Spinning pole decision - advice wanted.

TwistedGripKristy started this discussion · 11/15/2010

I currently have a lil mynx stationary pole. I love it, and now I'd like to experiment with spinning mode. The obvious two choices in my mind are Xpole or Lil Mynx Rotator. I know everyone raves about the Xpole and I had pretty much made up my mind on that one until this weekend - my girlfriend got her Xpole put up and I went over and played on it for 3 hours. From my limited experience I found: Cons The little holes left painful marks in my skin on moves like the crucifix. The finish was really slippery and I had a hard time doing my usual moves like the advanced plank or CAR. The joints, while appearing smooth actually felt quite noticeable especially on things like a thigh sliding dismount. It doesn't seem as easy to just pick up and put away behind the couch when guests are arriving Putting the pole into stationary or spin mode seems to take a bit of time as far as lining everything up and then making sure your alan key tool is handy... Pros Holy spinny batman! awesome! It felt really really secure Xpole reputation for quality I like that it requires no holes in the ceiling I have no experience with the Lil Mynx Rotator. So my questions are 1) Xpole users, wth is with the holes and the joints? Is it really that difficult to take down easily (5min or less?) 2) Lil Mynx Rotator users, pros cons? Cheers!

11 replies

MissKitty83 · 11/20/2010
you know, it's kinda sad no one responded to this post. This is something I'd like to know for myself. What was your final verdict?
Charley · 11/20/2010
I personally do not suggest getting an LM rotator because on the static version your screw/flange takes a lot of abuse and often over time the screw will end up moving and not being secure - so taking that into account when you spin on a rotator you are putting even more tork on one screw. I don't see how that pole could sustain for very long. The X-pole is a good pole - if you don't like the holes you could go with a PS pole. PS pole is stainless steel and a lot of people do find stainless frustrating because they take a while to break in and get grippy and they take the longest to warm up and easily cool down. I generally use chrome all year round but when I was using my stainless I only used it in the summer - and I find stainless overall to be better in the summer. LM stainless for whatever reason seems to be the slipperiest of all stainless poles. I've never had much luck with them and I haven't known too many others who have either. I haven't experienced any issues with the X-pole but coming from a LM to a multi-piece pole I felt the joints probably more than I expected to. Over time you'll really disregard them. The long and short is - I am really happy with multi-piece poles over LM because I don't have to worry about just a single screw holding my pole up. When I finally took mine down I was stunned see the damage it did to my ceiling. And I was lucky that my pole never came down because the flange was really loose. Disclaimer - I do know people who swear my LM poles - I just didn't have that great of experience with mine. I used it for over a year and the pole itself was nice (powder coated) but I'd never trust an LM. They scare me.
MommaBear · 11/20/2010
As far as put-up/take down for the X-Pole, I cheat, and it only takes 3-5 minutes. I keep the entire pole all put together and just store it in our coat closet. So, when it's time to play, all there is to do is take the pole out, stick the dome on it, twist the pole to tighten it up to the ceiling, use the level and make all the final tweaks to make sure it's nice and straight, now that it is - give it a few more good turns to make sure it is secure and snug, righty-tighty the nuts/bolts/screws (whatever they are called LOL), slide up the adjuster sleeve and you are good to go. I also made a tiny mark on my ceiling where the support beam is so I don't have to search for it every time; and since I have a crappy house anyway, I traced out where the bottom of the pole goes with light pencil on the floor too - saves time when I am trying to get the pole straight and level.
miss fern · 11/21/2010
my girlfriend got her Xpole put up and I went over and played on it for 3 hours. From my limited experience I found: The little holes left painful marks in my skin on moves like the crucifix. The joints, while appearing smooth actually felt quite noticeable especially on things like a thigh sliding dismount. Hmmm are you sure she has a real X Pole? Where did she buy it from? One of my students mistakenly brought a fake X Pole from ebay. It comes in the same official packaging, with the DVD and everything, and to the untrained eye it looks exactly the same. But the joints are rougher and the holes are not properly finished to be smooth. (Plus it's also lighter and less secure of course). I ask because I have never ever felt the little holes or the joints when using my X Pole, even when I do drops or slides.
verucablue · 11/21/2010
gotta say I love my Black Lil Mynx rotator pole - LOVE IT nice and grippy and easy to use...have a PS rotating pole too...and I like it but it takes way more effort to put up. Since I don't use spinning every time I use the pole I don't have an issue with the screw however if I was only ever going to practice on spin I would probably use my PS pole more.
coolchange · 11/21/2010
I have the chrome X pert 50 mm. No rough edges at alll...got it in April I think this year? So that's odd. Never left a mark on me in crucifix other than just normal pole irritation, depending on how used to a certain move my skin is. Any plank type moves are no prob, etc. Can't speak for taking it down..I just leave it up and it's a conversation piece, haha. Very smooth spinning, it does grip MUCH better once it's warmed up a bit...day and night really. I just usually warm up walking around it and stretching and bending with my hands on it and with time I can kind of tell if my hands are too dry, the pole needs a wipe or is okay, etc. I never take it out of spin, so don't know on that either. I'd be concerned with the rough edges...there is no way to get scraped on the one I purchased (unless you accidentally touch the spinning ceiling fan..bad idea). Becky~
Audball · 11/21/2010
Yeah im also really surprised to hear you had problems with the holes, ive never had that problem ever with my xpole! It takes me all of 5 seconds to switch it to and from spinny, and ridiculously easy to put up and take down singlehandedly (although I don't take the xjoints apart - just like Mommabear). The base leaves a small ring in the carpet so I know where to put it. Ceiling hasn't fallen down yet, haha 🙂 Maybe you should make sure it was real!
Jenn PoleLush · 11/21/2010
While I don't use spinny hardly at all (makes me a little queasy 😲 ) when I do I LOVe it. Easy control over spins, I have never had any marks left from the holes and I do a lot of sliding dismounts of various kinds and have never once noticed the joints...might be just me though. I can't comment on the grip because I have a TG 50mm so never any issues there. I do also have a Chrome 45mm but no grip issues, i dunno. I don't have any Lil Mynx nor any experience on one. I have two Xpole and a PS so limited experience. When I did actually do a "performace" with my TG 50mm and I wanted to go from static to spin...I had my husband buy an Allen Key in the same fit just smaller, pocket sized and left it in my bra top so I could discreetly grab it and when I was messing around with floorwork I unlocked it... Good luck with your decision! Happy Poling!
HannahElizabeth · 11/22/2010
I don't have any experience with the lil mynx pole but I'm also surprised to hear about rough edges on an xpole and was also going to ask if it's definitely a real? My friends friend bought what was advertised as an xpole but it was a fake. The rim around the top was a different colour and it cracked and broke away making it unstable and unsafe to use. I have a real xpole and there are no rough edges or anything like that on it. Xpole customer services are very, very helpful so maybe ring them up and tell them the problem with rough edges and check with them that the supplier does stock the official xpoles so you can confirm whether or not your friends one was real? I would recommend xpole (real ones!) to anyone as I've never had any problems with them and as I said their customer service has been nothing but brilliant. It only takes a matter of seconds to changes the Xpole from static to spinny... Just make sure you keep the alan key in a pole especially for pole stuff 🙂 It takes a couple of minutes to take down but its worth it as you get such a wonderful, secure pole... a few more minutes is no biggie 🌸
TwistedGripKristy · 11/23/2010
Thanks for all the feedback. She purchased her pole from a reputable pole fitness center in town, who had purchased multiple X-poles for their studio and happened to have 2 leftover they were selling to their clients. So I'm fairly confident that it's the real deal. Maybe I just have really sensitive skin, and by maybe I mean I have been told multiple times I have the most sensitive skin in the world. The joints weren't rough at all just not as smooth as I would have expected, my expectation was to not notice it at all. I think I will end up going with an X-pole, if I still don't like it I can just sell it "gently used" as everyone else seems to love them 🙂 Thanks again!
Charley · 11/23/2010
Thanks for all the feedback. She purchased her pole from a reputable pole fitness center in town, who had purchased multiple X-poles for their studio and happened to have 2 leftover they were selling to their clients. So I'm fairly confident that it's the real deal. Maybe I just have really sensitive skin, and by maybe I mean I have been told multiple times I have the most sensitive skin in the world. The joints weren't rough at all just not as smooth as I would have expected, my expectation was to not notice it at all. I think I will end up going with an X-pole, if I still don't like it I can just sell it "gently used" as everyone else seems to love them 🙂 Thanks again! I was sensitive to the multi piece poles too. I could always feel the joints but I think that's because I was really focusing on them. I was super afraid of multi piece poles for awhile too. You'll be happy with an X-pole and I think over time you will forget about the joints...I did - I don't even think of it anymore.