Appreciation post: I thought the 'ultralight' tent craze was just hype

I bought a Durston X-Mid 2 tent for a 5-day trip in the White Mountains last fall, fully expecting it to be flimsy. After a solid night of wind and rain, I woke up bone dry and the thing hadn't even flinched. The whole setup is under 3 pounds and packs down smaller than my old sleeping bag. It completely changed my mind on cutting weight. Anyone have a similar story with gear you thought was just a gimmick?

3 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

3 Comments

johnson.willow7mo ago

My old rain jacket was basically a trash bag with sleeves.

8

hunt.taylor7mo ago

Oh man, that reminds me of my buddy's coat disaster last fall. He wore this cheap plastic jacket to a football game in a downpour. By halftime, the thing had basically melted onto his arms, and the hood funneled water right down his back. He was so much wetter than if he'd just stood in the rain without it. We still give him grief for looking like a soaked trash bag that day. Some jackets really are just fancy plastic bags.

6

cooper.nathan5mo ago

Your buddy's story is a classic case of false hope from bad gear. It reminds me of these hiking pants I bought that claimed to be tough. Tore on the first branch I walked past, like they were made of tissue paper. Makes you wonder who tests this stuff, right? @hunt.taylor, your friend and my pants should start a support group for failed outdoor wear. Spending money on something that just makes things worse is the worst feeling.

2