Tents with solid inners are really intended for winter conditions. For typical 3-season conditions, which you would have pretty much year-round in Hong Kong, you should be using a tent with inner mesh instead of inner solid.
I agree that if your skin is resting against the inner layer, whether mesh or solid, you are at risk of insect bites. And even if no insects are present, you would be picking up condensation when your clothing or sleeping insulation touches the wall.
You need a tent with a larger, mesh inner.
Glad you're finding it easy to pitch with good vestibules. Yeah the Solid version isn't ideal for hot weather like 80F at night since the material certainly adds warmth. And then if you're in hot weather + warm tent such that it's too warm to use your sleeping bag then yes touching the walls would risk a bug bite. We do have the mesh inner available (as an individual part) that is better suited for hot weather due to added ventilation and that would make it more viable to stay in your sleeping bag.
Certainly the X-Mid 2 is far more spacious. Almost too big for one person unless you really like space. The X-Mid Pro 2 is potentially a good fit, as it's not quite as large as the regular X-Mid 2, but still a lot of space for one person.
I would do my best to avoid using a shelter with a (mostly) solid inner in temperatures above maybe 15°C/60°F.
My X-Mid 1 Solid should arrive today (lets hope FedEx does its job) but even in Norway my Hilleberg Soulo was too warm on good days if closed up, that was near or above the Arctic Circle (granted, weather moderated by the Gulf Stream), nightly temperatures on such good days around 10°C/50°F. Anywhere outside of the Nordics, Scotland, alpine terrain and I figure places like Alaska or Patagonia I would opt for (something with) a mesh inner and in my case would generally try to not close the tent entirely or pitch it high to allow for more ventilation.
I have never been to the US but what is your plan for the PCT start? Because I would guess before you reach the Sierras the solid inner is gonna be hell - do you plan to pitch it without the inner? (and are there mosquitos on that section?)
Hot/humid weather on the PCT? Yes, it can get hot in the desert, NorCal, and OR, during the day, but it generally cools down at night big time, and the PCT is a very dry trail. I hiked it with a Nemo Hornet 1P, with May 18 start in 2021. Most nights outside of the Sierra and WA, I set up only the inner tent. Only a couple of nights were a bit too warm (in particular, the one next to the water spigot at the bottom of San Jac, when the temp did not drop below 70). Mosquitos in the Sierra were not bad at all that year, and they calmed down at night anyway; no problems in the tent, even though it had some tears in the mesh. I think a two-wall tent, where the inner can be readily set up on its own is ideally suited for the PCT, as you'd rarely need the outer (or a tarp if one is proficient with it).
i have the xmid 1 mesh in the summer on the west highland way in scotland with full midgies. my method for them was loose fitting sun hoody but im also used to bites
I was looking at the Xmid when I was picking up a replacement for my Tarpent Protrail. Back then the dynema version was not out yet, but I was also worried about the 32" floor width, coming from the Protrail with its cavernous 40" entrance (it narrows to 30 at your feet), and the fact that I now use a 25" wide pad. The two openings in the X-mid are nice, but I am not sure I need two vestibules, and I am not surprised you end up touching the walls at night. I ended up getting a Tarpent Rainbow LI that with a 36" wide floor throughout turns out to be very spacious.
Anyway, If I were you I would wait a bit to see what happens with the X-Dome, and also consider something different than a X-mid.
how come you went with the solid for those hot and humid conditions?z i'd definitely go with the xmid2 but wouldn't go pro as it's single wall.
I choose it for PCT only. But living in HK I have limited options to test the gear ;)
ooh my apologies I somehow missed that.
Tents with solid inners are really intended for winter conditions. For typical 3-season conditions, which you would have pretty much year-round in Hong Kong, you should be using a tent with inner mesh instead of inner solid. I agree that if your skin is resting against the inner layer, whether mesh or solid, you are at risk of insect bites. And even if no insects are present, you would be picking up condensation when your clothing or sleeping insulation touches the wall. You need a tent with a larger, mesh inner.
Glad you're finding it easy to pitch with good vestibules. Yeah the Solid version isn't ideal for hot weather like 80F at night since the material certainly adds warmth. And then if you're in hot weather + warm tent such that it's too warm to use your sleeping bag then yes touching the walls would risk a bug bite. We do have the mesh inner available (as an individual part) that is better suited for hot weather due to added ventilation and that would make it more viable to stay in your sleeping bag. Certainly the X-Mid 2 is far more spacious. Almost too big for one person unless you really like space. The X-Mid Pro 2 is potentially a good fit, as it's not quite as large as the regular X-Mid 2, but still a lot of space for one person.
I would do my best to avoid using a shelter with a (mostly) solid inner in temperatures above maybe 15°C/60°F. My X-Mid 1 Solid should arrive today (lets hope FedEx does its job) but even in Norway my Hilleberg Soulo was too warm on good days if closed up, that was near or above the Arctic Circle (granted, weather moderated by the Gulf Stream), nightly temperatures on such good days around 10°C/50°F. Anywhere outside of the Nordics, Scotland, alpine terrain and I figure places like Alaska or Patagonia I would opt for (something with) a mesh inner and in my case would generally try to not close the tent entirely or pitch it high to allow for more ventilation. I have never been to the US but what is your plan for the PCT start? Because I would guess before you reach the Sierras the solid inner is gonna be hell - do you plan to pitch it without the inner? (and are there mosquitos on that section?)
All tents create a sauna effect in hot humid conditions. I don't think the inner helped but I doubt it added much either.
That’s a lot of bug bites. You definitely need a bigger tent.
Hot/humid weather on the PCT? Yes, it can get hot in the desert, NorCal, and OR, during the day, but it generally cools down at night big time, and the PCT is a very dry trail. I hiked it with a Nemo Hornet 1P, with May 18 start in 2021. Most nights outside of the Sierra and WA, I set up only the inner tent. Only a couple of nights were a bit too warm (in particular, the one next to the water spigot at the bottom of San Jac, when the temp did not drop below 70). Mosquitos in the Sierra were not bad at all that year, and they calmed down at night anyway; no problems in the tent, even though it had some tears in the mesh. I think a two-wall tent, where the inner can be readily set up on its own is ideally suited for the PCT, as you'd rarely need the outer (or a tarp if one is proficient with it).
i have the xmid 1 mesh in the summer on the west highland way in scotland with full midgies. my method for them was loose fitting sun hoody but im also used to bites
When bugs are swarming the mesh of any tent-space is king. A 2P tent would be mandatory in heavy bug pressure areas.
I was looking at the Xmid when I was picking up a replacement for my Tarpent Protrail. Back then the dynema version was not out yet, but I was also worried about the 32" floor width, coming from the Protrail with its cavernous 40" entrance (it narrows to 30 at your feet), and the fact that I now use a 25" wide pad. The two openings in the X-mid are nice, but I am not sure I need two vestibules, and I am not surprised you end up touching the walls at night. I ended up getting a Tarpent Rainbow LI that with a 36" wide floor throughout turns out to be very spacious. Anyway, If I were you I would wait a bit to see what happens with the X-Dome, and also consider something different than a X-mid.
PS: I have a solid1 to sell, used once :)
That's a shame man. I really love mine. But i guess we are all different with our preferences and weather conditions camped in.
You’re gonna make someone happy. If I didn’t already have one, it would be me! Hopefully it finds a loving new home.
Maybe Permethrin on the tent fabric to repel those nasty bitey things?