[protechie]

I'm looking for opinions/reviews on various poles for tarps. I would want to use the poles either as secondary for river trips (with oars as the primary) or primary for non-river trips. I'm thinking adjustable height would be best for this versatility, but I'm not sure. I'm also not sure I really need the secondary poles on river trips, but I definitely want them as primariy for other situations.
It looks like I can get either two Kelty poles or a set of NRS poles for about the same price. The differences I'm seeing are that the Keltys are strung together and then have a collapsible element, while the NRS are stack-on-top. The Kelty poles weigh about half, but the NRS will go taller. I'm wondering if folks can offer opinions on durability, how tall I really need them, etc. I'm also seeing options from MSR, REI, and others. My dad used to have some decent military surplus stack-on top poles. They were metal, I think maybe aluminum, but I haven't really been able to find them anywhere. Plus even though those seemed fine, I'm hoping this technology may have advanced over the last few decades.
Right now I'm using a cheapo hardware store tarp, and I plan on doing that for a while longer and using the poles to upgrade the experience. I plan on getting something much nicer eventually, but I'm not sure how much I'll want to spend so I'd like to see how far these poles can take me first, and I'll just add them to the mix once I get something better.
I almost bought the Kelty Noah for a good price, but I just couldn't figure out how it was more than a pretty regular square tarp rigged in a kite shape. I'm kind of wanting to see if I can more or less accomplish that on my own. I'd rather use this as a stopgap and really go all out on a dragonfly in a couple years maybe.
That being said, at this point I would value convenience/ease of use over price as far as the poles themselves are concerned.
Your thoughts on this topic would be much appreciated!

 

[okieboater]

I am going to watch this thread and hope to learn from it.

Back in the day I purchased two genuine Moss Tarps, the regular on and the big outfitter one. I have taken good care of the tarps and both despite a ton of trips and storms are still doing the job better than anything else I have found. Poles tho are another thing. I finally got stakes that work but both tarps have outlasted several pole sets including the original ones. Every replacement pole I have purchased including most of the major break down ones out there have bent during major storms. The only bomber tarp poles I have seen were home made by a boating bud of mine out of what looks like 2 inch plus across aluminum pipes maybe seven feet tall. He cut each pole in half and made a joint out of some scrap pipe that he hammered into one section's end and with a lot of labor sanded the outside down to slide into the other section. That may be what I have to do just would like to buy something instead.

Bottom line, looking for feedback from boaters if there is a bomber commercial tarp pole out there.

 

[Grifgav]

I got a set of these for my noah's tarp. They work very well as "secondary" poles for the sides when I am using oars for the main poles, or am tying to trees for the main axis. The sections have a metal cable shock cording them together. They are much heavier duty (and heavier) than the kelty poles.


Cabela's Adjustable-Height Tent Poles : Cabela's

 

[elkhaven]

https://colemans.com/shop/camping-gear/tents-accessories/pole-4-ft-aluminum-used-6-poles/

This is what I use for my single pole tipi and my tarp when not on the river... You will find nothing stronger and is essentially what okieboaters friend made. For my tipi (needs a 9.5' pole - coincidetally the length of my spare oars), I took three, measured the effective length of each and with a little math figured out how much to cut off each one so that I have 3 equal poles just over 3 feet long. To adjust I just stack rocks or dig a hole. Not ideal and maybe I'll come up with something better down the road but for now I'm happy. They are not light and would be a pain on the boat (bulky and heavy). I doubt I'll ever take them for that purpose. Having 4 oars on my boat alone I can set the tipi and tarp easily. With more oars I could set the tarp higher or in a more complacated fasion if needed. With that said my tarp came with cheap aluminum poles with swaged ends and are bungy corded. I do take them as auxilary poles for the tarp, but wouldn't trust them too much in the wind.

My tipi came with an adjustable pole much like, but slightly heavier duty, the cheap ones discussed above. It broke during 30+ mph winds in my yard and tore a 3 inch gash in my tipi... I'd cauting using cheap poles on expensive tents/tarps as they will fail and when they do it might leave you cursing.

I've thought about the Kelty poles, but really think that on the river oars work best and off the army surplus are hard to beat.

 

[90Duck]

Noah's Tarp with Kelty Poles and Oars

I spent $50 on a clearance sale Noah's 16' several years ago and have used it a lot with the shock-corded poles (on car camping trips) or poles and and oars on raft trips in various configurations. There are better tarps out there, but for the money the Noah's tarps are kind of hard to beat, in my opinion. Get one on sale to use until you can afford your dream tarp, whatever that may be.

Here's a pic of it in use for sun shade duty on a really hot August trip on the Rogue last summer. Not the darkest shade, but better than full sunlight.

 

[RASIL]

I use these.https://www.campmor.com/c/eureka-8-ft-nested-aluminum-backpacker-upright-pole-26604


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[Atomicrider]

This is what I use.

They are 9 1/2' long poles that are1 1/4" diameter aluminum 4 section poles that collapse to 30" long and weigh 6 lbs. I've been super happy with them. Super stout.


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[readNrun]

Atomic rider - where are those poles from?

 

[Atomicrider]

From Dragon Fly


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[Whitewater Worthy Equip]

CONTACT US — TentPole Technologies

Check out these guys as well. I had them make poles for my personal "Pop up extension"and they work great and it was a fast and easy transaction.

 

[readNrun]

From Dragon Fly

I remember talking to Matt (Dragonfly) about poles and he said he wasn't able to find another good source for the length and size poles he once carried. Can you give me the specs on those poles (material, diameter, length) and maybe I can find them at tent pole technologies?

 

[caverdan]

Best tent poles I've found. A little pricey....but worth it.

Kelty Adjustable Pole | Sportsman's Warehouse

 

[heavyswimmer]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kvEeKIn-mI

 

[readNrun]

Even using schedule 80 I don't think those poles would be even close as strong to a fiberglass or Al pole and I have my doubts if it would withstand river wind.

 

[[email protected]]

Even using schedule 80 I don't think those poles would be even close as strong to a fiberglass or Al pole and I have my doubts if it would withstand river wind.

You are right about not as strong and most likely right about not standing up to wind, but I think it would make a fun winter project to find out for sure. Since the wind blows pretty good around here (30-50 mph gusts are common). I'll give it a try with my wing and report back before spring time. I will use schedule 40 1" and 1 1/4 pvc set up at 9 1/2 foot height.

 

[Cascade River Gear]

I second Atomicrider and was going to suggest the same thing! Matt with Dragon Fly is making some really fantastic poles for his tarps, we are bringing them both into the shop for 2017. I used one all last season and they work like a dream and covered fabulous space in the rains of the Lochsa! We just got to visit with Matt last night at Idaho Outfitters & Guides Association show, great guy to work with. Hope that helps, Renee

 

[okieboater]

Thank you Mr Elk

Elkhaven,

appreciate the link for the tent poles

I just ordered the package on their web site. Good price for sure on the poles 20 bucks tho to ship.

This set of poles looks like what I have been looking for and military quality is a plus.

From your posts, looks like you are very innovative at improving gear. I could not tell from the website photo, but have you figured out a way to hook your tarp to the top of this pole system? My plan is to use these poles with my original Moss Outfitter Tarp. Still doing the job even tho it has many years of use. Bighorn and my self had one of those Smith River classic wind,lightning, blowing rain storms. The tarp made the storm just fine, one of the poles bent. Thus the search for a good set of tarp poles.

 

[elkhaven]

I'm on my phone so I'll be cryptic, but I use a hitch, it'll be familiar to ski patroller's it's a pair of loops with the last flipped over....not unlike a girth hitch thrown with no open end... I do set my poles with the female end pointing up so that the hitch has a something to bite on. Hopefully some knotologist will kick out a name, but it's not complicated...

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[dirtroady]

I have used telescoping paint roller poles with some success setting up tarps where trees are scarce. They are fiberglass, adjustable, and strong. They do not breakdown very small though. To get a tip on the end to accommodate a grommet or cord loops, I have taken a cheap roller, hacksawed off the roller from the shaft, and filed the end smooth. You end up with a handle and shaft that just treads onto the end of the pole in camp. It could double a tall camera or gopro monopod. Oh, and you can paint with it too, but that sounds like work.

 

[Electric-Mayhem]

I'm on my phone so I'll be cryptic, but I use a hitch, it'll be familiar to ski patroller's it's a pair of loops with the last flipped over....not unlike a girth hitch thrown with no open end... I do set my poles with the female end pointing up so that the hitch has a something to bite on. Hopefully some knotologist will kick out a name, but it's not complicated...

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Sounds like an open ended Clove Hitch to me... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scL1QXMrB4s

At the least it seems like it would work since its fast and self tightening and you can do as many extra half hitches as you want/need to get the grip you need. Just remember to safety it off with an overhand or similar, otherwise there is the potential for slippage if the line goes slack as can happen in heavy wind.