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Equipment & Gear => All Other Gear => Topic started by: pickardjw on March 23, 2023, 10:57:16 AM

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Title: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: pickardjw on March 23, 2023, 10:57:16 AM

Trying to decide between these two. Anyone have experience with one, the other or both? I currently have a Cimarron as well. Here are the pro's and con's I'm considering:

Silex
+ More height overall and more space in both vestibules
+ Can fit a second person in a pinch
+ Made in the USA
+ Can find used for reasonable discount

- More expensive ($408 for fly and nest)
- Bigger footprint
- Silnylon sags when wet


X-Mid
+ Cheaper ($240 for fly and nest)
+ Smaller footprint
+ Silpoly doesn't sag when wet

- Less interior space and height
- Not made in the USA

Title: Re: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: Sundance on March 23, 2023, 12:17:39 PM

Love my silex for solo and two people without stove in a bind. Plenty of solo room, works awesome with a LO cylinder stove in 12” body. Instead of a nest I went with a Borah bivy. In the summer I can run just the borah bivy or with an optional tarp if I want. In September i start using the silex and add the stove when the temps/precipitation calls for it.

I have zero experience with the other shelter mentioned.

Title: Re: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: pickardjw on March 23, 2023, 12:34:49 PM

Love my borah bivy, it will typically come with me if I'm not bringing a nest.

I've really wished I had a full nest instead of the bivy several times though in July/August. So this will be more of a warm weather tent and might come on later season trips without the nest depending on conditions.

Title: Re: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: Sundance on March 24, 2023, 04:34:40 PM

I thought about adding a Nemo 1P to my mix for early hunts/scouting where I want a fully sealed shelter, mainly for bugs. Currently when I’m going ultralight for scouting my borah bivy, UL non-insulated pad, and a 30 degree quilt ends up being my #1 choice

Title: Re: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: Wolfdog2314 on March 24, 2023, 06:02:07 PM

Don’t have any input on the ones you listed. But I can offer another brand to check out if you haven’t yet, to make your decision harder  :chuckle:

I have the Cimarron also, and use it with a stove. Great 2 person tent with a stove. But I wanted a little smaller lighter tent for one person with a stove. I got the Rincon tent from Argali.

https://argalioutdoors.com/collections/tents

I really like their Absaroka also. Probably their Cimarron equivalent.

Just something else for u to check out!

Title: Re: Durston X-Mid 1P vs Seek Silex
Post by: pickardjw on March 24, 2023, 07:00:04 PM

Yeah the Argali tents look pretty sweet. I haven't looked into it a ton but if I replaced the Cimarron the Absoroka would be on my list. I had the Rincon in consideration too but it's just a little too big. 88x108 footprint vs 67x100 on the durston.