X-Mid 2 Solid
The X-Mid 2 Solid has been updated for 2025 with redesigned pockets, dual fly zipper sliders, improved hardware, and high precision narrow seams and seam tape. The result is a more functional tent at a similar weight. Due to high interest these tents are currently sold out but they are available on pre-order for tents shipping mid-late April.
Pinnacle of Lightweight Tent Design
The X-Mid 2 Solid is a variant of the award winning X-Mid 2 that is tilted more towards use in the shoulder season, cooler conditions, and wind-swept areas like Northern Europe, while remaining an excellent all around backpacking tent. Like its sibling, it has been developed from the first principles of geometry to be the most weight efficient design for a trekking pole shelter. No comparable tent under the 2.5 lbs (1.1 kg) mark offers such a well rounded mix of stormworthiness, spaciousness, and simplicity, which is why the X-Mid 2 has become one of the most popular and highly awarded tents in recent years including top awards from BackpackingLight, The Trek, and Section Hiker.
STORMWORTHY
Most ultralight tents are designed more as fair weather shelters where they achieve their low weights by compromising in durability and stormworthiness. With the X-Mid 2 Solid, performance in tough conditions is a top priority, therefore the X-Mid saves weight through efficient design. This allows us to make a tent that is both ultralight and capable for tough conditions.
The X-Mid 2 Solid has a comprehensive set of protections including a full doublewall design, full coverage fly (extends low to the ground to blocks drafts and splatter), fly first pitch (keeps the inner dry during setup in the rain), polyester fabric (doesn't sag and loosen like nylon), large adjustable vents, robust waterproof coatings, durable 20D fabrics, factory waterproofed seams, and protected doorways that keep rain out even when open. No other tent offers this full list.
USER FRIENDLY
When you're tired at the end of a long day or the conditions are rough, it's essential to have a tent that performs simply and intuitively. To achieve this, the X-Mid 2 Solid is designed from obsessive attention to detail and from Dan Durston's extensive backcountry experience.
The result is the X-Mid's simple pitch with only 4 required stakes. There are no mandatory guylines, odd angles, or guesswork, which is a refreshing contrast to most trekking pole tents that require numerous stakes, guylines, and struts as part of a complex pitching process.
The eye for usability continues when the tent is set up including large doorways that are not blocked by trekking poles, roomy vestibules that are located beside the doors instead of blocking them, magnetic door toggles, a collection of 4 thoughtfully placed pockets, and one handed operating zippers.
Even the packed size of the tent has been obsessed over and optimized into a short shape that can store horizontally in any pack.
The Trek
Best Thru-Hiking Tent
"A laundry list of well-thought-out details makes these tents exceptional in rough weather...one version of the X-Mid or another should be near the top of your list."
Backpacking Light
Highly Recommended
"Exceptionally high quality. Field performance was outstanding. Overall, it has simply been a joy to use.”
iRunFar
Surpasses the Hype
"The Durston X-Mid 2 is one of the most hyped products in the ultralight backpacking world, and it lives up to, and maybe even surpasses, that hype.”
Section Hiker
10 Best Backpacking Tents
"It's shape makes it extremely weather and storm-worthy. The all-mesh interior tent has offset peaks to maximize headroom"
Adventure Alan
Top Pick
"A winning combination of low weight, a ton of livable area and great condensation control.”
SPACIOUS
The patented X-Mid geometry is the most space efficient architecture possible for a dual trekking pole tent. It accomplishes this with an innovative design that sets the two poles further apart for greater volume and headroom, while keeping them set back from the edges to avoid a boxy shape that would be less stormworthy and require more fabric.
The result is a generously sized 2P tent that provides ample space for two adults. That includes a 52" wide floor that fits the widest pads, and a long 92" length that accommodates hikers up to 6'4". The diagonal ridgeline also allows the two occupants to move further apart for greater personal space.
The dual vestibules are also generously sized and accommodate large packs and everything else - all without blocking the doorways.
QUALITY
The X-Mid 2 Solid is built at the most experienced tent factory in the world, who have been building nothing but premium tents for nearly 70 years.
In partnership with them, we go beyond high standards to specify premium components and robust construction methods including full double stitching, double folded edges, waterproof seam construction, and generous bartacking. We know of no other tent that uses double stitching as extensively as we do.
This focus on quality gives the X-Mid 2 Solid a higher cost of production than competing tents, yet the X-Mid 2 Solid is priced affordably because we sell it directly to you with only a slim 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).
Ample Headroom
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.
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:
The X-Mid 2 Solid is a spacious and simple ultralight tent that shines when the weather turns challenging. It's a well rounded tent ready for everything from hillwalks in the UK's Lake District to remote traverses of Alaska's Brooks Range.
Customer Reviews
After having this tent for just about a year now I absolutely love it, perfect combination of light weight and so much space!
I've used this tent in all weather, from torrential downpours and winds in the Swiss Alps, to a -4⁰C camp just last week in England, this tent has been brilliant. For me it comes into its own with how quickly you can set it up - especially if you get caught out in rain.
If you are undecided on if this tent is for you, don't hesitate and you will not be disappointed!
Worth every penny.
I’ve just returned from a trip where I got to use the x-mid 2. It was incredibly easy to set up and tweak, and it performed beautifully. There is plenty of room for two people, and the vestibule areas are very spacious. It’s great being able to store backpacks and boots etc tucked up near the poles in the vestibules, and have lots of room to enter and exit the tent. I also really like how easy it is to adjust the set up depending on conditions e.g. changing the fly configuration for more shade, more breeze etc. There are so many little details that have been considered in the design too. For example, the storage pockets on the walls of the inner are in locations that are handy, but also don’t cause the inner to sag under the weight of the contents (which I’ve had happen with other tents). Then there’s the way the bathtub is supported so it stands up properly. And the one handed zipper operation, or how much space there is between the fly and the inner (to avoid wetting out) and lots more. I really appreciate the thought and care that has gone into the design of this tent. The sil poly fly doesn’t absorb water and get heavier the way nylon does. And the tent packs small and is very lightweight. It also appears to be very well made. I’m looking forward to using it on many, many more trips.
Hi Dan,
I'm looking to get the Mid-X 2 Solid version and wanted to know if I could add-on a inner mesh as well or buy later for spending summer time with kids?
In that case will I be able to use either Solid or Mesh inner based on what is the day like?
Also can inners be pitched independently as well as fly using Stargaze kit?
Got the durston xmid solid 2 around a month ago and after a little practice setting up in the garden, was ready to test out in the wild.
Took it up to the lake district last week and initially had to set it up at a campsite with a really annoying slope. Despite this I was still able to get a decent setup on what was probably around a 15 degree incline. Tolerated cold and rainy conditions really well, with some condensation (as expected) but nothing too out of the normal. Dried really quickly in the few spells where it wasn't tipping it donw.
Then I took it into the hills for its real test. Managed to pitch in horrid rainy and windy conditions with some difficulty but still had it up in around 15 minutes (full storm pitch with 2 added guidelines, all sides to the ground and some additional robust groundhog tent pegs). The forecast suggested an improvement in weather as the night went on but it actually got worse and the tent had to put up with almost 12hrs of constant rain, temps dropping to 0-1 degrees celcius and gusts up to 35-40KPH. It honestly was solid as a rock for most of the night as I managed to get some cover from the brunt of the wind behind some rocks and as per the instructions had set it up with the ridgline in the direction of the wind. Definitely a decent amount of flapping but thats to be expected with this sort of set up in those conditions. Unfortunately around an hour before sunrise the wind suddenly changed direction and hit the tent completely unabated on the broad side with gusts about the same as before. I woke up to a lot of flapping and the pole on that side at a pretty precarious angle. Getting out to try and fix things before I was blown off the hill was pretty difficult, as despite the setup being fairly easy once youve got the hang of things I've found adjusting once already set up to be pretty hard and you can easily end up adjusting the wrong thing and finding yourself puzzled as to why the tent now looks like a slack mess. Having wrestled with it for while, I think that 2 of the tensioning lines at the corners had basically loosened with the gusts and that slack had allowed the pole to slip. I managed to fix it and knotted each of the tensioning lines so they wouldn't slip again and it made through the rest of the night. Perhaps I should have done this from the offest but the locking mechanism had felt pretty secure. It was definitely a cold night but I was pretty impressed by the warmth of such a lightweight tent and I didn't feel crazy exposed to the elements.
Taking down was fairly straightforward and I just packed the whole thing (inner and groundsheet still connected) into the stuffsack within about 5-10mins.
In terms of things like space and storage, it's excellent, I bought the 2 person as the extra space for wet stuff and storage in the uk is pretty essential with the amount of rain we get. The vestibules were great and with the sides tensioned to the ground there wasn't a huge amount of spray under the fly. Loads of inner pockets and organisation options including hooks inside that I hung clothing off via carabiners.
Overall I'm very impressed albeit I definitely think I tested it at the limit of it's capabilities and I probably wouldn't voluntarily take it out in those conditions again. My only slight gripe is that with the pole tip up design, I live in fear of my walking poles slipping out of the eyelets and ripping through the tent, as the tips are fairly blunted at this point and dont sit in the metal eyelets super snug, however I will say there is extra reinforecement around these points which does seem fairly tough.
If you want an UL tent for 2-3 season use this thing is great; I would advise avoiding any higher/exposed camps (however it can survive up there if needed) and definitely practice setting this thing up and adjusting it a few times before taking it anywhere with questionable weather as it can be a little finicky.
Thanks for sharing your experience and glad you are mostly liking the tent.
For the difficulty in those high winds, it is possible that the cord slipped, as that can happen in higher winds - especially with wet cord. It is possible to add little backup knots to guard against that, but also changing to a bit thicker cord can help with that. If you email us we can help assist you with that.
For the peaks, we added tougher reinforcement there about 6 months ago, so even if the pole tips slip out it should be okay. But also if the poles are tight and the cords don't slip, then there should be no way for the tips to escape. If you prefer, there are also adapters to pitch handles up.
Cheers,
Dan Durston
Absolutely love my Durston x mid 2 solid. So light and spacious. Quality built at a great price. Simple to pitch , offering comfortable living for two or a luxurious palace for one with a very reasonable weight.
Thanks Steve!
- Dan
Get started with our comprehensive X-Mid pitching guide.