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Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.


Postby Jon and Jen » Wed Apr 18, 2018 11:22 am

We have an outwell cloud 2 tent we bought when we weren't sure we would be as committed to walking as we are. We got it second hand for £60 including a decent vango sleeping bag. It is a perfect size for us and we love the kettled vestibule. I've been looking for something lighter but am not really liking the designs in our price range. The only issue I have is the weight. At 4.4kg it is a bit of a whale.

I've been looking at aluminium alloy poles and I can replace all 3 poles with spares left over for £27 with aluminium alloy poles from China. Just wondering if anyone has done this?

My biggest concern would be that most are end capped with a ferrule whereas our tent has a locator pin that fits into the end of the pole. I am worrying about the load here splitting the pole if I modify them but since the poles all carry similar load where they join together I'm kind of willing to give it a go.

Has anyone else tried this that can advise?
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby davekeiller » Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:32 pm

I've replaced poles before but always kept to the same material.
I don't see why it wouldn't work, and if ti reduces weight and doesn't cost too much I think it's worth trying.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Mal Grey » Wed Apr 18, 2018 8:47 pm

I would worry about sticking the pin up the end of an alloy pole. The most common alloy pole failure is splitting around the open ends of the sections.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Jon and Jen » Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:12 pm

Thanks for the input guys. I have found these that would suit.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2pcs-set-2016-Hot-New-Outdoor-Camping-Tent-Pole-Aluminum-Alloy-rod-8-5mm-Spare-Replacement/32639823552.html?spm=2114.search0104.3.1.13fc5f65qC7Ohh&ws_ab_test=searchweb0_0,searchweb201602_4_10152_10151_10065_10344_10068_10130_10324_10342_10547_10325_10343_10340_10548_10341_10698_10697_10696_10192_10190_10084_10083_10618_10307_10301_10303_10059_10184_10534_308_100031_10103_441_10624_10623_10622_10621_10620,searchweb201603_32,ppcSwitch_5&algo_expid=acf18929-6344-4385-9056-c1ae3e8f06fc-0&algo_pvid=acf18929-6344-4385-9056-c1ae3e8f06fc&priceBeautifyAB=0

The lugs on the end could be cut off and there appears to be an internal collar that should strengthen the end. I've calculated I would be saving 520g for a cost of £21. Coupled with titanium pegs with a 266g saving for £12.80 I'm saving 780g for £33.80. I'm willing to give it a gamble at that cost. Not a huge weight saving but noticeable for sure. I will order them and see how I get on I think, will post results up here for posterity. I should have a few spares left over too as the front pole is shorter.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby BobMcBob » Thu Apr 19, 2018 7:26 pm

I don't have anything helpful to add but I'd love to know how the poles you currently have weigh half a kilo? I have a 1960's canvas tent somewhere which has 2 solid wooden poles and they don't weigh that much.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Jon and Jen » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:44 am

BobMcBob wrote:I don't have anything helpful to add but I'd love to know how the poles you currently have weigh half a kilo? I have a 1960's canvas tent somewhere which has 2 solid wooden poles and they don't weigh that much.


I weighed the fiberglass poles. They were around 420g each. The aluminium ones are around 250g each. Altogether the fiberglass with bag came in about 1.2kg. Aluminium should be under 750g as the front pole is about 1/3 shorter than the other two. Can't remember exact numbers but it should knock more than half a kilo off my shoulders.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby BobMcBob » Fri Apr 20, 2018 11:09 am

That was why I asked. That's still incredibly heavy. The poles for my Vango Banshee 300 weigh a total of 350g. That's a 3-man tent, and not a particularly light one. I jst wonder if you're throwing good money after bad and that if if you plan on doing a lot of tent carrying you might be better off just biting the bullet and getting a lighter tent.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Jon and Jen » Fri Apr 20, 2018 8:03 pm

BobMcBob wrote:That was why I asked. That's still incredibly heavy. The poles for my Vango Banshee 300 weigh a total of 350g. That's a 3-man tent, and not a particularly light one. I jst wonder if you're throwing good money after bad and that if if you plan on doing a lot of tent carrying you might be better off just biting the bullet and getting a lighter tent.


Did consider another tent but we really like this one. It's spacious for two and the kettles vestibule takes our two 65l packs with plenty space for us to get in and out between them. Everything we looked at just appears tiny. Even 3 man ones. I should bring the weight down to 3.65 kilos and maybe less by the time I trim the poles to fit. That's about 800g heavier than the vango but much more spacious. It's 15cm more headroom, 80cm sleeping area per person v 71.2 in the vango and 60 cm longer. Small margins but they make a huge difference to us. It feels spacious.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby BobMcBob » Sun Apr 22, 2018 7:08 pm

Jon and Jen wrote:
BobMcBob wrote:That was why I asked. That's still incredibly heavy. The poles for my Vango Banshee 300 weigh a total of 350g. That's a 3-man tent, and not a particularly light one. I jst wonder if you're throwing good money after bad and that if if you plan on doing a lot of tent carrying you might be better off just biting the bullet and getting a lighter tent.


Did consider another tent but we really like this one. It's spacious for two and the kettles vestibule takes our two 65l packs with plenty space for us to get in and out between them. Everything we looked at just appears tiny. Even 3 man ones. I should bring the weight down to 3.65 kilos and maybe less by the time I trim the poles to fit. That's about 800g heavier than the vango but much more spacious. It's 15cm more headroom, 80cm sleeping area per person v 71.2 in the vango and 60 cm longer. Small margins but they make a huge difference to us. It feels spacious.


I bought the Vango as a one man tent, so I know exactly where you're coming from. My problem is that I find it too heavy to carry.... I guess if you're sharing the weight between 2 then your new poles save enough weight tto make a difference. Good luck with it!
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Jon and Jen » Tue Apr 24, 2018 7:17 pm

BobMcBob wrote:
Jon and Jen wrote:
BobMcBob wrote:That was why I asked. That's still incredibly heavy. The poles for my Vango Banshee 300 weigh a total of 350g. That's a 3-man tent, and not a particularly light one. I jst wonder if you're throwing good money after bad and that if if you plan on doing a lot of tent carrying you might be better off just biting the bullet and getting a lighter tent.


Did consider another tent but we really like this one. It's spacious for two and the kettles vestibule takes our two 65l packs with plenty space for us to get in and out between them. Everything we looked at just appears tiny. Even 3 man ones. I should bring the weight down to 3.65 kilos and maybe less by the time I trim the poles to fit. That's about 800g heavier than the vango but much more spacious. It's 15cm more headroom, 80cm sleeping area per person v 71.2 in the vango and 60 cm longer. Small margins but they make a huge difference to us. It feels spacious.


I bought the Vango as a one man tent, so I know exactly where you're coming from. My problem is that I find it too heavy to carry.... I guess if you're sharing the weight between 2 then your new poles save enough weight tto make a difference. Good luck with it!


I wish we were splitting it! Jen is a wee slip of a woman at 7 stone. I get to carry the weight, she gets the sleeping bags and other light stuff. Will go ahead and see how it goes. That vango is a cracker for 1 person.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Nexotap » Wed May 09, 2018 9:19 am

Seems to be my first post here. I'm already sorry for my bad english, since its not my native language.

Besides the weight, there's one more point for the aluminium pole.
Whenever a fiberglass pole breaks, you barely can fix it. So you would have to take some replacement with you. On the otherside, when a aluminium pole breaks, you can fix it easily with a kinda fixing shell, or put a stick inside the pole as a connector.

Should I be wrong ,please correct me.
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Re: Replacing fibreglass tent poles with aluminium.

Postby Jon and Jen » Mon Jun 25, 2018 12:12 pm

Ended up ordering the two main poles just to try this out. For now I will be carrying both sets while we check they are good. They're 701 aluminium and seem good and sturdy but bend well. Bit of modification required but the weight difference is huge just holding them. I have yet to weigh them but will put up weight comparison after they are trimmed. Cost for the two poles delivered was £17.42 so not much money at all.

ImageP1010071 by jon jen, on Flickr
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