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Tent poles are the backbone of your tent, responsible for its structural support. Because of this, they have a huge impact on its overall performance. But what do you do if they get damaged? Instead of buying a new tent, you should think about getting new tent poles. A set of high-quality poles might make your tent even better!
When looking for the best tent poles, make sure that they are lightweight, flexible, and made of high-quality materials. In addition, the best tent poles should be easily adjustable too. These key features will ensure that the poles firmly hold the tent, providing shelter for you and your gear.
To make your hunt easier, our 10 Best Tent Poles in 2021 article gives you all the tips and tricks you need when buying. The poles we chose will make the tent setup quicker and easier, leaving you with more time to explore and enjoy the outdoors.
Green Elephant Telescoping Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Telescoping design for easier adjustability
- Twist-and-lock secure locking mechanism
- Stainless steel tip fits all grommets
- Rubber-capped ends prevent tears and slips
- Excellent pole weight capacity
Material: Anodized aluminum
Sections: 4
Length: 2ft 9.5in to 8ft 2.5in (adjustable)
Diameter: 0.74 to 1.12 inches (smallest to largest segment)
Weight: 1.1 pounds
Capacity: 35 pounds
Color: Black
Odoland Adjustable Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Two poles included in the package
- Length is adjustable by 22 inches
- Compact and easy for storing
- Poles come in a carry bag
- Quick and easy to connect
Material: Aluminum alloy
Sections: 3
Length: 6.6 to 8.2 feet (adjustable)
Packed: 26.8 inches
Weight: 1.9 pounds
Color: Yellow
Weanas Aluminum Rod Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Six different pole lengths to choose from
- Emergency repair splint as a bonus
- High-quality aluminum construction
- Excellent resistance to bending
- Premium shock cord inside the pole
Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
Sections: 11
Max length: 11 feet 3 inches (5 longer models available)
Diameter: â…ś inches
Packed: 13 ½ inches
Weight: 1.1 pounds (2 poles)
Color: Grey
Texsport Replacement Kit Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Extra-lightweight fiberglass construction
- Zinc-coated steel ferrules guarantee durability
- Vinyl caps prevent slipping and floor damage
- Grommet cap for securing to eyelets
- Leader wire and shock cord included
Material: Fiberglass
Sections: 4
Max length: 8.5 feet
Diameter: 7/16 inches
Packed: 25 â…ť inches
Weight: 1.14 pounds
Color: Grey
Shock cord: 10 feet
Kelty Adjustable Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Push-button length adjustment
- 2-inch grommet tip secures the pole
- Three-section design for easier assembly
- Anodized aluminum improves durability
- Very compact when packed
Material: Anodized aluminum
Sections: 3
Length: 80 to 99 inches (adjustable)
Diameter: 25 millimeters
Packed: 28.75 inches
Weight: 1.6 pounds
Color: Gold
Stansport Fiberglass Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Great replacement set for dome tents
- Steel ferrules make connections secure
- Interchangeable grommet and rubber tips
- Shock cord and leader wire included
- Fiberglass construction significantly reduces weight
Material: Fiberglass
Sections: 4
Max length: 8.5 feet
Diameter: 7 millimeters
Packed: 25.5 inches
Weight: 8.8 ounces
Color: Silver
Shock cord: Included
Coleman Replacement Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Four fiberglass poles easily connect
- Strong shock cord secures the poles
- Vinyl caps prevent tears on tent floor
- Setup instructions included
- Pre-attached ferrules make setup faster
Material: Fiberglass
Sections: 4
Max length: 9 feet
Diameter: â…ś inches
Packed: 27 inches
Weight: 1.12 ounces (per pole)
Color: Black
Shock cord: 10 feet
BRILLIANCE4U Replacement Aluminum Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Removable caps allow pole customization
- Each pole can have male or female ends
- Precise connections for easier assembly
- Strong and durable elastic cord
- High tolerance to bending
Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
Sections: 11
Max length: 20 feet
Diameter: â…ś inches
Packed: 17.5 inches
Weight: 1 pound
Color: Black
Paria Outdoor Products Adjustable Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Two poles in the package
- Removable sections for adjusting length
- End spikes work with grommets and guy lines
- Rubber caps prevent slipping
- Lifetime manufacturer’s warranty
Material: Aluminum alloy
Sections: 5
Length: 32 to 72 inches (adjustable)
Diameter: 0.75 inches
Packed: 17.5 inches
Weight: 28 ounces (pair)
Color: Red/silver
Coghlan’s Fiberglass Tent Poles
- What Makes These Tent Poles Stand Out
- Incredibly budget-friendly
- Ferrules, shock cord, and lead wire included
- Durable and lightweight fiberglass construction
- Removable grommet spikes and rubber tips
- Smooth and easy pole setup
Material: Fiberglass
Sections: 4
Max length: 8.5 feet
Diameter: 9.5 millimeters
Packed: 25.63 inches
Weight: 14.1 ounces
Color: Black
Shock cord: Included
How To Choose Tent Poles – Buying Guide
Function
The main function of tent poles is to hold and stabilize your tent. This being said, poles that support a tarp or awning are different from poles used to support a tent. Compared to tarp poles, tent poles are thinner, allowing you to thread them through pole sleeves. The sections are joined by small ferrules, creating an overlap between pieces. They often have a shock cord inside that keeps the pieces together.
If you need new tent poles to replace broken sections, you must always measure their length and thickness. By doing this, you are making sure that your replacement kit will be compatible with your old set of poles.
Unlike standard tent poles, the type of pole used for stabilizing a tarp or awning usually has a fixed design. Alternately, they have a telescopic design or come in separate pieces (like standard tent poles). Tarp poles are placed on solid ground, and most come with a rubber foot to provide extra grip.
Size
There are two important factors that influence the size of your tent poles. The first (and main) thing to consider is the size of the tent you need to support. The other is the actual size of your poles (how easy they are to transport).
If you are replacing broken tent poles, make sure they are exactly the same as the old ones. On the other hand, if you need to support a tarp or awning, you want to make sure that the tent poles can extend to the desired height.
As we mentioned earlier, you also need to think about the size of the poles when packed. Even if they are a perfect fit for your tent, they might prove to be inconvenient to pack and carry. For example, if you are going to use your poles for backpacking, it’s better to get tent poles that break down into many sections. In light of this, the best tent poles are those that are easy to transport (among other things).
Material
The most common materials used for tent poles are fiberglass and aluminum. Fiberglass poles are budget-friendly and offer a good amount of strength to your tent. However, they have plenty of downsides too. Instead of bending, a fiberglass pole will break under pressure (making it very hard to fix). To make sure this doesn’t happen, fiberglas tent poles are generally thicker and heavier compared to aluminum.
On the other hand, aluminum poles are significantly lighter. They are also more reliable because they won’t snap clean. In addition, it’s much easier to replace a broken section on an aluminum pole. Besides the materials we mentioned, you will also stumble upon steel or carbon fiber tent poles. Steel poles are incredibly strong, but campers are put off by their weight. Carbon fiber tent poles are both lightweight and strong but can be pretty expensive.
Weight
The weight of the tent poles is important to consider because they won’t be the only gear you have to carry. For this reason, you should always go for a lighter set (when possible). Of course, this is more important for backpackers than for car campers.
Generally speaking, the weight depends on the pole size and the materials used to make it. If you’re weight-conscious, aluminum (or even carbon fiber) is a good way to go. Naturally, longer tent poles with more pieces are going to weigh more too.
Fixing
Fixings lock the pole and prevent it from collapsing (or breaking apart). Because of this, you should give them some attention when choosing (especially if you need a freestanding pole). There are several types of fixings available and not all of them are equally secure.
For example, most regular tent poles have sliding joints that are held together by a shock cord inside. On the other hand, this is not the best solution for a freestanding pole though. As an alternative, you can get a telescopic pole that is very easy to adjust. However, it can collapse if you don’t tighten it properly. This is why a push-button fixing is probably the best for securely locking the pole.
Type
As you had the chance to see, there are two main types of poles. The first is a standard tent pole – a flexible pole used to stabilize the structure of your tent. The other is a standalone (freestanding) pole, used to hold a tarp or awning. These can’t be used interchangeably, so you have to know which one you need before buying. A tent pole won’t have the strength required to support a tarp, while a standalone pole doesn’t have the flexibility for holding a tent.
Strength
Pole strength is directly related to the materials used to make it. This is why the strongest poles are made of metal. While steel is the strongest, most campers avoid it because of its weight. On the other hand, aluminum offers the perfect balance of strength and weight, making it probably the best choice for most campers. Fiberglass is also fairly strong but, when overloaded, it will snap rather than bend.
Durability
Durability is a very important requirement when buying a new set of poles – you don’t want them breaking like the old ones. Build quality and materials generally determine durability, and it’s worth investing even a bit more if you know that it will last. This way you’ll get tent poles that can withstand the battering of frequent use. The best tent poles will be durable enough to withstand years of use without breaking.
FAQs
Q: Why Should I Use A Tent Pole?
You should use a tent pole because it gives your tent support and structure. You can think of tent poles as the skeleton of your tent. Without them, you wouldn’t be able to put up and use the tent.
Q: How Can I Tell What Type Of Tent Pole I Need?
It depends on the type of tent you have. A standard freestanding tent needs flexible poles that have the exact size as the old ones. However, if you’re lifting up a tarp or awning, you want a standalone pole which is adjustable and firm enough to support the structure.
Q: Can I Repair A Tent Pole?
Yes. For an emergency repair, there are small metal splints that can be used to connect the pole temporarily, until you are able to find a replacement. Keep in mind that trying to repair a broken pole can make it less structurally sound and further weaken it. If you want peace of mind, it’s always best to remove the broken tent pole and replace it with a new one.
Q: How Do I Know How Much Weight My Poles Can Take?
The most certain way of knowing is if the manufacturer specifies the weight capacity. Most poles should be able to easily support a tent or tarp. Remember that tent poles are built to support a fabric-like material, which is relatively light. If you need to support a heavier tent, aluminum and carbon fiber are much better options than fiberglass.
Q: What’s The Best Tent Pole Material?
Aluminum is considered the best tent pole material by many campers. It’s lightweight, flexible, durable, and often additionally treated to prevent corrosion. On the other hand, steel poles are the strongest, while carbon fiber poles are the lightest.
Q: How Do You Pack Tent Poles?
It’s best to pack the poles in a separate bag, away from the tent. This prevents them from bending and makes it easier to pack the tent itself. If you have metal poles, make sure they are completely dry before packing them (prevents corrosion). Also, avoid pressing on the poles too much, especially if they are made of fiberglass.
Globo Surf Overview
Finding the best tent poles allows you to set up the tent faster and make it more stable. Whether you need a replacement pole for tent or you’re setting up a tarp shelter, there’s no substitute to quality. As you had the chance to see, the best tent poles are made of high-quality materials so they can support your tent in any weather condition. Hopefully, the information in our article has helped you figure out what you need, so you can get the best tent poles that will last for many camping adventures.