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Camping under canvas - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations

Topic: tent pole options!!!

billy64

08/3/2011 at 9:22pm
Location: north yorkshire
Outfit: vango zetes 200

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Hi everyone. I was wondering if its possible to use STEEL POLES in place of the POWERFLEX FIBREGLASS POLES as supplied as manufacturer equipment. I am looking to purchase a VANGO ORCHY 500 or ICARUS 400. Or even a COLEMAN COASTLINE 4. Snapping poles whilst asleep in wet & wild weather not my idea of fun!!!

All advice/tips welcome

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arsenaldes

08/3/2011 at 10:52pm
Location: Aston Clinton
Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River*

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You would have to have them made up to suit the curve of the fibreglass ones and I think the cost would put you off.

Sceptical Camper

08/3/2011 at 11:14pm
Location: Beautiful Warwickshire
Outfit: Various tents

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Vango do supply some of their larger tunnel tents with steel poles - the Marano rings a bell.

The point is the different types of pole are not interchangeable between tent ranges - as a generalisation, tents are designed for either flexible poles to hold everything in tension or for the rigidity of steel poles to support everything.

Fibreglass (and alloy) poles are unlikely to snap in anything but the very strongest winds as long as the tent is pitched properly and guyed out correctly and adequately - the poles are more prone to snapping during assembly while being flexed into position.

Finnboy

09/3/2011 at 5:34am
Location: Medway Kent
Outfit: Base Sec 4.2 Base Sec 2 Sec+III

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A good compromise are tents with metal side poles and fibreglass poles arching over the roof area.

The steel poles will take the full brunt of the winds and the roof poles will just flex as the tents moves in the wind.

Something to bear in mind with all fibreglass poles is to treat them with respect. Not just assembly but even placing them on the ground ready for assembly or packing. Ive seen people just throwing the poles on the floor as if they were steel poles. Fibreglass poles can stress fracture from that type of handling. They may not let you down right away and the damage is probably not even visible... but when you really need them to hold firm is just the moment that hidden fracture can become a full break....

Retro fitting steel poles would be costly and problematic as has been said.

Better to decide your tent choice factoring in your desire to have steel poles in my opinion.

-------------
(Quechua popup addict!)
Planned for next year, hopefully!

Summer Solstice wild camp.

Chilled in a Field, July.

Crantock, August. Fouth year with the fantastic Quechua Base Seconds 4.2!
..... and the odd night wild camping in my Argos 1 man tent...

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Sceptical Camper

09/3/2011 at 8:59am
Location: Beautiful Warwickshire
Outfit: Various tents

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Quote: Originally posted by Finnboy on 09/3/2011
...bear in mind with all fibreglass poles is to treat them with respect.... even placing them on the ground ready for assembly or packing. Ive seen people just throwing the poles on the floor as if they were steel poles.

Absolutely right Finn. After all, they're made of, er, fibres of glass bonded with resin.

Quote: Originally posted by Finnboy on 09/3/2011
Better to decide your tent choice factoring in your desire to have steel poles in my opinion.

Yup, I agree. A similar question arose here on UKCS about replacing a fibreglass poleset with alloy - in that case, the cost would've been considerably more than the original price of the whole tent. The advantage wasn't that great in any case because alloy poles can break or bend too.

Even steel poles will bend if misused. And, of course, they are a lot heavier than alloy or fibreglass.

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