# Ultralight Tent to Weather Serious Storms: Durston X-Mid 1 Solid Highlights
Ultralight camping and cold weather usually don’t mesh well. Generally speaking, if you plan on camping in the late fall or winter, you should expect to pack on the pounds with the gear you’re carrying.
That said, Durston Gear, a boutique company located in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, is doing its best to keep that winter weight down with the [X-Mid 1 Solid tent](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-solid/?ctc=gjpr).
Coming in under 3 pounds with [poles](https://durstongear.com/products/z-flick-tent-pole/?ctc=gjpr), the X-Mid 1 Solid is a cold-weather upgrade to Durston’s standard [X-Mid 1](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking/?ctc=gjpr). Storm-worthy, user-friendly, and just the right size, the X-Mid 1 Solid is designed to keep you out there even when the weather gets rough.
I initially received the tent in September but wanted to test it out in the cold rain and snow. Unfortunately, it took until late January to pick up almost 6 inches of the heavy, wet stuff. So, I trekked into the woods and had myself one heck of a Saturday night. And it only got hairier from there.
In total, the X-Mid 1 Solid was pitched out in snow, ice, and rain for 6 wild nights. And it was a total rockstar the whole time.
In short: The Durston X-Mid 1 Solid is a modern marvel of a tent. It’s a double-wall, single-person, ultralight tent — sub-3 pounds — that’s good for year-round camping, but is especially tailored to nights in the winter months. While most [ultralight tents](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-tent-ultralight-backpacking/?ctc=gjpr), by design and composition, favor fair weather conditions, the X-Mid 1 Solid is a great tent to take on solo winter adventures — especially if your favorite nights include the worst weather.
## Durston X-Mid 1 Solid Tent Details
– **Type**: Ultralight backpacking
– **Seasons**: 4
– **Weight as tested**: 2 lbs., 7.5 oz.
– **Waterhead**: 3,500 mm / 138″
– **Doors**: 2
– **Sleeps**: 1
– **Floor dimensions**: 32″ x 90″
– **Height**: 46″
– **Footprint with fly**: 67″ x 100″
– **Carry size**: 12″ x 5″
– **Price**: $340 (Tent = $270, Poles = $35 each)
**Pros**
1. The overall design and rugged structure
2. Low weight for a storm-worthy winter tent
3. Easy setup protects you from the elements
4. Magnetic toggles = No brainer
**Cons**
1. Be prepared to fine-tune your stake placement the first time around.
## Durston X-Mid 1 Solid Tent: Review
GearJunkie named the standard X-Mid 1 one of the [best backpacking tents of 2024](https://gearjunkie.com/product/durston-x-mid-1-solid-tent/attachment/x-mid-1-solid-durston-tent-best-1_2). It excelled in durability, design, and ease of setup. However, the best-of reviewers did find it a little heavy for an ultralight tent.
Now, while I agree it might be a little beefy to carry in the summer months, the X-Mid 1 Solid is a breath of fresh air in terms of ultralight tents for winter camping.
## Design & Features
With the X-Mid 1 Solid, Durston set out to create a cold-weather, ultralight tent that was also storm-worthy. To accomplish this, the brand focused on the right mix of materials and geometry.
Made from 20D Sil/PE polyester and 15D ripstop nylon, the X-Mid 1 Solid doesn’t use traditional tent poles. Like other ultralight designs, it sets up using your trekking poles. Alternatively, Durston also offers [Z-Flick telescoping carbon fiber poles](https://durstongear.com/products/z-flick-tent-pole/?ctc=gjpr) (sold separately).
Carbon fiber tent poles, and [trekking poles](https://durstongear.com/products/z-flick-tent-pole/?ctc=gjpr) for that matter, are known for their incredible durability and flexibility. Those properties aid in the X-Mid 1 Solid’s ability to stand up to nasty weather.
There’s [science behind the geometry of the X-Mid](https://durstongear.com/pages/geometry), which Durston fine-tuned to build tents that are “weight efficient, simple, and functional.” The fly and inner tent on the X-Mid don’t marry each other geometrically. Instead, they use opposing angles, tie-downs, and two poles to create a rigid structure that requires minimal setup.
## First Impressions
My initial first impression of the tent was one of surprise. Having more experience with expedition-style [4-season tents](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ASE6UYW/?tag=gjpr-20), I was taken aback at how small the tent was in its stuff sack — about the size of a loaf of bread. I was also pleasantly surprised at how light the Z-Flick telescoping poles were.
I’m sure some folks would throw a fit that this tent weighs almost 3 pounds, but to me, that’s insanely lightweight. But it’s doubly impressive when you consider what this tent can withstand (more on that in a minute).
On the first setup, the [X-Mid 1 Solid](https://durstongear.com/products/x-mid-1-solid/?ctc=gjpr) required a bit of a learning curve, as I’m used to tent poles that form a complete structure around the tent (like common domed tents). You’ll need to work with the angles and adjust your stakes a few times to get it just about perfect.
But I managed to set it up for the first time in about 10 minutes — and I stopped a few times to check my Instagram feed.
## Setup Science
In the end, I found the best way to set up the X-Mid was to stake out the fly, making sure the corners were staked as close to 90 degrees as possible. This will save you from having to go back and make adjustments.
When you set it up, set the pole height to 210 cm and insert them through the vents at either end of the tent. This ensures that the structure is rigid, so you can go in and clip the top
