Tarp Poles

“I would like to purchase two lightweight poles for my sil tarp. I would use the poles when I don't bring along trekking poles. They need to fold or nest down to about 24", as I will mostly be stuffing them into a kayak hatch. I don't need them to extend to a height of more than six feet. A four-foot minimum height seems about right. I found these at Campmor:

Eureka 6 ft. Nested Aluminum Backpacker Upright Pole
Item Number: 21500

Price: $11.00

Size: 6 ft. Nested: 26.5 in. Wt: 12 oz.
Compact sturdy aluminum sections nest into one section for compact and convenient carrying storage.


I can’t find a picture of them and don’t know what kind of protection the ends offer.


These look interesting but I'll have to call to get more info:

fibraplex poles


Can anyone offer any advice?”

“I thought Tarpy was Palistinian-American, not Polish. LOL!

I have a pole that came with my Eureka! awning fly and it's pretty good. I haven't realy seen a lighter alternative. I usually use a tree on one end and a stick on the other.”

“aRCLITE, YOU COULD ALWAYS GO TO THE HARDWARE STORE AND PURCHASE THOSE RUBBER BOOTS THAT FIT OVER CHAIR LEGS FOR THE ENDS OF YER POLES. (Opps, sorry 'bout the yelling.) They come in all sizes and cost around $.50.”

“Why not use a couple of sticks that you find on the trail? You might as well carry a tent if your going to add poles to the tarp weight. Use trees, sticks, for poles, and rocks as anchors. Leave the stakes and poles at home.”

“I'm not worried about a couple of pounds in a kayak. Beach camping in Florida sometimes makes finding sticks difficult.”

“Have you considered having them custom made? At this website you can have shock-corded aluminum poles made to your specifications relatively cheaply.”

“I have Campmor's poles--mine are about 3 foot high in three sections. They are OK if everything is taught but they come apart easily if not.. They have a plastic cap on one end that can fit into a gromet. is that what you wanted to know?”

“Is your yak paddle a two piecer? I have used mine in two pieces as poles before.

Ahhhh! Kayakin', now there is a subject that gives me a mid winter chubby...”

“try this solution-http://wanderlustgear.com/poles.htm”

“Thanks all.

Yeah, I thought about that, Nigal. But since I have a Werner paddle, I really hate the thought of sticking that bad boy into the ground. They would make some mighty expensive poles! Come on down, son. Radagast and I just kayaked out to Cumberland Island for three days and had a blast. Florida has so many places to kayak and this is the best time of year for Manatee watching. Manatees congregate in the freshwater springs during winter, because the springs are 72 degrees year round. If you've never seen a live 10 foot long endangered sweet potato, you don't know what you're missing. They're so ugly, they're cute.”