Durston tent mishap
Posting on behalf of a friend:
For anyone thinking of buying a durston tent - DON’T DO IT.
My x-mid pro is broken (less than 12 months old) and unrepairable only four weeks into PCT.
Zippers on both sides are broken due to worn out sliders from fine dust - despite zip flushing and cleaning.
Contacted Durston, who said they would repair it for free in a four to six week period - effectively ending my hike.
They sent me replacement sliders and told me to follow a YouTube video to repair it. Problem - the YouTube video isn’t relevant to my tent.
Now, after following the video, the metal teeth on the actual zipper are damaged. And I can’t replace the slider.
So the tent needs to be thrown in the trash. 800 USD and in the trash after 12 months.
So the absolute top of the line tent maker is making tents not suitable for PCT, repair videos not relevant to the tents they make, knowing full well their biggest customer base will be left high and dry.
The tent when working is incredible. The customer service quality was high. The product quality is poor.
Over 800 USD for 12 months is not worth it.
Ive lost at minimum of 14 days of my hike, 1600 USD (800 for old tent plus whatever for new tent). And if conditions were bad, my safety was at risk.
Not to mention the frustration and disappointment. Or the logistics of organising new tent.
All before I hit a new section of trail, the most high consequence on trail. Which means I’m taking out new and unproven gear in unfamiliar conditions.
Don’t risk your thru-hike.
Speechless this is the outcome.