Generic Aluminium Tent Poles – Advice ?

[Pierre-Yves C]

Has anyone here ever tried / bought generic brand tent poles ? Like those ones (Wilcome brand – 8.5mm) or these (Weanas brand – 7.9mm)

Is it worth it ? Or is it typical “buy cheap buy twice” and I’d better stick to Easton poles ?

Thanks !

[Roger Caffin]

Both are 7001 Al alloy. Well, that is better than the really soft stuff. Check previous discussion at
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/52688/

Cheers

[Pierre-Yves C]

I’ll have a look at this discussion ! Thanks !

[Sam Farrington]

If you are thinking or using larger diameter (1/2-5/8″), that may be OK, but for slimmer poles that must flex, suggest that it is well worth the extra $ for something that will not break in severe weather and leave you unsheltered. Easton tent tubes are sold by Quest Outfitters and some others. Carbon poles are another story, but I would not suggest using unproven carbon from Ebay, for the same reason. An MYOG tent is a great deal of work. If it fails in the field because of unproven materials, it is self-defeating.

[Roger Caffin]

Yeah, dunno about unbranded eBay stuff. Obviously, I am buy in Oz, but I would be quite happy to recommend a good US archery web site as a source. Victory comes to mind. Archery arrows do get hammered.

Caution: you can buy cheaper CF arrows from some USA companies, but they are pultruded. That stuff is utterly unreliable. Actually, that is not quite correct: its rapid failure under any bending load is quite reliable.

For a 2-man tunnel for extreme winter weather I have been using arrow-grade ‘2-D wrap’ shafts 7.5 mm outside diam. You can damage them (or anything) if you misuse them of course. Search on ‘storm guys’ here at BPL, probably under my name for more details.

I would have to say that 12.5 mm CF tubing strikes me as being suitable for centre poles on pyramids and not much else. It would FAR to stiff imho.

Cheers

[Author]

Posts