While many people might overlook the importance of the tent poles when buying a tent, their sizes, materials, how they work can impact such factors as height, weight, and strength of the tent.
So, it’s better to be well aware of these critical points. You can wonder this question: “How do I know what size tent pole I need?”
As we know, a circle’s circumference is 2 x radius or 3.14 x the diameter. Assuming that your tent forms a semicircle (usually like the D shape), then SV = 225 x 3.14 = 707 cm is roughly the length of poles you need.
In this article, you’ll clearly understand how to determine the right pole size for your tent and other common related problems.
Let’s get right into the details!
How Do I Know What Size Tent Pole I Need?
You might have tried accessing tent pole technology via the “contact” form. They have more experience setting up tents than us and can tell you the pole size you need or the suitable replacements.
There’s a possibility that your shelter has a standard size, like 9.5mm of diameter that is common for US tents, and the replacements should be a lot more affordable.
As said above, you can measure the size pole you need by relying on the formula: 2 x radius or 3.14 x the diameter. For most generic design features, this formula will treat you right.
Besides, you can also depend on these steps to figure out the length of tent stick replacements you need:
- Stake out the gent. Any old stakes will do.
- Push a semi-rigid pole through the loops/guides until it is taut.
- Mark and measure
- After completing the measurement, you can order bars from some websites that sell custom poles.
What If You Choose The Wrong Tent Pole?
If you want to have a successful tent setup, you’d better get the right tent poles.
Some models come with different lengths of poles. It might be challenging to distinguish one from the others when you jumble them all up, only making your process take more time.
So, a tip to make assembling more efficient and easier is to place tape of similar color around sticks of the same size and length.
Besides, picking the correct sticks is imperative because a quality set of sticks with a simple-to-use assembly system will make installing your shelter an enjoyable and laid-back experience.
The wrong set of sticks, on the other hand, will make the pitching process a nightmare.
These components are your outdoor shelter’s skeleton, providing structure and support to keep it upright. If a low-quality or wrong pole breaks, there’s a chance that your tent will flap, wobble, or entirely collapse.
Also, strong winds can cause the cheap, poor-quality, wrong-sized to weaken or plain old wear and tear by age.
Thus, it’s wise to prepare the right and necessary components.
How To Repair Broken Fibreglass Tent Pole?
Now, we’ll explain the steps to inspect and fix broken fiberglass poles on lightweight awnings and modern tents. Even when you don’t feel that some sections are broken, it’s still better to examine your poles from the beginning since some fractures can be tricky to see.
- Related: Can a welder fix the tent pole?
Check For Cracks
Inspect all the poles one by one and mark the damaged parts to make them easier to find later when repairing.
Keep the pole’s bundle up to a position where there’s enough light and check the end if there’s any crack. Then, turn it over and inspect the other end.
Next, lay your sticks out and connect them as if you’re going to construct your shelter.
For damaged sections that need replacing, use electrical tape to mark them. Meanwhile, mark those with a marker pen for those that don’t need replacing. This way, it’ll be easier to track them when fitting the new parts.
Cut New Sections
All the sections on fiberglass tent poles contain fiberglass rods with metal sleeves on either end.
The new section you bought may be too long to fit into the pole. That’s why you need to cut it to match the replaced section.
Simply cut a section and immediately fit it to have a complete pole before continuing with the next one. That means you need to avoid piling up a mountain of cut sections because you will forget which pole to go first soon.
Remember to wear protective gloves during the cutting process. You don’t want to get dust and splinters on your skin.
Fit New Sections
First, detach the knots from the poles’ ends. Remember to dig out the dirt stuffed.
Then, cut the knots off the elastic’s end and unthread the damaged sections.
When all the sticks are in position, attach them, detach the slack by pulling the shock cord, and pull slightly more to lay some tension on the elastic.
After that, tie knots in the shock cord ends and cut any excess.
Count the parts, measure the total length, and ensure it matches the size you note down before throwing the old poles away.
Repeat the previous steps to cut and fit for complete sticks with broken sections.
Buy Replacement Poles
When choosing replacement stick sections, it’s necessary to determine what diameter and length parts you need.
Bring the old pole with you if you plan to buy from a brick-and-mortar shop. Usually, the staff will help you find out the size pole you need.
If you want to order online, the sad news is that you’ll have to measure the size yourself.
FAQs
How long is a tent pole section?
Pole sections and shock cords come in various sizes.
Shock cords are available in 8mm, 8mm, 3mm, and 2mm, whereas pole sections are available in 12.5mm, 11mm, 10mm, 9mm, 8.5mm, 7.9mm, 7.m, and 6.9mm.
Ideally, you should purchase spares from the same manufacturer to ensure the look and the size components are as equal to the current sections as possible.
How do you cut tent poles to size?
When cutting the poles to size, go towards the center to steer clear of splintering the edges when cutting through.
It goes like this: cut part through the stick, turn it over, and repeat the first step. The cycle will go over again until you succeed in cutting right through.
Are Fibreglass tent poles flexible?
The answer is yes. A fiberglass pole is non-metallic, used in tunnel or dome tents, supplying a strong yet flexible framework. If your fiberglass sticks are broken, you can usually replace them with other sections.
Are all tent pole sections the same length?
No, of course. Though standard tent pole sections are only available in millimeter-measured sizes, they come in different lengths, ranging 12.7mm, 11.2mm, 9.5mm, 8.5mm, and 7.9mm (tent flap).
Bottom Line
A few additional poles in the camp kit can open up many shelter opportunities. Isn’t it cool to be able to extend the awning on your current shelter, build a safe, sheltered outdoor BBQ space, enjoy the shade on scorching days or block the strong winds?
Most products will serve similar purposes unless you require some specific features. The choice boils down to the size and material you need. So, ascertain that you are clear about “How do I know what size tent pole I need?”
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