Trekking Pole vs Freestanding Tents?

[cornfedkiller]

Specifically referring to the Durstons (now that they have a freestanding option). What advantages do the x-dome have over the x-mid? And vice versa?

I know the x-dome 1 has a different shaped/bigger floor than x-mid 1 so thats an advantage, but the x-mid 1 weighs 28oz, and if you have the z-flick poles, the total weight is 35oz, which is the same as the x-dome 1 - so that part's a wash.

There aren't any specs released on the x-dome 2 yet, but it looks like the floorplan is going to be the same as the x-mid 2, and I would guess the weight will likely be around the same weight as the x-mid 2 + z-flick poles (41oz).

Any reason to get rid of an x-mid 2 for an x-dome 2 once they're available?

 

[mt100gr.]

I'm struggling with this myself. I have been a big fan of trekking pole tents for the last 10 years or so, and have tried a lot of different models and configurations. I've been looking hard at the Durstons and could easily fall for an Xmid and sell my SO Eolus. But those 2 are quite similar....the attraction to the Xmid is the ease of pitch - no measuring, resetting corners, etc. The SO typically takes some fiddling, and the sil-nylon definitely sags with moisture. And the Durston tents have much better ventilation.

Lately, I've been wanting to get back to a free standing tent, so the XDome is a front runner there. I have come to dislike not having my sticks while the tent is up...but that can be remedied with the zflick poles for a fairly small penalty.....

The greatest advantage that I can see for me is pitching on snow or hard rocky ground. With the SO or the Xmid the corners have to be solid and they dont have a lot of forgiveness in stake location (unless you move and rearrange the whole mess)....I've always been able to get there, but it's often a bit of an exercise. The last few trips I did this year ended up in pretty deep snow and anchoring the corners took some serious dicking around. A free standing tent was sounding pretty nice.

 

[kad11]

I'm struggling with this myself. I have been a big fan of trekking pole tents for the last 10 years or so, and have tried a lot of different models and configurations. I've been looking hard at the Durstons and could easily fall for an Xmid and sell my SO Eolus. But those 2 are quite similar....the attraction to the Xmid is the ease of pitch - no measuring, resetting corners, etc. The SO typically takes some fiddling, and the sil-nylon definitely sags with moisture. And the Durston tents have much better ventilation.

Lately, I've been wanting to get back to a free standing tent, so the XDome is a front runner there. I have come to dislike not having my sticks while the tent is up...but that can be remedied with the zflick poles for a fairly small penalty.....

The greatest advantage that I can see for me is pitching on snow or hard rocky ground. With the SO or the Xmid the corners have to be solid and they dont have a lot of forgiveness in stake location (unless you move and rearrange the whole mess)....I've always been able to get there, but it's often a bit of an exercise. The last few trips I did this year ended up in pretty deep snow and anchoring the corners took some serious dicking around. A free standing tent was sounding pretty nice.

I agree 100% and have gone back to freestanding tents the past few years. That said, I'd lean more towards the new Tarptent than the X-Dome because of the pole sleeves and aluminum poles.

 

[Coopsdaddy]

I see no reason for pole tent unless your counting oz.for hiking.
Thru hikers are not hunting.
I see no advantage at all.
Been thru it many times.
You leave your tent setup you have to leave your poles.That sucks if you need them.
If not windy I can set my freestanding up in a few minutes and move around if need be and not even use any stakes.

 

[mt100gr.]

I agree 100% and have gone back to freestanding tents the past few years. That said, I'd lean more towards the new Tarptent than the X-Dome because of the pole sleeves and aluminum poles.

Specifically, which TarpTent are you referring to? ArcDome?

 

[mt100gr.]

I see no reason for pole tent unless your counting oz.for hiking.
Thru hikers are not hunting.
I see no advantage at all.
Been thru it many times.
You leave your tent setup you have to leave your poles.That sucks if you need them.
If not windy I can set my freestanding up in a few minutes and move around if need be and not even use any stakes.

Most of my reasons are because I do like a floorless tent. A smallish ground sheet for my sleeping pad and then a significant amount of covered, enclosed space for gear, movement, etc. A lot of the tents I am looking at have some pretty big vestibule spaces, so the double wall sleeping area + vestibules will serve similarly.

Which tent have you settled on? Packed weight? Any other things that stand out to you about it?

 

[kad11]

Specifically, which TarpTent are you referring to? ArcDome?

Yep, I was referring to the ArcDome.

I'm not claiming to be a tent engineer or anything like that, but the way the fly attaches to the poles on the Durston disappointed me. It looks like it would concentrate wind or snow loading on a few bartacks. A sleeved design, in my uneducated opinion, would have evenly distributed loads across a much longer length of seam (reducing risk of failure).

 

[kad11]

I see no reason for pole tent unless your counting oz.for hiking.
Thru hikers are not hunting.
I see no advantage at all.
Been thru it many times.
You leave your tent setup you have to leave your poles.That sucks if you need them.
If not windy I can set my freestanding up in a few minutes and move around if need be and not even use any stakes.

I mostly agree, but the fly-first pitching capabilities of pole tent shelters is a huge asset.

I was super excited when I first heard about the X Dome, but I want to see some real user reports of how it handles loading before I consider getting one. I'm skeptical of those carbon poles and attachment points...

 

[mt100gr.]

Yep, I was referring to the ArcDome.

I'm not claiming to be a tent engineer or anything like that, but the way the fly attaches to the poles on the Durston disappointed me. It looks like it would concentrate wind or snow loading on a few bartacks. A sleeved design, in my uneducated opinion, would have evenly distributed loads across a much longer length of seam (reducing risk of failure).

I agree with you and had the same first impressions when I saw it and watched the videos.

But damn!! The ArcDome with aluminum poles and stakes tips 4lbs...now i am back in Hilleberg Niak territory.

(Obviously there are tradeoffs. I'm perfectly fine with a couple extra lbs for ensured durability. But 2lbs sounds awesome!!)

 

[Coopsdaddy]

The kuiu mtn star 2 is what I’m using now,dont love it but not bad.
Wish it was a little longer.
Have had quite a few and the xmid2 was definitely a nice tent.Probably one of the better built.And I like his company/communication.
Just dont like the trekking poles.
I forgot about going floorless with a stove.Theres definitely a spot for that.

 

[kad11]

I agree with you and had the same first impressions when I saw it and watched the videos.

But damn!! The ArcDome with aluminum poles and stakes tips 4lbs...now i am back in Hilleberg Niak territory.

(Obviously there are tradeoffs. I'm perfectly fine with a couple extra lbs for ensured durability. But 2lbs sounds awesome!!)

I'm gonna wait to see if they release a silpoly version and would use it with and without the inner. No inner = stable, freestanding, fly first for 3ish lbs and likely not terribly expensive.

 

[kad11]

The kuiu mtn star 2 is what I’m using now,dont love it but not bad.
Wish it was a little longer.
Have had quite a few and the xmid2 was definitely a nice tent.Probably one of the better built.And I like his company/communication.
Just dont like the trekking poles.
I forgot about going floorless with a stove.Theres definitely a spot for that.

I think there are a lot of great freestanding options in the 88" range. I'm well over 6' and prefer 92" or longer. Way fewer freestanding options in that length...

 

[mt100gr.]

I think there are a lot of great freestanding options in the 88" range. I'm well over 6' and prefer 92" or longer. Way fewer freestanding options in that length...

Same here! The usable length is a big issue.

I actually had a big agnes seed house 1 that I loved for a lot of years. I didn't love the front tunnel door, but the vestibule there was handy as I'd almost never Zip the door shut. I could run my pad right up to the bath tub edge and have a ton of length! But it was a narrow sucker!

 

[kad11]

Same here! The usable length is a big issue.

I actually had a big agnes seed house 1 that I loved for a lot of years. I didn't love the front tunnel door, but the vestibule there was handy as I'd almost never Zip the door shut. I could run my pad right up to the bath tub edge and have a ton of length! But it was a narrow sucker!

Nice . I've tried to redneck a few lightweight, floorless, freestanding options over the years but haven't gotten it quite right yet...

 

[kad11]

Specifically referring to the Durstons (now that they have a freestanding option). What advantages do the x-dome have over the x-mid? And vice versa?

I know the x-dome 1 has a different shaped/bigger floor than x-mid 1 so thats an advantage, but the x-mid 1 weighs 28oz, and if you have the z-flick poles, the total weight is 35oz, which is the same as the x-dome 1 - so that part's a wash.

There aren't any specs released on the x-dome 2 yet, but it looks like the floorplan is going to be the same as the x-mid 2, and I would guess the weight will likely be around the same weight as the x-mid 2 + z-flick poles (41oz).

Any reason to get rid of an x-mid 2 for an x-dome 2 once they're available?

The X-Mid is an awesome shaped tarp shelter - easily the best option in it's class that I've tried. It's lightweight, highly functional and minimizes the drawbacks inherent to that type of shelter.

 

[Idaboy]

Free standing unless you are camp on back at all times/never leaving camp. If you always have camp on back, it's not winter, and below skyline then a trekking pole maybe makes sense.. The weight savings just hasn't been worth it to me

 

[antaresproper]

I have an older tarptent trekking pole tent. Love it but only bring it when I know everything is soft ground. Nothing worse than kicking around for rocks and sticks to make tension or looking for a spot with more than an inch of dirt in the dark.

 

[Voyageur]

@cornfedkiller
Your initial post in this thread got me curious, so I reached out to Durston and got a prompt, detailed response from them. With their permission I am sharing it here. Hope this helps answer your question:

"Thanks for your question about the relative storm-worthiness of the X-Mid and X-Dome. Our goal is to make very capable tents that do well in a wide range of conditions, so both of the tents perform quite well in terms of strength and also both tents excel in more 'practical' aspects of storm-worthiness like non-sag polyester fabric, protected doorways, and a fly first pitch that make a tent livable in tough weather.
For the strength of these tents, it is difficult to compare because they are very different types of tents. The trekking pole structure of the X-Mid is very strong but also reliant on being pitched well (e.g. good stakes, add guylines when needed) whereas the tent pole structure of the X-Dome is a bit simpler to have good results with because it is freestanding and less depending on proper setup (although good stakes and guylines can still be important). Overall, we think of both of these tents as being approximately about the same in terms of their strength limits where they are both very good for a 3 season tent so we call them "3+ season tents", but also they are not intended as 4-season tents for severe mountaineering conditions.
Where our tents can approach that is when optional trekking poles are used in the X-Dome so that it has both a tent pole structure AND a trekking pole structure. Like this strength is even higher and it is strong enough for major snowloads. We still don't recommend it for severe mountaineering use because other components like the fabrics are lighter than you would typically see in that type of tent, but it is approaching that capability. So both the X-Mid and X-Dome tents perform excellent in the context of a being a 3 or 3+ season tent, and then the X-Dome with the optional trekking poles is approaching 4 season capability. All of our tents can be used in most winter conditions, but the X-Dome with the optional poles is more suited to very high winds and major snowloads."



"Best regards,"

 

[cornfedkiller]

@cornfedkiller
Your initial post in this thread got me curious, so I reached out to Durston and got a prompt, detailed response from them. With their permission I am sharing it here. Hope this helps answer your question:

"Thanks for your question about the relative storm-worthiness of the X-Mid and X-Dome. Our goal is to make very capable tents that do well in a wide range of conditions, so both of the tents perform quite well in terms of strength and also both tents excel in more 'practical' aspects of storm-worthiness like non-sag polyester fabric, protected doorways, and a fly first pitch that make a tent livable in tough weather.
For the strength of these tents, it is difficult to compare because they are very different types of tents. The trekking pole structure of the X-Mid is very strong but also reliant on being pitched well (e.g. good stakes, add guylines when needed) whereas the tent pole structure of the X-Dome is a bit simpler to have good results with because it is freestanding and less depending on proper setup (although good stakes and guylines can still be important). Overall, we think of both of these tents as being approximately about the same in terms of their strength limits where they are both very good for a 3 season tent so we call them "3+ season tents", but also they are not intended as 4-season tents for severe mountaineering conditions.
Where our tents can approach that is when optional trekking poles are used in the X-Dome so that it has both a tent pole structure AND a trekking pole structure. Like this strength is even higher and it is strong enough for major snowloads. We still don't recommend it for severe mountaineering use because other components like the fabrics are lighter than you would typically see in that type of tent, but it is approaching that capability. So both the X-Mid and X-Dome tents perform excellent in the context of a being a 3 or 3+ season tent, and then the X-Dome with the optional trekking poles is approaching 4 season capability. All of our tents can be used in most winter conditions, but the X-Dome with the optional poles is more suited to very high winds and major snowloads."



"Best regards,"

Thanks for relaying that response to here!