Camping Tent Pole Options
Camping poles are essential in setting up your tent, whether you are setting up a tent indoors or outdoors. Camping poles hold the cloth and serve as the skeletal structure of the tent. Camping tent poles should be strong, flexible, and durable. A good camping pole should not break easily, should be able to stand harsh winds and rain, and should be flexible enough so you can place them on any surface.
Although camping poles are important for setting up tents, their weight can also become a burden during long hikes. Tent manufacturers are looking for ways to decrease the load of hikers by making camping poles lighter while maintaining strength and durability.
The common materials used in camping poles are carbon fiber, aluminum alloy tubing, and fiberglass. Each material has its pros and cons. Carbon fiber is the same material used in fishing rods and can bend to extreme angles without breaking. This material is used in more expensive tents. Technical tents that use carbon fiber can withstand strong weather conditions, high altitudes, and suspect surface.
Aluminum alloy tubing is the most popular material for consumer-grade tents. These tubes are made of different sections joined together using an elastic shock cord. The aluminum used in camping tent poles is anodized to prevent them from succumbing to corrosion. This process gives the pole a thin protective coating. Many aluminum alloys are pre-curved to decrease the probability of breaking.
Fiberglass camping poles were popular before aluminum alloy became the preferred material. Fiberglass is cheaper, but less durable than both aluminum alloy and carbon fiber. Fiberglass is also thicker and heavier compared to the other two materials. If you do not mind the extra weight, you can find fiberglass camping poles at a much cheaper price.
You can also create your own tent just by buying an adjustable camping pole. These standalone camping poles are usually made of aluminum and can be configured to hold tarpaulin cloths or any material that can serve as the roof of the tent. You do not have to buy your own camping set to have your own tent when you buy these standalone camping poles. Standalone camping poles stretch to 7 feet and weigh only 14 ounces, long enough to build a large tent for six people and light enough to be carried in long treks.
Camping tent poles can break if the tent is not installed properly. Make sure that you install your tent on a flat, hard surface. Do not leave the poles hanging and make sure that they are pinned at the right place.
Top tents brands like Coleman® offer tent sets in an all-in-one package. However, you can buy camping poles separately if the ones that come with the package break down. You can interchange camping tent poles with different tents as long as they have the same design. You can also go to your local outdoor sports shop to buy tent materials. Local sports shops can make custom camping poles based on your requirements.
