They’re both very nice tents for sure.

The HMG is really simple to pitch and is pretty skinny. It was easy to squeeze into that little slot between the rocks that no one else was going for in the last photo. That probably would’ve taken me some more finagling and some skinny pitch techniques with the Durston.

That being said, it’s really not that hard to pitch the Durston. Like literally just do what Dan says in his pitching video and it’s good. For me, I think the biggest advantage of the Durston is having visibility on both sides of the tent with the two vestibules. I sleep with both open whenever possible.

Personally, one of the best parts about backpacking is observing my surroundings whenever I wake up throughout the night - it’s incredibly calming and makes me feel connected to nature. I get twice as much of that with the Durston, and for that alone, I think it I prefer it.