In　the　primary　control　layer　of　DC　microgrids,　engineers　usually　select　the　control　gains　with　a　robust　design　strategy　(i.e.,　the　worst　case　study),　aiming　to　ensure　stable　operation　of　the　system　with　the　presence　of　large-signal　disturbances.　However　it　will　inevitably　result　in　degraded　nominal　control　performance.　To　this　end,　a　compromise　between　dynamic　performance　and　system　stability　appears　and　how　to　reconcile　it　is　a　challenging　task.　In　this　context,　we　propose　a　novel　adaptive　control　strategy　aiming　to　pursue　a　balance　between　the　above　two　properties.　Firstly,　a　higher-order　sliding　mode　observation　technique　is　employed　to　estimate　the　disturbance　variations　within　a　finite　time.　Secondly,　an　adaptive　gain　regulation　mechanism　is　designed　in　an　easy-implementable　fashion.　Finally,　by　combing　the　feedforward　decoupling　procedure　and　the　adaptive　feedback　scheme,　the　control　performance　of　the　DC　microgrids　can　be　adjusted　adaptively　in　different　working　conditions.　Through　the　above　design　produces,　the　proposed　controller　will　bring　the　following　new　features:　1)　The　robustness　redundancy　of　existing　robust　control　strategies　can　be　essentially　avoided.　2)　The　balance　between　dynamic　performance　and　system　stability　is　achieved.　3)　The　self-tuning　regulation　facilitates　the　process　of　gain　selection　and　the　concise　adaptive　structure　can　be　easily　utilized　in　practical　implementation.　The　efficacy　of　the　proposed　controller　is　verified　by　both　simulation　and　experiment　results.　©　2010-2012　IEEE.