X-Mid 1

$239.00 USD

Include stakes?: No

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X-Mid 1

$239.00 USD

The X-Mid 1 has been completely redesigned for 2025 into a third generation model that is even lighter, more spacious, and more user friendly. Full details on the third generation improvements are here.

Pinnacle of Lightweight Tent Design

The X-Mid 1 has been developed from the first principles of geometry to achieve the most weight efficient, simple to use, and stormworthy design for a trekking pole shelter. The result is a double wall tent that is incredibly user friendly, capable and spacious while weighing just 25 oz (720 g). As a result, it has become one of the most awarded tents in recent years including awards for best tent from The Trek, Outdoor Gear Lab, Section Hiker and numerous other respected outlets.

STORMWORTHY

Many ultralight tents are designed more as fair weather shelters and thus trade important protection for weight savings. This includes less waterproof coatings, cutting away areas of the fly to leave you more exposed, and omitting important features like peak vents and guy out points.

With the X-Mid, we focus on saving weight through efficient design such as minimizing seams, narrow high precision seam tape, and maximizing the volume:surface ratio, so we can create a tent that is both light and capable in tough conditions. The X-Mid excels in rough weather with its fly first pitch, full doublewall design, non-sag poly fabric, large adjustable vents, factory waterproofed seams, full-coverage fly (blocks rain splatter and drafts), stormworthy shape, and protected entryways that prevent rain falling inside. No other tent can claim that list.

USER FRIENDLY

Simplicity and user friendliness are a major focus for the X-Mid because the last thing you want in bad weather or at the end of a long day is a tent that is a hassle to use. We avoid complexity and improve the user experience with our focus on first principles design, combined with obsessive attention to detail and extensive real-world validation.

Unlike most trekking pole tents, the rectangle based X-Mid offers a simpler 4 stake pitch. There are no mandatory guylines, no struts that are harder to pack up and store, and no measuring pole heights or estimating odd angles. It goes up quickly with just 4 required stakes and 2 poles that can be extended without measuring.

Once pitched, the user friendliness continues with large doorways that aren’t blocked by poles, vestibules that put the main area beside the door instead of blocking it, magnetic door toggles, 4 intuitive pockets, and one hand operated zippers. Notably, the X-Mid uses polyester fabric for the fly which doesn't sag and absorb water like nylon so your pitch stays tight and the tent dries quickly. Polyester was controversial when we launched the X-Mid with it in 2018 but our passionate advocacy for it has since led to an industry wide shift.

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."

Outdoor Gear Lab

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."

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."

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"

Treeline Review

Best Ultralight Tent for Thru-Hiking

The Durston Gear X-Mid 1 is our favorite tent for thru-hiking because it’s great in high winds, versatile, easy to pitch, and surprisingly affordable. This tent is very well designed.

SPACIOUS

The X-Mid geometry maximizes the space possible from two poles by using a diagonal ridgeline that positions the two poles further apart, while avoiding placing the poles near the edges that would detract from wind performance.

The result is a spacious 1P tent with best in class headroom. The two poles give headroom throughout the length of the tent so you can sit up anywhere in the tent and easily transition from laying down to sitting up without hitting the tent ceiling.

The floor is a generous 93" (2.36 m) length which is combined with steep end walls to provide suitable length for hikers up to 6'4" (193 cm), while the floor width is a comfortable 33" (84 cm) that accommodates the widest pads. Also generous are the dual vestibules, which are spacious, tall, and easily hold even large packs.

QUALITY

In addition to the highest performance design, the X-Mid boasts the highest quality.

The tent is crafted at arguably the best and most experienced tent factory in the world using premium fabrics, full double stitching, double folded edges, and generous bartacking.

While this premium quality gives the X-Mid a higher cost of production than comparable tents, the X-Mid 1 is priced affordably simply because we sell it to you direct with only a modest markup.

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.

That includes avoiding 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:

Developing the X-Mid Geometry

As an incredibly well rounded, spacious, and capable shelter, the X-Mid 1 is the ideal ultralight tent for everything from a long thru hike to a remote adventure in Alaska. That's why the X-Mid 1 has become both the most popular and highest rated 1P tent on all three triple crown trails (Applachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Pacific Crest Trail) according to hiker surveys by The Trek and Halfway Anywhere.

Specifications

SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT

Fly

15.3 oz / 435 g

-

Inner Tent

10.0 oz / 285 g

-

Complete Tent

25.4 oz / 720 g

-

Stuff Sack

0.3 oz / 10 g

Features

FEATURES

Optimal Geometry

Patented X-Mid geometry with twin offset poles provides best in class headroom, living space, stormworthiness, and ease of pitching.

Spacious

The diagonal (offset pole) ridgeline increases headroom and interior volume by 15-25% compared to a perpendicular ridgeline, and by 30-50% compared to a single pole shelter.

Non Sag Fabric

The X-Mid has been a pioneer of lightweight polyester fabric. Polyester doesn't absorb water and sag like nylon, so the shelter retains its structural integrity in wet conditions. Our passionate advocacy for polyester was initially met with resistance from other established companies using nylon, but has since led to polyester becoming widely recognized as a more practical material and with many others now following our lead.

Compare

COMPARE

The X-Mid 1 provides unprecedented stormworthiness, simplicity, space, and quality for an ultralight tent. To illustrate this, the table below compares the X-Mid 1 to what is seen in competing tents in this niche (1P double wall trekking pole tents).

STORMWORTHINESS

X-Mid 1

Main Competitors

Fly coverage

Extends low to block drafts and splatter

High cut fly leaves you more exposed

Peak vents

Dual vents minimize condensation

Vents are small or omitted

Non sag fabric?

Yes

Sometimes

FAQ

Browse the FAQ to learn more or get in touch if you have further questions.

Contact Support

Q) How tall of person does the X-Mid 1 work for?

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 93" floor length, which is well above average, and the end panels are steep, so the length is more useable. 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).

Q) Should I use a groundsheet?

The 15D floor is reasonably durable. We have selected this material because it is tough enough to use without the added weight and hassle of groundsheet, provided care is used and harsh surfaces like gravel are avoided. As such, we say that a groundsheet is not required but it does have advantages of a cleaner floor, added safety margin, and protection on harsher surfaces. We offer an optional groundsheet and about half of users prefer this option.

Q) How does the X-Mid 1 compare to [some competing tent]?

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.

Q) How should I pack the X-Mid 1?

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.

Q) The X-Mid doesn’t seem lighter than some ultralight tents using tent poles.

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 about the same weight.

Q) How is the X-Mid so affordable?

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.

Q) Why polyester over nylon?

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.

Durston X-Mid 1 (Gen 3):

I recently got my hands on the Durston X-Mid 1 Gen 3, and I have to say—this tent exceeded my expectations in every way. Dan Durston continues to raise the bar for ultralight shelters, and this newest iteration is the best yet.

Set-up is a breeze, even in less-than-ideal conditions. The intuitive pitch and non-fussy design make it ideal for both seasoned backpackers and those just getting into ultralight gear. I especially appreciate how roomy and well-ventilated it feels for a one-person shelter. The headroom and living space are incredibly generous for its weight class, and the vestibules are perfectly designed for gear storage and cooking in bad weather.

Build quality is top-tier—you can tell a lot of thought went into the details. The materials strike a great balance between durability and weight savings. Even in wind and rain, the X-Mid 1 Gen 3 feels rock-solid and confidence-inspiring.

I also love the improved ventilation and condensation management—a huge step up from many other single-wall tents I’ve used. And of course, the weight and packed size make this a no-brainer for long-distance hikers, fastpackers, and anyone trying to trim down their load without sacrificing comfort or protection.

All in all, the Durston X-Mid 1 Gen 3 is easily one of the best solo tents on the market right now. Whether you’re thru-hiking, weekend backpacking, or anything in between, this shelter is a total win.

Thanks for the kind words Cody. Great to hear you are enjoying the tent.
- Dan Durston

Love this tent

Firstly, I'd just like to say that I love my new X-Mid 1 tent. Took it out over the last few days and it performed flawlessly. Still getting use to pitching it but getting better every time. It got put to its test in some pretty tough New Zealand weather and handled it like a champ. Even pitched it in some pretty insane wind without guy ropes and it didn't budge at all. Didn't even feel threatened that it was going to collapse. Out in another 3-day mission and can't wait to use it again. I'm 6'3 so is a little tight for room internally but because of the size of the vestibules that isn't a problem at all. Love it, Love it, Love it and highly recommend this tent.

Thank you for designing an amazing tent and all the effort that you put into customer service and standing by your product. You have lifetime fan and customer.

Thanks Damon :) Glad the tent is working well.
- Dan Durston

I had high expectations.......

.... and this tent exceeded them. After reading and over analysing reviews and blogs I had very high expectations that this tent would be amazing. I have now tried it in the New Zealand mountains in the winter and it exceeded my expectations. There was more space than I thought a single person tent would have. It was easy and quick to put up (totally recommend watching the instruction videos!) and felt stable. There was not a lot of wind that night so haven't had a chance to test its sturdiness but judging by the stability of it I am not expecting any issues.

But there is no such thing as the perfect tent. In this case the tent is great and my only suggestion is minor (and not everyone would agree). I prefer a sideways opening (burrito style) bag for the tent as opposed to the end opening sack (I would pay for this as an optional accessory). On saying that - if this is my biggest complaint then this tent is great!

Keep up the innovation!

perfect tent!

Perfect design. You can just feel the thought that went into this tent! I intended to set up my tent for the first time at home before heading out but ran out of time, however, setting up on my trip for the first time went way better than expected. There were a couple things I needed to figure out through trial and error but overall, the set up is very intuitive. The tent is super cozy and there's way more room than any tent I've ever slept in for all the stuff. I didn't have any weather to test it in, but I feel the pitch and versatility in staking ensure it will be bomber. I think this tent is amazing. And the price point is really fair. Thank you for making a great product!

Thanks Keri!
- Dan Durston

A bit challenging to pitch

We first bought the extra light X-Mid Pro 2+ (for backpacking for 2), and we were impressed enough to buy the Durston X-Mid 1 (for cycling). I would give them 5 stars if only we could manage to pitch them like the guy in the video (we did buy the Z-Flick tent poles). It looks simple enough when he does it! :-)) I have owned countless tents for all seasons for the last 37 years to the point and I usually don't require any instructions to pitch to perfection regardless of the make or the type. But we find these tents challenging. We have had to watch the instructional videos many times, but our pitch still does not look quite as good as in the video, even after 20 min of trying (and much arguing ;-) and multiple attempts. Thankfully, we have time to practice before taking it on our next trip, but we feel like idiots trying to pitch these tents. Otherwise very light, roomy and long enough for my 6'3'' partner to be in heaven. The X-Mid 1 packs short enough for a handle bar. Both tents are extremely roomy and the vestibules are amazing. Durston is very responsive and a pleasure to deal with.

Glad you're mostly like the tent Tim. For the pitch, the most common issues people have are:
1) Not having the stakes holding solidly
2) Staking out the fly corners not in an accurate rectangle
3) Being too cautious to properly tighten the fly corners before adding the poles
4) Being too cautious to extend the poles firmly enough to really tighten the fly.

If you keep an eye on those things, you should have good results like in our video.

Glad you're finding it roomy at 6'3'.
- Dan Durston