The Durston X-Dome 1 is a freestanding double-wall tent appropriate for 4-season use. Weighing simply over 2 lbs 3 oz, it has an exoskeleton pole set with an oblong footprint that enables it to be arrange fly-first in unhealthy climate in order that the inside tent stays dry. Regardless of solely having one aspect door, the X-Dome has ample entrance vestibule area as a result of its distinctive offset inside tent orientation, a signature function of Durston’s tents. Extremely livable and well-made, the Durston X-Dome supplies distinctive worth and eclipses common double-wall freestanding tents, together with the Massive Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1, the NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 1, and the MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1.
- Sort: Freestanding
- Development: Double-wall
- Minimal variety of stakes to pitch: 0
- Capability: 1 Particular person (with further room)
- Whole Weight: 2 lbs 2.7 oz (985g)
- Rainfly weight: 14.7 oz
- Internal tent weight: 10.7 oz
- Pole weight: 9.7 oz
- Seam-sealed: Sure
- Fly First Pitch Possibility: Sure
- Poles: 1 (carbon fiber)
- Door: 1 aspect door
- Inside pockets: 2
- Supplies: 15D excessive tenacity siliconized polyester (silpoly)
- Exterior dimensions: 88″ x 56″ x 45″ (l x w x h)
- Inside dimensions: 85″ x 50″ tapering to 27″ x 42″ (l x w x h)
The Durston X-Dome 1 is a double-wall freestanding tent with a single collapsible carbon fiber pole with two hubs and an built-in forehead pole. The rain fly could be arrange first earlier than the inside tent, so the tent could be arrange in unhealthy climate whereas protecting the inside tent dry. This functionality is often solely discovered on tents from European tent producers akin to Hilleberg, Exped, Terra Nova, and many others. however remains to be comparatively uncommon on double-wall tents produced by North American tent producers.
The inside tent connects to buckles contained in the fly: optionally, you may maintain the 2 hooked up when breaking down the tent and set them up concurrently. You can too arrange the fly and depart the inside tent at house to save lots of weight, which is an efficient choice for snow tenting when diminished weight and pack quantity are desired. The inside tent can be arrange standalone with the pole set in dry climate should you solely want insect safety.
The rain fly and inside tent are made with siliconized polyester, which stretches lower than siliconized nylon or PU-coated nylon when it will get moist or is roofed in snow. Whereas there may be some stretch, there may be enough air area between the rain fly and the inside tent, that it has little to no affect on livability. The advantage of siliconized polyester is that the seams could be manufacturing facility seam-sealed, it absorbs much less water when it will get moist, dries rapidly, and it retains the X-Dome exceptionally reasonably priced at $349 USD, which is a really aggressive worth for a tent of this high quality and utility.
The rain fly, when pitched, has an oblong footprint and hangs under the carbon fiber pole set utilizing plastic hooks. The poles slot into easy aluminum {hardware} within the corners, with webbing and ladder lock buckles for tensioning the corners, as a substitute of linelocs, which may freeze in chilly/winter. In windy circumstances or heavy snow hundreds, you may reinforce the pole set and rain fly with trekking poles for added structural help, a function just like one supplied on the SlingFin Portal 1.
The inside tent has a tapered footprint, 50″ large on the head finish and tapering all the way down to 27″ on the foot finish. The additional area is good for storing gear inside straightforward attain contained in the tent as a substitute of getting to stash it within the vestibule. The advantage of the tapered foot finish is that it creates extra lined vestibule area for gear storage in addition to a big overhang, so you may depart the aspect door open in unhealthy climate and never get moist.
The X-Dome 1+ is a particularly livable tent that’s ultimate when the climate circumstances exterior are poor. For instance:
- The rainfly drops near the bottom limiting drafts and splashback.
- The doorways roll again and are secured with magnets, so that they’re straightforward to safe open, and shut with out fighting a dowel closure, which is frequent on many typical tents. You’ll respect the distinction when it’s raining.
- The inside tent has twin mesh pockets set excessive up off the ground to forestall breakage of delicate objects like glasses or telephones.
- Whereas the size of the inside tent is 85″, it’s nearer to 90″ should you place your self on the diagonal, offering extra room for tall backpackers.
- The underside portion of the inside tent is strong material, lowering drafts.
- The door zippers on the fly and inside tent are diagonal making entry and exit simpler.
- The 42″ top of the inside tent and its vertical sidewalls make it straightforward to vary your garments contained in the tent.
- The depth of the vestibule makes it straightforward to (rigorously) prepare dinner below cowl in unhealthy climate.
The eye to element and performance is de facto fairly exceptional – a lot so, that you would change a number of tents, should you personal a number of, with the X-Dome 1+ as a result of it addresses such a broad swath of capabilities.
Comparable Freestanding Tents
Having used a lot of the tents listed under (we’re about to publish a number of extra evaluations this month), the X-Dome 1+ is superior alongside a number of dimensions, together with its fly-first pitch, inside area/vestibule, and power. Its closest competitor is the Massive Sky Revolution 1 Tent, a double-wall tent with a fly-first pitch and two doorways w/vestibules.
Suggestion
The Durston X-Dome 1+ is de facto fairly a exceptional light-weight freestanding tent that’s designed for backpackers preferring a double-wall freestanding tent as a result of it’s extra snug, simpler to pitch on crappy tent websites, and extra climate worthy. Weighing almost twice as a lot as many ultralight trekking pole tents, it’s unlikely to attraction to backpackers who’re targeted on utilizing the lightest weight gear for extra benign climate circumstances. That stated, the X-Dome 1+, with its fly-first pitch, considerate design, and noteworthy livability options is a greatest purchase and one that you simply’ll rapidly come to like should you want a freestanding tent to your adventures.
Disclaimer: Durston Gear donated a tent for overview.
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