lightweight poles for tarps

[sandym]

I'm sure there are a lot of folks on the forum who go with a tarp set up instead of a tent.

I'm looking for some lightweight poles for a tarp to be used on a sea kayaking trip in Tasmania. I'll have a tent but am also taking a standard lightweight tarp and figure I will have more options for putting the tarp up if I have some poles. I do want poles that extend high enough to make a tarp cover that we can stand under.

All the ones I see on Amazon or Ebay seem bulky and heavy. I want something just a bit sturdier than a standard pole in a backpacking tent.

Any ideas brains trust?

[Neo]

I have an MSR pole. It is quite strong and would hold up any tarp tension. A cheaper option and not overly heavy are the twist aluminium poles. Can get them from the standard camping stores and Aldi has them for usually half the cost, $10, at least once per year. Otherwise I think they go for $20-25 each. I like the three section ones.

[Neo]

Nooe now they seem to be $30-35! Still a good pole, shop around https://www.snowys.com.au/aluminium-3-stage-pole

[Moondog55]

You have a sea kayak; what would be wrong with using the paddle??
Maybe a LW padded sheath to protect the blade??

[sandym]

You have a sea kayak; what would be wrong with using the paddle??
Maybe a LW padded sheath to protect the blade??

A paddle works but takes about five times as long to set up.

[Moondog55]

You have a sea kayak; what would be wrong with using the paddle??
Maybe a LW padded sheath to protect the blade??

A paddle works but takes about five times as long to set up.

Could you please explain why, I ask because I've never done it.
How tall a pole do you want? I may be able to help out but I warn you in advance 12mm Easton sections are not cheap

[Neo]

Butting in , canoe paddles are easy because of the single blade, form a clove hitch and slip it over the handle/T-grip. Could do the same with a kayak paddle just need to make bigger loops to slip over the blade I would think.

[sandym]

Poles I can find on amazon etc are like the ones that Neo linked to and those are a bit bulkier than I would like. Keep in mind we are on a 30 day kayak trip so space and weight actually makes a difference. I bought some Aldi ones for use car camping but those will be a bugger to carry for a month in a kayak.

What I would really like is some poles that are a bit thicker than your average tent pole as those are to flimsy and flexible for erecting a tarp in windy, rainy conditions. The MSR poles as recommended by Neo are $130 each! Yikes.

Yes, paddles are possible but we don't want to use paddles for various reasons. Not least because we may want to leave the shelter up while we go paddling and then what do we paddle with?

[Neo]

Could probably find something like Naturehike brand online. Toms Outdoors has a Snowpeak pole for $53 but only goes to 150cm. That's why I like the three section twisty ones, they are about 2.1-2.3m extended, sometimes I take one expecting to find at least one tree or stick even a short one!

[Moondog55]

TPT for 12.6mm Easton pole sections. Poles are cheap but postage adds a heck of a lot, $70- USD in fact.
By the time you add in base buttons and spigots you won't get much change from $150-
https://www.tentpoletech.com/
But I happen to have a set of generic 12mm poles if you are interested. Best option tho is DIY carbon fibre buying from Ali Express if you are not in a hurry

[Moondog55]

Another option is ANSCO in Preston Melbourne
Curved sections 26" each doubles and joined at the apex Very strong and very stable. DIY the angled joiner using PVC pressure pipe fittings.
https://www.ansco.com.au/alloy-tent-pol ... sections-b

[sandym]

Moondog, feel free to email me the details of the 12 mm poles.

Good ideas and I'll look into the other suggestions. Thanks Brains Trust.

Last edited by sandym on Tue 12 Dec, 2023 5:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Moondog55]

PM sent but better delete that email address ASAP