Alloy tent poles - things that go bang in the night

[Low Roller]

Are those what for bizarre reasons are often called "gothic arch"?

They seem very common.

Would I be right in thinking that it is very often dome/geodesic/semi geodesic designs that avoid these?

Right on both counts. At least you can fix the geodesics on the hoof by buying any old straight alloy poles at most camping shops and using a junior hacksaw to cut them to length. I always take pre-cut spares with me anyway and store them attached to spare spokes.

Incidentally, Vango were very good with my damaged Spirit tent. They didn't replace it but they welded new patches on which made it stronger than new and sent me an enormous bundle of spare alloy poles, probability about 20 sections.

 

[Low Roller]

So, on this subject, I've got a Vaude Campo and a Vaude Campo Compact, both minus poles. Enquiries with Vaude suggest a new set is over a hundred quid. Ebay and Amazon drew a blank. Can I use DAC poles as a replacement? Suggested suppliers? Can they be cut to length?

I would go to Decathlon and get a bundled set of pole sections ( last time I looked they were about £20) complete with end bits and inner elastics. Then buy a junior hacksaw ( or a pipe cutting tool if you want a really neat finish.)

 

[Blue Hills]

Incidentally, Vango were very good with my damaged Spirit tent. They didn't replace it but they welded new patches on which made it stronger than new and sent me an enormous bundle of spare alloy poles, probability about 20 sections.

They did a similar thing with mine when a broken pole also tore the sheath which holds the pole. Mind you they initially tried to weedle out of things as I was strictly outside the 1 year guarantee period. So I was, er, quite assertive and sent a thoroughly boring history of the number of times the tent had been erected (not many) and in what conditions. So the tent was repaired (I was surprised - I would have thought it would be more economic for them to just swap the flysheet out) and as with yours it was a very impressive repair. I didn't get anywhere near as many poles as you though.

It's a nice tent in use but I am still not convinced by its design - geodesic or semi geodesic for me from now on.

 

[Blue Hills]

An associated question which I asked on another forum with no clear answer.

The Vango Spirit has poles which I think are 8.5mm diameter. They strike me as rather poor/weedy but on the plus side spares seem fairly easy to come by.

Clearly it's good to have a tent with strong poles.

But even the best poles are going to break sometime.

So spares availability, particularly when on the road, seems important.

Which pole dimensions score well on this?

Apologies if this is a stupid/over nerdy/over fretting question.

 

[Low Roller]

The simple answer is, to get by, you can mix and match the posh coloured dac poles with plain alloy poles and you can cut and hack them to an appropriate length in any combination as long as it is the same length as the original pole. That's why straight poles are better than the ones with fancy angles on them. The hard bit is threading the elastic through. You need a suitable piece of string to go down the pole and pull the elastic through. Sorted.

 

[Blue Hills]

I know you can cut the poles to length - in fact you have to even cut the Vango spares to length.

It was the diameter question I was referring to in my question above.

I was in Cotswold Leisure recently and saw a tent which had poles of over 10mm diameter (I seem to remember something odd like 10.1 or 10.2) which put the Vango Spirit's metal straws to shame, but wondered of there would be any issues with getting spares when even they will break sometimes.

all the best, an interesting thread - thanks

 

[Low Roller]

My first Vango had 10mm pre-curved poles, made in Scotland and super rugged. Should never have got rid of it. The second, a red one was spacious but caused me loads of grief.

 

[TheDoctor]

In the hierarchy of materials, I'd put fibre glass poles someway below aluminium (of any flavour). Hastily whittled bits of hazel (left poles at home, oops) come somewhere in between.

You say that, but I don't see any posts here whinging about fiberglass poles snapping unexpectedly...

 

[Blue Hills]

Very good point. Mine started to splinter, but only after the barmouth incident described above.

I could have very easily repaired them sith duct tape.

I suppose ghere is more of an issue with cutting to lengthbwith fibreglass though.