Hey there!
This is a great place for total beginners! Veena's lessons (I can see you have a star indicating that you have them) are awesome, she is great at explaining things, and if you have any questions or concerns, she and the rest of us are here to give you a hand!
As for purchasing a pole, there are a lot of people who are "hardcore fans" of either Lil Mynx, or X-pole. Both are totally reputable brands, and both have their ups and downs!
I use a Lil Mynx, my former pole was their stationary stainless steel pole, which I found somewhat slippery, but quite reliable in general. I now have a powder-coated, spin/static pole that used to be for sale here on the website (sadly, the beautiful purple colour turned out to be a bit too expensive to continue making), and I absolutely love it. For me, it's the perfect pole!
X-Pole is also extremely well-loved. Unlike Lil Mynx which comes as one solid piece, the X-pole can come apart and be packed away quite easily. Both are quickly erected. The X-pole also does not require a bolt through the ceiling (the Lil Mynx does), but you do need to find a stud to mount it against, as with ANY pole you get.
I know that both come in various sizes and finishes, and this can aid or hinder your grip possibilities. It's often an "experiment" kind of thing, and sometimes you get lucky and find the absolutely perfect pole- and, sometimes, you just fight along till you can get a different one and try again ;)
Most poles run about $300.
I would also say to be very wary of any other brands (you can always ask or search the forums if you find one that looks good! There are many brands, and some are still up-and-coming), and be very careful about purchasing something second-hand or on Ebay. There are knockoff X-poles that falsely advertise to be real X-poles, and there are also pole brands (such as Peek-a-boo and Carmen Electra) that advertise being safe to dance on, and are REALLY NOT SAFE!
I hope that your pole journey is super fun, and I can't wait to see you around the forums, and watch your videos, if you put any up!
Some of Veena's conditioning videos you can actually start doing without a pole, as well- in some instances, a pole is completely unnecessary, and in other ways, you can use a wall or a doorway to help!
