Stu, how tight a fit are the poles? Putting the trailstar up is easy with a walking pole as I stick it in the ground and throw the fly over the top. If it's separate poles I think they'd need to be reasonably snug to not fall apart during my hamfisted tent putting up (I'm trying to avoid saying erection....).

Would the carbon be affected by the glue in gaffer tape if I held them together using it?

Stu, how tight a fit are the poles?

They're a sliding fit, if you hold the assembled pole from the top the bottom sections will slide off. The carbon's not effected by tape, etc.

I find my TS goes up well if I loosly peg it down, put the pole in place then retighten the lines.

Ta, maybe need to change my technique. Definitely interested in a pole anyway, particularly if I can add a section to change the height.

When I looked into this before I was slightly worried about it being a 4 section pole as it meant the stress point in the centre was going to be a at a join. That's maybe not a big deal though.

Stu.

By way of comparison, I bought a random fibreglass tent pole in Go Outdoors the other week. Cost under 2 squids, is 660mm long and weighs 79g.

By way of comparison, I bought a random fibreglass tent pole in Go Outdoors the other week. Cost under 2 squids, is 660mm long and weighs 79g.

Well I can't compete with that ... but just make sure you're wearing eye protection in your sleeping bag, the glass poles can't half shatter given the right conditions

s8tannorm wrote:

By way of comparison, I bought a random fibreglass tent pole in Go Outdoors the other week. Cost under 2 squids, is 660mm long and weighs 79g.

Well I can't compete with that ... but just make sure you're wearing eye protection in your sleeping bag, the glass poles can't half shatter given the right conditions

It is also crap by comparison - but just the ticket for a bit of experimentation. I'm really not a fan of cheap fibreglass poles actually

You might find at that length it works fine, it's sideways deflection that'll kill it. What O/D is it ?

Using a ruler (as my vernier is in the garage), I would guess at:

O/D 9mm
I/D 3 or 4mm

So it's plenty stiff.

I suppose I could work out a theoretical capacity and the likelihood of it breaking. In fact, getting a 1 metre length pole that's lighter is fairly impressive as the bending moment is considerably larger compared to my 660mm length one.
I remember leaving my walking pole in the car once, so I used my rucksack instead to keep the tarp off my face

Hi,
Found this today:
http://www.shelby.fi/catalog/product_in ... ts_id=1708

I like the simple telescoping bit. Far too wide though but thought you might be interested.

Stu.

Hi,
Found this today:
http://www.shelby.fi/catalog/product_in ... ts_id=1708

I like the simple telescoping bit. Far too wide though but thought you might be interested.

Cheers Stu, I've been working on a couple of different ways to incorporate a locking mechanism. At present a simple hole/pin set up looks like a winner as it's light and there's nothing to break or go wrong.

Hi folks - long time lurker (well, about 6 months anyway) but first time poster. Not lurked for a while, partly because a few hours on forums always seem to lead to me spending plenty of £££ on something, and I have a wedding to plan for...

Anyhow, just adding my name to list of those interested. A cracking idea, definitely something that's telescopic is better but I wouldn't be fussed what "type" of telescopicity (hmmmm no, that's not a word, is it).

Anyhow, cracking forum, I've learned a hell of a lot already. You guys are inspirational

Hello stu. Any update on the poles? I'm looking for one for a bearpaw lair so about 125 - 130 cm. I've got and MSR one at the moment. Does the job but a bit weighty. Alloy is fine with me.

Zippy, a wrap with duct tape should negate any issues with splinters of the fibre glass poles

Any further development on this yet?

Any further development on this yet?

There's good news and there's slightly less good news.

The good news: Both the carbon and aluminium poles work fine, not too much flex, light and packable.

The less good news: The carbon is bloody expensive which obviously means the poles aren't cheap to make. This makes me think that carbon poles will only be of interest to a few folk, which in turn makes me think that everyone will have to be a custom order / one off. At the moment I'm just trying to work out the costings ... the carbon is available in 1M lengths, so I'm working out the fairest way of pricing poles over 1M.

Brilliant.
What are the price option for 125cm and 130 ally and carbon as well as weigh please?

Thanks
Matt

What are the price option for 125cm and 130 ally and carbon as well as weigh please?

No firm prices yet, sorry. I can tell you that a 1m carbon weighs 92g and a 1m aluminium weighs 85g. They're 3 section poles, so I'd expect the extra length to increase weight to about 100g and 95g.

Aluminium will be fine by me i got a few weeks spare to test the best hight for my set up with my walking poles.
One question that puzzles me is how would i pitch the tarp over the poles with out damaging the tarp, is there a rumber buffer, loops to tie tie outs to, a pole fabric hood and loops ..? I ponder

The poles have got domed plastic ends, they've also got a Dyneema loop at one end. If I'm concerned I usually put a glove / sock / buff between the pole end and tarp.

Brillent

will definitely be making a purchase but will wait to see what the costs are before choosing

will measure up tonight but i imagine std 1m poles will do me fine

good work Stu.