X-Mid Pro 2 Superlight Tent vs Plex Solo Tent
Head-to-head tent comparison.
| X-Mid Pro 2 Superlight Tent | Plex Solo Tent | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Durston Gear | Zpacks |
| Price | $639 - $739 | $599 - $649 |
| Rating | 4.7 | 4.6 |
The Bottom Line
If your top priority is carrying the absolute minimum weight for a fully enclosed solo shelter, get the Zpacks Plex Solo — it’s the lightest, simplest-to-pitch option here and excels for fastpacking and solo thru-hikes. If you need real two-person space, two doors, and a more livable layout (or want the option of a tougher silnylon floor), buy the Durston X-Mid Pro 2 — it’s pricier and needs two trekking poles, but it delivers a two-person DCF shelter’s rare combination of low weight and usable interior. If you often camp on rocky or frozen ground, don’t buy either — go freestanding and heavier; otherwise choose Plex Solo for minimalism and speed, X-Mid Pro 2 for shared comfort and practicality.
Setup & Pitching
The Plex Solo wins for simplicity — one pole (trekking pole or dedicated pole set near 52 in) and a fast single-pole pitch make it quicker to get up after a long day. The X-Mid Pro 2 requires two trekking poles and a bit more staking finesse to realize its tall, rectangular shape and two-vestibule function, so setup takes a touch longer and is more site-dependent. Both are non-freestanding and stake-reliant, so if you frequently camp on rock or frozen ground neither is ideal — Plex is marginally easier when you’ve only got one pole or fewer hands.
Weight & Packability
If absolute ounces are the priority, the Zpacks Plex Solo wins — its 13.9 oz (tent-only) headline weight and tiny 5 x 11–6 x 12 in packed size make it one of the lightest fully enclosed shelters you can carry. The Durston X-Mid Pro 2 is still featherweight for a two-person shelter (17.9–19.9 oz tent-only, ~21–23 oz typical with stakes and sack), but it’s carrying a second person’s worth of real interior space so those extra ounces are spent on livability, not excess fabric. Practically: if you want the absolute smallest footprint in your pack, Plex Solo; if you want two-person coverage without blowing your base weight, X-Mid Pro 2 wins on space-per-ounce.
Livability & Interior Space
Durston X-Mid Pro 2 outright beats the Plex Solo on livability for two people — its 28.75 sq ft floor, rectangular symmetric layout, dual doors, and two vestibules let two hikers sit up, access gear without climbing over each other, and stash muddy boots separately. The Plex Solo is surprising for a one-person tent — long 7.5 ft floor and a 52 in peak let tall hikers sit up comfortably — but it narrows at the ends and only has one door and vestibule, so it’s cramped for two. In short: X-Mid Pro 2 is the practical two-person shelter; Plex Solo is the spartan, roomy-for-one option.
Weather Protection & Durability
Both tents use single-wall DCF for excellent waterproofing and low weight, but the X-Mid Pro 2 takes the edge in real-world versatility: you can choose a silnylon floor option for better abrasion resistance and the dual-vestibule layout keeps wet kit out of the living area. The Plex Solo’s storm-door ventilation is clever and the higher 52 in peak helps airflow, but its narrower ends and lighter floor on the lite versions make careful site selection and pad placement more critical in rough conditions. If you expect abrasive campsites or want a floor that's easier to justify long-term, X-Mid Pro 2’s silnylon floor option makes it more forgiving; if you prioritize breathability and a quick vented door in storms, Plex Solo wins that narrow category.
Price, Value & Who Should Buy Which
The Plex Solo sits slightly lower in price ($599–$649) and returns the best ounces-per-dollar if you only need a single-person shelter and already carry a pole. The X-Mid Pro 2 commands a premium ($639–$739) but is the only product here that delivers a true two-person DCF shelter with two doors and two vestibules — that extra cost buys real livability and an option to switch to a tougher silnylon floor. Bottom line on value: buy the Plex Solo if you’re a solo thru-hiker chasing minimum weight; spend the extra on the X-Mid Pro 2 only if you truly need a two-person DCF shelter or want the silnylon-floor durability option.
Materials, Failure Modes & Real World Use
Both tents rely on Dyneema Composite Fabric, so expect superb strength-to-weight but less forgiveness to sharp rocks, tree roots, and careless handling than woven nylons. The Plex Solo concentrates risk at its narrower ends and stake points — a puncture there can be dramatic because it’s a 1P single-wall shelter — while the X-Mid Pro 2 spreads load across a larger rectangular floor and offers a silnylon-floor option that changes the failure profile toward abrasion resistance. Design philosophy differs: Zpacks optimized for the lightest enclosed solo refuge possible, Durston optimized for a practical two-person ultralight shelter; handle Plex with more caution, and favor the X-Mid if you want resilience built in.
Read full X-Mid Pro 2 Superlight Tent review · Read full Plex Solo Tent review