Reviewing Every Tent I Used in 2023! (2024)

IMPORTANT NOTE! The stats for the Durston were mistakenly pulled from the Durston X-Mid 2 Solid, which is a different tent! The version I have is the X-Mid 2, and these are the correct stats as of posting:
Price: $280
Weight: 38.5 oz / 1085 grams

Thanks for taking a look at the X-Mid and for the kind words.
For the stakes, I agree they aren't that great. I sourced those during covid when pretty much no stake suppliers were taking new customers so I had very limited options (e.g. no one else wanted to sell us stakes). I did finally get some better stakes a few months ago, so the X-Mid's do ship with better (larger and stronger) stakes now. It's true that for a tent that relies on stakes like the X-Mid the stakes do need to be really good so our new stakes are larger, and then in 2024 we're going to make them even larger yet.
For that inner door toggles - yet it's a bit of a odd match considering the fly toggle is cool/techy with the magnet and the inner one is so basic. What I do is tie the shockcord very loosely so I can just poke it with one finger to undo it, but I am always tinkering and working on adding magnets for the inner doors too. I added magnetic inner doors for our Pro series tents a couple months ago and we'll have them on the regular series in mid-2024.
Cheers,
Dan

Woooo!!! Happy New Year everybody! My fav tent going on two years now is the NEMO Dragonfly. I actually have two versions of it, the current Osmo and the previous version as well. I can vouch for its durability and the cleverness of its features. I use every pocket of the tent and love pretty much everything about it other than maybe it could be a bit more spacious inside. That Gossamer Gear is truly a palace though, and it kept Miranda dry in a mountain storm in Colorado. I was very impressed!

🎉🎉🎉congrats on 1 year independent! Love watching your channel grow!!! 🎉🎉🎉

I have the Durston X-Mid 1 and leave the inner body attached all the time. Makes setting up easier, especially in the rain. Additionally, I stake out the vestibule to give more space and makes opening/closing the vestibule doors a snap.

One of the best backpacking gear review vids of the year. Not just from your channel… from any channel. I loved the deep-dive into the details and close-up shots explaining features. This is what people need to make informed decisions on expensive gear. Thank you.

That shot of all they grey tents and music was spot on lol

I'm a teacher (high school English), and so I appreciate your ability to introduce and elaborate the pros and cons of the four tents. I just wish I could convince my students the benefits of learning and using Standard American English! Perhaps if I were as entertaining as you, they might just listen and consider my opinions and thoughts.

Yay for The Two!! Thank you so much for reviewing it and recognizing its great qualities. This is the first backpacking tent I bought several years ago on sale and use almost exclusively. Three long section hikes of the PCT, shorter trips, thunderstorms and one very long night in a crazy windstorm and I still love it. The ease of setup, the amount of space and how light it is make it hard to consider anything else. I was so pleased to see how much you love it too! I added a simple line at the top and use it to hang my headlamp and wet clothes- works great! I’ve had to get creative a few times with staking out the two sides on a tree stump using rocks, or one time tied to my friend’s tent when we had to set them up close together. I’ve always found a way to make it work. I typically stake out the bathtub floor and even the extra guy lines since it gives me more head space.
The only tents I’ve been tempted/curious about possibly investing in are the Duplex zip or Durston 2, but Pro version since I feel like if I’m going to spend the money, I might as well get dyneema. Haven’t pulled the trigger on either and will likely rock my Two on another big section of the PCT this summer. Thanks again for the excellent review and happy 2024!

I love how thorough you are and how organized your thoughts are.

The Dragonfly is such a solid tent! They were smart to design the lofts to get gear off the ground.
Happy new year, Miranda and team!

I just wanted to say that I’ll be getting a Nemo Dragonfly so that I can use those baby hammocks for my twin boys 👶🏻👶🏻😜

A couple years ago, near when it came out, I picked up a 3-person Big Agnes Copper Spur *bikepacking* tent for my partner and I (we use it as a 2 person tent), and it's been amazing ever since - best tent I've ever had. Super lightweight, packs down to around a foot or less in width, and has way more storage than we've ever needed. I don't think you've ever checked out any of their bikepacking stuff, but I recommend it - excellent for backpacking too!

Happy New Year, Miranda and team! You all have done an amazing job this year putting out great-feeling educational videos. I love them! Thank you.

Hi Miranda, great video on the tents pros and cons. I have spent the last year researching backpacking tents. And I am planning on the Durston for my first backpacking tent in many years. Weight and price are huge factors for me. I think it has so many great features and learning to pitch it is just part of it. Happy New Year to you all! 🎉

The dragonfly is great. I actually have the bikepacking version, with a packed weight of 2 lbs 13oz, and has this great daisy chain feature (for drying out socks, or hanging damp rain gear for quick access) and a “landing zone”, which is basically a bathtub floor for the vestibule, meaning you don’t have to have it inside the tent to keep it clean/dry (mostly). It’s also darker in color (urban camouflage) which I like better than the green, but it’s got retro reflective bits that make it easy to find if you’re looking for it. The poles are smaller, so it packs down smaller, and stores in its own dry rag… 27million more features on top of the standard dragonfly, and almost no one is talking about it.

I have a Tarptent Moment DW that I'd recommend to anyone looking for a lightweight and spacious non-freestanding tent that doesn't use hiking poles. One pole to make an arch and two stakes for tension, and you're done. Can be set up as a tent, or the tent can be removed and the fly can act as a roof for a cot. You can also add an extra pole and stakes if you expect wind or snow. Plus it's from a great little company.

S2S's use of the stuff sacks is brilliant. So often those stuff sacks just get stuff into a pocket--so much smarter for them to BECOME pockets!

Thank you so much for this video, Miranda! I have been looking at 3 of these tents and pulling my hair out trying to figure out some small specifics. Your video and breakdowns helped a ton and I think I am upgrading to the Durston 1-person tent (which still looks super spacious).

Happy New Year Miranda, Rainer and all the rest of your team! Looking forward to all 2024 has in store 🥰

Happy New Year! This was one of your best videos as it provided great info with side by side comparisons while showing that camping isn't just a 3 season activity.

I LOVE THIS VIDEO, exactly what I have been looking for! Thank you guys!

Really like the Durston Cattywampus Mid-2 layout.

Happy New Year 🥂! So glad I discovered your channel this year. And I would love to see you incorporate some disco moves in the up coming year. I just feel like it would be a natural evolution🙂. But seriously, great content, I love this channel. One of only a few that I can't wait to see new videos from every week.

Happy New Year to Miranda & the team. Thank you so much for this video- looking for a new back packing tent & the Nemo was on my list! You may have just helped me with my decision!

Thanks for another informative and entertaining video. Y’all are the best, keep up the great work.

Nice video!
Durstoning Talk:
I think you're having a tough time with the Durston for reasons I'm not quite sure about, though I've seen this from Dixie as well, and my guess is that you've figured out how to set up the GG2 (and similar) and are applying that thought process to the Durston simply because it's also a trekking pole tent. That's about the only similarity.
One thing true of all trekking pole tents is that you 'hang' them from the poles rather than focusing on how they sit on the ground (or matching the distance of the fly-to-ground). Unlike the other tents, the Durston doesn't have a set height to ensure the peaks are correct, and this allows you to set it up on uneven terrain and get a good ridgeline that's parallel with the horizon instead of the ground. So, 4 stakes in a rectangle (a quick way to help as you learn is to choke the corner guy lines all the way in to start), raise the poles until it'll stand, then adjust the guy line length at the corners and the pole height to get a good ridgeline that's parallel with the horizon.
One thing not mentioned about the Durston (which you probably haven't played with) is the storm vs. vented options. It's extremely storm-worthy and the ability to effectively set the fly hem on the ground makes it really cozy even in higher winds, which kind of pushes it very far into the 3 season (and into the 4th season).
Non-Durstoning Talk:
For a new hiker/camper, there are plenty of tents on Amazon which are actually quite good. I got a little Rakaia tent (no longer made) which is a great little 4 season free-standing tent that's a 1p but only cost $65. It's crazy easy to assemble, and the next nearest thing for not much more (and about half of the cheapest tent you showed) would be the Zion line from Hyke and Byke (though the Yosemite is also a good choice). It's a good little company making quality gear for not a ton of money (they also make a great bag called the Antero which is very high quality and has a few unique features for not much coin). And no, I'm in absolutely no way affiliated with them and don't even own any of their products anymore, but still recommend them. If you ever do a "Quality on a Budget" video, these are some folks you might include.
www.hykeandbyke.com/collections/backpacking-tents

You forgot to mention the best feature of the Sea to Summit Alto Tr2: the rainfly can be rolled & hooked up while still being attached to the tent, much like tent vestibule doors, and then quickly unrolled and clipped when needed. This allows one to stargaze and have the features of just a mesh tent while still being able to cover with the rainfly in less than sixty seconds (and without having to get out of the tent).
My husband and I have the Sea to Summit Telos TR2 and we use it for both of us plus our two medium-sized dogs. The biggest difference between the Telos and the Alto, as far as I can see, is that the Telos is actually fully free-standing, and you can set up just the poles and rainfly for either a quick break out of the rain or to set up the rainfly first and keep the tent dry while it's raining. We use this tent mostly in northern New England where it is often wet and cold on the trail.

I love my REI SL 2+ and 3+ tents. Weight isn't really an issue since I hike relatively short distances, and these tents are super comfortable for me and 1 or 2 of my kids to share. I went backpacking with 3 kids this summer and we took our Kelty 6p Basecamp - it's not intended for backpacking, but at around 13 pounds (split over 4 people) it was manageable and it was nice to have so much space. We spent a long morning in there playing card games before hiking back out. I'm very tempted by the Zpacks Offset Duo or Trio, but I have to remind myself that I have no need to spend so much money on an UL tent.

Thank you so much for all the great info you share. Always enjoy watching your videos.
Happy New Year 🎉

Great reviews and advice. Thanks for the tip on the dream stuff. Might try it.

The tent i have been rocking this year is the Durston X-MID 2p Solid. I think it's a bit more robust than the standard X-Mids but still crazy lightweight but not as expensive as the dyneema pro versions. I highly recommend the stargazer kit, which allows you to pitch the mesh inner without the fly. I totally agree that the stakes that come with Durston tents are total garbage... swapped all of mine out for MSR Groundhogs asap. Because i like to be super organized i added the gossamer gear top shelf to my X-Mid and love it but the extra pockets arent necessary.
My X-Mid was my first foray into Ultralight/ trekking pole tents and i absolutely love it. There are alot of people who say its complicated to pitch, but i have found it really easy
The other tent i have my eye on is the Dipole 2 Li from Tarptent. Everything about it screams innovation. And the breathability is super intriguing for those of us who tend to sleep really warm. I only wish they made it in a silpoly option... i know dyneema is incredibly lightweight and strong, but it breaks down way faster than silpoly, and dyneema is just SOOOOOO expensive that i find it hard to justify (especially if i want to stay married 😂)

Love your videos so much. Your gear reviews are very thorough. This was an excellent review of tents. I have the Durston X-Mid 1p and really like it. I also have a Marmot Tungsten 3p (for husband and myself). That tent is super comfy, but we share the weight.

The last tent is really similar to my Sierra Designs one. I love that you can set up the outside first, makes it a dream in the rain.

the durston is a mosquito net with a floor and a tarp. that is the set up i use but without the floor and I hammock instead of mat

TFW you sit down with breakfast and you see a new Miranda video from 1 minute ago.
Also, don't feel bad about missing the top pockets on the Xmid. I used my Xmid1 tent 3 times before I saw the two ceiling pockets! Also, HIGHLY recommend the stargazer kit.

@Glarf6 месяцев назад ⁺¹

Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 runs laps around the Dragonfly!!

I have a Durston X-mid 2p. I found it helpful that l studied the set-up instructions and set it up in my yard before taking out on the trail. I was very happy with it during use!

I’ve been using the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 for three seasons now and maybe it’s because once I like something I’m reluctant to switch, but I absolutely love its versatility, weight, space and ease of set-up. It’s certainly a direct competitor to the Nemo Dragonfly but it remains my go-to for now!! Happy New Year and your (+Rainer’s) energy and video content always makes me happy!

Happy New Years to you. My favorite tent is currently the Big Angus SL 2 at just over 2 pounds. Yes I might find something lighter but after carrying around a 7 pound 4 season 3 person (dog was a tent hog) and before that a eureka 2 man timberland nearly as heavy for years going back to the 70’s I find the seed house roomy and light enough to make my back sigh with happiness. Again Happy New Years

Such awesome tents and so rad to see them all explained based on real life experience! You guys rock!!

I’m so happy you said the Nemo I got the 4 person and used it all by myself very roomy. Eventually my husband and son will be hiking with me so… I didn’t want to by small and need to buy again. Yes I know I hiked with extra weight but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Yay

I can't believe there was a swingset just behind the tents and we never saw Miranda playing in it! how about trying out a Tarptent or two? Great company, huge variety of tents.

I used the rei passage 1 (the discontinued version) that I picked up last year. I ended up spending over 40 night in it over the year and it held up great. Its a touch heavy but I picked it up for $100 and it was well worth it.

I am just getting into backpacking and have been looking at the dragonfly. You just sold me on it. Thanks!

I took The Two on the JMT with 2 people who had coffin-like single person tents. They were envious of my space, but we called it the circus tent!

It's nice to see them all side by side. for me, that huge vestibule is just everything on the Durstin. like the idea of a sky view on the Nemo but I never once used it on my last tent.

Thanks for the video.

Happy New Year Miranda and Team! 🎉 Love the channel, keep the videos coming, learning so much from you all. Looking to do my first overnight trip this year, was wondering if you have a tent preference based on which season it is?

Thanks for the great reviews in 2023. Durston X-Mid 2 Is the best 2 person tent I have bought in a long time. If I did more cold camping, the solid would be an upgrade to consider.

Miranda you make amazing videos and love how goofy you are. I can say that because I'm goofy as hell also. I 51 and have tons of gear but cant seem to get out of my comfort zone. Thank you for these awesome videos and Happy New Year!!!

My 2 favourite tents would be vango scaffold and the Durston X mid pro

SlingFin's Portal 2 (or 3) and anything by TarpTent would be other great tents to review. Thank you for all the great content this year!

Your videos always put a smile on face! I was thinking, maybe Rainer could get in the tent with you, just so you could try it as two people and see how tolerable it is. I had a tent that was sold as a two person, but it was about as wide as a twin bed, so unless you're tiny, there was no way.

Happy happy New Year Miranda and crew. My favorite all around tent is the big Agnes Tiger wall 2

Thanks for the reminder about Beam. I just ordered a bag to try.

Love the info on tents and laughed at your jokes and the editing! I hope you keep doing what ur doing, gosh darn.

I still like my Zpacks Duplex for its light weight, the DCF rather than sil-nylon fabric, and the good interior and vestibule space. It does take more space to set up than 1-person tents, of course, but I've been surprised at how small of a space I can fit it in, especially when considering that the vestibules can be tied off to trees or rocks rather than stakes if needed. That said, I am tempted by the Durston that lets you put up the rainfly first or the tents (Tarptent, maybe??? I don'tremember which for sure) that let you pick and choose between tarp and enclosed tent depending on the weather.

I use the Beam dream powder also!! It's great. And also, tasty lol (I have the chocolate peanut butter). I think I'm gonna try bringing some with me camping/backpacking this next season when I finally get to try out my new tent! (Sort of successful segue, yay!)
Also, the edits in this video are, again, * chef's kiss *

LOVE my Nemo tents! Happy New Year! Wishing y’all many adventures in 2024❤

@bjf106 месяцев назад ⁺²

I LOVE my durston x-mid 2 pro. It is by far the best tent I've ever used.

Durston Xmid 1 solid is my choice for backpacking.

Great video!! Happy New Year to you and Rainer and the rest of the crew, looking forward to following your 2024 adventures.
I had to smile at the "except for the part where you get dripped on, or wet every time you bump the wall, single wall tents are great!"

Happy New Year!

I would love if you reviewed 3p tents! Having extra room when backpacking with a player 2 is sooo nice.

I have the xmid 2 solid as im a freeze baby and i absolutely love it. I got mine right before all the hype when it was super sold out and new before the pro versions came out, and there weren't many reviews on it at all. I will say i feel like it stakes out with 6 stakes minimum for me because i like the vestibule to be staked out and makes the use of the door a lot easier. During rain or storms i use alot more stakes and that makes the tent extremely stormworthy and less flappy. You could technically fit a heliox chair or nemo moonlike chair in the vestibule when staked out. (Tip for keeping gear/clothes off the ground.) Also i did buy the groundhog stakes and use those before i dig into the originals. There is a loop at the top of the inners zipper i use for my collapsible lamp. I have camped with my boyfriend in it and the shape of the inner tent didnt bother us especially if you're just using it for sleep. One person's head is a lot closer to the side but there are loops mid way on the tent fly you can stake the fly out a bit like the gossamer gear tent so no condensation touches you and it's just the mesh. I'm not bothered buy such things tho. Also super fun fact, you can buy the stargazing kit from Durston Gear and it's a clip and guy line so you can set it up without the fly for stargazing or hot summer (bug free) nights the original that you have is super great with that as you get the most view of everything whereas the solid, i have 2 windows and white solid inner panels, pros and cons to both, i feel a little more privacy with the solid panels and no fly. My goal backpacking and with this tent is to one day camp at the top of a mountain, maybe a 14er and see the stars maybe even the northern lights for the first time and watch the sun rise. Im working my way towards that goal and hope to reach it this year 2024 or next year. I love seeing the other tents you've used, the nemo dragonfly looks like a dream, i also love the color.

I have the first version of the Dragonfly, the Firefly! The only difference is that it doesn’t have the “baby hammocks”😂 but does have all the other pockets. It comes with a divvy sack so that my sister (my backpacking pal) can split the weight with me. We’re both Miranda-sized, so it works for us. Nemo stuff rules. Cheers!!!

I have lots of tents I use and like, but my Hilleberg and Fjällräven tents are my favorites. The quality is just next level, but $$$$.
I love the Sierra Designs Clearwing 2, Nemo Dragonfly.
I am waiting for the freestanding Durston Dome.. :)

Thanks for the info, Miranda. Curious which tents the rest of your team uses/prefers?

Happy New Year Miranda and team! 🎉
I've heard a lot of good things about the Six Moon Designs Lunar tents and the Zpacks tents. I wonder if you have tried any of these and what your thoughts are.
Thanks.

Happy New Year

Had a Nemo Hornet 2P. Not a 2 person tent. I actually felt cramped because the roof was so narrow. I bought it used without poles... no idea why the poles were missing. Did a refurbish using Big Agnes poles. My favorite tent is the North Face O2. Sadly no longer available new. It's a great 1P tent. Weighs 2 pounds 5 ounces. 26 square feet floor space. Hard to find used. But I think it's one of the best tents ever made.

The Sea to Summit Altos actually have pockets next to each door, right where you snap those bags that you put the tent in.

I’m sold! My first tent will be the NEMO dragonfly. I can’t wait to try it out!

Best New Year's eve gift is seeing a new video from Miranda

The only reason we all need today’s sponsor to help us sleep, is because we are all losing sleep waiting an entire week for your next video 😭!!!!

Happy new year 🎊😁👍

Great video, thanks!
I own the Nemo and the Durstin and I absolutely love the latter. Its main con imo is its footprint but I find it easy to set up if you have the space.
My only con with the Nemo, and it’s almost a deal breaker for me, is the fly that doesn’t cover the whole interior on one side, due to this weird rounded shape. If it rains heavily, or if it’s simply really humid, you can be certain to have your sleeping bag wet if it touches the wall that is not covered by the fly.
My 2 cents. HNY ! 🎉

Thank you for a great comparison review. I am awaiting the delivery of the Nemo Mayfly 2 I recently purchased for bikepacking on my emtb. I like the idea of Nemo's new fabric selection and I am hoping it lives up to the hype. I know how droopy nylon is in the rain and heavy dew. I live in rainville USA and am hoping the OSMO fabric solves that problem.

Yay new video! I was starting to miss your face! ❤❤❤

I am very interested in this video as I am looking for my first tent. A great thing to add to my morning routine

Excellent!

The lack of color on the gossamer gear, sea to summit, and durston looks like they have been purposely color adjusted!😂 Especially in the snow! Once I thought about it in that way I couldn’t unsee it! Trippy!😂😂

The Durston looks interesting .. I bought a Stratosphire years ago specifically to have a "fly first" setup (really a single step setup), which i liked, but it was a pretty large footprint overall. That first point worked in my favor when caught in a thunderstorm coming down a mountain - I pitched at the first flat spot near the base and the interior was bone dry (well, until i got in, anyway; though i stripped in the large vestibule, so not too bad). A bit more of a challenge earlier in that lash where i needed to pitch with hundreds of my closest friends at a campsite 3-5 tents per space! (the Durston looks like it's slimmer though the basic idea is the same)
These days, though, i sport a tarp with a mesh under tent; even larger footprint, actually, but easy setup and versatile (i can alter the pitch of the tarp if needed or desired). It's interesting how the things that matter change with time!
Thanks for sharing your perspective!

Would love to see you test out the Tarptent double rainbow DW or one of their other products!

Yassss I love this, I have the Nemo tent and love it!! It’s a great first tent indeed and fits me and my dogs well, will have to try with my partner if I can get him to backpack with me hahahaha

Hey Miranda! Awesome video, it’s helps a lot to find a new tent! I really really really missed one thing The Dimensions of each tent. It’s boring stalking the specs just to figure out the width, height etc. And I have a suggestion, what about the 2P perfect tent, freestanding and ultralight. It’d amazing!

Consecutive Miranda Goes Outside!! videos without a burp: 0

It’s really hard for me to suggest shelters for new backpackers. I’ve been backpacking and mountaineering for more than 35 years and have seen wild changes in designs, materials and techniques. I’ve owned and used all kinds of shelters.
These days I rarely carry a tent. If I’m not worried about weight too much I use a hammock setup, and if I am concerned with weight I take an ultralight tarp and bivy. But I also have a Durston X-mid 2 and a couple of freestanding tents I use when car camping.
Really it’s nice to have a variety of options for different trips and locations and seasons. So, back to someone just starting out: I advise to borrow something, buy something cheap ( but decent quality) or even just take a sheet of plastic from the hardware store and plan a little time to make a shelter with it.
Seriously, it is not critical for you to have the perfect shelter to start backpacking. Keep your trips safe and easy to bail out of at first, wait until you know your gear before sticking your neck out. Go have fun and figure out what works for you.
I would suggest going with someone experienced at first, but I didn’t. I read all the books and magazines I could find and went for it. You kids and your internet have it so good! I did take some classes after a couple of years on my own, and that really helped. Anyway, grab some gear and get out there, you’ll be the decrepit old know it all before you know it so make hay while the sun shines! Peace.

If you have Aldi in Seattle, I would love to see your review on the tents they come out with throughout the year

Durston also has a fly-free buckle that lets you sleep with the fly off and view of stars.

You should look at trying a tarp tent like a double rainbow or the dipole 2

I got it! I can’t wait to use my new nemo tent!!

Thank you as always & hope you had a wonderful time over the holidays!
I’d love to get your opinion on using the REI half dome 2+ SL as a backpacking tent. They went on sale recently (40% off! Couldn’t resist) & I’m planning on using it for backpacking.

Durston looks like a better gossamer to me. Objectively. Of center poles for easy entry/exit, less incline on the lowest point of the tarp, more pockets, less intrusive guy lines.,

2:36 🤣🤣

Outstanding review! I am getting the Nemo :-D

Miranda, did you share your dinner with that little vole? 😂He looked like he was hungry. 😉 You are really brave to venture out in the snow for Winter camping. BTW, I love my 2 NEMO tents, the Dragonfly Bike Pack 2P and OSMO Dagger 3P for my 6'3" husband & myself! They are definitely worth the price and weight for what they deliver in the mountains, IMO.

Would love to see a comparison between the Gossamer Gear The Two and th Zpacks Duplex. Looking for a lighter tent for an AT thru hike.

I’m very excited to test out the Paria Bryce 2P tent in 2024!