Dan Durston/Massdrop X-Mid

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fqjiopjq28fq

Ultralighter
"Don't think I'll be doing my through hike next month"

That's sad, to cancel or postpone a trip because of this. While the Xmids are nice they're just tents. There are alternatives that while maybe not your ideal set of features or design would do the job I'm sure.
 
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F

Floor

Day Walker
dandurston said:
There might be a way to do that. I can't say for sure because Drop is handling the sales, but they do have some ability to handle things offline.

Who is waiting for a tent? It would be good to have a list that I can approach Drop with. We have girlinabox and mr_snuffles4. Is there anyone else?
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I am as well! Thanks
 
dandurston

dandurston

Section Hiker
If anyone has a 2P order from Amazon UK that hasn't shipped yet, please send me a direct message with your email and we should be able to arrange to sell one to you outside of Amazon (as long as there aren't too many people as we only have a few left). Also please send a screenshot of the order since we can't have everyone that wants a tent piling in on this.
 
R

Ryan H

Day Walker
dandurston said:
FWIW, we are setting up a different way to buy these tents (outside of Amazon) to avoid these issues with the international Amazon sites in the future. The next batch will be sold primarily on a normal website, with maybe some on Amazon when we have enough stock.
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Not to be overly snarky, but isn’t this just recreating what already existed and worked well on Drop? This seems like a lot of work to reinvent the wheel.

You have been running around every hiking forum on the internet providing amazing customer service Dan. But if it wasn’t for you there would be no communication at all. Drop has completely dropped the ball on this, at every level. They haven’t even updated the information or description on the listing on their site. It still tells people to request tents there.
 
dandurston

dandurston

Section Hiker
Drop lost interest in outdoors stuff in general shortly after the X-Mid 2P launched, which is why solid inners haven't happened and the X-Mid is often out of stock. They continued selling it but didn't want to make further investment after they decided other markets (electronics) are their main focus. That led to them recently deciding to close their outdoor community, but since the X-Mid is popular they reached a deal with a different company to take over the development/distribution of it on their behalf.

Fortunately this new company is way more interested in tents (they distribute tents for several other companies including Sierra Designs and Kelty) so the X-Mid has a much brighter future now. They are ordering far more production for next year and have greenlighted new projects like solid inners. That'll take some time to show up (mid 2022) since things take time to unfold, but good things are in the works.

So yes I wish Drop showed more interest in the X-Mid and communicated better, but things are poised to be much better going forward without them directly involved. The new partner does have to re-invent some stuff like a website to sell them on, but the improved availability, planned updates, new solid inner versions etc will be well worth it.

I'm also doing new products on my own, so a superlight singlewall DCF X-Mid 2P is in the works that I'll have full control over the sale/distribution of (It'll be sold on DurstonGear.com). We're on 3rd generation prototypes of that now and it's going to be really sweet.
 
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Odd Man

Odd Man

Thru Hiker
dandurston said:
I'm also doing new products on my own, so a superlight singlewall DCF X-Mid 2P is in the works that I'll have full control over the sale/distribution of (It'll be sold on DurstonGear.com). We're on 3rd generation prototypes of that now and it's going to be really sweet.
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:geek::thumbsup:

(please a camo option for stealth campers?)

Drop was good while it lasted, but now it's time to drop the Drop.
 
Robin

Robin

Moderator
Staff member
dandurston said:
Drop lost interest in outdoors stuff in general shortly after the X-Mid 2P launched, which is why solid inners haven't happened and the X-Mid is often out of stock. They continued selling it but didn't want to make further investment after they decided other markets (electronics) are their main focus. That led to them recently deciding to close their outdoor community, but since the X-Mid is popular they reached a deal with a different company to take over the development/distribution of it on their behalf.

Fortunately this new company is way more interested in tents (they distribute tents for several other companies including Sierra Designs and Kelty) so the X-Mid has a much brighter future now. They are ordering far more production for next year and have greenlighted new projects like solid inners. That'll take some time to show up (mid 2022) since things take time to unfold, but good things are in the works.

So yes I wish Drop showed more interest in the X-Mid and communicated better, but things are poised to be much better going forward without them directly involved. The new partner does have to re-invent some stuff like a website to sell them on, but the improved availability, planned updates, new solid inner versions etc will be well worth it.

I'm also doing new products on my own, so a superlight singlewall DCF X-Mid 2P is in the works that I'll have full control over the sale/distribution of (It'll be sold on DurstonGear.com). We're on 3rd generation prototypes of that now and it's going to be really sweet.
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Thanks Dan. Positive developments. Appreciate your feedback and updates.
 
ChrisN

ChrisN

Hiker
Good to hear, Dan! Will they distribute in the UK and Europe? Also , really looking forward to the solid interiors. The UK market is crying out for these! :)
 
ChrisN

ChrisN

Hiker
yeah the whole Brexit thing is a bit of a ball ache. A UK distributor could be the way to go. if you need a hand from the UK side of things, just give me a shout!
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
The xmid 1p is spacious enough for 2 people but the 2 poles make it a bit of a cramped space. Then I thought 2 people equal 4 trecking poles...

Just tested a double A-frame setup (made of bamboo poles for a prototype) with a 3F 120x210 bathtup inside - works perfectly...! 2 liteway A-frame connectors should do the trick...
IMG_20210415_112531_1.jpg
Edit: should have mentioned that its gotta be an asymmetrical A-frame of course but its only 10cm extra one side
 
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L

lunarsteve

Day Walker
tom said:
The xmid 1p is spacious enough for 2 people but the 2 poles make it a bit of a cramped space. Then I thought 2 people equal 4 trecking poles...
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Wow, this is awesome! I'm curious what length poles you're using? Also, I wonder what it would take to set up like this with a mesh inner. (As I excitedly wait for my 1P to arrive, since the 2p was out of stock everywhere!)
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
lunarsteve said:
Wow, this is awesome! I'm curious what length poles you're using? Also, I wonder what it would take to set up like this with a mesh inner. (As I excitedly wait for my 1P to arrive, since the 2p was out of stock everywhere!)
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The bamboo poles I tried today are 142cm (I think it should be 145cm) and 155cm which kept them just short of the fly to avoid the fabric rubbing. Trekking poles will be adjustable of course but even a fixed pole length design would allow adjusting height by changing the distance. To join the poles, I used pipe pieces I made years ago for an MSR shelter A-frame design.
IMG_20210415_18294..jpg
The xmid will need some kind shock cord fixture to keep the top securely in place. For the test, the apex tie-outs proved sufficient in the wind gusts I had but that would not work with more stormy conditions.

I never burden myself with any mesh inners since there are no midges where I camp and mosquitos are rare in the alps don't bother me much anyway (and I'm usually at altitute). So its just solid inners for my more open shelters (Notch, Hexamid soloplus) in colder temps. But I slept in the xmid below zero and didn't need a solid inner as xmid fly comes down so low to the ground.

Sea to Summit sells ul double mosquito nets that can hang inside a shelter ("nano"??) but I've not tried that.
 
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girlinabox

girlinabox

Backpacker
mr_snuffles4 said:
Just an update on the Amazon Uk orders, I was going to cancel it once the one sold direct to me arrived. It now has dispatched and is due to arrive early may.
I'll probably put it up on here if anyone missed out.
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That's weird. Amazon cancelled both mine and my partners orders last week...

Hopefully the one dispatched by Dan's new business partners/colleagues will be here next week all being well...
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
tom said:
The xmid 1p is spacious enough for 2 people but the 2 poles make it a bit of a cramped space. Then I thought 2 people equal 4 trecking poles...

Just tested a double A-frame setup (made of bamboo poles for a prototype) with a 3F 120x210 bathtup inside - works perfectly...! 2 liteway A-frame connectors should do the trick...
View attachment 30999
Edit: should have mentioned that its gotta be an asymmetrical A-frame of course but its only 10cm extra one side
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Now if only somebody would start making an inner to fit this set up. I'd trade the vestibules for a smaller footprint than the 2-P.
 
Mole

Mole

Thru Hiker
WilliamC said:
Now if only somebody would start making an inner to fit this set up. I'd trade the vestibules for a smaller footprint than the 2-P.
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We used my Xmid1 with a polycryo floor, sleeping top to tail. Ok for fair weather or occasional use I reckon.

Think I'd prefer the simplicity of having the single upright poles inside such a full inner as some other shelters do. Not sure I'd trust A frames not to abrade the outer fabric in blowy weather. I've seen mids with rubs, even holes (caused by the trek pole joints/flicklocks) in the fabric where A frames have been used.
 
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Rog Tallbloke

Rog Tallbloke

Thru Hiker
Mole said:
Not sure I'd trust A frames not to abrade the outer fabric in blowy weather. I've seen mids with rubs(even holes) in the fabric where A frames have been used.
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Pole sleeves attached to the outside of the fly are the best way to go with A frames. You get the added benefit of load spreading across the panels, which takes a lot of stress off pegging points and tieout attachments in high winds.

Ultimate 'The Tent', circa 1975.

Phortress-with-ends-closed.png
 
Robin

Robin

Moderator
Staff member
Mole said:
We used my Xmid1 with a polycryo floor, sleeping top to tail. Ok for fair weather or occasional use I reckon.

Think I'd prefer the simplicity of having the single upright poles inside such a full inner as some other shelters do. Not sure I'd trust A frames not to abrade the outer fabric in blowy weather. I've seen mids with rubs, even holes (caused by the trek pole joints/flicklocks) in the fabric where A frames have been used.
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Good point. I’ve used a an A frame set up in my Duomid and Tramplite but the poles are well away from the walls. Flicklocks especially could do some damage ifthe fabric rubs against them.
 
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