FrbraPlex Poles – Bad Customer Service

Steven:

Three thoughts:

1. With oil and other component prices having gone up so steeply — I think it's very reasonable to expect a price increase.

2. Fibraplex actually has EXCELLENT customer service. I should know (read below).

3. Thank your lucky star that the $33 price rise precluded your purchase. Read my experiences with Fibraplex CF poles below:

Mishap #1: Set them up on a simple dome tent (two poles criss-crossed at the top) — not a breeze in my backyard at all — and promptly snapped one!

Mishap #2: Still seduced by the light weight, I purchased a set for my Big Agnes Seedhouse 2 SL tent. This time, setting it up in my backyard but v-e-r-y carefully — I snapped the pole section again! Sending the poles back was a annoyance, but Fibraplex promptly replaced the section for free.

Mishap #3: Virgin hiking trip. First night, no problems. Second night, we got winds (around 30-40 mph) and a pole section snapped yet again! Fibraplex again replaced promptly and for free.

Excellent customer service notwithstanding — I know I can never trust Fibraplex CF poles again. So, as mentioned, thank your lucky star that your purchase didn't go through.

Sounds like a bad call on their part, they should have honored the old price. I can see that you'd be annoyed.

On the question of accurate weights and life time warranty my experience has been good. I have the Fibraplex poles for my Black Diamond FirstLight. The poles weigh in on my postal scale right at 7 ounces which is just under their published weight and almost exactly half the weight of the stock poles. I had one section of the poles crack (they were still usable) and Fibraplex repaired them and returned them to me promptly. So overall I've been very happy with the product as well as their service.

As I can't bring myself to buy Fibraplex poles, are there other equivilent choices out there – sounds like they probably aren't all that reliable to boot…

try Tom at http://www.polesforyou.com/.
He has made several pole sets for me using Easton aluminum and has been very accomodating in providing the smaller diameter poles in spite of my own dubious judgment in the selection.

I've purchased poles from polesforyou as well (aka Tentpole Technologies) and it was uneventful (meaning positive). However, while their poles are good quality and pretty light, they are still aluminum poles — so if you've got alum poles already and are looking for significantly lighter weight replacements similar to Fibraplex — they may not fit your bill.

I think you've all convinced me that this type of pole is probably less than a diminishing return. I certainly have no interest in buying Fibraplex poles and then having them shatter, break or splinter. I guess there is not always a better mousetrap!!