Buying a home pole.

Right now I'm fortunate to have quite a few friends who are just getting hooked on pole and looking to buy their own for practicing at home. When I first got into pole I made all the wrong choices doing this - I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was just starting classes, with no friends in the community and I had no one to ask about these things. Well, I'm not about to let my friends make the same mistakes I did. So here's a guide to buying pole for your home.


1) Can you even put in a pole?
Check out your ceiling/space/floor/situation. Ideal situation is a flat, smooth ceiling with a largely empty room and at least 8 feet of ceiling height. You need at least 5 feet of free space in every direction from the spot you plan to put your pole. That means no couches, no lamps, no tables, no expensive vases. When you first start that doesn't seem like a huge thing - you think, how much space could I really use? But after a few classes, you'll be flinging your body around enough to kick something and injure yourself if you don't have enough space.
At least 8 feet of height is necessary. The first few moves you'll learn don't require much height. But the moment you begin inverting and climbing (that's sooner than you think) you'll be yearning for just a few more feet. Ten feet is great, twelve feet is ideal. You can buy extensions for any decent pole to make it work for your ceiling height.
Most poles come in removable, semi-removable and permanent options. Fully removable poles stay up with tension - you get the pole plumb (perfectly vertical) and spin a big screw that pushes the two ends of the pole against the ceiling and floor with enough tension for even advanced spins.
If you have a vaulted/slanted ceiling, you can buy an adapter that bolts into the ceiling - so your pole itself can be removable, but the ceiling mounted adapter will stay bolted in. This is an example of a semi-removable pole, where the floor, ceiling or both mounts stay in place but the pole itself can be taken out. If you have a suspended or popcorn-texture ceiling, it's a bit difficult. Your pole will need to be at least semi-permanent, since you have to climb up above the suspended ceiling and find something solid to bolt the upper mount to, then cut a hole in the suspended panels for the pole to fit through. Popcorn ceilings will require you to scrape away the crumbly bits to expose a portion of the flat ceiling for a tension pole to sit against, or to bolt in a ceiling mount.
ALL POLES WILL REQUIRE YOU TO LOCATE A JOIST. Those are the big wooden beams in your ceiling that hold up your roof and provide structural stability to the house. With a tension pole, putting it in line with a joist will keep it from pushing up through your ceiling. With a permanent pole, the joist will keep the pole from pulling its mounts OUT of the ceiling. It's easy to locate a joist - buy or borrow one of those cheap joist finders you can get at any hardware store. This is absolutely essential though, especially if you're a renter!
As far as the floor, all decent tension poles have silicone o-rings on the floor mount that will keep them from slipping on carpet, and if you're putting in a permanent pole you can cut through the carpet to put the floor mount into concrete. If you're really worried about slippage with a tension pole, it's easy to cut out a circle the exact size of your floor mount in the carpet and just pop it back in when you take the pole down. Hard floors are always ideal, but carpet shouldn't keep you from getting a pole.

Okay. Now that's out of the way. If your potential pole room looks good, then you can think about...
2) The pole itself. What brand, type, finish, and size.
The first thing you should keep in mind about buying a pole - new OR used - DO NOT BUY A CHEAP POLE. Do not buy a "My Sexy Little Pole" or a "Peekaboo Pole" or a "Carmen Electra" pole - even if they say "professional." Do not buy a pole that does not have a brand name box, case or markings. Just don't do it. Do not buy any pole you see in a sex shop. It's safe to say that if the pole cost less than $250 when it was new, it's not worth buying. These poles are NOT SAFE. Their parts are cheaply made, easily broken, they will not support your weight and they will not hold their value for resale. There are a lot of sellers on Craigslist and Ebay that are listing knockoff poles, which look like the brand-name pro poles but aren't the same quality. It's tempting, because they are definitely cheaper. But trust me, don't do it.
There are three large reputable pole makers. X-Pole and Platinum Stages are the largest sellers, and Lil' Mynx is another smaller but decent quality brand.
X-Pole: www.xpoleus.com
Platinum Stages: www.platinumstages.com
Lil' Mynx: www.lilmynx.com
These are great brands, with quality, safe, easy to use poles. Which brand you choose is really personal preference. The new X-Poles are easier to work with if you need a removable pole, but Platinum Stages are better for a semi-removable or permanent pole.
As far as diameter - all three of these brands offer a 50mm "standard" size pole and a 45mm "skinny" pole. 50mm can be easier to learn on, and it's great for building your grip strength. 45 is easier for very small hands, advanced students and those who work on spin pole.
What type of metal finish do you want? I wrote an entire post on this subject, a hotly debated topic in the pole world. Bottom line: if you're allergic to metal, go with stainless steel or powder coated. If you're not, go with chrome.
Finally, most poles come in a static-only option or a static/spinning option. I always suggest buying a static/spinning pole. These can be locked into static mode but unlocked to spin freely. Spinning pole is like an entirely different sport from static pole and at some point, you'll want to try it. Give yourself the option.

3) Considerations for buying a used pole. Ask lots of questions.
At minimum, ask about the brand (!), height, diameter, static/spinning, whether they have extra extensions if it's a removable pole, how old it is and how much use it has had. Also ask if it was a "party" pole - if so, check it thoroughly for damage such as bowing/bending, dents, scratches and broken mounts. When you buy the pole make sure it's in good shape. Look at all the pieces. If possible, buy from another dancer at your studio, or an instructor. Even better, bring an experienced dancer with you when you go to pick it up.
If you're buying a used pole, look at the photos on the X-Pole, Platinum Stages and Lil' Mynx websites. A quick look at the ceiling and floor mounts will help you tell them apart so that you can spot a knockoff.

4) Price. For new poles, check with your studio. Lots of studios offer new poles at a discount. At the very least, even if you have to pay the full price, they might get a little bonus from the company for ordering it for you, and it's always nice to support your studio. But some studios only offer one brand of poles and it might not be what you're looking for. In that case, order online from one of the major brands.
Buy used! In my experience, in the Los Angeles area, good used poles can be had for anywhere from $175-$300, depending on the options. Look up the new price for the brand and type of pole the seller is offering. Be smart, don't buy anything that seems like a crazy good deal unless you know the person. Check Craigslist - LA/ventura county/inland empire is a great place to find used poles!

It can seem a little scary buying a used pole. But it's not so hard. Be sure your space is suitable, do some research first and go into it knowing what you're looking for. Call an experienced dancer friend, or ask your instructor to help. Good luck!