My X-Dome 1+ FAILED! Quality Issues or Design Flaw? DAN DURSTON Responds..

[@durstongear]

Thanks for reaching out about this issue and giving me the chance to respond. As I explain in the video, we have found that in a portion of the polesets there is a manufacturing defect with the glue. Most people won't have this, but we want people to be able to trust the tent so we'll get everyone taken care of with 100% new pole sets.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Big thanks to you Dan for being very transparent and tenacious in search of a solution. There’s a reason people love Durston 👍

[@Pasequale100]

How much ongoing patience, knwoledge, wisdom and empathie can a genious put into the best afordable tent in the world?! DAN Durston!! Look at him! He sacrifice even hours and hours of sleep for all that (tent architecture, customer service etc!!)

[@whatsnottohike]

Well done Dan! This is how things like this should be dealt with. Fair play to you. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@Olan...]

Awesome customer service ...you can't ask for better than that ...Thanks Dan

[@AbelandVictoria]

Seam taping that zip would be a big upgrade. I think you should do it. A version of this tent with 9mm or maybe 10mm dac poles and fly to the ground would be cool. Seems like people want a tent that can take some rougher conditions without these issue appearing on x dome in its current form.

[@davehumpleby3440]

Kudos to Dan. That apology, honest appraisal and pledge to make things right speaks volumes about his integrity.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top stuff

[@AndrewParkOutdoors]

Hi Stephen, im not surprised by the Easton problem. I had an MSR Access 1 with exact same problem but managed to fix it without returning it. I also had a TNF tent with easton poles and the metal insert was at an angle from new . Weirdly that didnt break but the pole did at a random section half way from the ends. I really dont trust Easton QC and im nervous about composite poles generally. That being said Dan's response is outstanding but he shouldn't be in a position where they have this issue caused by a parts supplier. I really feel for them. I'd rather carry extra weight dac poles tbh. A

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

i understand the concerns Andrew. I think alot of of folk feel the same about carbon poles.

[@davebirds5667]

Superbly done Stephen. Excellent video & it’s great you gave Dan the chance to respond….& what a brilliant response from Dan. Respect. Service & comms from Durston is exceptional 👏

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Thanks 👍

[@fredyschmiele]

Great customer service from Durston!!!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

The best!

[@SoonerUnitedKingdomOffical]

What a great response from Mr. Durston.

[@brianthornton4991]

I have a lot of Respect for you Dan

[@boolay75]

I like the look of the tent , but it’s only something I’d only ever have in mind for fair weather or unexposed pitches anyway even if they do sort out the defect. Well played Dan Durston for his response 👏🏻

[@raymondwright8963]

Thanks

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top man thank you!

[@TheSoloSummiteer]

Class response from Dan. Respect 👊

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Cheers for watching Dave

[@bensouthwell1339]

finding a problem, solving a problem, perfect result well done all.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers

[@horizontaal]

A pleasure to watch DD. He always says the right things, never walks away for a problem.

[@milesfromanywhere.]

Tbh this is one of the reasons I held back purchasing from the first batch, it takes time to perfect a tent especially of this calibre. I’m not saying it’s a design issue either as you’ve already said, it’s a quality issue regarding the glue. Nice to see Dan responding and showing loyalty & professionalism regarding pole replacements, top man. I’ll deffo pull the trigger for one in April. Thanks for sharing mate, a really honest & useful vid. Have a cracking Christmas, Atb.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Cheerd Milesy, yeah i think a lot of folk had the same thoughts. You know you are working with a good compy when they time to respond and provide a speedy resolution. ATB have a belta xmas

[@TonyHobbs]

That's very windy! Great by dan to pop by . Those carbon poles are very thin i hope they don't snap in general use. Funny ive just done a video on Ron's poles lol to be released. Yeah not sure any complaint on zip that's to be expected. People need to understand this. Water could blow up to vent? I heard Soulo had blow back issues of water occasionally.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Yeah exactly that Mr. MLD cheers for watching tony.

[@mow-zr6ni]

Why o why are people treating this like a 4 season mountain tent. It’s a 3 season backpacking tent and anyone know you pitch tents in a sheltered location especially if it’s windy.

[@THEGREATRAYMONDOOUTDOORS]

@@mow-zr6ni AGREED!💯

[@clickbaitwildcamper]

UK youtubers do it to garnish views on their channels.

[@willek1335]

For people in Scandinavia and Scotland, this is 2 season. "A little bit of rain" and only 35 mph. For people in Italy, this is 4 season. I've never recommended zpacks to any of my friends and family, but with videos like this I'll recommend Durston among Hilleberg and Helsport. On our mountain plateaus, we don't have the privilege of any natural shelters. Due to the nature of plateaus, we have to stay up there for weeks without the possibility of help. Incidentally, this is why bothy bags can be a must here, but not popular elsewhere e.g. residual (AT) or fold mountains (rookies).

[@gregorygale9101]

Exactly 💯.... bravo ! Someone with some common sense...

[@daveyyc9784]

Not just a backpacking tent but an ultralight tent at that. I doubt my platinum tiger wall ul2 could handle winds like that.

[@oyvindkvilhaug]

Thanks Dan. Your tents is great. I have an X-mid 2 pro and just got the x-dome. Haven't had the chance to use it properly, but when testing it, i see that it's great for one person with Winter gear and a dog in Norwegian condition. Your response is great, and customer service is top-notch. Up the Durston 🤩

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Great to hear!

[@raymondwright8963]

Looking forward to receiving the extra pole set Dan, very generous.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers

[@Moffatmountainadventures]

Can’t really argue with Dan’s comments. New set of poles on the way too. I’m aiming for the 2 man version when it comes out so hopefully these things will be ironed out by then. Cracking content bud, hope you have a lovely Christmas, catch you soon, Robert

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Totally agree

[@wishdarkstalkaz4050]

Now THIS is what it’s supposed to be about...an experienced individual highlighting a potential issue with zero malice & the creator (lemme see ANY other manufacturer duplicate Dan’s constant presence on posts about his gear) responding in a transparent, honest & honourable way. Show me a full dcf/ultra version with DAC poles...I’ll show you a man with a big hole in his pocket where a roll of money used to be.

[@jorisev]

Although I appreciate Durston taking responsibility and giving true customer support, I am quite worried that he won't be able to solve this issue. The poles are made by Easton, and it seems to be a long standing problem, so does anybody really expect Easton to solve this all of a sudden? I do consider cancelling my preorder for the 2nd batch... What is needed for ease of mind is a field repair kit, because how else can you trust this tent for multi-day hiking in remote areas?

[@paulbradbeer3660]

I think you're right. I was going to place an order for the April batch but I've lost confidence because of the pole issue. I sea kayak, typically on West coast of Scotland, often to islands..confidence in my tent has to be 100%. It's a shame because I like the general design/configuration. I think Dan hard to decide whether he is willing to risk an ongoing (but possibly low occurrence) long-term issue with carbon poles, or switch to DAC quality aluminium poles and take the hit on a bit of extra weight overall.

[@durstongear]

Easton is taking this very seriously and has quite a few options in the works to improve the bonding. It's too early to speak to the exact improvements, but we aren't simply replacing the poles with more of the same. We are looking at applying more glue, applying the glue more consistently, different glues, improved ways of spreading the glue over the surfaces, etc. They are putting a lot of work into this to have a big step up in gluing. Gluing aluminum to carbon is widely done and quite possible to do well. In addition, we are also going to have a field repair kit. We have repair sleeves largely sorted out now and also may include a tube of adhesive.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

thanks for watching

[@craig3401]

Great of dan to do this makes a refreshing change to see a manufacturer who deals with people in a great way.tents can fail and ive often said it we in the uk often push tents to the limits mainly where we camp and the unexpected weather we camp in.

[@arthurvino]

I am "shure" (nice microphone) Dan addressed this in great detail and stands behind his products.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

ahhahah

[@philliptaylor2870]

Ive been building surfboards for 30 years. We have been using carbon fiber for alot of that. That being said this is still a newer product in this realm and is being "figured" out. It is an amazing product with amazing potentials. We have come a very very long way. Epoxy can be very temperamental. We just have to work the bugs out. Amazing adventurers like this guy are leading the front pushing and testing the materials with their respective designs. And thanks for that. And reputable tent creators like Dan standing behind their customers is whats going to help adventurers like Steve to feel confident in braving the unknown. This isnt an isolated incident. Not to Durston or even Easton. We have had our pot holes in the surf indistry as well and imagine the situation when your surfboard delaminates and tears apart in 30 foot waves. This is an amazing video showcasing two ambassadors of adventure leading the way of progress we will all benefit from with no harm done(except a camp trip cut short. Sorry Steve). Just my two cents. Ive never liked carbon fiber/epoxy and metal marriages. They work sometimes, but for how long amd how well? Some have worked for many many years perfectly and some never made it out the door. We need to look at another material for the hubs and connectors. Also, with epoxy, i measure my parts in Weight. I never eye them. If molecule of part A doesnt find its molecule of part B, the mix is compromised. That could lead to something as harmless as "yellowing" or something worse like a failed mix or batch. Lets push foward. We are getting there.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

great comment thanks

[@andrewpearce3299]

I'm looking forward to receiving my X-Dome in the spring even more now knowing that Dan Durston firmly stands behind his products. Very impressed!!

[@rossmellows2634]

Not the first tent maker let down by Easton. Feel Dan's pain. Glad to have swapped out the Easton alloy poles on my old tent for DACS recently.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Thanks for watching

[@jamescross4396]

I had the same exact issue with my carbon poles on my kuiu mountain star! Nightmare when you’re on top of the hill. Wonder if it’s an issue with the pole manufacturer?

[@markweglarski]

If your poles are made by Easton then yes this is the same manufacturing issue

[@jamescross4396]

@ exactly that! Think I’ll stick to my aluminum poles for it anyway! Thanks for confirming my suspicions!

[@yetiibob8407]

Good vid for everyone and great backup.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WildCampingWelshman]

Honest film Steve with a respectable reply from Dan 👍🏻

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top man thanks

[@TheRealChrisnorman]

Really good, even-handed comments mate. And whilst it's really disappointing to be out in the rain, wind and dark and have your tent fail, you handled it really graciously. Well done reaching out to Dan to hear his response. @durstongear as always Dan, you go above and beyond to resolve the issue, and that is yet another reason why I have no hesitation in recommending Durston Gear to pretty much everyone I come across!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

thank buddy!

[@ruthybabe571]

I've watch pt1&2 l like that u gave Dan time to respond good customer service. Me personally is it made for the UK weather? I look forward to ur nxt video thanks .

[@dcaudwell]

To be fair, Dan Durston is from Canada, is based in the Canadian Rockies (I believe) and lived for a while on the BC coast. If you think UK weather is gnarly then all I can say is it’s all relative! And I say this as an extra-pat who now lives in Canada. In the end weather is weather whether you are in the UK or anywhere else! Vancouver Island where I work is wetter, windier, hotter and colder than the UK. Perfect tent teeing conditions (; Lots of X-mids out here and give it a few weeks more and there’ll be plenty of X-Domes here too.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Totally agree

[@greyhikes5236]

Great video snd a great response from Dan. I think Mylifeoutdoors had a similar issue with the poles but great to see the issue being addressed. Well done by great stuff!👍

[@dgonz1413]

If it was identified during the protype testing, it should have been addressed prior to release. No gold stars for Dan.

[@bobmatthew9538]

@@dgonz1413 Sorry, but Durstan, like any other tent manufacturer, outsources the poles. It is Easton who have let the side down, please place the blame where it lies. However, on other videos about the X-Dome there have been a number of calls for Dan to offer a DAC alloy pole alternative, so hopefully this may cause Dan to think more about this

[@dgonz1413]

I respectfully disagree, but I'm all in on the alloy poles with a half solid interior. Cheers, friend.

[@chrism8218]

Can’t fault the service from Durston…a public acknowledgment and promise of rectification…first class. But after seeing this video I do think I’ll be whipping the ends of the carbon poles and glueing in those inserts….belt and braces stuff. Great vid 👍

[@dangerpudge1922]

Dan is the man. He's clearly a guy interested in making great stuff, and I think it's REALLY critical to understand that this was an Easton manufacturing/production line defect. I'm a PM and so am really familiar with how this sort of thing works. Eason was subcontracted to make the poles, probably because they're the best option making a reliable product. They analyzed what they needed to do to provide a product that'd work, then started their production runs. Somewhere in cutting cost (which is perfectly correct to do) they managed to miss the issue of gluing that ferrule. Or, they simply didn't have a good process in place to ensure that happened. IMO the easier, cheaper, and more reliable fix is to just tie a knot in the shock cord on either side of the ferrule when centered and call it a day; you can do this yourself and the problem will be forever solved. The next best thing is an expoxy plug in the rod, however then you get into clearancing issues for the ferrule to slide down into the pole; in fact I know that carbon requires a good bit of hand working (which is really the reason it's expensive) and that they were probably having to ream the inner diameter to a commonized size to ensure the ferrules would fit, doing so probably left the tolerances voided, which would mean that the glue measured into each one would likely be inadequate, which caused the failure. My point is that this isn't a Durston fail, it's an Easton fail. Dan is either pulling funds out of his own pocket to replace these poles or Easton is having to do this (which would be the correct thing for them to do). Dan has made everything right, and has continued to listen to his customers and make constant improvements to his tents. He's available to pretty much everyone at any time; I've interacted with him on quite a few occasions and he's been extremely receptive to ideas and criticisms. I'll say this: Durston is the single best company I've ever dealt with about any product.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

he is

[@TheNorthEastWildcamper]

First of all... another great video mate and very honest and decent of you to give Dan the opportunity to take stock and act accordingly. Secondly..... i dont know of many if any tent manufacturer owners that would've been so open, honest and transparent as Dan has. In a world where trust seems to have disappeared from the norm Dan has said, "yes... place your trust in my tents, if there is an issue be rest assured we will fix it asap" which for me speaks volumes on the brand and Dans immense pride and confidence in his produce. I for one, as ive said on FB will definitely not be detered from buying this shelter. Keep the vids rolling my friend, ATB Trev.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top man thanks you!

[@cheviotoutdoors]

That looked hard work mate but well done for persevering. Still a great video 👍

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Thanks 👍

[@wanderworm]

Great test and good you offered Dan a forum for a response. And what an exemplary response it was too, identifying the issue and caring deeply about quality and customer satisfaction. I have a pair of Black Diamond Z-Flick poles and have had the metal sleeve on a section of each pole come unglued and get stuck in the pole while on a trip. I almost threw them out until I figured out the malfunction and have since applied JB Weld to both with no further failures. Failures happen and I’m glad you’d planned well and were within a margin of safety to return to your vehicle.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

thanks for watching

[@carmenhernandez6102]

Thanks Dan!! That’s awesome!!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

No problem 👍

[@Rando-user-zm1fx]

I always opt for the aluminum poles when there is a choice. When carbon poles are the only choice, I pass

[@buildabizonline]

Well done Dan

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top man

[@duaneboxwell9137]

It's not an expedition tent. It's a super-light backpacking tent. Five seconds of the video were sufficient to isolate the cause of the failure: wind.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Suggest you go back and watch 👍

[@BonkersAboutAlice]

THAT ladies and gentlemen is how to respond to design and quality issues

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers

[@stevenanderson5404]

Perfect way to respond to this problem. Dan's thr man 👍. Not managed to get mines out yet but will check the poles before for any issues.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Glad to help

[@THEGREATRAYMONDOOUTDOORS]

I saw another video about this same issue on another channel saying both this model Durston and an MSR tent that uses the same carbon fibre (or similar) poles have exactly the same problem. Well done for highlighting this Steve. I love Durston products but I think people in the UK are getting carried away with the capability of some tents because they are desperate to find a match for the Hilleberg Soulo without the cost? Thanks for sharing the experience, great vid 👍

[@missogyny4921]

A Soulo rival without the cost, yes, but also the weight, is people’s wish. Unfortunately it can’t be done and as with everything, you have to stay within the intended use, manufacturing problems notwithstanding.

[@Howling-Mad-Murdock]

On what planet are people thinking this ultralight backpacking tent is a replacement for a Soulo? There’s some right halfwits about.

[@THEGREATRAYMONDOOUTDOORS]

@Howling-Mad-Murdock you wouldn't believe some of the claims some channels are making mate 🤣🤣

[@bobmatthew9538]

I would happily pitch my KUIU Storm Star up against a Soulo, and they are lighter (slightly), much roomier, much more stable/less flappy, and between half and two thirds the cost of the Soulo. I am not a Hilleberg hater, I have a Hilleberg Keron (albeit that one is now one of my older tents)!! The Keron is a great tent that will stand up as well as a Soulo (if not better), but boy is it heavy!

[@THEGREATRAYMONDOOUTDOORS]

@bobmatthew9538 yes I've heard the kuiu storm star is a good tent but it's technically a 2 person tent? The Soulo is a 1 person tent.

[@stewartgregson8479]

Thanks for doing this video and giving Dan the chance to respond, many others would have just jumped straight in with the size nines (that said I do think the video title could have been more positive given dans response). I feel sorry for Dan, you can see he cares passionately about the stuff he produces. This isn’t even his fault, as it will be a quality issue in the factory where the poles are assembled. Great customer service though and 99% of purchases are now going to get an additional set of poles to add to the poles that are perfectly ok!. That doesn’t come cheap.

[@JTRavers69]

@stewartgregson8479 whilst I agree with almost everything you've said, there was a known issue with the glue on the poles before the tent went on general sale. So it was even more important that the poles went through a rigorous screening process, this obviously failed on this occasion. That said, Dan is sorting it and you can ask no more of anyone. Instead of turning me off a Durston, I'd be more inclined to buy one. Customer service is everything.

[@stewartgregson8479]

Good point, I’m not sure what an acceptable tolerance is for testing, if the failures are really only on 1% you can imagine how it might get missed 🤷‍♂️

[@dgonz1413]

1% of tents that were sold or 1% of tents that were pitched. 1.0% or 1.9%? ​@stewartgregson8479

[@hedleythorne]

I have seen a lot of tents with small crossing poles break. Tents with full arched poles seem stronger but as soon as you introduce either a small cross pole (which twists in the wind) or "T" poles which add complexity to the geometry then it feels weaker than straight arch pole tents (traditional dome or tunnel)

[@durstongear]

Completing the cross bar into a full arch would be stronger, but here you can add your trekking poles to do that. So you get the benefit of the extra arch without all the weight.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

what dan said!

[@JTRavers69]

Dan's the man! I had an issue with a Naturehike tent.. cutomer service was nonexistent. As humans, by definition, we're not perfect and we make mistakes. The good people rectify them.. thats why people will always trust Durston.

[@howarthp1]

Great response Dan - it’s rare these days and will reinforce the very positive views that people have of you and your products

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

thakns

[@JasonLiddle-tw3hd]

And that is PROPER customer service! Good on ya Dan!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers

[@ScottyD_NZ]

That's a perfect reply from Durston imo, the transparency, apology and response should be celebrated!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers for watching

[@TheMadmacs]

the x dome is looking like my perfect tent if, the inside was adjustable to use the full footprint and had two doors, in scotland its fairly common for the wind to change and more than once i've used a different door to make breakfast. the extra space inside might seem like a ridiculous request but here in scotland we get about 6.5 hours of daylight this time of year, so thats a long time inside the tent, i've avoided commenting directly to dan cause, he must get around 2 thousand ideas everytime he pops up.

[@durstongear]

Thanks for the suggestion. With the 1+ version the second vestibule is converted into more floor area so there isn't the second door and vestibule, but we will add a 2P version with dual doors that you might like. That'll be out in a few months.

[@TheMadmacs]

@@durstongear hehehe, hey man, stop working, i just had a look at the x dome 2 earlier, looks spot on. ps i watched a vid where the guy picks up the tent and throws it in the air....... and it just floats there, i've seen ballons fall faster!!!!

[@tt-of4xv]

Sadly another youtuber reported the SAME issue 2,5 months ago (before the xdome release)... Here is what Dan answered at that time : "[...] the original issue was the metal ferrule/insert coming unglued. That was with a pole set that I did mention ahead of time was a pre-production poleset and not built with the normal construction methods. Easton did use to have issues with this, so they have improved their gluing process and added a test during actual production where they do a test on every ferrule, so I expect they'll have these solid glued in place well on the production tents. These poles have been used for almost 20 years by a wide range of different brands, so it is possible to glue them well. Also carbon is regularly glued to aluminum (e.g. most carbon trekking poles have aluminum flick locks glued on)" From a customer POV this is Dan's responsibility, but I can't help to think that Easton dropped the ball there..

[@jorisev]

This is why I am worried that Dan can't fix this issue. It's Easton's responsibility, they already knew about it and apparently were not able to solve it.

[@lakedistrict9450]

First class response from Dan. Very impressive.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Indeed!

[@ABCampingTony]

I see these ultra ultra light tents and think to myself just get fitter and stronger so you can carry a proper storm resistant tent. I’d rather lose 1kg of body fat than 1kg of security.

[@AbelandVictoria]

Being fat provides extra insulation. Keep that fat

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

You calling me fat 🤣

[@ABCampingTony]

@@thegeordiewildcamper lol

[@raymondwright8963]

I’ve lost more than my pack weight since I retired + I’m fitter / stronger than I have been for a decade, however, l still have foot issues multi-day pack packing if I carry a heavier pack ( e.g. heavy tent etc.). I rely on lighter kit to keep hiking.

[@garrywhelan9211]

Way back when, used to carry a Vango Force 10 but it didn't make me a better person. I'd rather avoid storms than pack for them every trip. If a storm pops up then I'd avoid exposed pitches first no matter what the tent. This was an extreme use case for a new lightweight tent.

[@totomesch1940]

Hmmmmmm......... Carbon fibre poles....... I think there's a reason they haven't been adopted en mass by the industry, the slightest deviation from the engineered loads and it will just snap (although in your video it is more a manufacturing issue). I think that our weather, here in the UK, is so varied and mixed that a lot of these products just don't quite cut the mustard for our conditions. Can't fault Dan on his honesty & integrity and wanting to do the right thing by the customers. Cracking video Stephen. ATB

[@durstongear]

Certainly carbon has its limits, but for the same weight it is stronger and harder to break than aluminum. I think the main reason why it isn't more widely adopted is that the price is about 3x higher. Some pretty tough tents do use carbon, like the Kuiu Mountain Star.

[@Pasequale100]

@@totomesch1940 if you support the xdome with trekking poles, the carbon poles won t bend as much, which reduces the risk of snapping

[@kelbysappington]

@totomesch1940 The issue here had nothing to do with the carbon poles. It was the aluminum insert that the poles slide into to connect. It wasn’t glued properly and slipped inside the pole. It’s a quality control issue on the part of Easton, not a design flaw

[@Howling-Mad-Murdock]

Can anyone point to the bit of carbon that snapped?

[@durstongear]

@@Howling-Mad-Murdock The carbon broke at the cross bar but only because the aluminum was loose and came out. We've never seen the carbon break with the poleset is properly assembled. Certainly in severe enough conditions it could happen, but when the glue is good, the pole set is working well.

[@HB-OutdoorsUK]

Fantastic customer service from Dan and his team. Personally I've never had any issues with there gear but it's so reassuring to see that they go the extra mile to make things right 👍

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Couldn't agree more!

[@garysmith7286]

Good response by Dan, only time will tell if it fixes the issue. I have seen other people buy thicker tent poles, probably for the same reasons.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

cheers

[@buildabizonline]

Sorry but personal i would not have taken that tent out in that weather but that's just me

[@alanmacmillan6957]

if Durstan fix the problem and it really is just a manufacturing glitch which can happen - then worth seeing where it goes, but I personally prefer the hilleberg which were recommended kit by Ray Mears 25 years ago; and still feature in most 50mph+ wind battles by wild campers.

[@missogyny4921]

Yeah, but the Hillebergs (of which I have three) are much more expensive and much heavier. I think a Rolls Royce is gorgeous but a Golf has its place.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

about 3 times the weight and designed for 4 seasons

[@alanmacmillan6957]

I’ll be honest - with my soulo with is BL I take about 2kg of kit out. I run with the essentials only - down bag, bivi bag, stove and sleep mat. I can take all I need in 10kg - but does often mean I’m using a spork as a back scratcher , shoe horn and everything else ;-)

[@stephenconroy9283]

Come on guys & girls… If I want to chop wood, I use a wood chopping axe! If I want to slice some bread, I don’t use a chainsaw… Durston, Zpacs, Tarptent, HMG and the like are all decent tents when fit for purpose, ie. 3 season fair weather camping, thru hikes, multi week excursions and such. They are not designed or manufactured for harsh weather, summits, heavy snow winter camps. It’s becoming irresponsible of people using the wrong equipment in the wrong environments… Mountain Rescue has enough to do in legitimate circumstances. I plea to all who use KZbin to get back to basics and promote safety first!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Did you watch the whole thing? This was a low level camp in some decent winds. I purposely said this in the video. It’s important to know the limits of such equipment especially when it’s new to the market.

[@dcaudwell]

Absolutely! And, by-the-way, I've used Tarptent and ZPacks in 3 seasons everywhere, including across the UK, and including in reasonably high winds and driving rain. It's mostly an experience and skills issue - site selection, different pitching options etc! I also agree that there have been plenty of KZbinrs who don't have the skills or experience and who have given the impression that all UL tents are suitable for all conditions - absolute nonsense! The polar opposite to this being the backpacker who uses a 2.5kg Black Label Hilleberg on a calm, summer, valley pitch "just-in-case" - this is equally nonsense and again reflects a lack of experience and skills (plus an enviably-capable wallet)!

[@stephenconroy9283]

@ Yes! I apologize, I wasn’t having a go a you… I was speaking generally to the alarming increase in KZbinrs taking unnecessary risks in the outdoors and in doing so, leading others into potential dangers.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

@@stephenconroy9283 no worries buddy!

[@juniorfigo]

I've had issues with durston gear as well in the past. living in US they wanted me to spend 40-50 dollars to ship my things back to them so I had to bite the bullet and sell their shitty products to make my money back. I'd never buy a durston gear ever again

[@georgedawson235]

Got to respect durston for their customer service, whenever something is innovative there will always be teething problems. Most chinese firms just wouldnt want to know.

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

top stuff

[@seana7251]

@thegeordiewildcamper, thanks for the video and what a classy move to allow Dan to reply. That is awesome, well done!

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@whatsnottohike]

Given Dan's response, i think your thumbnail and title could be less clickbaity. Dan has come out, admitted the fault, offered to replace the poles and taken 100% responsibility, probably at some cost to himself. Hilleberg wouldn't do that. Rab wouldnt. Natureshite definitely wouldnt and most of the bigger names wouldnt. For this alone I'm going to buy a tent from Durston even if it does cost me a fortune in delivery and duty fees. Given you admit yourself this is why people buy Durston, the title could reflect that imo. Well done Dan Durston!

[@djeggina9457]

Would not be an issue if this product had been properly tested before releasing it and taking people’s money. The Iceline poles also had several major issues with the first run.

[@whatsnottohike]

@djeggina9457 the point is he's admitted fault and offered the best solution. The big tent companies wouldn't do that. Its commendable.

[@durstongear]

@@djeggina9457 The X-Dome uses the same poles have been widely used in tents from many tent brands for about 20 years - the poles are not untested. Rather, a manufacturing quality issue arose during production that resulted in some poles not being built to the spec. It is unfortunate, but not related to the development of the tent. I'm not sure what you mean about major issues with the Iceline poles because we seen good results with the first run. We are always updating and improving our gear, so they are even stronger and lighter for batch two, but the first run of Icelines has been working well for almost everyone.

[@djeggina9457]

@@durstongearWeren’t there a bunch of Iceline users reporting (with pictures) broken tips and connection point failures? Worn out length markings also seem common?

[@durstongear]

@@djeggina9457 Broken tips are very rare. Certainly a few people break the poles near the tip, but I don't think higher than normal for a trekking pole. Trekking poles will tend to break whereever the weakest link is. In the first batch the quick connector had similar or higher strength than other lightweight poles but was the weakest link, so breaks would tend to happen here but usually from some type of accident that likely would have broken the pole elsewhere if this was stronger. We have made the quick connector stronger for batch two, but the batch one strength was still better than other ultralight poles. The first batch did not have lacquer on the length markers as an intentional design tradeoff. This made the graphics less durable but lighter. Since then we have found a way to apply the lacquer disproportionately over the markings to blunt that trade off and improve durability without much of a weight change. So again there is continued improvement over time, but not some issue that was untested/unforeseen in batch one. The first batch Iceline poles have an average rating from real users of about 4.75/5. We invite everyone to leave a review and don't edit or remove those in any way, so first batch users are quite happy with the poles.

[@ToonToon-q3z]

I’ve got no faith in carbon fibre poles

[@djeggina9457]

I’m so happy I didn’t buy one of these. Seems like they were in such a huge panic to release this model to give some validity to their claim that they did it before TarpTent, that they didn’t even bother testing it properly. Instructing their customers (beta testers) to sand their poles to make them fit properly and super glue the ferrules is crazy work.

[@durstongear]

The X-Dome was in development for several years and wasn't rushed to market. The issue here isn't a design flaw but a manufacturing issue. The same poles we are using here are also used by many other tent companies including Tarptent, so this issue is not related to the design of our tent. The snug metal tabs at the feet are an intentional choice. People can sand them to make it a bit easier if they want, but it's not something they need to do. Gluing the inserts is a temporary field repair and something people do with tents of all brands for ferrule issues. Other companies have advised their customers to glue ferrules as a permanent solution, while we are going a step further and replacing the poles.

[@raymondwright8963]

Thanks

[@thegeordiewildcamper]

Thank you 🙏