Silex Vs Rincon vs X-Mid 1 vs?

[MichiganMan25]

I drew an Idaho Elk tag for this fall. I'll be heading out in September. I can't decide on a shelter. I've been reading as many threads as I can find on these and I can't pick a winner. I'm looking at the Seek Outside Silex 1P XL, Argali Rincon 2P, Durston X-Mid 1, Gossamer Gear The One, and the Deschutes Ultralight Backpacking Tarp. They're all a bit different. I don't care if it has a stove jack for this hunt, but I think it could be nice for future hunts. I'd prefer a two man shelter, but I'm not sure if it's worth the weight. What do you think? What are your recommendations? Did I miss the best shelter? Thank you!

 

[thbrock07]

You have some good, varied options here. They're all high quality brands, so I'd be asking what the main features you're looking for are. In my experience, it's pretty tough with tents to find a do-it-all. So, I'd personally say the lightweight stove jack tent for winter hunts and lightweight 1P/2P tent for summer/early fall are different enough needs that trying to squeeze them into one tent that's perfect for both is too much compromise. But if that's important to you, the silex and rincon are solid options. Imo, they'll be more cramped than I like with the stove in and a larger footprint than I like for solo hunting in September with the stove out.

FWIW if I'm chasing elk in September, I'm valuing ease of setup and a smaller footprint so I can pitch it in a wider variety of locations. If you're planning on running and gunning and chasing bugles with camp on your back everyday, my advice is to leave the stove compatibility out of things and go with a 1P. I have the X-Mid and love it. I think it's really well designed. But as people have noted, its footprint is pretty large for a 1P and it's not the easiest for everyone to pitch on uneven ground (idk...I think if you practice quite a bit with it it's really not bad). You get two vestibules for gear, which a lot of other 1Ps don't have and that, among other things, leads to the larger footprint. Because of the larger footprint, it's not my ideal September elk shelter. But if you have a nice flat spot, I think it's hard to beat.

If you really want a 2P for yourself and aren't super ounce-count-y, I doubt you'll notice the extra weight as much as the extra space you need to pitch it. But if the terrain works with you, cool!

I'd probably try to narrow down what features you really want out of it first. Then go back down the rabbit hole with similarly designed tents.

Others that you might consider: Durston X-Dome (and plenty of other poled, free- or semifreestanding tents out there), mountain laurel designs, Tarptent, Zpacks, other Six Moons options...tons of well made tents out there.

Good luck!

 

[GunsAreFun]

G

Thread 'Review: Warbonnet Ground Tarp (SPOILER: It’s awesome)'

Mar 25, 2024

There isn’t much info out about these tarps, even less on hunting forums. I recommend it constantly in posts but usually seem to get lost in the main hunting brands. I’m here to tell you this is THE best lightweight tarp out there.

It is more or less a flat tarp with doors. …doesn’t sound interesting?…. Well what that means is that you can do most of the pitches you would want to do with a flat tarp, while also having the ability to close off the sides to keep wind and rain out. Yes, you can pitch flat tarps in ways that accomplish this, but you sacrifice a ton of space. For 17oz, you...

• GunsAreFun
• Replies: 24
• Forum: Sleep Systems

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None of the above. This is more versatile. I’m sure they could add a stove jacket if you wanted a future proofed design.

 

[mtnbound]

I drew an Idaho Elk tag for this fall. I'll be heading out in September. I can't decide on a shelter. I've been reading as many threads as I can find on these and I can't pick a winner. I'm looking at the Seek Outside Silex 1P XL, Argali Rincon 2P, Durston X-Mid 1, Gossamer Gear The One, and the Deschutes Ultralight Backpacking Tarp. They're all a bit different. I don't care if it has a stove jack for this hunt, but I think it could be nice for future hunts. I'd prefer a two man shelter, but I'm not sure if it's worth the weight. What do you think? What are your recommendations? Did I miss the best shelter? Thank you!

Had a Rincon, and it was good, but I sold it and bought their Absoroka for late season. I also have Durston X-Dome 2, and it's a good option, as are their 1+ tents. I prefer the aluminum pole over the carbon pole for strength. For September, you could get by with a tarp and a bivy if you wanted.

 

[MichiganMan25]

You have some good, varied options here. They're all high quality brands, so I'd be asking what the main features you're looking for are. In my experience, it's pretty tough with tents to find a do-it-all. So, I'd personally say the lightweight stove jack tent for winter hunts and lightweight 1P/2P tent for summer/early fall are different enough needs that trying to squeeze them into one tent that's perfect for both is too much compromise. But if that's important to you, the silex and rincon are solid options. Imo, they'll be more cramped than I like with the stove in and a larger footprint than I like for solo hunting in September with the stove out.

Thank you! You've got a point, I'm trying to get a one size fits all tent. That isn't always the best option lol

I like the full nest of the Durston just for bugs. I also like being able to cook inside my shelter if it's raining and having some room if I'm stuck inside. I don't really know what the weather or bug situation is like in Idaho in September though. I'm most concerned with having a tick crawl on me while I'm sleeping, maybe that isn't an issue there.

Can you cook in the vestibule of your X-Mid?

 

[MichiganMan25]

None of the above. This is more versatile. I’m sure they could add a stove jacket if you wanted a future proofed design.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

 

[thbrock07]

Thank you! You've got a point, I'm trying to get a one size fits all tent. That isn't always the best option lol

I like the full nest of the Durston just for bugs. I also like being able to cook inside my shelter if it's raining and having some room if I'm stuck inside. I don't really know what the weather or bug situation is like in Idaho in September though. I'm most concerned with having a tick crawl on me while I'm sleeping, maybe that isn't an issue there.

Can you cook in the vestibule of your X-Mid?

Seems like all the options you've listed have a full nest, though you might have to buy it separately. I use the full nest and the footprint with x-mid and leave it all connected as one piece when I put it away - that speeds things up considerably. The footprint is overkill in a lot of places, oh well.

You could have bugs in September - just depends on the elevation and weather that year in your area. Certainly within the realm of possibility. Sounds like the full nest is important enough to ya from a comfort perspective to help you sleep better. Imo that's pretty huge, especially if you're staying out there for a buncha days in a row.

Yep you can cook in the vestibule. I usually make coffee in the one that I leave more open for door access and shove all my gear in the other.

 

[Lawnboi]

Just some food for thought.

Small tents, like you mentioned kind of suck with a wood stove. Just adds complexity. If I’m packing a stove, taking time to make wood and set it up, it’s not going to be a tiny trekking pole shelter.

Trekking pole shelters are popular for through hikers and backpackers because they usually carry their camp around. When hunting I prefer to have my trekking poles avaliable for when something dies, not stuck in my tent.

 

[MT_Wyatt]

are you setting a camp and returning to it each day or are you planning on breaking it down and packing it with every day? If setting a camp and leaving it I’d tend towards the Xdome 1+, and if bivy hunting the Xmid 1. The xmids do have a “narrow pitch” option to help with footprint though it never helped me much in my use.

 

[AlpineGhost]

I used The One for a couple of years out here in Idaho and ended up selling it. It’s a good tent, but I found the set up to be tricky when it wasn’t perfectly level or if there was sage in the way. I also had issues getting the tension set right, especially with the pole on the other side of the tent opening. You can’t access it from inside the tent to if something goes wrong, you have to get out to adjust. So many times I’d tension one side and the other would pull out. Definitely user error, but I’d prefer gear not to be finicky. When there was condensation, the fabric almost always ended up on my head and foot box of quilt.

I had the Silex most recently. It also is a nice tent, but I wasn’t loving it. It’s decently easy to set up. I didn’t have the same issues like I did with The One. It has a big footprint which is nice for space, but can be tricky when set on space is limited. I think it’s somewhat awkward to get into. The poles are square in the middle of where you need to crawl in. The zipper less feature is cool, but it gets a little too tight IMO when you fully stake it out. I found that I liked floor/net more than I realized.

I actually ordered the X-Mid 1 and it’s getting here tomorrow. Its design looks to have everything I want in a tent.

For stoves, I’d recommend just doing what you can to stay dry and get a warmer jacket or puffy pant. Time spent messing around with a stove is time wasted in my opinion. Mountaineers have been doing way crazier things in colder/wetter conditions just fine.

Good luck on your hunt!!!

 

[KyleR1985]

I had both the silex and still have the durston.


I sold the silex after a dozen or so nights in each.


If im hunting with camp on my back, by myself, I take the x mid.

If im hunting with a partner or setting up a camp I hunt from daily, I use a Cimarron lite.

 

[MichiganMan25]

Seems like all the options you've listed have a full nest, though you might have to buy it separately. I use the full nest and the footprint with x-mid and leave it all connected as one piece when I put it away - that speeds things up considerably. The footprint is overkill in a lot of places, oh well.

That all makes a lot of sense. A nest of some sort is somewhat of a requirement, whether or not I planned on using it all the time. I'm thinking I'm better off with a dedicated full tent/ nest setup like the Durston. Especially since there is room to boil some water. Thank you!

 

[MichiganMan25]

Just some food for thought.

Small tents, like you mentioned kind of suck with a wood stove. Just adds complexity. If I’m packing a stove, taking time to make wood and set it up, it’s not going to be a tiny trekking pole shelter.

Trekking pole shelters are popular for through hikers and backpackers because they usually carry their camp around. When hunting I prefer to have my trekking poles avaliable for when something dies, not stuck in my tent.

You've got a good point. Making firewood sucks and a little tent wouldn't be fun with a stove. I've been in a big tent with a stove and that cut the space down fast.

For sure, that's one thing that makes me hesitant with using the trekking poles for the tent. I figure I would probably buy dedicated carbon poles so I wouldn't have to sacrifice my trekking poles.
Thank you!

 

[MichiganMan25]

are you setting a camp and returning to it each day or are you planning on breaking it down and packing it with every day? If setting a camp and leaving it I’d tend towards the Xdome 1+, and if bivy hunting the Xmid 1. The xmids do have a “narrow pitch” option to help with footprint though it never helped me much in my use.

That's not set in stone yet. It'll depend on how things go once I'm out there. I want the option to do either. I'll check it the X-dome. I haven't really looked at that one yet. Thank you!

 

[MichiganMan25]

I used The One for a couple of years out here in Idaho and ended up selling it. It’s a good tent, but I found the set up to be tricky when it wasn’t perfectly level or if there was sage in the way. I also had issues getting the tension set right, especially with the pole on the other side of the tent opening. You can’t access it from inside the tent to if something goes wrong, you have to get out to adjust. So many times I’d tension one side and the other would pull out. Definitely user error, but I’d prefer gear not to be finicky. When there was condensation, the fabric almost always ended up on my head and foot box of quilt.

I had the Silex most recently. It also is a nice tent, but I wasn’t loving it. It’s decently easy to set up. I didn’t have the same issues like I did with The One. It has a big footprint which is nice for space, but can be tricky when set on space is limited. I think it’s somewhat awkward to get into. The poles are square in the middle of where you need to crawl in. The zipper less feature is cool, but it gets a little too tight IMO when you fully stake it out. I found that I liked floor/net more than I realized.

I actually ordered the X-Mid 1 and it’s getting here tomorrow. Its design looks to have everything I want in a tent.

For stoves, I’d recommend just doing what you can to stay dry and get a warmer jacket or puffy pant. Time spent messing around with a stove is time wasted in my opinion. Mountaineers have been doing way crazier things in colder/wetter conditions just fine.

Good luck on your hunt!!!

Good to know about The One and the Silex. The Durston keeps sounding better and better!
It would be a lot easier to carry some warmer clothes than a stove and messing around with firewood. It is a lot of wasted time and I don't enjoy it.
Thank you!

 

[MichiganMan25]

I had both the silex and still have the durston.


I sold the silex after a dozen or so nights in each.


If im hunting with camp on my back, by myself, I take the x mid.

If im hunting with a partner or setting up a camp I hunt from daily, I use a Cimarron lite.

I think it's going to be the Durston for me. It seems really popular and I think it has everything that I need!
Thanks!