Durston X-Mid Pro 2: Pitch and Pack

I show how I pitch and pack my Durston X-Mid Pro 2 ultralight backpacking tent in this short video. I do something different from what I have seen from Durston and others, so I thought I would share it with you.
The tent was previously folded up with a polycro / polycryo footprint that weighs about 51 g and protects the 15D Sil/PEU nylon floor of the inner tent from excess abrasion on granite as well as from mud and debris when pitched on wet and dirty camp sites. The footprint is cut as a parallelogram and matches the floor of the inner tent.
Pitch: I start by staking out the two opposite corners located across the LONG diagonal of the inner parallelogram. These corners define the rectangular area that the entire tent will fit in and also the level area where the occupants of the tent will sleep. Then the other corners are staked out making sure that the two edges leading into a corner are perpendicular to each other and form a right triangle with the long diagonal that was staked out with the first two stakes. Then the tent poles are added. Guylines from the peaks can be staked out for more stability if needed along with other stakes at the doors and bottom edges.
Pack: The tent poles are removed and the tent peaks are folded on to the staked out rectangular tent fly as shown in the video. Next the tent is folded lengthwise in thirds with the footprint still in contact with the bottom of the tent floor. Stakes are moved from the corners and doors to act like a second person helping me fold up the tent. The tent is folded in half lengthwise to make it one-sixth of the original 80 inch width, then folded over to put the corner spars close to each other. The footprint protects the folded tent and keeps it free of mud and debris. Finally, the tent is rolled up tightly from the fold and placed in a sack or wherever you want it to be.
Is this too hard or inconvenient? What do you think?
Thanks for watching!
Added 2023-02-13: I've been asked a few times in the comments about how/why the polycro sticks to the bottom of the tent floor and stays in place. My answer: It is not physically attached. It just seems to stay in place from static electricity, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding or something else such as the fact that the way the tent is folded keeps it in place.

[@1DrBar]

That is an absolutely ingenious way to take the tent down. I've been racking my brains for how to pack the tent up more efficiently, and you've got the perfect solution here. Thanks!

[@UrDoinItWrong]

As an ocd tent packer who is also a newer X-Mid owner, I love this. This method or a similar routine is also applicable to the regular X-mid. The only time I wouldn't want to do this method is if it's raining, wherein I pack the inner and fly separate anyway so whatever. Great vid, thanks for sharing!

[@BeedeeEx]

Brilliant folding technique! I finally was able to set mine up last night and I wish I had followed this method to pack it up! Thank you for sharing!

[@syindrome]

Great folding tips! I have a hard time folding mine because it flaps around even in a slight breeze; will definitely try your fold and stake method.

[@kylericco2992]

Really appreciate your tutorial here! Made my life easier. Happy Trails!

[@rolfdenver]

Brilliant! Makes perfect sense to stake the diagonal first. You can also insert the poles through the vents.

[@toejamr1]

What is the benefit of that?

[@benvoris]

If it’s raining, less water in the tent.

[@scottyplug]

Awesome method especially if it's really windy. Nice video.

[@ThanatosWings]

You should make a video about folding a fitted bed sheet. You'd make a killing. Lol You could just pick it up and smoosh it in your bag.

[@ronbaker9971]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for the fold job.

[@ronbaker9971]

Update for you. My X-Mid Pro 2 came today (1/7/23). I easily set it up the first attempt. I used your method to take it down. I made a couple of staking errors but other than that, your method worked like a charm. I’ll be using this method from now onward. Thanks again for the fold job.

[@jmorrison5206]

Excellent method, brother.

[@AnneloesF]

Thank you for this! Very helpful.

[@bigguyshiketoo3732]

I have this tent also. I like they way you folded the tent. I will have to try that. I have not gone camping with this tent but I did set it up in hurricane Ian to weather test it if your interested in watching the video over in my channel.

[@stuartchester6899]

Very meticulous .I like the idea of a larger bag , no sense in rolling very tightly . I ve read that dyneemer does nt like tight folds .I ll try this routine of yours. Looks like it may take longer to take it down than put it up. Thanks for the very clear instructions

[@christophrehse]

In the video it looks more like folding halfs instead of thirds but I get it. Good method.

[@wintermutt]

Like the idea of moving stakes around folding the tent.Will try it next time out. But I got to say...with wind blowing 40 MPH and me not knowing which end is which my Pro 2 always fits in the Durston stuff sack somehow even with a Durston ground sheet attached. Not pretty, but it works. I use small rocks to hold the tent down a bit while "folding" it.

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks for the comment. I now leave Ti Shepherd hook stakes attached via girth hitches, so that I don't have to think about losing nor finding them. Maybe I need to make an updated video? :)

[@wintermutt]

@@jimpflugrath6220 I count my stakes. Surprising how often that saves me. You do nice videos. Maybe an addendum video? Less work perhaps. Happy trails.

[@luboyanev]

Very smart technique! I have the Zpacks Duplex, but I guess a similar technique could be applied when packing it too. The only thing that I'm thinking is if the polycro gets damp during the night, and then packing the tent with the wet polycro might make the tent wet as well. But I guess if hiking at a very dry conditions, the polycro should remain dry the whole time..

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks, I have packed up the tent a couple of times when the tent was wet from raining at night.. Since the polycro is actually completely under the tent fly, it really wasn't wet except where a few drops of water dripped off the fly while folding. In any event, a wet tent is no fun and if there was some sunshine and chance to dry the tent, then I would probably take a break and try to do that. And if only the footprint was wet and I wasn't in a hurry in the morning, I might partially unpitch the tent, fold in half lengthwise exposing one-half of the footprint, let it dry, then do the same for the other half of the footprint. What do you think? What would you do?

[@luboyanev]

@@jimpflugrath6220 That's also a pretty smart approach with letting in dry half and half. What I usually have been doing is the traditional way packing the tent and the polycro separately, and I would usually keep the polycro in it's own ziplock bag. I don't know if it is a normal thing with the polycro, compared to for example tyvek or other ground sheets, but I find that it gets condensation so quickly, I lay it on the ground and before I have the tent setup, the polycro is already starting to get fogged up, and then in the morning it would usually have a lot of small pieces of grass/leafs get stuck to it, even if it was no rain during the night, and there is no or minimal condensation on the tent (I would usually try to keep one or two of the vestibules open). So while I am glad for the weight saving of the polycro, I am not fully sold on it. From what I remember, when I hiked in California it wasn't that bad, but hiking in Europe where it might be more humid, it hasn't been that optimal. But I must say, you are a pioneer of exploring new techniques and making the everyday backpacking tasks more efficient, so thank you for sharing your methods :)

[@pepstein]

1:21 I'm finding it difficult to get the pitch right by eye, so I'm looking for other methods. I had actually thought of your idea of pulling out the appropriate diagonal first, taking advantage of the bathtub floor to get the distance right, but haven't had a chance to try this method yet. So it was great to see it works well in practice.

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks! Now that I've watched the video, I'm also thinking that right after the 3rd stake is used that one can put the pole in without waiting to stake out the opposite corner. If it works that would save some time running around.

[@Kevinschart]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5Kxhairp6l4fKc

[@somedavechannel]

I think if you’ve hiked a long trail, you’ll find a much faster way! Here’s to striving for perfection!

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks! What you say is so TRUE! For instance, nowadays after staking out the diagonal, I'd put each pole in before staking out its corner, so that I would not have to walk around so much. ;)

[@jackvoss5841]

Smoother’n a school marm’s leg! Courtesy of Half Vast Flying

[@toejamr1]

Do have any issues with the polycro getting really wet on the bottom? I tried mine for the first Time last night and it was covered in water droplets. I didn’t want to wrap that up into my tent so I put it to the side. I have a footprint cut from the lightweight option of tyvek. It’s 1oz heavier but if it won’t hold water like that maybe that is a better option for damp conditions?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

I wrote this comment to @Lyubo earlier: "Thanks, I have packed up the tent a couple of times when the tent was wet from raining at night.. Since the polycro is actually completely under the tent fly, it really wasn't wet except where a few drops of water dripped off the fly while folding. In any event, a wet tent is no fun and if there was some sunshine and chance to dry the tent, then I would probably take a break and try to do that. And if only the footprint was wet and I wasn't in a hurry in the morning, I might partially unpitch the tent, fold in half lengthwise exposing one-half of the footprint, let it dry, then do the same for the other half of the footprint. What do you think? What would you do?" My tent has had more water from condensation on the inside than the polycro has had on the outside. But tents are supposed to get wet. f I was concerned and weather permitted, then I would wipe off condensation with my lightload towel after each lengthwise fold and before rolling up the tent. Also don't forget that the X-Mid can be used without a groundsheet, so it is meant to get wet from the ground. I would not have a problem with using Tyvek. But to answer your question directly: Yes, any separate footprint can get really wet. That doesn't bother me. I will also write that I have never used a separate footprint with my Zpacks Duplex. I will thoroughly clean and dry my tents either when I get back home or if I stay overnight in a hotel, too.

[@toejamr1]

@@jimpflugrath6220 thank you for the information! I was really concerned with just how much weight in water/dirt the polycro was holding. Maybe I just picked a terrible spot and it just rained earlier in the day. I’ll try again tonight on pure grass and see if it happens again.

[@toejamr1]

Maybe I missed it but how did you attach the polycro to the tub? Double sided tape?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

It is not physically attached. It just seems to stay in place from static electricity, van der Waals interactions, hydrogen bonding or something else such as the fact that the way the tent is folded keeps it in place.

[@toejamr1]

@@jimpflugrath6220 that’s much better than all the silly ways I was thinking of attaching it. Thanks!

[@johnphillips3526]

I would “third” it one more time instead of halving it before the roll. It’s less rolling. Us OCD tent guys gotta stick together ;)

[@jimpflugrath6220]

:) But then the "spars" in the 4 corners are not "close" together and on the outside of the roll, right? I guess you could fold in half, then in half again, then roll, but I read that rolling is better than folding for DCF. ;)

[@johnphillips3526]

@@jimpflugrath6220 no difference in what you did, just one extra fold before rolling which creates a shorter roll. Really no big deal. My kids always tease me about my “thirding” of tents 😂 Thirding makes me feel good.

[@jlhgrace8284]

Folding it more than one time to create a half, would mean that air would be trapped in the folds and make the rolling less successful.

[@juanbackpacks]

how do you connect the poly cryo to the tent floor?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks for the question. It just seems to stay attached by static electricity. There is no formal connection. Have you tried it?

[@fullmoonmwithagen8841]

Great way to fold the tent!! Thanks! What when it rains 😉

[@jimpflugrath6220]

I think you would get wet if you pack up your tent in the rain. There is no magic here. What do you do when it rains?

[@fullmoonmwithagen8841]

Yeah I wait until,it stops...... well when that happens. It is just that I would like to see how others are doing the packing while raining, I mean I hope to see ways to keep your stuff as dry as possible...@@jimpflugrath6220

[@kentrails]

Can you post a link to your tent sack from UL Gear?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

25" large tall (sold out): ultralitesacks.com/collections/ecolitesacks/products/eco-friendly-roll-top-dry-bag?variant=40893063397429 I needed 25" size for my other tent which has 18" pole sections. BTW, MLD has a DCF dry bag that is 25" as well, but I find the DTRS75 better than DCF for this purpose.

[@kentrails]

@@jimpflugrath6220 Thanks Jim!

[@jeffrey-bc1ig]

Great video. How did you attach the polycro to the bottom?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Ha! Ha! You are not the first to ask this. It is not attached. It just seems to stick. I put answers in the Comments. Hope this helps!

[@jeffrey-bc1ig]

Hmm @7:55 it definitely looks attached haha

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Yes it does, but it really isn't. :)

[@VGnezdilov]

You fold the material of the tent the same way every time and there is a big risk in this. No doubt, it’s easier, more accurate, BUT when the material is folded every single time in the same places, it can “break” over time, lose its strength. It is advisable to stuff tents, sleeping bags and other equipment randomly. Especially DCF.

[@toejamr1]

I’ve heard both ideas preached as gospel. Hammock Gear recommends rolling up their tarps. I’ve seen people stuff their tents and I’ve seen people roll. I think as long as you don’t have a hard seam it will be ok. I would probably switch up exactly how I rolled up this tent just a little Severus now and then just to be safe.

[@VGnezdilov]

@@toejamr1 It's sometimes wise to play safe and prevent something from happening than cry and fix it afterwards. What comes to "gospel" there is one wise though in Bible and it is: "The shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, But the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences" 🤭

[@kevinfoster4862]

How do you attach the polycro to the bottom?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

The plastic film is not physically attached at all. I guess it stays roughly in place by hydrogen bonding, van der Waals interactions, Coulombic attraction (static electricity), surface tension, or something else. It is sort of like plastic cling wrap, but thicker, so it can also be peeled away easily. Have you tried it and found otherwise? Thanks!

[@alanwells4310]

@@jimpflugrath6220 Any chance you could share a link or name of the polycro groundsheet you used? It seems like all the large polycro groundsheets I find are 96" in length and we need ~107" to accommodate the parallelogram footprint.

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Sure. I linked it another response, but here it is again: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AXON8C/

[@ralynnfrost6761]

I met you last year in January when you did a couple a sessions on backpacking with AHG at OWLS. I subscribed afterward to your youtube. I have been looking for a backpacking tent since I learned about ultra lite packing from you. I like this tent! Where did you get your footprint? We called them ground cloths when I was backpacking in the 70’s 😂 Why did you go with the 2 person tent instead of the 1 person? Thank you

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks for the questions! The "footprint" is just plastic window film often called polycro or polycryo. I got the Frost King Patio Insulation Shrink Kit for about $8 from www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000AXON8C/ As for the 2P vs 1P, there is no 1-person tent yet like this (Durston X-Mid in DCF), but also I like to have more room in my tent and not have it feel like a coffin. Hope this helps!

[@ralynnfrost6761]

@@jimpflugrath6220 Thanks

[@ralynnfrost6761]

What stakes did you use?

[@jimpflugrath6220]

@@ralynnfrost6761 In this video I used some inexpensive titanium shepherd stakes found on Amazon. When I go backpacking I take 2 MSR mini groundhogs, 1 MSR groundhog, 1 Coghlan 9 inch Y-stake from Walmart, and 4 of those titanium shepherd hook stakes. For holding power I think a consensus is that MSR ground hog stakes work really well.

[@dunishr]

@@jimpflugrath6220 Where do you place each of the different stakes (i.e. which type do you use for the doors vs. the main corners vs. the guyouts)?

[@Kevinschart]

The way Dan suggests is just about the worse way to pitch this tent. Eyeballing 90 degree angles will always result in odd pitch. I have another method I use that gives me a perfect pitch every time.

[@sl4383]

Sure, keep your secret to yourself.

[@MeMe-cd1wy]

Try doing that folding the way Dan Durston does it. You are trying to be a perfectionist. That completely defeats the purpose of a tent that sets up and takes down so easily.

[@Mike___Kilo]

lol Are you also into origami as a hobby? ;-)

[@simonjohansson708]

This guy has another way to get the 90° corners right: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5Kxhairp6l4fKc Looks like it's another foolproof way to find those 90° corners. And... Do you think, folding it in the same way every time, will be good for the tent fabric in the long run? As I see it, it will create creases in the same places, every time you fold it = the fabric will risk loosing it's durability in those places. I'm afraid this could be an unsuitable way of folding the tent, especially considering it's made of DCF...

[@jimpflugrath6220]

Thanks for the comment and link which I have seen. I've had DCF tents for over 4 years now and have not found that folding is a problem. The debate over folding versus stuffing for DCF will rage on I think. Now DCF has other problems since it is not a woven fabric, but I won't get into those problems here.