Durston X-Mid 1 Plus Review: An Ultralight One-Person Tent With Flexible Pitching

Introduction

The Durston X-Mid 1 Plus is the second generation of a one-person ultralight backpacking tent, and it has been on the market for well over a year. It is supplied in an unusual way: the inner tent and the fly arrive as separate pieces, and they can be used together or independently. Instead of leaning on trekking poles to stand up, the shelter carries its own carbon fiber pole structure, which separates it from much of the ultralight field.

Weight is the headline. This is a sub-one-kilogram tent, and every material choice reflects that priority. The fabric is thin, the poles are slim, and the package looks delicate when it first comes out of the bag. That impression changes once the tent is pitched and properly tensioned.

Pitching takes a sequence rather than a single motion. The corners need pegging, the tensioners need tightening, and the inner and outer need to be lined up before the structure feels solid. Follow that order and the result is a taut shelter with very little movement in the panels.

The tent was developed with North American camping in mind, where it is often easier to pick a sheltered pitch behind a tree line or at lower elevation. On open, exposed ground, it benefits from a few additions before it is ready for a serious trip.

Who This Tent Is For

This is a shelter for solo backpackers who count grams and cover long distances. The sub-one-kilogram figure matters most to people who carry everything on their back for multiple days.

It also suits campers who want options. Because the inner and the fly separate, the fly can be pitched on its own for a fast and light setup, the inner can be pitched alone on a dry night, or both can be clipped together as one unit. That flexibility is rare in a tent at this weight.

The X-Mid 1 Plus is a good match for people who camp on higher, more exposed ground and are happy to spend time preparing a pitch. It is less suited to anyone who wants a shelter that is fully kitted out of the bag, and it is not the right choice for two people sharing.

Pitching Flexibility and Interior Space

The shape is asymmetric, with a wider end and a narrower end rather than a symmetrical footprint. That geometry is what creates the vestibule, and the vestibule is genuinely large for a one-person tent. There is enough room for a pack and for cooking under cover without feeling squeezed.

Headroom is strong for the category, including at the ends of the tent, which is where many ultralight shelters become cramped. The door opens fully and closes with a magnet, so it can be pinned back out of the way. Clipping the inner to the poles can be done from inside the tent, which is useful when it starts raining mid-pitch.

The inner can end up baggy if the pitch is rushed. Let the shelter find its own position on the pegs first, then line the inner and outer tensioners up on the same axis and tighten both. Done that way, the inner sits taut with only the small amount of slack that most tents show.

Build Quality and the Carbon Pole System

The pole set is carbon fiber, and the sections are noticeably thin. They feel light in the hand and are built to take more load than their diameter suggests. An aluminium hub joins the main poles and the cross pole into one connected structure, so the whole frame goes up as a single piece.

Fabric clips run along the poles, and an exoskeletal layout means the shelter can be built up from the ground, which is helpful in wind. The cross pole at the top can sit either above or below the hub section. The lower position is a little easier to work with during a pitch, and it does not affect how the tent performs.

The first version of this tent drew reports of pole inserts shifting because of a gluing issue. That appears to have been addressed on this second version. An aluminium pole version is also planned, which may appeal to anyone who would rather avoid carbon in cold, abrasive conditions.

Durston describes the X-Mid 1 Plus as one of the most stormworthy tents in its class, with a structure said to handle several times the load of comparable ultralight shelters. That claim is worth reading with context: it assumes a careful pitch and a sensible weather window.

Preparing It for Exposed, Windy Conditions

Guy lines are not included. That is normal for ultralight shelters built for markets where campers can be choosier about where they sleep, but it matters on exposed ground. The good news is that the attachment points are already there.

The large side panels each have tie-out points, including one at the vestibule and one in the centre. Each corner has two loops, one low and one higher, so lines can be set at the angle that suits the conditions. There are also guy-out points on the crossbar and on the end panels.

Angle matters more than length. A line running away at the same angle as the pole supports the frame, while a short line pulling down simply drags the pole with it. Longer lines are worth using on the main anchor points for that reason.

The tent ships with eight pegs, four chunkier ones and four small ones. That is enough to hold the corners, but most people will want a few extra, particularly longer stakes for the main guy-out points. Tensioners should be set to maximum before the structure is loaded, and the pitch should be practised somewhere controlled before it is relied on in bad weather. There is also a pocket for a trekking pole, which adds support when the wind really picks up. If a trip requires every one of these measures, it is probably a day to check the forecast instead.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Guy lines are not supplied, so budget for a set if you plan to camp on open ground. The supplied pegs cover the corners only. The footprint is also sold separately, and while the fly can be pitched without one, a groundsheet protects the floor and helps with abrasion and condensation.

The materials feel delicate when new. That is a fair trade for the weight, but it does mean care when packing and pitching on rough ground. Check the pole inserts on arrival and make sure they are seated properly.

The stormworthiness claim is real but conditional. A sub-one-kilogram shelter is not built for named storms, and treating it as though it were is asking for trouble. On a campsite at low elevation, the tent is stable without any of the extra lines. On a ridge in high wind, it needs them.

Buying Advice

If low weight and pitching flexibility are the priorities, this tent delivers both, and the interior space is generous for a solo shelter. The sensible approach is to treat the base tent as a starting point and build a small kit around it: a set of quick-release guy lines, a handful of longer pegs, and a groundsheet.

Quick-release guy lines with small toggles or carabiners make setup and pack-down much faster. A branded set costs roughly £12 to £13, and a length of cord with a few small carabiners achieves the same result for less. It is also worth deciding whether carbon poles suit your conditions or whether the aluminium version would be a better long-term fit.

Practice the pitch at home or on a local campsite before taking it anywhere serious. Knowing how the inner and outer line up, and how much tension the panels need, removes most of the guesswork on the day and makes the tent feel considerably more solid than the first impression suggests.

Conclusion

The Durston X-Mid 1 Plus is a well-considered ultralight shelter. Its strengths are the weight, the multiple pitching configurations, and an interior that is roomier than most one-person tents in this class. Its compromises are the missing guy lines, the minimal peg set, and materials that demand a little care.

Buyers who understand those trade-offs and prepare accordingly will get a versatile, stable tent that handles far more than its weight suggests. Buyers who want everything in the bag on day one should plan for the extras, because a windy night on exposed ground is not the moment to discover they are missing.