Nice test. Thanks for putting this together. Good luck with the channel.

Great video Tom. Proper test once again. Thanks.

Wow Tom good stuff. I'm OLD man from USA and will never camp wild or otherwise. BUT I really enjoy your vlogs and the subject. I live vicariously thru your vlogs. Thank you so much!!!

I love these wind tests ... thank you for filming them. 🙏

Excellent as always!

So many fantastic reviews. Thanks for doing this with excellence!

Thanks for the review Tom. Cheers, David.

Awesome test and the tent looked very good even though it’s clearly made for a milder conditions. Thank you.

Great video. Thanks for the test.

Once again a great video, Tom. Nice to see a tent that I really admire tested in this way. I know that Mr. Durston's Geometry teacher would be very proud of the tent design he has come up with. Keep up the great work. I always look forward to your testing tents under such conditions videos.

Excellent review as always Tom. Thank you so much. Super interesting. Keep em coming. 👏👏👍🏻

Great test, thanks for the video 👍

Thanks Tom for another brilliant presentation. 👏

Great job again Tom. Good to see you continue to test a variety of tents in challenging conditions. Well done.

Really good video, thanks Tom. You give solid, objective observations of the tents you test and always seem super-calm in extreme conditions! 😅

Yep always look forward to seeing your video’s 👍

Thank you very much for this comparison.

Another great video. Always appreciate your perspective

Another stellar video and tent test tom!

Thanks for another brilliant and informative upload Tom.

Another brilliant video, thanks. Watched to the end BTW!

Thank you, Tom. My experience with the X-Mid is that it is good with constant 20 MPH winds, but if there are intermittent gusts beyond that, I go with Hilleberg confidently.

Great video. Thanks for making it brother! Much love from Las Vegas Nevada! 🫡

Thanks for the review good job

Great review, really helpful! Thank you

Great video. Such sensible and balanced perspectives without all the hype. Keep it going!

Thanks Tom. I really liked you testing these two tents in those winds and showing what it is actually like by having lots of footage both inside and outside as the wind flapped the walls around. You made some good points too. I want to get my next tent purchase right and you’ve helped me get closer to that goal. Cheers Katrina from Down Under

Love your vids👍🏼 Always interesting content.

Very good review. Thx so much.

Honest review Tom, and kudos for carrying two tents to beef out the review. Thanks for a great film. Phil

Thanks for your testing video and your personal thoughts

Thanks for your review!

great video, and honesty.

Thanks for that unique test! I don’t often experience high wind, but now my curiosity is up about the Hilleberg

Tom, another great video... I really have learned a great deal from your reviews! Big AL

Thanks for the review great video

GREAT VIDEO, tOM! KEEP THEM COMING! BIG AL

Super job.

Great video as always

Spot on Tom, a decent test, shows that the xmid could handle some pretty high winds, but I wouldn’t take mine out knowing it’s gonna be 30mph+, in fact I probably wouldn’t go out at all in any tent knowing it’s really strong wind, good to know if wind did get worse then it should be relatively ok, keep up the great content mate, atb Mick 👍

HI Tom, another practical and informative video. Think you have shown a fair and comprehensive view of this tent and think i should help many people decide whether or nkt this would be a good choice for the camping they intend to do. Really looking forward to using it although i might skip luke's on the first few camps 😀

Appreciate all your content Tom. Fellow Hilleberg fan here.

Very good Tom.I would like to own that tent myself for 3 season camping, but I think the feeling of security you get in a hilleberg would get me to sleep easier in strong winds. Thanks for the interesting content as always 👍

Great video as usual Tom

Great comparison but my thoughts are tents for different outings. The x mid is a lightweight back packing tent ideal for long distance hikes and camping in the lower ground but higher with better weather. Impressed by the hilleberg though and what it handles. Your putting out some great original thought provoking stuff keep it up and thank you 😊 Dave

Thanks Tom you answered my question on it's wind performance. I think my Soulo is going to stay my all year round goto. Excellent as always

loved the video very informative

Thanks for the review! I'm interested in getting a hiking pole tent for lightweight hiking, and the Durston design looks very practical with the asymmetrical fly, so it's really good to see what type of wind it can handle.

Excellent review

Yess! The windmeter. You know it will be good if that comes out 😉. Good call to also bring the Akto. Plus a clear conclusion at the end. Appreciated.

Great to see the tent in genuinely windy exposed conditions as I’m considering buying one. Usually do my outdoor stuff in Australian Blue Mountains often near rivers but sometimes in higher elevations so the video helped. Thanks

Thanks a lot Tom for this great review as usual! It’s a no go for me.

Thanks for another good video. Just what I thought about the X-mid.

Thanks!

Super content! I appreciate your candid presentation. I’d love to camp Luke Mountain sometime!

That Akto is a legend

Awesome test mate. You certainly did a much better job getting it pitched in wind than me 😂. Really nice to see the side and side comparison with the Hilleberg. It actually didn't look too bad once pitched, but I know what you mean about it looking uncomfortable. My main concern, based on previous experience, would be trying to pitch it in pretty windy conditions. I had it out in Snowdonia this weekend and it was superb, however there was hardly any wind at all. Look forward to the next video.

Thanks Tom, i also have the akto and ordered the x-mid 2. I’ll hope i don,t encounter to high winds. Walking the gr 5. Thx.

Great review Tom. Be interesting to see the comparisons between the xmid 1 and the 2 in those conditions. However, my Hilleberg tent is the the go too for harsher weather in exposed conditions. Keep up the good work. Atb

Another great test Tom, good call on moving to the Akto, couldn’t imagine how guilty I would feel if I damaged someone’s tent who hadn’t even had a go in it yet!! 😅

Another quality vid and a test that few would consider making. Like you say, if the manufacturer says the tent performs well in storm like conditions, then they should prove it.

Thanks Tom, its a great tent for spring/summer,but you can't beat the security of a hilleberg.I would sooner carry the extra weight for added peace of mind.👍👍ATB,and thanks for your hard work

I watch all your videos all the way through! I have to say I re-watch them quite often too! Hope it all helps. Even a wee comment like this no doubt helps hence the reason why I left it! Great stuff as always Tom. I hope to see or come across you on the Mournes at some stage. Mind you, I'd probably be star struck!!

Hi Tom, still love watching your videos. KZfaq is definitely getting harder, hang in there! 👍

A great review as always.my benchmark for 3 season tents is that it as to cope with 30mph winds I wouldn't head out into it probably with that tent but it's good to know if the forecast is wrong which it can be then the tent will cope.it didn't look the most stable but that's the same for most trekking pole tents.i think it would work best at sheltered spots and not summits unless it's a calm day.ive seen another video of it in windy conditions and the guy couldn't get it pitched.so I'm going to hold off getting 1 as I don't think it will work for me.

Thoughtful planning, campsite management, and overall outing sticking with the moderate side of mild to wild. Well prepared considerations (given the review status of not being your tent) were explained and accounted for. In my view, this practice appeared to be a very good strategy. Having what looked to be just the wind (and dot driving rains, spray, snow, silt sand, endurance etc.) on familiar site made for favorable conditions of playing it relatively conservative vs. risking ransacking exposure. Moderate wind conditions in open alpine environment the evident takeaway (so far for me watching) is the high stress points from guy lines vectored off tie outs at those angels and cordage lengths. Regardless, for whatever the reinforcement material/design... that's a major downside issue for me due to much higher % for greater to catastrophic failures that trend more difficult field expedient repair of lasting integrity. I am of the mindset that 'if' you exceeded the 45-50 knots sustained and gusts in the 65 knots range... wagering game's over in too many scenarios. Especially any remoteness, time duration, uneven ground, plus mix of heavy precipitation (of any sorts/seasons)... likely to get ugly in a hurry.

Nice review, I do like the Xmid for a light reasonable weather tent! Ahh maybe one day…

Good job Tom. I would have done the same. Seems an appropriate test anyway. It appeared to be getting pretty stressed. It's broken in now. But not damaged. That very well could have been where it was headed. Currently we are under high wind advisory and tornado watch. Have been 30 plus mph winds all afternoon with gusts to 60 mph. Enough for me. Hey take care always retreat to a Hilleberg

Nice 👍

Very interesting vid for me as I've ordered an X-mid and already have an Akto. I'm getting the X-mid with a view to replacing my TN Pioneer 2 as I don't see the X-Mid as a replacement for the Akto as they occupy different niches. Got same boots too!

thank you for testing these tents. I have UNNA and just bought Akto for MountBlan mountaineering trip. Never used it as we shared NorthFace tent for weight saving purposes. Will test Akto if it's worth reduced weight of my perfect UNNA with 10mm poles.

Tom always good to hear your thoughts on tents. Especially one which has such recent publicity as the x mid. I’ve owned one for a couple of years. It wouldn’t be my go to mountain tent or when wind was forecast (despite what you read out in your last video from the marketing material it’s not really what it’s designed for) it’s positioning is against mids, stratosphire etc light weight trekking pole tents. I do think it’s a great tent for ease of pitch, weight, volume. I think you used some wording in your video surviving and comfort and it made me think of sleeping bags. You don’t want a sleeping bag you just survive the night you want to be comfortable I think the same goes for a tent if you’re taking it out in heavier winds. You want to feel safe, secure (comfortable) not just get through the night your tent surviving. Not sure I’d want to take mine out in conditions much above 20mph and feel comfortable but Tbf I have other tents I’d use if that was the main aim of the night.

Great review. Hope the comments help. Keep it up 👍🏼

Great video Tom, huge respect for someone else's gear, I respect that judgement call. I see your point of view on the taller tent not standing up to the wind, but as a 60 year old the ability to sit up comfortably is more important than camping in a " Hurricane " LOL.

Another great review! I'll need to watch again to understand better some of the nuances, but this aligns with my experience. As you said, this is a great tent, but also doesn't align well with my use cases when I like to camp. I posted on another video that I have a Duplex XL dyneema tent and the use cases for it for me are not in alignment with my actual camping style. I have a few Western Mountaineering Gore sleeping bags and bring one of those and a backup emergency tarp when I don't need the Hilliberg. However, this sleeping bag only "cowboy camping" set-up also has disadvantages other than rain. One of them is that dust/snow blows on me, and inside the bag all night, and it's difficult to keep the sleeping bag from moving along the ground when it's a 30+mph wind - and of course, marmots and other animals in the high country. But, those are similar disadvantages as a very light tent, arguably - just not ideal. So, unfortunately, it's a 6lb Soulo BL for me whenever there could be the smallest chance of inclement weather. The "net" difference is not 6 pounds, perhaps 4.2 pounds and I could perhaps bring a little lighter sleeping bag for the BL Hilleberg to make up one of those pounds...so then they become similar in weight.

It looks good. Nice and light. Easy to put up as demonstrated. But it’s really not my cup of tea. It’s too expensive and hard to get. But as usual Tom great look over. And good call to not thrash it. 👍

What I'd love to see you test and review is the Terra Nova Southern Cross 1 vs. the Soulo. I am thinking - almost as robust (probably robust enough for most weather) yet a lot lighter to carry. Your reviews are always so honest, informative, helpful yet also entertaining.

I enjoyed this video. I have a tent that is amazing and wind, but it is so heavy. I may still end up hauling it if I get to do my bike tour.

Nice video look luck with the channel. I'm really interested in hiking/backpacking/wildcamping in Northern Ireland 👍

Will make a very good tent for bikepacking

This is great. Have had the akto for years and very happy with it. Just bought the durston 1p and today pitched it for the first time. Because I am so used to the Akto it felt a bit..unsure.. Not flimsy , certainly not, but less secure. Will take some getting used to and mostly some positive experiences. I will be walking the pennineway in july. The durston should work considering the season. However it can still be pretty gnarly on the high moors I think. You still have to a bit lucky I guess, taking the Durston. But the 800 gram weight save..

Wow! How much more silent the Akto was, that was eye-opening. A good night´s sleep, with comfort and confidence, that should not be underrated. I´ll continune to stick to Hilleberg.

Hi Tom Another interesting test I have been considering the x mid but really for the Cheviot hills prob not the best choice, I have yet to find a tent that suits my height and manages wind while being light !!!! Tarp and bivy seem most spacious Cheers Adrian

Very good thoughts I had it on Dartmoor is a very mild breeze (vid on hold for mo as Mark says I don't have a decent thumbnail plus I've done loads of videos on it let people breath lol) but yeah the side closest to you will blow in as your right next to the corner due to how it's laid out. It's interesting how you use cooker feet out that way it's OK as you can set it up by pole civered vestibule but I lie in bed cooking and the layout not so convenient for me. Its all laid out wrong for me lol

Cheers Tom, the tent certainly stud up very well much better than I thought. But as you say it's only a lightweight tent and how much of this stress could it stand? Always watch to the end Tom and I understand what your saying about viewing times. I've brought this over from another utuber. All hail Akto. Ha ha Big thanks again Tom.

Hi Tom. Discretion definitely the better part of valour here. As I said on your previous set up video on the x mid, it’s a lovely looking tent. But for low wind use only IMO. Given the locations I tend to pitch, and the unpredictability of the weather, id rather carry more traditional tent with sufficient strength that means I won’t get caught out. Yes it’s heavier, but peace of mind worth the weight penalty to me….

It’s a nice looking tent! But I’m always worried about the tip up pitch with the poles as a good gust could potentially pop them out and make a mess out of things. I try to pitch my hiking pole tents and tarps handle up if possible. Tarptent sells some “adapters” that will help secure the handles even more.

Excellent, comprehensive, analysis as always Tom. I totally understand why you took the X-Mid down, it’s somebody else’s property, someone who kindly lent it to you, it wouldn’t be fair to damage it. That said, I can’t wait for mine to arrive in April. Hilleberg are just the industry standard for foul weather tents everything else is a pale imitation. 😉

That's an interesting pronunciation of the word vestibule. I've never heard that before.

Hi Tom - that was a fair assessment of the X-Mid and certainly a wise move not to challenge another persons tent unnecessarily when you had concerns. I'm just home from 2 nights in my X-Mid 1 where it was tested at no more than 25km winds. It performed really well and the inclusion of paracord to all four available base points brought a lot more stability to its structure. I wouldn't bring it knowingly when facing really high winds but I have confidence in it for my usual type of camping where I can still be hit with unexpected winds on summits or exposed coastal camps. The trade offs work for me and its great to have this tent in my arsenal to take on long distance hikes or biking trips for a great shelter when needed. I'm very lucky to have other tents available for my other needs and thats what works for me I suppose 😉

Just seen your video with the lanshan, and commented on your thoughts comparing the two. On the lanshan you say you loved it, 30mph winds and all. But you seem reticent on the Durston. Would be good a comparison. Cheers.

Tom I’ve been watching your vids for a long time. I don’t always comment but I’m always very impressed by your camps in, statistically, the windiest place in the U.K. (I know that from a vid you did a while back!). I just think, from what I see, you should stick with your hillies. I know you try other gear and that’s great for us to see, and I know you try to be enthusiastic about alternatives to hilleberg tents. But let’s have it right; these other new fangled shelters can’t stand up to Luke’s mountain. 😂 I’m determined to visit there one day as well as Isle of Man. Cheers Tom👍🏼👍🏼- Chris. G

camping in North USA I see your point...but I sold my Akto as it collapses inward with a foot of snow....not a tent for heavy wet snow loads...not at all...tried it 3 times in snow....had to get up several times in the night to clear it off....I can't take that..xmid solid handled the snow much, much better....otherwise Akto great tent...lol

Love this tent. But good to see some not 100% glowing reviews

Thanks Tom. Once you climbed into the Akto the sound quality was superb - no sign of the wind at all, big contrast to X Mid despite the outside photos showing the Akto getting buffeted. One question about water from ponds - I’m always leery about using it (risks from algae or birds) so I carry water from streams lower down. Any thoughts?

Im gonna keep this video on in the background for as long as possible mate on a loop hope this helps 😅😎.

I guess they're designed for different things, the durston x mid pro1 is 465g compared to 1.7kg for the Akto

Tom, thank you for putting all these tents to the test. As someone on the verge of buying his first tent, I spent the whole afternoon watching your videos. I'm thinking of buying both the Durston X-mid as an UL option for walks in the Dolomites, Pyrennees, Picos etc in summer, and possibly the Akto as an addition for more challenging conditions. I noticed you tested the Xmid 2P version. It seems to me that a 1p version of this type of tent might be sturdier since in the 2p version the wind attacks a much bigger piece of canvas that is essentially supported by the same material (2 trekking poles, lines etc) that the 1p version is. What is your take on this?

Another thing you can ask people to do is download the video. One download gives you a "complete" view. Great review though too!

Great test. Thinking of picking up an x-mid, great that it can handle that level of wind if your caught out. I wouldn't be buying it for summit camping though, more long distance treks where weight is paramount. Would you have advice on a good 4 season tent that could sleep a couple?