Thursday, July 21, 2011

Basic Things You Need to Know About Tent Poles

By Margie Jenks


Tent poles have to be carefully chosen. You must pay particular attention to the poles if you go camping a lot. Failure to have sturdy poles may result to the inability of the tent to stand. Having said that, you have to determine the right poles you need when you go shopping for it.

Tent poles are primarily made of aluminum. Aluminum is mostly used in dome and tunnel tents. Its characteristic litheness and flexibility contributes to the ability of the tent to create a dome finish. Even though it is highly resilient, aluminum is just as tough. Compared to all other pole material used there is, aluminum is the sturdiest enough to face extreme weather states. Its potential to corrode is its only disadvantage.

Another pole material used is steel. Sometimes, it is used more than aluminum because of its sturdy quality. Steel that are of the stainless quality are better able to resist rust, oxidation and wearing away. One downside in particular though is that it cannot be used as dome poles because of its distinct firmness. As a result, they are utilized for tents of the frame type. Frame tents and steel should go together because of the heaviness of the tent and the needed strength to hold it up.

Plastic can also be used for tents. A lot of buyers would appreciate this material because it is the cheapest material there is. Most plastic poles are not ordinary plastic pieces. They are specifically made to be harder and tougher than ordinary plastic. Even high grade pieces however are not exempt from damage. Of all the materials available, plastic is the most prone to breaking.

There are tent poles that are made from fiberglass. Generally, fiberglass is one of the most durable materials there is. They are even utilized to make kayaks and are not usually recommended to create tents. For three season tents, fiberglass material is the most ideal. But they are not suited for extreme cold weather since it may crack or shatter.

Presently, there are tent poles made of carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is tagged to be the sturdiest of all. As such, it is the most costly too. Superior class tent poles can be made from carbon fiber but still it cannot overshadow the resilience and durability of the aluminum type.

In any case, it is possible that tent poles may get damaged no matter what material it is made up of. Poles may shatter with prolonged use or with false set-up technique. Repair is possible though, if you have the tent repair kit with the needed tools in it. There are some people who just repair damages by using splinters and duct tapes. This repair technique will not be able to last long. Try to change the poles before you even go to another camping trip.

Tent poles are not optional. Unlike other tent accessories, poles are the backbone of your tent and contribute a lot to your camping enjoyment. Make it a point to check your poles regularly for damages and have them replaced when they show the usual wear and tear.




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