The 3FULGear Lanshan 2 and Durston X Mid 2 are two of the most talked-about trekking pole tents among lightweight backpackers. Both are double-wall, two-person shelters. Both use trekking poles instead of traditional tent poles. Both are popular with hikers who want to cut weight without moving into extremely expensive ultralight gear.

But they are not aimed at exactly the same buyer.

The Durston X Mid 2 is the more refined tent. It is lighter, more technical and has a very clever geometry. The Lanshan 2 is the better value choice. It costs much less, still gives you a proper double-wall shelter, and is good enough for a lot of UK backpacking if you learn how to pitch it well.

For many hikers, especially those building a lighter setup on a budget, the Lanshan 2 is the tent that makes more sense.

Price

Price is the biggest difference.

The Durston X Mid 2 is listed at $319 USD on Durston’s official site. It has a strong reputation and a more premium design, but it is not a cheap tent. The X Mid 2 Solid is even more expensive at $339 USD. Durston currently shows hundreds of customer reviews for the X Mid 2, which reflects how established the tent has become.

The Lanshan 2 is much cheaper. 3FULGear’s product page shows the Lanshan 2 in a lower price range, and third-party reviews commonly place it around $140 to $180 USD depending on version and seller. Camperlists lists the 2026 Lanshan 2 around £106-117 with UK sales tax included. 

That price gap matters. The X Mid 2 is clearly the more premium product, but the Lanshan 2 gets you surprisingly close in real camping usefulness for much less money.

If budget matters, the Lanshan 2 wins this category easily.

Weight

The X Mid 2 is lighter on paper. Durston lists the complete tent at 890 g, with a typical setup weight of 975 g including tent, stuff sacks and six stakes. That is impressive for a spacious two-person double-wall trekking pole tent.

The Lanshan 2 is heavier. 3FULGear lists the Lanshan 2 at around 1060 g, while Camperlists lists the 2026 version at 1150 g. Independent reviews have measured pack weights around 1195 g depending on stakes, inner version and setup. 

So yes, the Durston wins on weight. But the difference is not enormous for most casual backpackers. If saving every gram matters, choose the X Mid 2. If saving money matters more than saving 200 to 300 grams, the Lanshan 2 still looks very attractive.

Design

Both tents use two trekking poles and have a double-wall design, which is useful in the UK because condensation is common.

The X Mid 2 has the more advanced design. Durston’s offset pole geometry creates excellent headroom, big vestibules and a very efficient shape. It pitches with only four required stakes, has a full-coverage fly, dual doors, dual vestibules and polyester fabric that resists sagging when wet. Durston also highlights its fly-first pitch, which is useful in rain. 

The Lanshan 2 is simpler and more traditional. It has two doors, two vestibules, a separate inner and outer, and a proven trekking pole layout. It normally needs more attention when pitching. You need good peg placement, correct pole height and proper tension. Some reviewers mention a learning curve, especially for avoiding sag in the middle. 

That said, the Lanshan 2 is not a basic throwaway tent. It is a genuine lightweight double-wall shelter. Once pitched correctly, many users find it reliable in wet weather. For UK hikers who are willing to practise, it offers a lot of performance for the price.

Colour Options

The Lanshan 2 has a practical advantage here. The 2026 version is available in colours such as Green, Grey and Khaki, depending on retailer and inner version. For UK wild camping, this matters. Green and khaki are useful if you want a lower visual impact on moorland, woodland edges or quiet pitches. 

The X Mid 2 is mainly offered in Sage, while the X Mid 2 Solid has moved to a darker sage colour for 2026. It is a good colour, but there is less choice. 

For stealthier UK-style wild camping, the Lanshan 2 colour options feel more flexible.

Online User Feedback

The X Mid 2 gets very strong feedback online. Users often praise the space, stormworthiness, clever design and ease of pitching. Durston’s own site shows more than 600 reviews for the regular X Mid 2. On Reddit, many hikers describe it as one of the best trekking pole tents in its class.

Common criticism of the X Mid 2 is not usually about quality. It is more about price, availability, and footprint size. Some users also mention that the larger footprint can make site selection harder on small pitches.

The Lanshan 2 gets a different kind of praise. Users like it because it is affordable, light enough, roomy enough and surprisingly capable. Reviews often call it a strong budget ultralight option. Some users report good performance in British rain and wind after learning the pitch.

The criticism is also consistent. The Lanshan 2 needs more practice to pitch well. It may need seam touch-ups in some areas. It can be noisier or less refined in high wind. But for the price, many hikers forgive those quirks.

That is the key point: the X Mid 2 is better polished, but the Lanshan 2 feels like better value.

Which Tent Is Better for UK Backpacking

Choose the Durston X Mid 2 if you want the lighter, more refined and more storm-optimised tent. It is the better technical design. If you are hiking long trails, camping often in exposed places and want fewer compromises, it is easy to recommend.

Choose the Lanshan 2 if you want the best value. It is cheaper, still double-wall, available in UK-friendly colours and good enough for a lot of real backpacking. It suits hikers who want to try trekking pole tents without spending premium money.

For many UK users, I would lean toward the Lanshan 2 as the smarter buy. Not because it is objectively better in every category, but because it delivers the things most hikers actually need: low weight, two doors, two vestibules, decent weather protection and a much lower price.

The X Mid 2 is the better tent. The Lanshan 2 may be the better deal.

Quick Verdict

Best overall design: Durston X Mid 2
Best value: 3FULGear Lanshan 2
Best colour choice: Lanshan 2
Lowest weight: X Mid 2
Best for budget UK backpackers: Lanshan 2
Best for experienced ultralight users wanting refinement: X Mid 2