We have been given an Outwell Side Canopy to enable us to extend our Outwell tent however, the Side canopy has Steel poles (19/22mm) and the tent has fibreglass poles. Is this okay? or is it better if the side canopy has fibreglass poles?
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You use steel tube poles when you want a rigid upright or cross pole while you use flexible glass fibre or aluminium poles when you wish to make an arch or dome. Outwell build both tunnel and dome tents. They used to make rigid pole frame tents.
I use a Vango Pulsar Gothic arch tunnel tent and a rather large tarp. The tarp is held up by 3 aluminium upright poles and lots of pegs. I could hold the tent up with just 2 pegs (one at each end) but I use more to give it shape and form.
I don't see a problem of mixing rigid and flexible poles in a tent canopy/tarp ensemble. I would consider replacing rigid steel poles with rigid aluminium poles of the same size simply because the aluminium poles are lighter (and stronger).
The critical factor is how the canopy attaches to the side of the main tent, test it near home before transporting it miles away and finding it doesn't work.
I have an old high gear tent that has steel legs, but the cross members are fibreglass that slot into the steel poles. Its a great tent, I have had it for 15+ years and its still going strong.