, intuitive pockets, and one handed operating zippers with dual sliders on the fly doors.
Best Ultralight Tent
It's still hard for us to believe that such an easy-to-set-up tent can be so delightful to spend camp time in while also being almost invincible to storms....it's our favorite 1P tent.
Section Hiker
Editors Choice
"The X-Mid 1 is my favorite tent...it is a great shelter if you want a trekking pole tent that is affordable, spacious, stormworthy, and packs up small."
The Trek
We Love This Tent
"A laundry list of well-thought-out details makes this tent exceptional in rough weather....it is our all around best thru-hiking tent of 2023."
Paul Messner (YouTuber)
Best 2023 Tent
"A brilliant tent.....there's been a lot of hype around this tent and I think it's justified. It does everything really really well....the X-Mid ticks more boxes than any other."
Backpacking Light
Cottage Gear Innovation Award
"With a new type of design...the Durston X-Mid 1P offers light weight, livable space, ease of pitch, and storm resistance that we've never seen before"
Gear Junkie
A Modern Marvel of a Tent
"An all-season tent that can weather whatever nature throws at it...to say I am impressed would be an understatement."
SPACIOUS
The X-Mid geometry is the most space efficient use of two poles possible. It does this using a diagonal ridgeline and opposite diagonal floor so the two poles can be positioned further apart for increased headroom and volume.
The result is a nicely sized 1P tent with ample headroom throughout the length of the tent so you can sit up anywhere and easily move from laying down to sitting up without hitting the walls.
We recommend the X-Mid 1 Solid for hikers up to 6'4" (193 cm) thanks to the generous 93" (2.36 m) length combined with steep end walls that increases the useable length. The floor width is a comfortable 33" (84 cm) that fits all pads with room to spare, while the dual vestibules are generously sized and will easily fit the largest pack beside the doorway.
QUALITY
Our focus on creating a highly functional and stormworthy tent means we also focus on quality. It's imperative that you can trust the build of your tent when you're headed into uncertain conditions.
To achieve this, the X-Mid 1 Solid is crafted the most experienced tent factory in the world who have built nothing but tents for over 60 years. There our tents are assembled using premium components, double stitching, double folded edges, and generous bartacking.
We’re not aware of any other trekking pole tent that uses double stitching to the extent that we do. While this premium quality gives the X-Mid a higher cost of production than comparable tents, we price it affordably because we sell it to you directly with only a modest markup.
Magnetic Toggles
Magnetic door toggles with pull tabs provide easy one handed-operation.
Large Doorways
Unlike most trekking pole tents, the doorways are large and not blocked by trekking poles. They also have a protected design to keep rain out even when open, and can be propped open with a stick or pole to create a 'porch'.
Full Coverage Fly
The fly extends low to the ground to block drafts and rain splatter, yet can be raised higher for more ventilation. Other tents cut away the bottom of the fly to save weight but it leaves you more exposed.
Stormworthy Shape
The X-Mid provides the ideal shape with consistent and moderate panel slopes. All the panels are an ideal 50 - 55 degrees which balance wind and snow shedding to provide excellent all around performance. Most tents are less consistent with a mix of shallower panels (worse for snow shedding) and steeper panels (worse for wind performance).
Spacious
The X-Mid's offset poles provides a longer diagonal ridgeline that extends the headroom over more of the tent. There is ample clearance to transition from laying down to sitting up without hitting the tent, and room to sit up anywhere in the tent.
PATENTED GEOMETRY
The X-Mid shape has been developed from the first principles of geometry to be as weight efficient, simple, and functional as possible.
The X-Mid manages to avoid all the common pitfalls of trekking pole shelters such as a complicated pitch, mandatory guylines, poles blocking the doorways, and a lack of interior volume.
Read the story about how the X-Mid geometry was developed:
As an incredibly stormworthy, spacious, and user friendly shelter, the X-Mid 1 Solid is the ideal lightweight tent for everything from walks in the UK's Hill District to a crossing of Sweden’s wind-swept Sarek National Park.
Customer Reviews
I've been incredibly impressed with the X-Mid 1 Solid, and it has quickly become my go-to shelter for solo adventures. Durston Gear has really nailed the design here, delivering a tent that is not only remarkably lightweight but also incredibly robust and well-thought-out.
One of the standout features for me is the dual-pole trekking pole pitch. It's intuitive, incredibly stable, and allows for a surprisingly roomy interior for a single-person tent. Even with a wide sleeping pad, there's ample space for gear inside, and the symmetrical design means you don't feel cramped. The solid inner tent is a game-changer for environments where you need maximum protection from wind, dust, or even just curious insects. It provides a real sense of security and warmth, especially on cooler nights or in exposed locations.
Despite its light weight, the X-Mid 1 Solid feels incredibly durable. The materials inspire confidence, and the craftsmanship is top-notch. I've used it in some fairly blustery conditions, and it sheds wind and rain with ease, remaining taut and stable throughout. The ventilation options are also cleverly designed, allowing you to minimize condensation even with the solid inner, thanks to the ample headspace and adjustable fly.
Packing down small and setting up quickly are also huge pluses. It's truly a minimalist's dream without sacrificing comfort or protection. For anyone looking for a reliable, lightweight, and genuinely protective solo shelter that can handle a wide range of conditions, the X-Mid 1 Solid is an absolute winner. Highly recommended!
Thanks for the kind words Gareth! Glad the tent is working well, and you're finding it simple, stormworthy and spacious.
- Dan Durston
Hi Dan and Co. I got to use my X Mid 1 Solid over the weekend in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland. A wonderful light tent which for a first pitch was truly impressively simple to put up. It balanced out well getting tight lines. It was a pleasure to use. Unfortunately I hadn't expected the unexpected and heavy winds rolled in at 1am. Im not sure for certain but definitely 40 - 50 mph. The tent stood it better than I did, being nervous of my new aquisition. I had to po out a couple of times as I was side on to the wind, which took the brunt of it. I had the guys from the peaks pegged but didn't have extra on the sides, I wish I had taken cord with me, (my extra iron cord is en route :) with extra stakes ). Other than the tensioners on the corner stakes popping under the pressure it took it amazingly well. Very impressed. I will definitely be adding extra stakes and guys in future on such an exposed pitch. Thanks all of you, i look forward to getting out more.
My experience with Durston was Very good friendly and easy to get positive feedback on my questions 👍
A wonderful tent. Easy to pitch. Big vestibules. Nice headroom.
The solid inner works better for me.
The one thing I wish this tent had is the option to fully close the inner mesh. Like the doors on X-Dome 1+ solid has.
Can’t wait to see what Dan comes up with next.
I choose the “X-Mid 1 Solid” as apposed to the non-solid one because I knew it would be a little warmer for night time. I have been section hiking the PCT for 6 years ( half way through now” and wish I had started with this tent from the beginning. I started with a one man lightweight tent with poles. This is lighter and roomier and easer to set up and take down the way I have configured it, See pics to go along with my modifications. I love the fact that it is by-directional since I sleep at a slight angle (for acid reflex issues) I never have to reset my tent due to setting it up incorrectly. It has a front and back porch so can enter either way. I purchased the ground sheet along with the tent and then I added 2 extra pieces of cut to size “Ultralight Camping Tarp, Backpacking Tarp, Tyvek Sheet” I tried super glue every 12 inches to attach it the original ground sheet, but that did not hold up so used a few pieces of duct tape especially at the ends and the spot for the trekking poles. I attached “Tyvek Tarp & Banner Self Adhesive Grommet Tabs” and ran “round cord sewing elastic” from the corner of the Tyvek tab to the corner of the tent where I also attached the corner of the tent cover and ground sheet. I leave all of the attached parts to the tent, rain cover, and ground ground sheet attached when I take down and put it up. I also added light weight ” Ultralight Guyline Tensioners” along with “Paracord Planet 1.8mm Fluorescent Reflective Guyline Tent Rope Cord Camping Paracord” to the sides of the tend and ends which are not required but I don’t have to worry if a strong wind comes up in the night. All you really need are the four corners but its good to tie down the polls and the zippers. I also added paracord to the two lower ends and attach them to the same stake as the poll lines. In total I use 10 stakes. I use my own lightweight longer stakes but the ones that come with it are fine. Side note is there is a corner at the head and feet inside the tent to place extra gear or clothes. Placing extra clothes and jacket at the bottom keep my feet from touching the tent and therefore stay warmer. Tent has held up to rain wind and hail. I fold all three attached parts into thirds and roll up with the stakes and slide into long narrow stuff sack. Then attach under my backpack.
Get started with our comprehensive X-Mid pitching guide.