Durston X-Dome 1+: A Freestanding Tent with Distinctive Worth

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 internal tent stays dry. Regardless of solely having one facet door, the X-Dome has ample entrance vestibule area as a consequence of its distinctive offset internal tent orientation, a signature function of Durston’s tents. Extremely livable and well-made, the Durston X-Dome supplies distinctive worth and eclipses fashionable double-wall freestanding tents, together with the Huge Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1,  the NEMO Dragonfly OSMO 1, and the MSR Hubba Hubba LT 1.

• Kind: Freestanding
• Building: Double-wall
• Minimal variety of stakes to pitch: 0
• Capability: 1 Individual (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 Choice: Sure
• Poles: 1 (carbon fiber)
• Door: 1 facet 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 may be arrange first earlier than the internal tent, so the tent may be arrange in unhealthy climate whereas retaining the internal tent dry. This functionality is usually solely discovered on tents from European tent producers comparable 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 internal tent connects to buckles contained in the fly: optionally, you may preserve the 2 hooked up when breaking down the tent and set them up concurrently. You too can arrange the fly and depart the internal tent at dwelling to save lots of weight, which is an efficient possibility for snow tenting when diminished weight and pack quantity are desired. The internal tent can be arrange standalone with the pole set in dry climate if you happen to solely want insect safety.

The rain fly and internal 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’s some stretch, there’s adequate air area between the rain fly and the internal tent, that it has little to no affect on livability. The advantage of siliconized polyester is that the seams may be manufacturing unit seam-sealed, it absorbs much less water when it will get moist, dries shortly, and it retains the X-Dome exceptionally inexpensive at $349 USD, which is a really aggressive value for a tent of this high quality and utility.

The rain fly, when pitched, has an oblong footprint and hangs beneath 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 an alternative 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 provided on the SlingFin Portal 1.

The internal tent has a tapered footprint, 50″ vast on the head finish and tapering all the way down to 27″ on the foot finish. The additional area is sweet for storing gear inside straightforward attain contained in the tent as an alternative of getting to stash it within the vestibule. The advantage of the tapered foot finish is that it creates extra coated vestibule area for gear storage in addition to a big overhang, so you may depart the facet door open in unhealthy climate and never get moist.

The X-Dome 1+ is a particularly livable tent that’s ideally suited 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, in order that they’re straightforward to safe open, and shut with out combating a dowel closure, which is widespread on many standard tents. You’ll recognize the distinction when it’s raining.
• The internal tent has twin mesh pockets set excessive up off the ground to stop breakage of delicate gadgets like glasses or telephones.
• Whereas the size of the internal tent is 85″, it’s nearer to 90″ if you happen to place your self on the diagonal, offering extra room for tall backpackers.
• The underside portion of the internal tent is stable material, lowering drafts.
• The door zippers on the fly and internal tent are diagonal making entry and exit simpler.
• The 42″ top of the internal tent and its vertical sidewalls make it straightforward to alter your garments contained in the tent.
• The depth of the vestibule makes it straightforward to (fastidiously) cook dinner beneath cowl in unhealthy climate.

The eye to element and performance is absolutely fairly outstanding – a lot so, that you would change a number of tents, if you happen to 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 beneath (we’re about to publish a number of extra opinions 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 Huge 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 absolutely fairly a outstanding 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 practically 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 memorable livability options is a greatest purchase and one that you simply’ll shortly come to like if you happen to want a freestanding tent in your adventures.

Disclaimer: Durston Gear donated a tent for assessment.

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