Dan Durston's latest tent is now available for purchase. A freestanding sub KG palace for one by the looks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAMM8Ti ... el=Durston

Shipping mid November

https://durstongear.com/products/x-dome ... king-tent?

I may have ordered one....

They look impressive, and pretty reasonably priced really. If I was looking to replace my Lunar Solo, that would definitely be on the list, and going single-skin would be a difficult case to make.

I'd like to see how (and indeed, if) it stands up in high winds though. Appreciate the Lunar Solo isn't built for storms either, but pitched right, sheds the wind pretty well.

I’m really interested to see how you get on with this Rich as I’m looking for a decent backpacking tent. I struggle to cook in my Big Agnes and this looks like a decent size vestibule

Well I wasn't looking for a new tent but that looks extremely good , I may sell my Big Agnes fly creek and get that instead.

I think this makes a better bike packing tent than the x-mid, as long as the poles pack down enough. The z-flick poles pack down very small but are an extra cost for the x-mid.

With the x-mid you don't really need two vestibules and you can't easily pitch just the mesh inner. While the x-mid has lots of room inside this seems even bigger.

If I was buying again I'd probably get the dome as I do a lot more bicycle and motorbike camping than I do hiking and camping (where the x-mid is a better choice)

I'd be tempted to wait a year though, as Durston seems to incorporate a lot of updates from user feedback.

Yeah, I thought about waiting too, partly due to the likely future updates, plus this (prototype) review: https://youtu.be/HoFw2a20EZA?si=leU8-JrNDVQDeUgr

The comments in the video re: the x-dome carbon pole failures sound very similar to user comments on the Alpkit website about the carbon poles supplied for their recent ultralight tent (at least an initial batch). Could be the same or similar poles?

Otherwise it looks just like what I've been after, and I think at a reasonable price.

It's the carbon poles that'd put me off - it's a material who's strength lies in rigidity not flexibility

Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:18 pm It's the carbon poles that'd put me off - it's a material who's strength lies in rigidity not flexibility

In the video he really loads the tent with weight ... 8kg on the top and it was fine.... but you know way more than I do.
I like it. But I don't need another tent.... I keep telling myself this, though it's doubtful I'll listen !

I wonder if they could offer a marginally cheaper version with the same fabric but aluminium poles and a slight weight penalty?

Indeed another interesting take on - this time - a different shape. I especially like the hiking poles option. Not that I would want it, but for potential buyers I thinks it's very positive. But that doesn't really apply to bikepacking folks...

I truly wonder which Durston can take more wind, X-Mid or X-Dome. Whilst it's got nothing to do with stormworthiness, I also wonder if the X-Mid doesn't in fact take a larger load on the ridge. Shame I don't feel nerdy enough to give it a try at home and just don't carry around the stuff needed to do it during a trip.

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 3:58 pm I wonder if they could offer a marginally cheaper version with the same fabric but aluminium poles and a slight weight penalty?

Should be easy to do it yourself via extremtextil.de and others.
Yet, Durston are constantly expanding, offering more and more options to provide many different needs. In 1 - 2 years the X-Dome line will surely have many different options, albeit not so sure if Dan will move to aluminium poles.
I modded my X-Mid heavily and it made it a much better tent.

What did you do to your x-mid an internal drying line, some s-carabiners for my pump/lantern, removable guys off the vents, some elastic cords on the fly for extra pitching points.

Mostly the things from this rather dour man's video: https://youtu.be/eQ1An8yVARc?si=jQBX1rGrV-l98kz6

Just seen over at bikepacking.com that Dan Durston posted a reply to a few queries on pole length:

The poles are about 17". The packed length spec is a bit conservative. We hope to add a bikepacking specific poleset later that would have more sections/shorter packed length. goes on to say shorter poles may be available for the 2nd batch in Spring '25

https://bikepacking.com/news/durston-x- ... pre-order/

L2R24 wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:52 pm The poles are about 17". The packed length spec is a bit conservative.

funny, I read 18" from Mrs. Durston.
Rich will be able to tell.

yourguitarhero wrote: ↑Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:52 pm What did you do to your x-mid

Hang line inside - two small loops sewn to the stronger fabric of the pole cup & a line with taut line hitch, pockets at the mesh (each side), a thousand guy out points and lines (mid panels, some along the seams) - biggest improvement for the Alps, reinforced the bottom surrounding the fly zips and added buckles (at the bottom) to take the stress from the zip (there's actually a construction mistake on all gen 2 Pro tents). Made a lightweight but robust floor (~80 g, which is attached at the corners, since the 15D floor is incredibly flimsy and where I/we use the tent, we can't always avoid rocks. Also had to repair the inside zips already.
I had to re-knot some guy out points, since the loops were too tight for anything but pins (stakes).
Inside elastic to hold the mesh door open - one tied to a loop, the other a t bar.
Magnet of outer door is still on the weak side (apparently it was improved from gen 1 to gen 2, but in a bit of wind and especially with a frozen fly (yep, that season again ) it's hardly practical, so either we just accept it, or improve it in near future...
That should be about it.

Needs a decent full fabric inner tent, far too much mesh in the initial version.

Paid DHL £87.77 in duty VAT etc today, making the total ~£390

It should be here in a week!