Pole finishes

Lucca Valentine started this discussion · 6/29/2014

There ought to be a pole store set up like LuLu Lemon but instead of trying out yoga mats in the store you could try out poles... I have chrome just cuz it's standard and my first like. I'm pretty sticky naturally once I'm warmed up, but the more advanced the tricks get the more appealing a "stickier" finish like TG Studios by us only have one finish (chrome) and it's an expensive mistake to buy a pole you end up not liking since you can't really return it (I think??). How did you guys find the finish you liked?

8 replies

Phoenix Hunter · 6/29/2014
I was lucky enough to try both chrome and titanium gold at my studio. But oddly enough, I bought a brass pole which I had never tried before. I figured if it was horrible I would just sell it right away. I bought the brass because my instructor said she sweats a lot like I do and it works well for her. her skin type is very similar to mine. I took a gamble and it worked for me. my brass is sometimes too grippy and can be quite painful. right now, I feel like all finishes work well for me. the only one I haven't tried and would probably never get is a stainless steel pole. I've just heard too many negatives. I would definitely have to try that one before I bought it. I researched on this site too. I looked to see what all the sweaty people like me were getting. haha! most of them said brass. find people with similar skin types and see what they prefer. but that does suck that you cant try it out first.
Lucca Valentine · 6/30/2014
Hmmm it looks like they do in California but nowhere near me...might have to take a trip before I buy my next pole!
AllysonKendal · 6/30/2014
Yeah! I wish there was a place to try them all near me! My next pole will probably be a TG. I've used TG and chrome at my studio and my SSA is stainless. The PS stainless is grippier then my chrome, but I heard that's not true of the xpole stainless... And I def want an Xpert soon. I've never heard anyone disliking TG. I know people have other preferences, but TG seems to be universally acceptable. Some people love brass, others don't. Also apparently xpole has a powder coated pole on the way. So that could also be cool. I've heard of people ordering a small extension to try out the finish....If you like it you can just order a new Apole and Bpole and switch out the chrome ones you already have. That's the cheaper option, but then you can't really sell the old one. Anyway, yeah, its a big commitment and the choice is pretty personal. It's so hard!!!
Lucca Valentine · 6/30/2014
@alysonkendal omg that buying one extension idea is GENIUS. And you're right, I've heard some people disliking brass but no one seems to dislike TG
Phoenix Hunter · 6/30/2014
I did not like my brass when I first got it. I love it now. I really loved my studio's TG. you're all right, I haven't heard anyone say they don't like TG! interesting. we have a competition x-pole in our studio and that is my current love. not sure what it is. I thought it was chrome. it is very shiny and sticky.
tacha666 · 7/1/2014
We have all the finishes in our studio XPole has available (and once they start selling the powder coated, we'll have that as well). Most poles are 45mm, but we do have one 40mm and one 50mm, because we wanted to be able to give the best advice and have our student try them out. However, until now we only sold chrome. Most girls don't like the golden look of the TG, some don't like the look & smell off the brass and the stainless is just too expensive (and so is brass). So it's not only the grip that factors into the decision. For me, I most times practise on the TG and I like it. My boyfriend usually takes the brass so I didn't really get the chance to use it, but I find it really sticky (and I'm not an overly sweaty type of person). I also like the stainless. It's highly polished and looks nicer than the chrome (the older ones were brushed and didn't have a good grip I heard) and I find it is as grippy than the chrome but feel like heat is distributing more equally when it get's warmed up which is a plus.
MeganJoan · 7/1/2014
I can definitely understand not liking the gold look of TG. that was actually one of the reasons (other than price) that I originally went chrome. It just wasn't right for me though. I'd used stainless steel at a studio when I first bought my chrome pole but the switched studios and fell in love with brass. I ended up buying a TG pole because in summer the brass can get too grippy and I've actually torn skin on them. I love my TG now and am glad I got over my fear of gold. I also wear golf jewellery now which probably helped the transition!
Dancing Paws · 7/7/2014
The old style stainless from X pole was slicker because it was a different polish. They made the polish a mirror finish and now it's comparable to chrome in feel. I have the high shine one and like it.