Tlisted here are few issues I’m as keen about as I’m Dan Durston’s modern and thoughtfully-designed ultralight backpacking gear. As a gear reviewer, I’ve had the prospect to check out a great variety of tents in varied situations. For me, no tent even got here near touching the X-Mid Professional 1, which I’ve carried with me for over 3,500 miles of backpacking. So, when the prospect got here to check Durston’s first foray right into a freestanding, two-person tent, I jumped on the alternative.
Truthful warning: this can be a protracted evaluate. With regards to a chunk of drugs as necessary and costly as a tent, I feel it’s solely proper to actually dive into the minute design choices that differentiate a product and will be the distinction between a cushty evening open air and a sleepless evening.
Durston X-Dome 2 At a Look
MSRP: $469
Weight: 2.7 lbs (fly solely: 17.6 oz)
Ground Space: 32 sq toes (88″ x 52″)
Sizing: Two Individual
Store the X-Dome 2
Meant Use
The principle use of the X-Dome 2 focuses on 3-season backpacking, that means it’s engineered to carry out exceptionally nicely in typical spring, summer season, and fall situations. This contains dependable safety towards rain, reasonable winds, and cooler temperatures, whereas prioritizing air flow and a lighter weight over the heavy-duty insulation and snow-loading capabilities wanted for deep winter.
The underside of the doorways practically attain the bottom, which I’ve discovered to be useful when climbing out of the tent within the morning. It might appear small, however having to elevate my legs up and over a tub ground to cautious extricate myself from a tent will be powerful the morning after a tough hike.
Circumstances of Overview
I examined the Durston X-Dome 2 within the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the place the spring climate introduced loads of rain It was an ideal setting to see how the tent carried out in variable climate situations and the way it held as much as moist climate. I additionally used it on a visit in drier Colorado, which allowed me to see the way it carried out within the local weather the place I do essentially the most backpacking.
X-Dome 2 Tent Options
Versatile Pitching Choices: The X-Dome 2 provides a number of pitching configurations, which I beloved. You may pitch the rainfly first, which retains the inside tent dry throughout setup in moist situations. The fly-first pitch is intuitive with no additional components or methods. Alternatively, you’ll be able to arrange the inside tent first for stargazing on clear nights, and even pitch each layers pre-connected for a fast setup.
Beneficiant Inside House: This tent is extremely spacious for a 2P tent together with wonderful headroom from the tall top and close to vertical partitions, and a big ground. The 52-inch width extends the total size, comfortably accommodating two large sleeping pads. The near-vertical finish partitions maximize usable size, and the 43-inch peak top is maintained over a great portion of the ceiling, making a spacious really feel.
The ground house is beneficiant; Two, large sleeping pads simply match aspect by aspect. With a single sleeping pad, there’s sufficient room for me to have my pack subsequent to me with out touching.
Sturdy Polyester Material: The tent makes use of 15D silicone-impregnated polyester (sil-polyester) material for the rainfly. Polyester is a sturdy materials that doesn’t sag or take in water in moist situations, making certain a taut pitch and fast drying. This non-sag material approaches the same power as light-weight nylons. The inside tent is offered in an everyday mesh model for air flow or a stable material model for added heat and safety. This evaluate covers the common mesh model of the tent.
Environment friendly Vestibules and Doorways: Two massive, well-protected vestibules, every roughly 9 sq. toes, present ample house for gear storage. Each tent customers have their very own zippered doorway for handy entry and exit. The principle vestibule space is beside the door as an alternative of blocking it, so that you don’t end up tripping over your gear in your means out and in of the tent. The doorway can also be protected and overhanging to maintain rain out.
Even in heavy rain, the environment friendly air flow pockets prevented condensation inside the tent.
Considerate Air flow and Storage: The X-Dome 2 contains two massive ceiling vents that may be opened or closed to encourage airflow and decrease condensation. Inside, you’ll discover two small inside pockets, a big raised pocket at one finish, and several other inside cling loops for drying gear.
Sturdy Pole Construction: The tent makes use of a double-Y-shaped pole construction with a horizontal cross beam pole, comprised of robust and light-weight Easton carbon poles. Bigger diameter tubing is utilized in high-stress areas for improved sturdiness. On the value level of this tent, carbon poles are not often seen, which was a welcome shock. Moreover, trekking pole connection factors can be found to strengthen the construction in excessive winds. Uniquely, these will be anchored to the fly edges in a counterbalanced place to immediately assist the sidewalls towards wind deflection.
Waterproof Seams: All seams on the X-Dome 2 are waterproofed to keep away from the necessity for extra seam sealing.
Not solely is there ample house to sit down up inside, however the capability to pitch the rainfly first is fantastic when organising within the rain.
Utilization
Now that we’ve lined the options, let’s dive into how the tent performs in real-world situations.
Climate Resistance
The Durston X-Dome 2 offers dependable climate resistance for 3-season backpacking. Within the White Mountains, it dealt with rain nicely, retaining the inside dry. The polyester material performs as anticipated, not sagging when moist and shedding water successfully. The fly extends low to the bottom, providing safety from drafts and splashing rain, and the twin roof vents help in managing condensation. Whereas designed for 3-season use, its construction will be bolstered with trekking poles for improved stability in stronger winds. In Colorado’s drier situations, the tent’s wonderful air flow was clear; I by no means woke to condensation contained in the tent partitions.
Setup
The setup course of for the X-Dome 2 is mostly intuitive, particularly after a few observe pitches. The power to pitch the rainfly first is a very robust level for this tent. In wet New Hampshire, I appreciated having the ability to get the fly up shortly, offering a dry house to then arrange the inside tent.
One minor level for me is the directional orientation of the poles and rainfly. It isn’t instantly apparent which pole section connects to which aspect of the tent, or which finish of the rainfly aligns with which a part of the pole construction. This will result in a second of fumbling throughout preliminary setup, particularly in low mild or opposed climate. Nonetheless, that is simply mitigated by sticking a small piece of leukotape or colourful tape to the corresponding components of the pole and the tent, creating clear visible cues for setup. As soon as I made this small modification, setup turned very fast and simple.
You might be nonetheless in a position to pitch the tent should you swap the tent poles round, however one aspect can be very saggy and also you’ll fear about stretching the opposite aspect to the purpose of injury.
Packability
The X-Dome 2, at 2.7 lbs (1250g), is light-weight for a freestanding two-person tent, weighing about the identical because the lightest totally freestanding 2P tents whereas being extra spacious, protecting, and— for my part— consumer pleasant. It packs right down to a manageable dimension, becoming nicely inside an ordinary backpacking pack. Some luggage with a devoted tent pocket on the aspect could possibly maintain the tent.
Durston X-Dome 2 Tent Professionals
Potential to pitch rainfly first: This can be a actually useful characteristic, particularly when organising camp in moist or wet situations, because it retains the inside tent dry all through the method. I’d put this characteristic within the bucket of “I by no means knew I used to be lacking it till I received to strive it for the primary time”. No extra hasty tent setup within the rain whereas all my stuff will get moist!
Huge quantity of inside house: The 32 sq. toes of ground space and spectacular headroom enable for snug lodging of two large sleeping pads and ample room for gear inside, which isn’t at all times the case with light-weight two-person tents. My companion and I— each with large pads— had no drawback becoming inside.
Including the inside bug web is elective; If you need plenty of air flow with safety from the rain, you would simply simply carry the rainfly and poles.
Worth is reasonable for a tent of this caliber: At $469, the X-Dome 2 provides distinctive worth for its weight, spaciousness, and general construct high quality. As a premium, ultralight tent, the worth is at all times going to make it a reasonably main funding, however I actually do assume the standard and performance of this tent far surpasses its opponents of the identical value.
Sturdy and Waterproof Polyester: The sil-polyester material holds up nicely in various climate, sustaining its tautness and waterproofness with out sagging. I often attain for a freestanding tent after I assume climate can be variable; it’s nice to have an possibility that I do know can maintain as much as some rain with out sacrificing any of my consolation.
Durston X-Dome 2 Cons
Directional Pole/Rainfly Orientation Throughout Setup: The principle problem I encountered was the dearth of clear demarcation for the pole and rainfly orientation. The poles and fly are directional, and getting them aligned accurately can take a second of thought. My easy resolution of including small items of coloured tape to the matching ends of the poles and tent connection factors resolves this totally, however I do want the design had one thing like this already included.
I really like magnetic door holders. Once I wish to shut them, I can simply gently tug on the material with one hand.
Would I Advocate This Gear?
Sure, with out hesitation. If you’re an ultralight hiker looking for a freestanding two-person tent that prioritizes house, safety, and worth, the Durston X-Dome 2 is a wonderful selection. It performs exceptionally nicely in quite a lot of situations, from wet New Hampshire trails to drier Colorado landscapes. The minor preliminary studying curve with pole orientation is definitely overcome with a easy visible cue. This tent provides a excessive degree of consolation and efficiency for its weight and value.
Store the X-Dome 2
Comparable Merchandise
Massive Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 2P Tent
- MSRP: $500
- Weight: ~3lbs 2 oz
The Durston X-Dome 2 Tent was donated for objective of evaluate
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