Durston X-Mid Tent in the Wind - Tips for a Secure Pitch

In this video I share some tips for pitching Durston X-Mid series tents in windy conditions-especially when finding a sheltered campsite or a natural windbreak is a challenge. Some of the techniques covered include tent positioning, performing a storm pitch, and utilizing stakes and guy lines effectively.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:48 Safety First
01:00 Tent Positioning
02:00 Storm Pitch
02:26 Final Thoughts
Disclosure: if you buy something through product “links” below, I may get a small share of the sale. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. You don’t pay anything extra by using these “links”.
Some of the gear in this video:
Durston Gear X-Mid 2 Solid tent durstongear.com/product/x-mid...
Durston Gear X-Mid 1 tent durstongear.com/product/x-mid-1p
Zpacks 6" Sonic Stake zpacks.com/products/6-blue-so...
Aluminum Tent Stake amzn.to/3DMjNfw
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 40°F quilt enlightenedequipment.com/reve...
Similar tent design:
Sierra Designs High Route 1P amzn.to/3KxSKsc
Stock footage by Adrien JACTA

[@jfowler]

Here’s the full video of the trip featured in the introduction 👉 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqW6la17eKlrZ7c

[@mobius9818]

Entirely validating and thanks for the storm pitch, that confirms what I thought.

[@jfowler]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@joannsmith9]

Very valuable advice for every level of campers. Well done!

[@dougbarton]

Excellent advice. Thank you!

[@jfowler]

Absolutely! Glad it was helpful!

[@backcountrybrendan]

Awesome tips for surviving heavy winds! Thanks so much for posting this

[@jfowler]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JessicaTPeterson]

Super tips, well illustrated. Thanks.

[@jfowler]

I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your feedback 😊

[@CameronVirrill]

Fine video: clear, specific, focused. Have subscribed.

[@jfowler]

Thank you. I really appreciate it!

[@BeedeeEx]

This an amazing video. Super practical and very professional. I hope there are many more videos from you to come! Great work.

[@jfowler]

Thanks so much for the encouragement! I already have a list of topics for the next few months 👍

[@jays1594]

This is great. Thank you!

[@jfowler]

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it 😀

[@jeffseng6385]

I’m just heading out with my new tent in Colorado. Thank you for the tips.

[@jfowler]

Glad it was helpful! Have a great trip!

[@peterbennett4783]

Fantastic Lesson! Thank you! from Peter, (Victoria Australia)

[@jfowler]

Thanks! I’m so glad you found it useful.

[@user-fo6eh4bv9e]

Super tips, well illustrated. Thanks.. Great videos. You deserve more views..

[@jfowler]

Thanks so much! That is very kind of you. I’m working on it and it’s starting to pay off. Comments like yours are part of the reward 😄

[@sillyquiet]

Great videos. You deserve more views.

[@jfowler]

Thanks so much! I appreciate the encouragement 😄

[@sundaymorninghikes6275]

New subscriber! The X-Mid is a great tent! I tried the 1p, but I quickly realized I prefer a little extra elbow room so sold it and went for the 2p. Love it! Your video was clear, concise, with practical info! Thanks!

[@jfowler]

Awesome! Thank you! They are great tents, for sure. Super well-made and so reasonably priced. Enjoy your tent, and welcome aboard! 😎

[@whicks3]

I bought the 2P from the start, couldn’t be happier!

[@LuckyTown77]

Motorcycle trip. Saw a storm coming while riding. Stopped and quickly pitched. Hail, tornado warning and 100kph winds. Leaned back against windward pole to keep tent up. After 20 long minutes I was dry and safe. Manitoba 🇨🇦.

[@jfowler]

Oh wow! Amazing story! They are amazing tents. Glad you stayed safe and dry 😰

[@truxpratt3306]

It's a good list. I won't quibble about the ordering because personal preferences,etc. I think it is important to note that no one channel can meet all of a backpacker's needs, especially a novice and that people should watch multiple channels and think about what's best for them.

[@jfowler]

Thanks! I have several channels that I watch, as well. Starting up a YT channel is a challenge in the beginning. It takes a little time producing a library of videos 😊

[@Andy-Mesa]

I carry 14 stakes even though it really only requires 4. 6 Zpacks Super Sonics like you have in the video, which go on each corner and the doors and are always used. And then 8 Titanium shepherd hooks, which I normally use for my groundsheet and door mat, but in a storm I use for the two peak guy outs, one on each flap, and two on the broad sides.

[@jfowler]

Thanks for the tips. You’re well prepared! Carrying extra stakes is a totally worthwhile weight penalty for the benefits they provide. Carrying a little extra tent cord is a great idea, too. It comes in handy when it’s impossible to drive a stake in the ground and using a rock or another heavy object is the only way to secure a corner or guyline.

[@tomnoyb8301]

1) Taught-pitch catches less wind. 2) Bypass wind-side corner guy-lines by inserting stake directly through grosgrain/ribbon/webbing (may require inserting a small loop of Dyneema cord prior to encountering wind, since the gap between plastic-tightener and tent is small). This eliminates a few inches of tightener/cordage between ground and tent. The closer the tent is to ground (on the wind side), the less wind will be caught by the tent and therefore the less force on stakes. 3) The same effect can be accomplished with large enough rocks placed directly between plastic-tightener and tent, BUT with risk of damage through tent rubbing on rock. (more...) 4) Perhaps better to use method #2 and place rocks directly on stakes (not touching tent) to better hold them down. Nobody wants their expensive tent ripped-up by tent beating and abrading against rock(s). 5) Angle wind-side trekking-pole into the wind slightly (adjusting a few inches at the bottom) to increase taughtness and reduce buffeting. Yes this eats into sleeping footprint, but is worth if it prevents buffeting which tends to pull-out tent-stakes. And yes, the same can be done on the leeward side (angling downwind on the downwind-side) if user can stand the loss of sleeping area. Be sure to readjust trekking-pole length for maximum taughtness (without pulling out stakes). 6) Utilize peak tie-outs of course, but don't expect much from them. Peak tie-outs are not likely to save an otherwise lost situation. Not unless one can angle them higher than typical flat-ground/tent-stakes provide? Tying three-feet agl (above ground level) to nearby (non-buffeting) tree, for example, can be invaluable for peak-tie-out purposes. Using vid's recommendations and these six additional techniques, a Durston should keep one safe and protected winds much greater than otherwise.

[@jfowler]

Thanks so much! Wise words. I’m going to have to make another video 😂

[@nilslandin2085]

Re the peak guy lines: that’s my thought too. They would have to be really long to provide much increase in stability. My feeling is you get better bang for the buck (or stability for weight) to anchor all ground loops and possibly also the mid loops. Haven’t tested this but that’s my take.

[@DDF1408]

I agree about the short bathtub of the 2p needing some special care in heavy rain. I was bombed by overnight rain in May in Algonquin in my 2P and also had some splash in. Snugging the entire tent close to ground made condensation too heavy for my liking so I snugged just the short ends, and left the vestibules of the rain fly pitched a bit higher up to create some air flow. More splash came in the vestibule sides but they're farther from the living area and didn't get my interior wet, so it was a pretty good trade off. I also added guylines to the mid panels on the short ends and pulled them out a bit using dead man anchors and that helped reduce splash in as well

[@jfowler]

Thanks for sharing the experience! Good tip on dialing in the storm pitch. That’s one thing I love about the X-Mid. There is really a lot of flexibility when pitching for varying conditions. I like your idea about pulling out the mid-panels. I plan on keeping a few extra stakes and cordage along for the trip. It’s a minimum of weight added that could make all the difference on a rough night. 👍

[@DDF1408]

@@jfowler Thanks for sharing your high wind experience. I also replaced all the guylines except peak ones with longer lines. Dan avoided this because longer guylines make it easier to get a bad pitch but the stock lines are just too short for dead man anchors on uneven ground. When really bad weather is coming, sometimes the tent has to be pitched in that kind of a location to avoid being situated in an area with flooding

[@jfowler]

@DDF1408 yeah, all the factors have to be considered when positioning the tent. You mention an important one. Pooling areas and widow-maker limbs are two things I always check before selecting a spot.

[@Junkorgem]

Use shock cord on extra loops to minimize damage then attach the cord.

[@jfowler]

That’s a great idea! Especially helpful with wind gusts. Thanks for sharing.

[@returningtoearthtv8836]

Nice Video and some great tips. May I suggest also that KZbinr, Hans Kirk has an excellent video entitled “Hacks for the Durston X-mid SOlid”. He does a fine job.

[@jfowler]

Cool, thanks! I appreciate it 😄

[@Paul-vh1bx]

I really enjoyed the video and I appreciate your suggestions. They are certainly helpful. Thanks for posting it. One area of debate I've seen on line is at what angle to deploy the additional two guy lines from the ridge points. In Durston's own set up video ( kzbin.info/www/bejne/mYfFoIWZrL5phpI ), Dan Durston specifically says to stake these lines more towards the door side rather then along the ridge line. He says this provides more stability. And this is a direct post by Dan Durston posted in the comment section of another setup video: "The other thing that helps is angling the guyline towards the door side if there is a broadside wind. The peak is anchored pretty well on the backside by the shallower corner seam (e.g hard to deflect towards the door), but less well on the door side (e.g. easier to deflect back from the door), so moving the peak guyline towards the door side gives up some tension along the ridgeline but gains tension on this side where it might be needed more." Thoughts?

[@jfowler]

Thanks for your comments! When researching this video, I reviewed the Durston video as well and have been setting the ridge guy lines to favor the door side like you said. I think the big thing for me is to avoid facing the broad side to the wind. That's what happened on that windy night. The stakes held but the cord locks didn’t causing the tent to go limp and flap wildly. If you’re unsure of the specific angle, try a few positions and then nudge the peak with your hand to see what seems the strongest.

[@vladd.i]

how do you set up your tent to ensure a perfect rectangle and therefore a sturdy pitch? do you have technique recommendations?

[@jfowler]

Good question. I probably do what everyone else does. I try to get a 90° angle with the first three corners and then set the fourth. Then I walk around it and see if any corners need to be adjusted. I wish I had a sure fire technique to share but it’s trial and error for me.

[@takealberts8394]

This technique works for me: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a5Kxhairp6l4fKc

[@jfowler]

Nice! Simple and reliable 👍

[@haydenwalton2766]

If the ground is no good or im expecting strong winds - I go with 'little rock, big rock' rather than pegs

[@jfowler]

Thanks for the tip! That’s a great technique to keep in mind. Packing some extra tent cord is a good idea for situations where stakes don’t work.

[@andrewhowie4217]

I had to do the little rock, big rock combo along Loch Lomond a few weeks ago. Had some extra cord to extend corner guy outs

[@jfowler]

Smart thinking! I’m going to bring some extra cord on my trips from now on 👍

[@Mike_Blanda]

Nice video! Great work on information regarding wind and securing the tent. Make sure the cat won’t get blown away 😂

[@jfowler]

Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yeah, Sophie (cat) manages to get into a lot of my shots 😂

[@buckfushes]

I'm sure you know this, but wind can be expected on top of a ridge.

[@jfowler]

Yeah, I’ve had it go both ways. When it’s calm, it’s great to catch the sunrise in the morning. Other times, the wind comes in around dusk and blows all night. That’s not fun 😩

[@MoosebearAdventures]

No one talk much but Durston (X-Mid) cloned this tent from the Sierra Designs - High Route 🙂 Sierra Designs - High Route Was realised in 2016 and Xmid came out 2018. Sometimes reality not as you want, fact is a fact 😊...

[@jfowler]

Yes, they are very similar designs. In fact, I put a link to the Sierra High Route in the description 😄

[@ryanoverton6624]

Good video, but "unexpected windy conditions on a ridge" That sentence doesn't make any sense.

[@jfowler]

Good point 😂