Odd Man And The Sea

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X-mid Pro 1 - X-pectations Met?!

About 30 minutes ago the specifications for the X-mid Pro 1 were released alongside with a product video. Have a look.

Let’s look at the key specs:

Weight

Tent: 16.4 oz / 465 g

Materials

0.55 oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (CT1E.08) in Spruce Green

15D Sil/PEU nylon in grey (floor)

YKK #3 AquaGuard water-resistant zippers (fly)

YKK #3 zippers (inner tent)

Dimensions

Fly: 63 x 98 in / 160 x 250 cm

Fly area: 43 sq ft / 4.0 sq m

Peak height: 45 in / 114 cm

Floor width: 32 in / 81 cm

Floor length: 90 in / 230 cm

In Summary

Compared to Pro 2 Gen 1, the Pro 1 is 100g lighter and 42-3cm narrower, both fly and the bathtub. Everything else is nearly identical except for the few changes.

  • Stronger magnets (I assume as this was done to Pro 2 Gen 2). This is really needed. I had trouble keeping the door open on Pro 2 in wind and on uneven ground where the tent geometry can be compromised creating a pulling tension. On an even, flat surface, the magnets work fine.

  • L-zip rather than J-zip. I do not know the reasoning behind this. For me the J-zip worked fine on Pro 2. Maybe it’s simplify the construction?

  • Dual pockets. This is something I wish, I had in my Pro 2. It’s not really needed, but it’s a nice-to-have.

I have to admit, it’s one hella sexy tent. If I didn’t already own the Pro 2 Gen 1, I’d be all over this one. However, spending $600+ to save 100g and 40cm in width is not something I can justify. The next tent I’ll buy will be the X-mid Pro 1 Double Wall, which would make an awesome tent for UK conditions, especially with a solid inner competing against the likes of Stratospire Li and Notch Li.

I will have to look at upgrading the door magnets on my tent, and possibly adding an inside hooks for an apex line.

X-mid Pro 2 Gen 2 will also be released in a few days. Upgrades from the Gen 1 are:

  • 14g lighter

  • Dual interior pockets

  • Replaces shockcord at the doors with static cord + tensioners for increased performance in high winds

  • Adds "condensation gutters" so all condensation will definitely drain to the mesh vents.

  • Stronger magnets for the door closures

  • L-zip instead of J-zip.

Ah, the price the early adopters pay…

And what about my predictions?

I made an earlier post, predicting what the Pro 1 specs would be like. Was I more of Mystic Meg or Tragic Ted?

  • Weight: 434g 465g. In my defence, Dan did say it would be under 1lbs, which it’s not. Maybe it’s the pockets that pushed the weight up?

  • Fly: 0.55 oz Dyneema® Composite Fabric (CT1E.08) in Spruce Green

  • Bathtub: 15D Sil/PEU nylon in grey (floor)

  • Fly zip: YKK #3 AquaGuard water-resistant zippers (fly)

  • Inner zip: YKK #3 zippers (inner tent)

  • Fly dimensions: 160 x 254 cm. Off by 4cm. Not bad?

  • Fly area: 4.1 sq m 4.0 sqm

  • Peak height: 117 cm 114 cm

  • Floor width: 76 cm. Now I should’ve gone with my gut and not trust the ‘experts’ online. In my post, it does talk about 81cm width.

  • Floor length: 230 cm

  • 2 ceiling vents

  • Pockets in inner

  • (hoping for loops on inner apex for a line)

Maybe I shouldn’t give up my day job just yet…