Durston X-Mid 1
Solo hikers with poles and stakeable ground
Comparison · Shelters
X-Mid 1 vs Protrail
Updated October 5, 2026
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Choose the Durston X-Mid 1 if you want a double wall and you carry two poles. Choose the Tarptent Protrail if you want a lighter, simpler, single-wall solo tent and you will manage condensation.
Decides on → Double vs Single
Tarptent Protrail
Solo hikers who want a simple one-pole shelter
Not sold on Amazon US.
Closest on Amazon: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Tent. A single-wall solo shelter that pitches with one trekking pole, the same basic design as the Protrail. Six Moon Designs lists it at about 26 oz.
See Lunar Solo on Amazon
Check current price on the listing.
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| Durston X-Mid 1 | Tarptent Protrail | |
|---|---|---|
| Wall | Double | Single |
| Poles | Two trekking poles | One pole plus stakes |
| Condensation | Easier | You manage it |
| Room | More livable solo floor | Tighter |
| Price band | Mid | Budget mid |
| Best for | Most solo hikers | Gram counters who know single wall |
Durston X-Mid 1
The one-person X-Mid: a double wall, one set of poles, and enough floor for a real pad.
Tarptent Protrail
A small solo tent that uses one pole and a stake-out pattern you must learn.
Not sold on Amazon US.
Closest on Amazon: Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo Tent. A single-wall solo shelter that pitches with one trekking pole, the same basic design as the Protrail. Six Moon Designs lists it at about 26 oz.
See Lunar Solo on Amazon
Check current price on the listing.
Verdict
The X-Mid 1 is the default solo tent. The Protrail wins on weight and loses on wet still nights.
What the published specs say
Durston X-Mid 1
This is the solo tent to recommend before a single-wall tarp tent. You still need two poles and stakes. Pitch it at home. If your camps are platforms, buy a freestanding solo instead and accept the weight.
Who should buy it. Solo backpackers who already carry trekking poles.
Best for. Solo hikers with poles and stakeable ground
Limitation. Not freestanding
About 1 lb 12 oz · Mid
- Double wall
- Sane price
- Good floor for one
- Not freestanding
- Two poles required
- Sleeps
- 1
- Pitch
- Trekking-pole
- Season
- Three-season
Tarptent Protrail
The Protrail is a classic first step into light solo shelters, with the usual single-wall tax: condensation. It is a bad match if you sit out storms for hours. Practice the pitch until it is boring.
Who should buy it. Solo hikers on a budget who camp in moving air.
Best for. Solo hikers who want a simple one-pole shelter
Limitation. Single wall, small, needs a pitch
About 1 lb 8 oz · Budget mid
- Light
- One pole
- Lower price than DCF
- Condensation
- Tight interior
- Sleeps
- 1
- Pitch
- Single pole plus stakes
- Wall
- Single
FAQ
Can a beginner use the Protrail?
Only if they practice and accept a damp wall. The X-Mid is the kinder teacher.
Which is lighter?
The Protrail, by enough to notice and not enough to suffer for if you hate condensation.
From the related pages
These summaries come from the linked roundups, so the facts match across the site. Nothing here is a new test or a new score.
Best solo backpacking tents
For most solo hikers, buy a double-wall trekking-pole tent if you can stake, and a single-wall tent only after you have slept in condensation. The Durston X-Mid 1 is the default. The Tarptent Protrail is the budget single-wall. The Lunar Solo stays in the conversation when you want a simple one-person pitch you already understand.
Solo backpackers on three-season trails. Not a couple sharing a one-person floor, and not a winter route.
Picks are chosen for how you will use them, not by a private lab score. Weights and ratings are the manufacturer’s published figures and can change with the model year. Prices are not listed. Open the current listing before you buy.
Default on that page. Buy the X-Mid 1 if you carry two poles and camp on soil. Buy the Protrail only if you accept single-wall condensation and a smaller porch.
Best ultralight tents
An ultralight shelter is the lightest one that matches your sites, not the lightest one on the internet. The X-Mid 2 wins for pairs with poles and stakeable ground. The Lunar Solo is the budget solo. The NEMO Hornet OSMO 2P is the semi-freestanding pick at about 2 lb 2 oz, for pairs without trekking poles who accept a small floor. A freestanding tent can still be the lighter system if a pole tent forces you to carry poles you would not otherwise bring. Those tents are on the main backpacking tents page.
Hikers already under a reasonable pack weight. Beginners should not start with a single-wall tent.
Picks are chosen for how you will use them, not by a private lab score. Weights and ratings are the manufacturer’s published figures and can change with the model year. Prices are not listed. Open the current listing before you buy.
Default on that page. If you are new to ultralight, buy the X-Mid and learn the pitch at home. If you do not carry trekking poles, buy the Hornet and accept the smaller floor. Do not buy a DCF tent first.
Tents and shelters
Freestanding tents, trekking-pole shelters, and the budget solo options that still keep rain off a sleeping bag.
A backpacking tent is a pitch style first and a brand second. Freestanding tents stand before you stake them, which matters on wooden platforms, slabs, and sandy sites. Trekking-pole tents are lighter and roomier for the weight, and they fail when you cannot stake or you do not carry poles.
Trailkit splits shelters by who sleeps in them and where the site is, not by a single grams-per-dollar winner. Double-wall tents manage condensation better for most beginners. Single-wall tents are a skill purchase. Four-season mountaineering tents are a different catalog.
- Count doors and vestibules before peak height. Wet gear has to live somewhere.
- Practice the pitch at home once. A late trailhead is a bad classroom.
- If every camp is a platform, do not buy a stake-out tent.