Durston – X-Mid 2 – 2 person tent

We bought the very first X-Mid when it came out through Massdrop and it is still one of my absolute favourite tents (the only thing that beats it is the Pro version). The X-Mid 2 gives you a lot of space, enough for two people and it is a real luxury when you camp solo. The whole concept just works: light enough to carry, small enough to pack and surprisingly roomy. Pitching is easy. Lay it out as a rectangle with square corners, put four stakes in the corners, slide in the poles, add two stakes at the doors and it stands.

The X-Mid is Dan Durston’s masterpiece, developed from the basic principles of geometry. That is why it is the most weight-efficient, easiest to use and most storm-worthy design for a trekking pole tent. The X-Mid 2 is a double wall tent that is friendly, capable and spacious while weighing just over 800 grams without poles. The X-Mid geometry uses a diagonal ridgeline that places the two poles further apart (it looks a bit odd the first time you pitch it, but it is really clever), which improves stability and maximises interior space without losing wind resistance.

This design gives you exceptional headroom, so you can sit up comfortably anywhere without touching the ceiling. The floor is a generous 232 cm long with steep end walls, which leaves enough room for hikers up to 193 cm. At 134 cm wide it easily fits two wide sleeping pads. The two vestibules are large and high, with plenty of room for big packs, dirty shoes and the rest of your gear.

X-Mid 2: smart design, easy to use and attention to detail

Simplicity and ease of use are at the heart of the X-Mid. After a long day or in bad weather nobody wants a tent that is hard to pitch. The X-Mid combines simple design principles with a lot of real world testing. Unlike most trekking pole tents it has a rectangular base, so it goes up fast with only four stakes. No mandatory guy lines, no awkward struts and no precise pole heights. Four stakes and two adjustable poles, that is it.

The ease of use continues once the tent is up: big unobstructed doorways, vestibules placed next to the entrance, magnetic door tie-backs (as a gear nerd I think these are brilliant, so handy), intuitive pockets and zippers you can use with one hand. The fly is made of polyester, which sags less and absorbs less water than nylon, so the tent stays taut and dries fast. When Durston introduced polyester with the X-Mid in 2018 it was a bold choice and many other brands have since followed.

Bad weather is no challenge for the X-Mid 2

I have spent a few rough nights in this tent in serious weather and it always held up. Many ultralight tents are designed for good weather and give up storm resistance to save grams. The X-Mid is a very capable tent in both good and bad weather, even in strong wind. It shines in rough conditions thanks to its fly-first pitch, full double wall design, non-sagging polyester, large adjustable vents, sealed seams, a fly that reaches the ground (protects against splashing rain and drafts), a storm-shaped profile and protected entrances that keep rain out. You do not have to take our word for it: the X-Mid has been one of the most awarded tents of recent years, with best tent awards from The Trek, Outdoor GearLab, Section Hiker and many others.

Specifications Durston X-Mid 2 (Gen 3, 2026)

Weight

• Fly: 520 g
• Inner tent: 360 g
• Complete tent: 820 g
• Stuff sack: 12 g
• Normal set-up: ~965 g (tent, stuff sacks, 6 stakes)

Dimensions

• Floor length: 2.32 m
• Floor width: 134 cm
• Height: 122 cm
• Fly footprint: 210 x 254 cm
• Packed size: 30 x 15 cm

Materials

• Fly fabric: 20D Sil/PE polyester 3500 mm HH in Sage
• Floor fabric: 20D Sil/PE polyester 3500 mm HH in Grey
• YKK #3 AquaGuard zippers with buckle

What you get

• Outer rain fly
• Inner tent
• 6 DAC stakes (4 normal, 2 small)
• No poles: use your own trekking poles or add the Durston Z-Flick poles (you need two)

Read everything about this tent on the Durston Gear website.