Please help me decide

Mummyof3 started this discussion · 4/9/2013

Hi there! I recently set myself a goal.....once I had worked my way through all the intermediate lessons I would treat myself to an xpert! I soooo want a go on a spinny. I have all but achieved my goal apart from the ballerinas and butterfly. I'm so proud of myself for pushing myself at home and achieving so much since my husband bought me a 50mm static pole for Christmas. The problem is I can't find a 45mm chrome for sale anywhere due to a manufacturing problem until end of April. Of course I want one yesterday! The company are offering me a 45 mm titanium gold for it's better grip or a 40mm chrome. Which one??? Or of course I could wait until the end of April and polish off my butterfly, but I'm all excited. So my questions are, would someone explain the properties of the different finishes, and the difference they feel between a 50 and 40mm apart from the diameter of course.

9 replies

Dancing Paws · 4/9/2013
I did some extensive write ups on diameters and materials! Diameters: http://flexines.blogspot.com/2013/02/pole-diameters_25.html Materials: http://flexines.blogspot.com/p/we-are.html I hope this info helps you. What material is your current pole??? How tall are you? How big are your hands and thighs? What type of skin and climate do you have (dry, humid, tacky, etc...)
flexines.blogspot.comWelcomeFlexibility training tips, pole dance clothing reviews, successes, frustrations, pole dance tips, and possibly videos too!
Mummyof3 · 4/9/2013
Wow, that is all so helpful thanks! My current pole is stainless steel 50mm. My fingers don't come anywhere close to meeting. I'll try and post a photo. I'm 5'6" (168cm), slim but my thighs defiantly meet. I have dry skin mostly and I live in London so it's cold and wet most of the time although summer can be fairly humid. My thighs are 19inches at the biggest diameter and my hand spam is 8inches.
Dancing Paws · 4/9/2013
45 might be good for you. As for finish, how do you react to stainless? Veena likes her titanium in the dry climates and humid. Brass can be tough in humid climates in that is can get wayyyy to grippy and it will take a lot more cleaning.
portableninja · 4/9/2013
It sounds like we are similar in size. I am 5'5" and fairly thin. My thighs do not touch however. I have a 45 TG and I love it. I bought it to replace my 50mm chrome, which I always had issues with. My hands did not meet on the 50 and I was experiencing forearm pain as a result, and I had trouble with grip. Dropping down to 45 was great for that. Not only did it help with the pain, but I found I had better hand grip since I could wrap my fingers. I debated getting a 40mm for a long time but after playing around with some round household objects that were 40mm wide, it just seemed too thin for my legs. There is a gap between my thighs and the 40mm diameter would fit in that gap without touching my legs! For you it may be a workable option. But I think going down to 45 would be fine too. It was enough of a change for me. I find the TG finish to be really helpful in my practice. I think it is my favorite finish. I am sweaty and I found that the TG added a bit more grip than steel or chrome, but not so much as brass which I found to be painfully grippy. I have been able to do tricks on my 45 TG that I felt were months away on my 50 chrome. Others have said they feel no real difference between TG and chrome, so I think it really depends on your skin type. I found it to be different, but even if you don't, then it will still feel a lot like a chrome pole. I think chrome feels a little nicer for static spins, and TG seems better for "sticky" tricks like holds. So what you intend to do on the pole matters too. Hope this helps!
Mummyof3 · 4/10/2013
Thanks girls, that's great. I don't think brass is for me, I don't see myself getting the brasso out every month! I agree I think the 45 over the 40 mm. I still intend to keep my 50. As for the steel I have noting to compare it to but I find it hard to warm up sometimes and I still can't do tricks on it without grip aid, so I find it slippy but that could just be me and my lack of experience. I think I may be convinced on the TG! Just wish it came in Titanium silver as gold just won't go with the rest of my house. Thanks again!
calipolepixie · 4/10/2013
I say go for the 45 mm TG!
portableninja · 4/10/2013
I hear you on Titanium Silver. :) That was the hardest thing about getting a TG, I like silver colored poles much better and they look better in my house. I don't really like the look of brass in household furnishings. But once I got the pole I stopped caring pretty quickly! It's actually really shiny like a gold colored chrome pole, not dull like a brass doorknob. AerialGypsy has some side by side photos on the blog. One thing I did notice is the TG beats me up a little more... I have bruises, calluses, and little friction scrapes that I didn't get on my old pole. But I'm also on a smaller diameter and doing harder stuff, so that could explain it too. It also makes me want to have longer pole sessions in general which leads to more bruises! TG gives me wings :)
Mummyof3 · 4/10/2013
Thanks for your help portableninja, I'm just about to put in my order. I've actually just started noticing that a lot of Veena's lessons are done on what looks like the TG, in particular the ones that need more grip. I'm sold! I actually took a peek at your videos and it actually looks really nice, as does your plum coloured top with the tie at the back. Can I ask where you bought that? I have large breasts and if I wear a bikini when dancing they look like they may fall out when inverted! For some reason I just can't gather the confidence to try butterfly, maybe the new pole will help me with that. Also, do I steam clean it the same as I have done with the stainless steel? I am def removing my wedding ring for all practicing on this one, as I have scratched my 50mm.
portableninja · 4/10/2013
Yup, Veena uses a 45 TG in many lesson videos and I thought that was a good enough endorsement. :) In another thread Veena recommended the steam cleaning method for TG as well. I clean mine with either glass cleaner or alcohol. The top is the Lynn from Mika Yoga Wear. I got it on their website. I'm 32DD/E and it works for me, but only just barely. It's cute, but I feel a bit stuffed into it, and sometimes I am afraid of falling out when I'm upside down. I only wear it for low impact exercise like pole and once to a yoga class. If I was going to perform in front of people while wearing it, I would probably add a bit of sticky tape. I wish there were more choices for higher neckline pole fitness wear (and fitness clothing in general). I know some girls want to show off some sexy cleavage but I have more than enough as it is!