carbon fiber poles

[MillerTime]

im just wondering what the difference is between carbon fiber poles and fiberglass. how is the carbon fiber poles better? better bend/recoil??

[jhesch]

check 'poles' forum, plenty of good info there.

[Bruce Caldwell]

We use the carbon fiber as a stiffener only! We do not use the glass to speed the pole up.
The use by us of the carbon is to provide the same timing of the pole the same feel, but with a lighter stiffer product.

Our Carbon Poles are oriented so that the carbon is not running on the axis of the pole at the top of the pole. This will allow for a better bending over solution to carbon poles that in the past was a problem.

Carbon is a very a sensitive material in that it allows for a stiffer thinner part in its wrap ratio percentage%.

Problems that arrive from the use of Carbon are:

1. All Carbon Poles require as much if not more care from hitting the
ground, the standard, or the crossbar as do other types of poles.

2. Carbon poles made in smaller lengths are in most cases a waste as their is the need for a certain amount of wraps of other types of glass to complete the structure of the pole.

3. High elastic strength T-Carbon is in short supply right now due to the most recent increase in Defense and Aerospace contracts.

4. The price of a Carbon pole is usually $50.00 $75.00 as they tend to need and use more expensive material as well as more labor cost.

We do make for World Class Athletes 14- and 14'7" Carbon poles in the stiffer size on custom demand at a higher price and all of the 15' on up pole are Carbon Design.

All the 15'6" to 17'5" poles out of a special quad design and some have measured as the light or lighter than other larger diameter Carbon poles on the market today.

I hope that I have answered your Question?82

[jp1667]

I had one of the earlier 1990s pacer carbon poles and it seemed that the difference was that it was little lighter but more flexible than its reg poles during the vault.

But it had same flex quickness as the regular poles. Are there poles that respond a little diferent than pace poles when it unbends near the top? Sort of like spirit poles that have that extra spring at the end. Thanx for the info.

[Decamouse]

Just like the glass poles evolved - so have the carbon poles - how they respond can be tied to how and where the carbon is put - but to some extent that is true on regular poles as well. Otherwise a trainer would behave like a regular pole if they had the same basic flex number. There are various was to impact the "speed" of the pole - but you are fundamentally correct - the main reason for using carbon is weight savings - would you run down the runway carrying extra wgt if you didn't have to?

[jp1667]

That's prob makes more sense on the diff types of carbon poles and how much carbon is used and how it responds during vaults. But I still see some differences in reflex of poles (pacer v. spirit) when it comes to vaulting.

I like the pacer for its lightness but i prefered the reflex of a spirit. If a pole is created that combines both, then you have a nice product for some jumpers

[Decamouse]

You talked about early 1990 carbons - have you tried any of the 2001 or later vintage - Carbon FX!! etc. - as far as reflex (return or unbending!) - or testing does not show that to be true - plus there are a fair amount of vaulters that might say the same thing - ("extra spring") -

[jp1667]

Your probably right - i'm basing my views on the old pacer carbon poles. I just remember that the spirit poles had a an extra spring to it during the return. But i used spirit poles because of my slow response when dropping my shoulders during the incline.

Thanx for the info on the carbon fx poles.

[tim hutzley]

I just got my new ESSX carbon poles and they are crazy light, and because they are ESSX they just look cool. I havent jumped on them yet but I know I will love them.

[jhesch]

I gotta say the ESSX Carbons I have are very light. one of them (14 176) feels the same weight if not lighter compared to a Pacer 14 ft. 140. my experience with pacer Carbons is that they are a little quicker, not softer, though i have yet to give a Carbon FX a try, though id like to. currently im on reg. ol' Pacer, but they key is that it fits. find a pole that fits and the brands will seem much less important!

[wacky274]

Exactly what jhesch and numerous others have posted on this site is the correct...though we all have our favorite brands, myself included, the best situation is to have a pole that fits....the thing i like most about having one brand and sticking with that brand is that i am comfortable with my series and it's easy which pole is to come next because these are the poles i've always jumped on....but the key is, find one brand that fits, and in my opinion try to have your series in that brand, but again, if you can't have all one brand, as long as they fit, they're the right pole.

[skyin' pimp]

maybe carbon poles are lighter, but, i picked up some of the redneck's poles, (he's a former SWT vaulter now in mozambique) and i think my arms were about to fall off.. i don't care how light a pole may be, but, when it's a 5.10 or bigger pole, there's a lot of glass and at that point, you're jumping at big bars and you no longer give a ____ 'bout the weight of the pole you're carrying.. not to say that i would give a nut for a nice light pole that was actually long enough and stiff enough for my fantastic technical abilities in the vault.. but, since during the vault, i've already lost my nuts.. it's all moot