what about the R-pole?

emeraldswift · 2012-04-29T13:58:11+00:00

The author was considering purchasing an R-pole for home use and potential travel, particularly to Thailand or Mexico, and asked for feedback on its suitability, especially given their height of 5'8".

emeraldswift started this discussion · 4/29/2012

I have been researching lots on star stand alone and x stage lite. I have also looked into getting an r-pole. The only thing is that I live in canada and I'm sure the costs would be through the roof! But would it maybe be worth it? I like the idea of being able to take my pole wherever I go travelling (thailand or mexico). So can anyone give me some feedback on it? Also I'm pretty tall (5'8)..and it seems as if it's short? Would I get more of a workout from it?

13 replies

Veena · 4/29/2012
I haven't heard much about Rpole lately. I'm also 5' 8 and the x stage works great for me because it's so tall and stable. Even on spin mode or at the top! 🌸
Dancing Paws · 4/29/2012
I've seen vids of the r pole in action. It doesn't look as stable as the star or x stage. I would not imagine it to be good for taller girls. It is just the stage with a mat over it , if I remember correctly.
Dancing Paws · 4/29/2012
Another thing to consider...I don't think it has a spin mode function. It also only comes in a 38mm (which I love, but not everyone does.) I think it only comes in SS or pc as well.
Tierra · 4/29/2012
First time poster though I'm about two months into my subscription. I do, however, have an r pole professional at home. First things first, the studio I train at have x poles (45 and 50) and an x stage. I opted for the r pole professional at home when I purchased my first pole in December. Frankly I had a bad experience with xpole uk and it put me off dealing with them. I needed a free standing pole as my pole room is in the apex part of a farmhouse roof so I couldn't have a fixed pole. I'll admit the idea of piling outdoors also appealed. That left me with a choice between platinum stages and r pole. I opted for r pole mainly because they were based in the UK and so shipping was slightly easier (I'm in Denmark.) I also had much faster replies from r pole than platinum stages via email. I love my r pole. It's incredibly stable. Both myself and my trainer have used it and it doesn't move at all. Please note though that I have the professional model and not their super portable r pole play (which only weighs about 22 kg I think.) I was worried about going from the wider poles to a 38 and while it initially took some adjusting too, I now much prefer the 38. The biggest adjustment for me had been the surface. I opted for the stainless steel version and it's very slippery compared to the chrome coated x poles. However I suffer mild nickel allergies so it's a much better surface for me compared to the chrome. I'm quite a novice dancer. I started classes in October and bought the pole in December. The safety matts come as standard with the r pole professional and they've been a huge benefit for me. I also drag then to the studio for my class which has been an added plus. The service from rpole has been perfect. They even rushed the pole out to me right before Christmas since it was meant to be my present. They don't have a spinny pole at the moment but they are releasing a new "r pole s" soon. They haven't confirmed what the s is but I did wonder if it might be a spinning option. Anyway, I love mine. It's never given me any cause for concern in terms of its stability (and I consider myself over nervous when it comes to things like that!) It puts together / comes apart very easily with no tools needed at all. R pole are great to deal with and my only "regret" is that maybe I should have chosen the powder coated version as a novice dancer (for the better grip while I learn) Hope that helps but any specific questions just ask :)
chemgoddess1 · 4/29/2012
The pole that is comparable to an XPole is going to be 1275 canadian, that is not including shipping.
Tierra · 4/29/2012
Seems I missed specific questions :( I'm 5 foot 11 ;) I took the tallest pole option and it's great. If you want to travel easily with it, the r pole play is probably the better option as its so ultra portable. The professional is portable and I think it's lighter than the x stages but it's still a fair weight to drag around. It does come apart into very small pieces though. The pro version is a metal frame consisting of "petal shaped" pieces. It then has foam segments that fit into the frame and the mats go over. The mats then go on top. There's also a hard base version though I've never tried it. The play is just a frame and then the pole but again you can buy a separate hard base and mats for it. We do summer pole sessions in the parks here and I admit I'm already trying to save for a play as its easier for me to move about when I'm alone. I'd have no regrets spending money with them again. They're expensive poles and delivery to here was quite high but I'd still buy from them again
Tierra · 4/29/2012
Shipping from the UK to Denmark on the r pole professional was £150. On the r pole play I was quoted £80. To Canada it would be a chunk more I would assume.
Veena · 4/29/2012
Nice! Thanks for your imput! :)
emeraldswift · 4/30/2012
Yeah thanks a lot for the feedback. It has given me lots to consider and think about! :)
willio · 4/30/2012
I have used an R pole as my instructor has one and the comment about it not being very high is certainly true...I am barely 5ft3 and it's frustratingly short. Also the one my instructor has is really unstable on things like reverse grabs, I have had it lift right up during spins, ( I do think though that my instructor did use to have weights that fitted over frame under the mat, for some reason she hardly ever uses it with them, I'm sure they would help!) The pink mats that come with them are really good, they are nice and big and we use them in class under the standard X poles.
Terpsikhore · 4/30/2012
RE the height issue... I'm a smidge over 5'9, and I don't find the height to be a problem at all on the R-pole. I can climb, aerial invert, etc. with no trouble. Although if you're used to having 9 feet to play with (high ceilings are rare in these parts) perhaps you'll find it more limiting. I also find it very stable. Certainly the base has never tipped on me, and I really do throw myself at my reverse grabs! The pole itself does have a fair bit of flex, which freaks some people out when they try it for the first time because you can definitely feel the pole move as you spin, but it's never been unsafe. I've been dumped on my arse by X-Poles and 'permanent' poles coming loose WAY more often. Travel-wise, it's a bit of a mission but doable. Like Tierra said, it's made of metal tubing that forms sections sort of like two-and-a-half sides of a triangle. These sections clip together with thick plastic joints to form a circle divided into triangular segments, and then there's foam mats that fill in the gaps. There's then a safety mat that goes over the top of the whole thing, and the pole itself (which is in two halves that slot together) goes into the middle. I assume the one I use is an R-pole Professional, so I can't speak for the basic version.
sparrowhawk · 5/22/2012
For those curious, I contacted R-pole about shipping the base only. I'm a pole photographer and would love to have the portability of an R-pole for outdoor shoots, but shipping to the US is outrageous. I thought they might be able to ship the base only and I could insert a pole here, saving on shipping weight a bit. They wrote back promptly and were very courteous but explained the R-pole is specifically fitted to the base and I would not be able to use a different pole with it. So I'm hoping to find someone who already bought an R-Pole in the US and is looking to upgrade to a more professional performance pole like the PS or X-Pole. Ugh!!
Dancing Paws · 5/22/2012
Maybe you could find some sort of welding company that could make a rig for you???