First Night out with my Durston X-Dome 1

My first night out with the X-Dome 1! It was a mildly rainy and windy evening for this one. I was pitched in a nice sheltered spot, but the wind did change direction overnight, letting me test out the option to add trekking poles to support the tent poles. The tent did really well in this (fairly tame) British weather, although I had my doubts about the strength of the thin & lightweight poles, especially with the tent being described on the website as having ‘unprecedented stormworthiness’

Unfortunately, I’ve since taken this tent out to the mountains on a standard breezy mountain day, but then the wind suddenly changed direction, sending crazy winds down a cliff in the direction of my chosen pitch. The crossbar snapped, right after I’d managed to get the first trekking pole in place for support. The poles were bending inward considerably in the wind and also came undone on one side where the wind had pulled them apart

Having said that, I do think this is a great tent for fair weather camping, or mild-moderate weather sheltered camping. It is HUGE inside, the head room is great, the colour is great. It’s so light at under 1 kilo – amazing for a double wall shelter. The option to pull back part of the fly, or remove it entirely is fantastic and means you can customise the tent according to conditions on the day and reduce condensation in fair weather. It also pitches all-in-one go, which is great in rain, or just as a mesh inner which is great for a warm summer evening. It did not leak and doesn’t require seam sealing – hurray!

I really like it! I just don’t think ‘stormworthy’ is an appropriate description. Especially not for our unhinged UK weather
​
I’ve informed Durston customer service of the issues I had in high wind as I know they’re a company that like to take on board customer experiences and get things fine-tuned. Their customer service has always been exceptional in my experience

GEAR LIST

This gear list contains amazon affiliate links. This means that WildBeare makes a small commission from any sales made via these links, at no extra cost to yourself - a great way to support the channel. Thank you

You can also see lots of my gear in my Amazon Gear Shop :)

*I choose not to be sponsored, affiliated with any particular brands, and have not accepted any of this gear as a gift. Every piece of gear that I’m using is something that I have chosen to buy for myself – my opinions on it and experiences with it are completely impartial
 
TENT
Durston X-Dome 1 + Footprint
DD Superlight Guy Rope 16m https://amzn.to/3hlefRW
Guy Line Tensioners https://amzn.to/4fYthoL
Mini Binder Clips https://amzn.to/47IJACR
Extra Pegs (tent comes with enough for 4 tent corners & 4 corner guy lines, you’ll need extra pegs for any additional guy-lines added on to the cross bar, pole loops etc) https://amzn.to/3hPfVTQ
 
TREKKING POLES
Fizan Compact https://amzn.to/3ggE1Gj
 
SLEEP SYSTEM
Sleeping Bag Rab Ascent 1100 https://amzn.to/3ATy3lM
Sleep Mat Neoair Thermarest Xtherm Max https://amzn.to/3uSjiLt
Trekology Aluft Delux Pillow https://amzn.to/3xwuhM1
Light AF Mat https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk
Alpkit Hunka Bivi Bag https://amzn.to/44LEaVf
 
RUCKSACK & PACKING
Deuter Aircontact 60+10L SL Women’s Rucksack https://amzn.to/3MqRvcW
Nylofume Pack Liner - https://outdoorgearessentials.co.uk
DCF Zip Pouches & Dry Bags https://WildSkyGear.co.uk
 
WATER
x2 1L Bottles (Filthy & Crystal)
 
CLOTHING & FOOTWEAR
Boots Peter Storm Caldbeck https://amzn.to/3JtYPFp
Sealskinz Waterproof Knee Length Winter Socks https://amzn.to/3ZCxUgU
Fine Merino Socks https://amzn.to/3F66vvp
Montane Levity Women’s Gortex Rain Jacket https://amzn.to/3NaZn5l
Rab Downpour Eco Pants https://amzn.to/47laBvg
Leggings https://amzn.to/41Rplko
Down Puffy Decathlon
 
Grey Microfibre Towel https://amzn.to/43qSZwh
 
SIT MAT
Cheapo one https://amzn.to/3yP22u8
 
COOKING
Hiking Stove https://amzn.to/3cM173q
Jetboil Gas 230g https://amzn.to/3z5qV5L
Gas Canister Stand https://amzn.to/3GLhHh4
Toaks 900ml Titanium Pot https://amzn.to/3j5Mwot
Lighter & Matches https://amzn.to/3t0eRzN
XBands https://amzn.to/43SVFE8
Black Microfibre cloth https://amzn.to/47ltZIq
Tito Titanium Spoon https://amzn.to/3xgwcqi
Bag for rubbish
 
Mini Pocket Knife https://amzn.to/3CNK7Zv
 
MED KIT
Pain relief
Antihistamine
Plasters
Wound Dressing
Sml Bandage https://amzn.to/401pHUI
Alcohol Wipes
 
TOILETRIES & PERSONAL CARE
Tissue
Baby wipes
Hand sanitiser
Trowel https://amzn.to/3etBVz9
Palm Hair Brush https://amzn.to/3QIUumd
Hair band
Lip balm
Talc
Toothpaste
Tiny mirror
Mini Tweezers
Tiny Pots https://amzn.to/3aJytgC
Toothbrush https://amzn.to/2LqwgxY
Sleep Mask https://amzn.to/3tD2lUs
Ear Plugs https://amzn.to/40swCVh
 
TICK PREVENTION
Lifesystems Ex4 (tick treatment for outer clothing coming into contact with long grass etc) https://amzn.to/38XozuB
 
HEAT
Ocoopa Electronic Hand Warmer https://amzn.to/3BDyels
 
ELECTRONICS
20,100 mAh Anker Power Bank https://amzn.to/3jqTQr2
Headtorch Petzl Bindi (200 Lumen) https://amzn.to/3wl9DlM
Light Goal Zero https://amzn.to/32RI1pR
Thermometer https://amzn.to/3MFPSu5
 
FILMED WITH..
Camera Sony ZV1 https://amzn.to/3t4VamJ
Ulanzi Wide Angle & Macro Lens https://amzn.to/3CC6Jaq
ZV1 Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3tYOnPA
Rode Lav Mic https://amzn.to/44Qte8M
Lav Mic Wind Muffs & Clips https://amzn.to/3TkNQUJ
3.6m Aux Audio Cable https://amzn.to/3W4YYqe
128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/3tckuY8
Tripod https://amzn.to/3nxGg7p
Mini Ball Head https://amzn.to/3UYGBlD
Rain Cover https://amzn.to/3VctprU
 
x2 GoPro 10’s https://amzn.to/3T9CDUB
Wind Shields https://amzn.to/3TesuWA
Screen Protectors https://amzn.to/3ww70Lf
Selfie Stick https://amzn.to/3zRjDTh
Rucksack Mount https://amzn.to/32Ojy4M
128GB Micro SD Card https://amzn.to/3p8XQ0v
Gorrillapod Tripod https://amzn.to/3u9Tb3j
Suptig Sml LED Waterproof Light https://amzn.to/3GUwzLL
Suptig Lge LED Waterproof Light https://amzn.to/3EPqTQC
 
TRAIL CAM
GardePro A3 Wildlife Camera https://amzn.to/3LOa8Y0
AA Batteries https://amzn.to/3jkj5w7
128GB SD Card https://amzn.to/37xKebX
 
EDITED WITH..
Editing Program – Davinci Resolve Studio
PC Vibox VIII https://amzn.to/3WaIUTG
Monitor LG Ultrafine 32” https://amzn.to/3H6lXsg
Studio Speakers https://amzn.to/4f2FOIs
Seagate 12TB External Hard Drive https://amzn.to/42cSW7U

MUSIC IN THIS VIDEO

Thank you to these amazing artists for producing such great music;
 
Cold – Anthony Lazaro
The Tuba Dude – Anthony Vega
Coffee Stop – Aves
Lullaby – Kashido
Pour Me a Cup of That – Novembers
Ethereal – Ottom
Distant Candle Light – Tommy H Brandon
 
All from Artlist with license
​

I BUY MY OWN GEAR + IMPORT COSTS INFO

I choose not to be sponsored, affiliated with any particular brands, and have not accepted any of this gear as a gift. Every piece of gear that I’m using is something that I have chosen to buy for myself – my opinions on it and experiences with it are completely impartial

​Prices October 2024 when purchased - they may have since changed, and do not include import or customs fees from Canada to UK which were as follows in December 2024;
Import VAT £91.25
Customs duty £48.88
Handling fee £8.00
TOTAL £148.13 just to send the tent to the UK