r/DurstonGearheads

I feel like this bag ticks so many boxes but I’m going to hold onto my current backpack for now.

What I love:
- the U shaped frame
- I LOVE the shoulder strap pockets for water bottles and storage
- back comfort (from reviews)
- the hidden side pocket
- the durability
- the hip belt pockets
- the price

What I’m not crazy about:
- front pocket aesthetics & I prefer stretch mesh functionality also
- side pocket depth (I know the compression straps are good for poles, but I just love tall pockets).
- lack of rubbish pocket underneath (not a deal breaker)
- more colour options, even if it’s just the cordage

What do you guys think? I think it’s awesome but will wait and see.

P.S: I tried X-Dome 2 sold this weekend. Loved the tent

I stumbled across this book from another post recently that completely changed how I think about food.

We’re so used to fridges, supermarkets, and next day delivery that I honestly never stopped to think about how people actually ate before all that existed. This book is basically a collection of old recipes that were designed to last months or even years without refrigeration. The same kind of food our great grandparents (and great great grandparents) relied on.

What surprised me most wasn’t even the recipes, it was the mindset. Everything was about making food stretch, using what you had, and not relying on systems that could disappear overnight. Reading it made me realize how dependent we are now compared to even a couple generations ago.

I’ve tried a handful of the recipes so far. Some are definitely outside my normal rotation, but a few were genuinely good and oddly satisfying knowing they’d keep without power or fancy storage.

It’s less of a cookbook and more of a little history lesson disguised as one. Made me appreciate how resilient people used to be, especially when it came to food. I wanted to make this post as a bit of a shoutout to the creators for putting it together and the person who shared it here a couple months back (I couldn't find the old post to go back and comment).

Here's the website I bought the cookbook from, it's a pretty niche book so I don't think it's available on any mainstream platforms - survivalsuppers.com

I'm genuinely so confused, this is my first of what you could consider a "cottage" brand tent but I have been backpacking for a while now. I'm having trouble getting the tent to what I would consider tight. I've even gone through the setup guide posted on YouTube and that hasn't seemed to help. I've put a couple trips on it already and can't seem to figure it out well.

The attached video is my latest attempt while being guided by the setup tutorial on YouTube. For some context, the inner is not set up. This is just the rain fly, but it is very comparable to what I've seen on trail when the inner is set up with it. What I did differently this time was I completely loosened the rainfly straps before staking it out, as said in the video a common problem is that the rain fly is too tight when staked out. But that did not seem to help.

Only the four corners are staked out and when I add the ones for the door and the back wall, it seems to make it looser.

If my expectations for a tight tight fly are different to what this is designed for than that solves the problem. Any tips or tricks you guys have on setting yours up would be very helpful!!!

Hi everyone,

​I'm currently looking into buying a used X-Mid Pro 2+ from a local seller. The seller claims it is the "latest/newest version", however, the original purchase invoice is dated May 31, 2024.

​Looking closely at the pictures provided by the seller, I noticed a few specific details and wanted to double-check with the experts here (and maybe Dan if he's around) to see which exact batch/generation this tent belongs to.

​Here are the details from the photos:

​Door Closures: It looks like it features the classic cord loops with plastic toggles to roll up the doors, rather than the newer magnetic toggles.

​Zippers: It has the standard YKK zippers on the fly.

​Floor: It features the DCF floor.

​Given the May 2024 purchase date, am I correct in assuming that this is a Generation 1 / Launch Batch (Model Year 2024) tent, and definitely not the updated version from late 2025 or the current 2026 batch with the upgraded heavier zippers and magnets?

​I want to make sure I pay a fair price reflecting the correct generation and older specs of the tent.

​I’ve attached the pictures from the listing. Any insights into what exact updates this specific May 2024 model lacks compared to the newest ones would be greatly appreciated!

​Thanks in advance for your help!

Super bummed. We just got this (used) Durston 2p DCF Xmid and our first weekend with it, a branch from a tree fell and ripped it in a storm. I emailed Durston support but still waiting to hear back.

Wondering the chances of being able to repair this? Has anyone else sent in a DCF tent for repair?

I had got a hole in my xmid1 and I heard about the sil nylon patches that go on the outside of the tent, I had did that but was nervous it wouldn’t last very long because of rain and other weather, so I put another patch on the inside of the tent, basically sealing the hole in between the two pieces of tape, would this be okay? And will it last a while?

First image is the inside of the tent and the second is the outside, the outside one is creased because it’s been in the stuff sack.

30mph winds, rain all night, exceptionally muddy and boggy. I definitely could have pitched it better and I didn't sleep at all but overall it's a really fantastic tent that's been brilliantly designed.

Well, just made it home from an unforgettable weekend in Yosemite. I try to make my way to the park fairly often but it’s been about a year since my last visit.

I had planned to backpack up to LYV and do some exploring along with a cables down Half Dome as I’ve done cables up a couple times now. I found out on the way out that the cables had gone up. Thankfully was able to add on a permit to my Wilderness permit.

Had a nice relaxing hike up from the Valley floor on the Mist Trail which was quite busy. Lots of Search and Rescue out their training and preparing for the busy season. Thanks in advance for all y’all do! JMT in that section is still out up to Nevada.

Most people stopped at the top of Vernal but a lot still continued to the top of Nevada. Lots of people jumping the fences up there getting pictures on the edge… Made it to LYV mid afternoon and enjoyed the river and the people in camp.

Left LYV early Sunday and made it up Half Dome for sunrise. New moon so all the stars were out and saw several satellites and meteors! Enjoyed the views and made my way back down once the Valley started to light up. Made it back into LYV where many people along the way didn’t know about the need for permits yet so please check before you head out! Also a lot of people thinking there was a faucet at LYV for water but this is *not* the case. Just the river.

Quickly made my way back to the Valley floor but not before being stopped on the Mist Trail due to crowds trying to pass each other going up the stairs.

Definitely lots of water available on the trail from floor to LYV if you have a filter. Bathrooms were in decent shape and the cables are set. A bear was spotted near Nevada falls but was not seen in camp while I was there.

TLDR: Great trip. Cables up. Need permit. Great time.

I had a problem with a zipper, got a very quick response, and on the Hexatrek, it was fixed straight away. Tonight I'll sleep warm and mosquito-free. I can't thank Dan's after-sales service enough. Now I can continue the ascent without any bugs! I really appreciate Dan and his company

https://youtu.be/0s_ZW_J1Y1A?si=NRo5H6pJC79Rs4ab

Pretty cool to see it in action.

Kia ora from NZ. I had a great time camping with the X Mid for the first time. I only watched the setup video very briefly before going out and had no reception where I was… So I just winged it. Don’t know if my pitch is perfect but it felt rather easy to put up.