Durston X-Mid Pro 2 Tent: Beginner’s Pitching & Packing Tips (HINT: Practice Makes Perfect!)

I’ve honestly grown a bit weary of thru hikers posting videos where they claim to have perfectly pitched their Durston X-Mid Pro tents straight out of the box, the very first time they gave it a go. I find this difficult to believe because this amazing tent is so original, that no matter who you are, you really need to play around with it a few times before mastering its uniquely designed pitch—only THEN does it become quite simple.

Don’t put on the Emperor’s New Clothes! There’s no shame in it taking multiple tries to get your new tent pitched just right. Be patient and practice as many times as you need to in order to master the technique!

I’ve never seen a thru hiker video explain the pitch more accurately than creator Dan Durston himself, so go directly to the source and check out his instructional video BEFORE you begin:

   • Durston X-Mid | Pitching Guide (v2)  

And then… Come back here for a few beginner tips that you won’t see anywhere else!

I missed a few of the un-narrated details in my first viewings of Dan’s video and then became confused by other videos where hikers used inaccurate paraphrasing and confusing terminology. Don’t make the same mistake I made! If you’re a beginner, stick with Dan’s straightforward instructions and then check out this video for a few simple tips & clarifications.

And Finally—I’ll demonstrate how I break down my tent and pack it back into its stuff sack again.

I hope these little tidbits help!