carbon fiber tent poles

[MedicineMan]

For those of you who want to shave ever ounce and still cary a tent that requires poles, consider switching out your OME aluminum poles with carbon fiber poles. The only company that produces such for hikers/backpackers is Fibraplex and you can check out their website here:

http://www.fibraplex.com/tentpoles.asp

The site has an interesting engine that builds the pole in a spreadsheet format and shows you the theoretical weight of the end product that you will recieve.
My wait time was a little over 3 weeks and the pole recieved was exactly as depicted in the spreadsheet.

This last hike on the AT I used the carbon-fiber pole in my Hilleberg Akto. This tent uses only one pole and during my stay on Raven Cliffs the tent and pole were subjected to 20-30mph winds (as reported by the weather service in the area)....the tent did not flap and the pole did its job.

Its all a matter of a couple of ounces here and there and if your tent uses two or more poles the 2-3 once per pole savings could turn into a half pound of weight savings.......something to think about when you are climbing out of Wesser eh?

[Papa Bear]

The Sierra Designs "Ultra Light Year" also uses carbon fiber poles (they're not really poles, more like hoops). This is a variant on the "Light Year" which uses Aluminum. (Both Light Years are essentially one-man versions of the popular Clip Flashlight).

I got the Ultra Light year last year and was happy with it. It weighs a total of 3 lb. 3 oz. I called SD about something and they volunteered that the rear hoop was slightly undersized as shipped, so they shipped another one (about 2 in. longer). Good company.

BUT for saving about 1/2 pound you pay something like $100 more.

Pb

[chris]

For those of you who do not use trekking poles and want to use a tarp with a pole, fibraplex also has single poles of lengths 36, 42,and 48 inches.
weights are around an ounce, depending on length. Costs are around $20.

[Jeff]

I had two hikers tell me the Sierra Designs "Ultra Light Year" carbon fiber poles broke during their hike. SD did replace them N/C ..... but I am wondering if all carbon fiber poles are brittle and fail this way???

[pdhoffman]

The 2003 Sierra Designs Ultra Light Year CD tent has gone back to aluminum poles. I was wondering why the price had dropped from $350 to $189. In fact, none of the SD tents seem to be using the carbon fiber poles. Sounds like there is a reliability issue with the carbon fiber poles, and SD probably got tired of replacing them. Looking at the new Backpacker gear issue, I didn't see anyone using carbon fiber poles.

I got a slightly used Ultra last year from a guy. The instructions are very clear about not letting the pole sections snap together. However, this is not easy to do when you are in a hurry - like setting up in the rain. I think the failure mechanism is that carbon fiber starts splitting at the end there the metal tip is inserted.

[Dan Bowen]

SIMVA2020 thank you for the info . You have just helped me lighten up my favorate tent:banana

[Papa Bear]

I got the replacement carbon fiber poles from SD, as I said above, not because they broke but just cause I called SD about something else (about the foot print actually).

The SD guy said the shorter version caused the curvature to be too sharp and that was why they were prone to breaking. Mine didn't break, but the new longer ones are slightly easier to use.

I guess if mine ever do break I'll be getting aluminum replacements. So I'll enjoy them while I have them. And I'll go easy about snaping them.

Pb

[MedicineMan]

if anything from sailboarding with carbon fiber masts and stays for many years I would bet the aluminum pole to break before carbon but it is always one of those bell shaped curve things...the arc of the pole in the Akto is very long and the tension not as apparent with the carbon then as with the aluminum OME......anyway it will be moot soon as get this hammock thing up and running in colder weather

[Scorpion]

Jeff - I also had a pole break on my ultra light year. It was the front pole during a trip last fall. Glad I had some duct tape with me. I made a splint out of a tree branch and taped it to my pole for the night. It worked out fine. I really did need the tent that night as it rained hard around 2 in the morning. I sent it back and sierra designs sent me a new one - no questions asked. My tent with nine 6" titanium stakes weighs 2 pounds 15.6 ounces.
I wondered when I saw the new price for the tent, and it makes sense if they changed poles. I wonder though if they sent me back a new carbon fiber or aluminum pole. I'll have to take a look at it. I used it in December and really didn't notice any difference, so guess it's another carbon fiber pole. After hearing that others are also having broken poles I'll really be carfull with mine in the future. Scorpion