X-Mid 2
The X-Mid 2 has been updated for 2026 with more robust fly zippers and a new stronger floor fabric. These updates build off 2025 upgrades including our new 15D high strength silpoly fly fabric, additional reinforcements, improved hardware, high precision narrow seams, and redesigned pockets.
Pinnacle of Lightweight Tent Design
The X-Mid™ 2 has been developed from the first principles of geometry to be the most weight efficient and functional design for a trekking pole shelter. Its innovative and patented geometry makes the X-Mid 2 exceptionally stormworthy, spacious, and simple at the lowest weight. No other tent offers this level of space and protection for just 1.9 lbs (890 g / 31 oz), which is why the X-Mid 2 has become one of the most popular tents on demanding trails and one of the most highly awarded tents in recent years including top awards from BackpackingLight, The Trek, and Section Hiker.
STORMWORTHY
Most ultralight tents achieve their low weights by shrinking the size and trading durability and stormworthiness for weight savings. In contrast, the X-Mid 2 saves weight through efficient design such as a trekking pole structure that is both stronger and lighter than traditional tent poles, and a geometry that maximizes the volume possible from the fabric area. In doing so, the X-Mid 2 achieves its low weight while also being a robust shelter for tough conditions.
X-Mid 2's long list of protections include a 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 fabrics, factory waterproofed seams, and protected doorways that keep rain out even when open. No other tent offers this full list.
In addition to this set of protections, the X-Mid shape is well suited for windy and snowy conditions because every panel is at a consistently moderate slope. Other tents have flatter roof panels that catch snow and flatter sidewalls that catch wind, while the X-Mid 2 puts every panel at a balanced 50-55 degrees to deliver strong all around performance.
USER FRIENDLY
In tough conditions you want a tent that just works, which is why obsessive attention to detail has gone into making the X-Mid 2 simple and intuitive.
That starts with the simple pitch that goes up quickly with only 4 required stakes. There are no mandatory guylines, odd angles, measurements, and struts, which is a stark contrast to most trekking pole tents.
The ease of use continues when the tent is pitched with large doorways that are not blocked by trekking poles, roomy vestibules that are located beside the doors instead of blocking them, magnetic door toggles, handy pockets, and one handed operated zippers. Even the packed size of the tent has been carefully considered where it's short stuff sack can store horizontally in any pack.
Notably, the X-Mid 2 uses polyester fabric for the fly which doesn't sag and absorb water like nylon so your pitch stays tight and the tent stays light and dries quicker, with less time spent adjusting your pitch and drying your tent. Polyester was controversial when we launched the X-Mid with it in 2018 but our passionate advocacy for polyester has led to an industry wide switch with many other companies now following our lead.
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."
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"
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 surpasses, that hype.”
Better Trail
Testimonial
It’s clear Durston has thought of just about everything with the X-Mid series, and as a result, the tent is a true joy to use.
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 and weight efficient architecture possible for a trekking pole tent. It accomplishes this with an innovative double diagonal design that puts the floor on one diagonal while the ridgeline is on the opposite diagonal. In doing so, the two poles are set further apart to increase volume without requiring struts, yet remain setback from the edges to avoid a boxy shape that would be less stormworthy and require more fabric.
The result is a 'real' 2P tent that provides comfortable space for two occupants. That includes a generous 52" wide floor and a long 92" length that accommodates hikers up to 6'4". The diagonal ridgeline increases headroom and allows the two occupants to move further apart for greater personal space.
Additionally, the dual vestibules are generously sized and easily accommodate packs and other items without blocking the doorway or creating a long reach to close the fly doors.
QUALITY
The X-Mid 2 is built at the most experienced premium tent factory in the world who have been building nothing but tents for nearly 70 years. Here, we go beyond normal standards to specify premium components and robust construction methods including full double stitching, double folded edges, high precision narrow seams and seam taping, and generous bartacking. We know of no other tent that matches this build quality.
This focus on quality gives the X-Mid 2 a higher cost of production than competing tents, yet the X-Mid 2 is priced affordably. This is possible because we sell directly to you with no retailer markup and only a modest markup ourselves.
Magnetic Toggles
Magnetic door toggles with pull tabs provide easy one handed-operation for both the fly and interior doors.
Large Doorways
Unlike most trekking pole tents, the doorways are large and not blocked by trekking poles. They also have a overhanging design to keep out falling rain 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 this 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 provide a longer diagonal ridgeline that extends the headroom over more of the tent to increase space. Two people can comfortably lay the same way while having 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.
Our unique design has been successful in 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 is a well rounded ultralight tent that is spacious, simple, and stormworthy. It's the ideal tent for a wide range of conditions including a long thruhike on the Continental Divide Trail (where it is one of the most popular tents) to remote adventures in Alaska's Brooks Range or a circuit of Europe's Tour de Mont Blanc.
This is the first tent I ever bought and I couldn't be happier. Used it a couple times already and it always kept me dry and condensation pretty low compared to a single walled tent I slept in with a friend. Can't pitch it perfectly yet which resulted in one pole collapsing inwards but after adjusting the angle of the pole it held up to 80kmh gusts and brutal rain. Cant be happier with my choice!
Thanks Mehdi! Glad the tent is working well.
- Dan
I mostly moto-camp with friends and this tent just makes life on the road so much easier! Packs small and the ease of set-up makes it a delight to use. By the time my friends are done setting up I'm already sat in my chair enjoying the view and sipping on a cold drink! The X-mid 2 has more than enough space for all my motorcycle gear. I never feel cramped or starving for more space. It's definitely my go to tent!
Thanks Francis :)
I am super happy with my purchase. My X-Mid 2 arrived (in Estonia) in 10 days, and it was worth the wait! I’m already looking forward to my next hike! Thank you 🥰
Thanks Reelika! Glad you're enjoying the X-Mid 2.
- Dan
I recently took my new X-Mid 2 on the North Country Trail, Pictured Rock section. My first night, there were pretty high winds and about an hour of heavy rain. The tent was solid, that was a nice first test for the tent. I’ve never had a trekking pole tent before, but I was able to get it pitched quickly every time and it’s simple to make adjustments. I don’t know why people have a hard time with that. Anyway, solid tent. Great experience!
Une tente super facile à installer, très spacieuse. Imbattable pour son prix. Toutefois après deux nuit, deux petite fissure apparaissent sur le plancher, mais rien qui n’est pas réparable. Toutefois, si vous l’utilisez dans des endroits avec des racines, roches ou autres débris, je recommande une toile de sol, pour préserver le plancher.
Coming from a Mongar 2, there are a couple aspects about the X-Mid 2 I've really come to love.
The vestibule space is awesome, and I love that you can keep the doors rolled up without worrying about your pack getting wet.
Even though stakes are 'mandatory', semi free standing tents need them anyway otherwise you don't get any vestibule space.
The headroom is awesome. I do wish the mesh could be pulled a little closer to the fly around the sides (is that much of an air gap really needed?).
Stability is fantastic and I would wager that the optional guy-lines aren't necessary until winds are upwards of 40kmph.
Thanks Jovan. Yeah I really like these vestibules (how they are large, tall, and beside the door instead of blocking). Glad you are appreciating that.
- Dan
Tent is superb, takes a bit of practice pitching after being used to traditional tunnel tents but once used to it it is very quick and easy. Spacious and light. Used for our recent tour du Mont Blanc trip and had a small issue with the zip on the inner, messaged durstan and they sent a replacement inner no quibbles and arrived within a week. So not only a great product but backed up by superior customer service too! Totally recommend.
This is our second season using the xmid and it’s been great - very storm worthy during rain and thunderstorms, good ventilation etc. My wife and I are both 6’ so needed a tent that was big enough for us both and this certainly is. My one recommendation is to really get the pitch down before going on a trip - several practice rounds in the backyard were helpful. Still, the first few pitches in the backcountry on uneven ground were frustrating before I really locked in on how to fix various issues when conditions are challenging. Great tent, you just gotta get over the learning curve.
Glad you are enjoying the tent Helen.
For the pitch, if you haven't seen it - our pitching video is quite good. The other thing to keep in mind is that the tent can look complicated, but the pitch is just staking out a rectangle and extending the 2 poles until they're tight.
The key things are having a reasonably accurate rectangle, snugging up the corners tight, and extending the poles firmly. If you have issues from there (e.g. from uneven ground) the troubleshooting section in our video shows how you can adjust the corners to fix that.
Best,
Dan
So, before I set out on my remote journey in northern Sweden a few weeks ago, I thought I would invest in a new lightweight tent and I settled upon the X Mid 2. Delivery was smooth and I was impressed with the quality of the materials and design approach. Before leaving, I thought I would try putting it up in the garden and I did an ok job and thought I would work it out on the trail… Oh how I was wrong!
By the time I got it up in the first night in a vaguely passible form I was ice cold and swearing and the situation did not get better through the week.
On the long days walking I was drafting letters of complaint as to why the design was completely flawed (especially in rocky environments)
Then when I got back I looked at the videos on how to put it up and saw where I was going wrong… rather like long division this tent is not something you just ‘work out’. This tent simply laughed at my attempts and indeed made me question 30 years of camping experience… Indeed it wasn’t far from an existential crisis.
So why am I giving this a five star review… I think it’s because the design is actually marvellously clever. I just wasn’t ready for it on this particular trip.
I just got back from using my Durston X-Mid 2 tent for 5 nights in the Tetons, and I love it! It is incredibly easy to set up, super lightweight, and handled some wicked rain without a problem. Even with the heavy rain, I stayed completely dry.
I did manage to put a hole in the tent already—but that was definitely user error. I thought I had my pole securely in the grommet, but it wasn’t quite seated correctly. When I was shaking the rain off the tent before packing it up, the pole tip went right through the fabric. Lesson learned!
Even knowing how lightweight and delicate the material can be, I would absolutely buy this tent again. I love the design, the weight, and especially how quick and easy it is to set up. It’s a great tent, and I’m really happy with my purchase!
Thanks Tracy! Glad you enjoyed the tent. The Tetons look amazing.
- Dan
La tente m'a était envoyé de l'étranger et les délais ont été extrêmement courts ! Et j'ai gagné au change (taxe de douane également incluses dans le prix!)
J'ai essayé le montage de ma tente avant de partir et je suis très satisfait de l'ergonomie et de la place !
Il me faudra très peu de temps pour être un expert en montage pour cette tente je recommande !
Really enjoyed the ease of setup for this tent. This trip, I was solo in the x-mid 2, so plenty of space for my mat and gear. Really enjoyed the simplicity and accessibility in and out.
Long story short: I am extremely happy with the X-Mid 2.
I recently used it for five days on the Fjällräven Classic through northern Sweden, with strong winds, heavy rain and nighttime temperatures down to around 2°C, and it performed brilliantly. I chose the regular mesh inner instead of the solid inner because I also want to use the tent in warmer conditions, and even then I was absolutely impressed by how well the whole system worked. It’s incredibly light and compact (mine fits perfectly into a 6L Savotta Lidded Pouch) but at the same time it feels like a very capable and robust shelter. Being able to pitch the fly and inner separately was one of my favorite features in the rain: I could set up the fly first and then unpack (or pack) everything underneath without getting the inner or my gear wet.
After a little practice and watching your setup videos, pitching and taking it down became very quick and easy. I also really appreciate how adaptable the pitch is depending on the weather – higher for ventilation or lower and tighter when conditions get rough – and with the extra guy-out points it felt impressively stable in strong wind. The floor handled wet ground, rocks and rough campsites without any issues, and everything inside stayed dry. I chose the X-Mid 2 because I wanted the extra room for my backpack and gear, while also having the option to use it with two people in the future.
Overall, this is easily one of the best tents I’ve ever used. You can really tell that it was designed by someone who actually uses his own gear, understands the small things that matter in real conditions, and keeps refining the design over time. After five days in Sweden, I completely understand why I saw so many X-Mids on the Fjällräven Classic. Thanks, Dan – you built a seriously great tent.
Thanks Florian! Glad the X-Mid did well in Northern Sweden! That sounds like quite the hike :)
- Dan Durston
After a few camps in my X-Mid 2 I thought I would do a review. Firstly the quality is brilliant, I own a Hilleberg BL Soulo and Durston has surpassed all other tents I have used bar that one. The thought process and usable space and features are excellent. I’ve stayed in with my 4 year old son on his first wild camp and also it’s been a palace for me solo.
The footprint is pretty big and can sometimes be an issue but it just means taking the time to find the right spot as with all trekking pole tents. I will however likely buy the 1p in the future or possibly the X-Dome1+. The X-Mid2 has only seen a fair bit of British weather so far (20-25mph) winds but it handled it easily with it all guyed out and the apex guys had delta anchors. I thought the tent would flex more but it was solid and wasn’t noisy at all.
The only real downside I can say is after only 3 camps the inner seems to have developed a few small holes that I worry are only likely to get bigger in time. This does make me wish I had purchased the solid inner as this is a bit more robust in its build. This issue aside I absolutely love the shelter and can safely say I am now also part of the cult!
If you are looking for a lightweight roomy shelter that can handle some decent weather then this will not disappoint.
Omg ive own most tents ive backpacker 30 years took the tent to monisee park set up on a pad this thing coming with me sll 4 season on the west coast the easy-to-use set up the shelter it give u buddy got the pack me next ..
All in all just a great tent. Spacious, ultralight, easy to set up and with flexible pitches. Very grateful.
I own both the X-Mid 1 solid and the new X-Mid 2 with full mesh inner.
Both highly stable in rough winds upto 40mph gusts when correctly pegged out. Using good quality trekking poles.
Very lite and packs down really small.
Doesn't hold in water on the fly or sag like other materials and quickly drys off.
Ample room for 1 person in the X-Mid 2 and having two generous vestibules and doors is a bonus. With the right sleep system I would use either in winter. Highly recommend..
I’m actually writing this review after my first ever overnight and while I was a bit worried getting a tent like this one was overkill for beginners, I am quite happy with this tent. Had some teething problems while trying to get the perfect pitch but practice makes perfect. Hopefully I’m still happy with it when I test it in rougher conditions but I don’t see why not.
Thanks Sophie :)
- Dan
Get started with our comprehensive X-Mid pitching guide.