Durston – X-Dome 1+ – lightweight 1 person freestanding tent

Its big brother, the X-Dome 2, was an instant hit at our shop, and now the 1-person version is here for sale too in Europe: the Durston X-Dome 1+. An ultralight, fully freestanding tent for the solo adventurer. And it earns that “+”, because where a lot of 1-person tents feel like a coffin with a zipper, this one gives you surprisingly much length, height and space beside you.

Durston X-Dome 1+: ultralight, freestanding and surprisingly livable

What struck me right away when pitching it is the same mix of space and stability that makes the X-Dome 2 so good. The X-Dome 1+ is truly freestanding, so you can (in principle) set it up without stakes, which is handy on a wooden platform, hard ground or rock. The vertical walls and clever geometry give you more usable room than the low weight suggests: a floor of 2.15 m long (2.3 m diagonal), a peak height of 1.08 m, and at the head end the floor widens all the way to 1.3 m.

Above the door sits an overhanging cross-bar that makes the entrance taller and roomier, and an angled zipper lets you step in and out easily without rain falling inside. You secure the door with a magnet, one-handed to close, just like on the X-mid. The single vestibule is generous at 0.85 m2, plenty for your pack and your wet, smelly shoes, and it sits beside the doorway so it doesn’t block your way in.

The X-Dome 1+ pitches in any order, fly-first (keeps the inner dry in the rain) or inner-first (for stargazing). You can leave the inner and fly connected or use them separately, and if you want to go minimal you can pitch just the fly with the poles as a shelter of around 680 grams. To really batten it down for a storm, add a trekking pole that completes the crossbar into an extra arch, angled inward for extra strength. Reckon on comfortable use up to about 50 km/h of wind, and with good guying and solid stakes it holds up to around 70 km/h. A true 3+ season tent, in other words.

On materials Durston delivers again. The fly is 100% high-grade 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE polyester with a 3500 mm water column, which doesn’t sag when wet, dries fast and stays taut. The seams are factory-taped, the zippers are YKK #3 (AquaGuard on the fly), and there are two adjustable peak vents to fight condensation. Inside you get two pockets (small by the door, large at the end) and four hang loops. And nicely, on the 1+ the stakes are included, 8 DAC J-stakes.

X-Dome 1+ options: mesh (Regular) or Solid inner, and carbon or aluminium poles

You tune the tent to your own adventures with two choices. First the inner: the Regular is mostly mesh and is the lightest, airiest option, ideal for normal conditions and warm nights. The Solid has more solid walls (20D instead of 15D) with an openable mesh window in the door, and protects better against cold, wind and blowing snow, nicer for spring, autumn or the mountains.

Then you choose the pole set. The Carbon Regular is the lightest (265 grams, Easton carbon) and our default pick. The Carbon Short weighs a touch more (310 grams) but packs the shortest at 33 cm, ideal for stuffing into a compact bikepacking bag. The Aluminium pole set (DAC NFL, 365 grams) is the most affordable choice and uses proven DAC aluminium tubing. All three pole sets offer comparable sturdiness and wind resistance, the difference is in weight, packed size and price.

Specifications Durston X-Dome 1+

• Weight (complete):
  • Regular + Carbon: ~985 grams
  • Regular + Aluminium: ~1085 grams
  • Solid + Carbon: ~1035 grams
  • Solid + Aluminium: ~1135 grams
• Fly: 405 grams
• Inner: 315 grams (Regular), 365 grams (Solid)
• Poles: 265 grams (Carbon), 310 grams (Carbon Short), 365 grams (Aluminium DAC)
• Fly + poles only (minimal shelter): ~680 grams
• Stuff sacks: 15 grams (main) / 7 grams (poles) / 3 grams (stakes)
• Stakes: included (8 DAC J-stakes, 4x 6″ and 4x 8″)
• Dimensions:
  • floor: 0.75 to 1.3 m wide (tapered), 2.15 m long (2.3 m diagonal)
  • floor area: 2.2 m2, vestibule 0.85 m2
  • interior peak height: 1.08 m
  • packed size: 46 x 12 cm (Aluminium), 48 x 12 cm (Carbon), 33 x 15 cm (Carbon Short)
• Material:
  • Fly: 15D High Tenacity Sil/PE Poly, 3500 mm HH
  • Inner/floor: 15D Sil/PE 3500 mm HH (Regular), 20D Sil/PE 3500 mm HH (Solid)
  • Poles: Easton Carbon 3.9/6.3 blend or DAC NFL aluminium 8.7/9.3 blend
  • Zippers: YKK #3 AquaGuard (fly), YKK #3 (inner)
• Freestanding: yes, 100% freestanding
• 1 door, 1 vestibule, double-wall, 3+ season
• Warranty: 2 years

Durston X-Dome 1+, in stock here in Europe

You can of course order it straight from Canada, but we keep it in stock here, no hassle with overseas shipping or unexpected import duties. Looking for a two-person in the same style? Have a look at the X-Dome 2. And if you already carry trekking poles and want to go even lighter, check out the X-Mid 1.