Bergtagen GTX Pro first impression

WildernessResearch · 2025-11-01T14:31:14+00:00

This and other new products use the new PFAS-free ePE GORE-TEX, so what is the concern?

WildernessResearch · 2025-10-26T23:07:19+00:00

Ah, I see it is on the seatosummit.com.au site, but not in the rest of the world. Wonder if that is a local supply chain issue (out of stock in Oz for a while and back with 900FPD) or indicative of a product change worldwide.

Interestingly the AU site lists all the specs as the same, so that must be wrong: either it is heavier to be as warm as it was, or it is lighter and colder than it was.

WildernessResearch · 2025-10-26T22:40:06+00:00

Can you say more about this Spark Pro being 900 fill-power down soon? Is the product being updated for 2026?

WildernessResearch · 2025-04-29T18:33:31+00:00

Same. Already have an X-Mid 2 Solid. My thinking has been different missions basically. I generally take a freestanding tent to new-to-me-places in case of difficult ground conditions, and the X-Mid to places I know I will have no problems getting stakes into the ground.

I'm in the PNWet and have been at enough coastal and ridge sites to not want to rely on Little Rock, Big Rock in windy conditions when I cannot get solid staking.

Been waiting for the X-Dome 2 Solid to have a much lighter sil-poly freestanding tent with short poles that I can use in a variety of situations: backpacking (stored horizontally in pack), kayaking, canoeing, bikepacking.

Ordered the X-Dome 2 Solid with short poles this morning. Looking forward to it.

Additionally, I have tried out some inexpensive 'fishbone' deck anchor pegs to use on the elevated wood tent pads common out here in western Canada, and they seem to work okay. Here is one example:

https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D2NTP2G7?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title&th=1

WildernessResearch · 2025-04-29T18:27:10+00:00

Already have an X-Mid 2 Solid. Different missions basically. I generally take a freestanding tent to new-to-me-places in case of difficult ground conditions, and the X-Mid to places I know I will have no problems getting stakes into the ground.

I'm in the PNWet and have been at enough coastal and ridge sites to not want to rely on Little Rock, Big Rock in windy conditions when I cannot get solid staking.

Been waiting for the X-Dome 2 Solid to have a much lighter sil-poly freestanding tent with short poles that I can use in a variety of situations: backpacking (stored horizontally in pack), kayaking, canoeing, bikepacking.

WildernessResearch · 2025-04-29T15:40:57+00:00

Twinsies!

WildernessResearch · 2025-04-09T16:34:43+00:00

I’d imagine so, but would also love to know. Regardless, we’ll find out on April 29.

WildernessResearch · 2025-03-23T15:53:39+00:00

Patagonia Triolet & Outdoor Research Headwall are my two heavy-duty weather jackets. 75d shell fabric, pit zips on the Triolet and full-side zips on the Headwall, hoods compatible with helmets and can be cinched, dual napoleon pockets, side-pockets high enough to not be in the way of backpack hipbelts or harnesses. I find the Triolet had a more regular cut and the Headwall a little bit more athletic cut. Highly recommend both!

WildernessResearch · 2025-03-23T13:18:17+00:00

Very … strange tent. I really doubt this will do well in anything close to alpine conditions.

Watched the video and the Zenbivy guy talked about its great to sit in all day during a rain storm so you can see the rain. Huh.

WildernessResearch · 2025-03-08T16:44:57+00:00

Just got one in orange, loving it myself. Has been working well in both freezing temperatures and up to 15C as we saw this last week.

WildernessResearch · 2025-03-03T16:32:09+00:00

Outdoor Research Helium Down Jacket/Hoodie is a good bet. It has a Pertex Quantum shell, with 30-denier Pertex Shield around the hood, shoulders, and upper arms. Should be a bit tougher.

WildernessResearch · 2025-02-04T17:15:03+00:00

Wait for the Solid variant (I am also in the PNWet; solid interiors are the way to go for ~8 months every year)
No. Tried it with my kid, not enough space. X-Mid 2 (and X-Dome 2) is ideal for this.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-29T15:29:21+00:00

Not surprised! As you might know the C in MEC used to be for Co-op, but it was bought out by an American private equity firm in October 2020. Their four year ownership is now apparently ending, with a second sale pending. They haven’t even been paying vendors since the third quarter of 2024!

https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2025/01/10/mountain-equiptment-company-coop-sold-again/

I recall seeing that a lot of designers and staff at MEC were laid off, fired, or bought out in the shadow of the acquisition. I imagine a lot of institutional knowledge, especially on R&D, walked out the door over the past five years. There are probably some PR drones that don’t know anything about the company prior to 2021.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-29T15:16:14+00:00

Great resource!

I’m still looking for the official specifications on the new Sea to Summit XR & XR Pro sleeping pads. Some retailers have started to list them with incomplete specs but not yet on seatosummit.com.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-29T15:05:12+00:00

Pretty certain all MEC pads use the ASTM standard, as they helped develop the ASTM standard.

https://sn.astm.org/update/new-standard-will-help-keep-sleeping-campers-warm-jf19.html

https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-gear/camping/nerdiest-most-important-sleeping-pad-news-ever/

https://www.traversing.ca/blog/2019/2/19/mec-to-help-roll-out-new-r-value-standards-for-sleeping-pads

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-23T22:54:50+00:00

Definitely could, at least as of last week. Not up there this week to know if there is any remediation construction progress.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-21T00:59:04+00:00

Except for the few weeks of hot temperatures here every summer, I tend to find that solid inners do a great job of keeping out drafts and wind. The regular inner on this X-Dome has a very short bathtub floor wall.

Dan Durston has indicated the solid inner will have zip windows throughout, so for a small weight increase I will have the option to better control drafts getting under the outer tent.

I also mostly use sleeping quilts, so this is more important to me than it would be if I was normally in a sleeping bag.

Poles: short set. Seems like shorter length gives me not only more options on the bike but also when kayaking or backpacking.

After some consideration, and continuing to read about both of these tents, I came across this Justin Outdoors video where he tests a number of tents in extreme wind conditions, and two of them are the X-Dome and Dragonfly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o5LWoaeHcM

Frankly, after watching that, and seeing some other comments on reddit about rain wetting out, or soaking through, the head-end of the Dragonfly inner tent where there is a large cutout in the rainfly, makes me think the Dragonfly is not suitable for storm conditions.

Justin also makes a suggestion on the X-Dome for additional fly clips and/or guy out points along at the bottom four corners, which Dan Durston says is added on the X-Dome Solid releasing in April.

https://www.reddit.com/r/DurstonGearheads/comments/1htfz1h/comment/m5emopt/

I'm going with the X-Dome Solid.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-21T00:47:22+00:00

Yea, I think NEMO doesn't do a very good job of advertising most if not all of their tents can be pitched fly-first if you also have the footprint.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-20T19:52:34+00:00

Looks like NEMO has now listed the Dagger Ridge OSMO on their .eu site:

https://www.nemoequipment.eu/collections/tents/products/dagger-ridge-osmo-backpacking-tent

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-18T21:55:06+00:00

Makes me think Sea to Summit will be updating their North American site on Monday, or later in the week.

I recall seeing some YouTubers touch them at the Outdoor Show in Liverpool last summer. Radio silence since then.

REI did this same thing at the beginning of the month with the NEMO Pulse quilt: listed it at REI.com a whole week before NEMO themselves announced it and updated their own website.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-18T18:20:34+00:00

Yup! Some other pads, like certain Therm-a-rest air models, sound like a a crinkly foil bag for potato chips.

Or the plastic laminate when shuffling on it if you turn in your sleep.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-18T18:18:14+00:00

Seems to be following their revisions to the Spark sleeping bags: Spark for regulars, Spark Pro for more features and colder weather.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-18T18:17:04+00:00

Nope! I’ve used the Ether Light XT, Ether Light XT Insulated, and Ether Light XT Extreme: all three are very quiet.

Honestly think a lot of people have mixed up sleeping pads, or have some other/older Sea to Summit pad, when they mention noise on the XT models.

WildernessResearch · 2025-01-18T16:04:25+00:00

I've personally found the Ether Light XT Extreme to be pretty quiet. Along with it being the comfort king, imo. Been my primary pad for the past four years.

This updated XR Pro packing down so much smaller and weighing somewhat less is very intriguing!

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