10 Best Tent Poles In 2020

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

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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.

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