Tent Pole: A Feature To Consider Before Making A Purchase

2008-04-28 11:55:58

( Home )



If you plan to go backpacking for several days, then you will need to purchase a tent before you venture out in the wilderness. With so many tents that you can choose from, certain features such as tent flooring and tent poles must be taken into account when shopping to ensure that what you buy is the right one for your needs.

Gone are the days when tent poles are only made of the inflexible steel. The common materials you can find in the market today are aluminum and fiberglass. New entrants of tent poles utilize carbon fiber which is a stronger material; this however makes the tent pole more expensive than those made from aluminum or fiberglass.

Aluminum Tent Poles

Majority of the tents which are at the higher-end have aluminum tent poles. These types of tent poles are durable and can withstand any temperature, whether warm or cold. If you join the sections of aluminum tent pole, they have seamless and smooth surfaces which you will not find unsightly. In case your aluminum tent pole breaks, it will only be splinted or just bend.

Fiberglass Tent Poles

Fiberglass tent poles, on the other hand, are a little cheaper and more flexible than those poles made from aluminum. There is no need for you to pre-bend or use a special attachment if you choose a fiberglass tent pole. Unfortunately, fiberglass tent poles may lose their strength and may eventually break if your backpacking destination has a very cold weather. The poles sections are usually connected with metal housings which make the joints protrude.

Regardless of materials used, ultralight backpackers usually choose a tent that uses a slimmer or shorter tent poles. This has a drawback, however. Slimmer tent poles have lesser strength, and shorter tent poles mean that the tent is narrower.


All rights Reserved © Tradenet Services srl
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.