X-Mid Pro 1

Our DCF floors use a new version of DCF that uses the thicker outer layer only on the underside (where you need it) and not on the top side (where the regular thickness is sufficient) so that it offers similar durability to more common 1.0oz DCF floors while being lighter and packing smaller. We think our new version is more attractive because it is lighter and actually saves weight compared to a woven floor and avoids a big increase in packed size.

Compared to our 15D woven floor, we find durability is similar for the two floor options. DCF has an advantage in resisting tears while the woven floor has an advantage with abrasion but overall durability is quite similar. As such, the decision on which floor to choose mostly comes down to cost and weight. The DCF floors come at a higher cost but enable an extra weight savings of about 2oz / 60g.

Aside from these main considerations, there are a few smaller considerations. A woven floor has the advantage of packing smaller yet and the silicone coating on the bottom can be re-applied in the future if needed, while a DCF floor dries faster and is quieter. Both floors can be repaired with repair tape, but the repair tapes for DCF are color matched to the material so they look better.

Overall, we recommend choosing the woven floor for the best value and smallest packed size, or choosing the DCF floor for the absolute lowest weight and faster drying.

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 Pro 1 has a 90" floor length, which is good but not that much longer than most other tents which are 84-90". However, other tents normally slope inwards quite a bit such that 12" off the ground (at the height of your sleeping bag) the length is commonly about 6-12" shorter.

With the X-Mid Pro 1 the fly is 98" long and the end panels are steep, so even 12" off the ground there is still over 90" of useable length. This means if someone is 6'0" (72") they could sleep straight with an additional 3" of sleeping bag loft at both ends and still have 12" extra inches of length. This is longer than all comparable tents.

We recommend the X-Mid Pro 1 up to 6'8" because a user of this height in a sleeping quilt would have 3" of loft at their foot end (83" total length) and thus would still have 3-4" of clearance at both ends or more if they are side sleeper.

DCF is commonly joined together using a double sided tape or sewing. Sewing is the least desirable option because unwoven materials like DCF have poor ability to hold stitching, so the seams are much weaker. Double sided tape works well and is the most common method, but these adhesives still weaken in extreme temperatures. They can slip in hot weather or fail in extreme cold.

Hot bonding construction also uses adhesive tape, but with a special heat activated adhesive that is stronger and much more temperature stable. We use a double sided tape between the overlapping panels of material, plus we add single sided DCF backed tape on the outside of the seam. The DCF backed tape is important because it adds Dyneema® fibers running parallel to the seam so the seam does not stretch under load (one of the most common failures for DCF tents is when this step is skipped, leading to the seams stretching and cracking under load).

Our tapes are applied at room temperature and then the seam is pressed under heat to set the adhesive. Using a heat activated adhesive and pressing every section of the major seams is a more labor intensive and costly process, but the result is the strongest possible tent with the cleanest look and much better performance in extreme temperatures.

Another premium construction technique we employ is pre-shrinking the DCF fabric. DCF fabric shrinks by 3-5% over time due to repeated stressing/folding/creasing which degrades the pitch of tents and can leave the zippers wavy (since they don't shrink). We use a proprietary process to pre-shrink the material so that our DCF shelters are more dimensionally stable and will retain their performance over time.

A singlewall tent has a single wall (the fly) while a double wall tent has two layers (inner, fly). The X-Mid Pro uses a hybrid construction where the inner and fly are sewn together some areas are doublewall (sides) and others are singlewall (ends, roof).

Combining the inner and fly into one piece saves weight and remains 100% bug proof. The downsides are that you don’t have the ability to use the fly and inner separately, and that there aren’t mesh inner walls in all areas to prevent you from touching the fly if there is condensation (but the tent is quite spacious)

The X-Mid Pro 1 has every possible advantage to minimize condensation (e.g. large peak vents, spacious) and it is not more prone to condensation than doublewall tents, but if condensation does occur you do need to be more careful not to touch it. The X-Mid Pro makes this easier than most single wall tents because it is more spacious and has steep walls so condensation won’t drip.

Our 15D silnylon and DCF floor options are similar in durability. Both have been selected as a balance between lightweight and durability, where we select the lightest material that we still think is okay to use without a groundsheet (provided it is used with care and not on unusually harsh surfaces like gravel).

As such, we say a groundsheet is not required but about 50% of users prefer to have one as added protection and/or to keep their floor cleaner. We do offer optional groundsheets and recommend them for users who wanted added protection, don't want to check their sites for sharp objects, and/or who camp on harsher surfaces like rock.

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 Pro 1 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.

The X-Mid Pro 1 is almost the lightest one person tent in the world. The few tents that are lighter are much smaller, single door, single vestibule, single vent and still usually wind up heavier when their higher stake requirements are factored in.

You should roll the tent rather than stuffing. DCF can eventually delaminate over time if it is subject to repeated sharp creasing. Rolling the fabric reduces this and will prolong the life of your shelter.

For 2024 we have sourced premium stakes from DAC that offer excellent performance.

Our stake kit includes 8 stakes total in two sizes. Four of the stakes are large 8" DAC J stakes weighing 16g each and offering excellent strength and holding power (better than even full size MSR Groundhogs stakes). These are ideal for the four corners of the tent.

The other four stakes are a smaller 6" version of the DAC J stake weighing just 7g each. We recommend using these at any optional stake points you may choose to use.