What kind of pole do I have?

northpole started this discussion · 5/20/2012

I ordered it on Amazon from a non-pole retailer. They just had it and were selling it. What did I buy!? ...and I can't get the picture visible. Clearly, I'm a disaster in desperate need of assistance. http://flic.kr/p/c2fdwu This is the base of the pole. http://www.flickr.com/photos/29782600@N04/7234019230/ This is all the stuff that came with it, the carrying bags, the wrenches, etc. Thank you folks for your valiant attempts at help.

10 replies

Dancing Paws · 5/20/2012
It appears the stuff on the base is black? I've seen these poles around the internet. They are nock off x poles. They used to clain to be legit x poles, but x pole has done a good job of getting them to stop. I do not know if they are safe or not. An x pole rep on here said she bought one and it didn't have the safety features the real x pole has. Any pole that comes with a wrench, is not a quality pole. If I were you, I'd trash that pole, call it a loss and get a quality pole from lilmynx, pole danzer, x pole or platinum stages. I'm not sure how stable your pole is, or if it would hold up to a lot of use, but I wouldn't risk it. If a pole fails, you could get seriously injured.
northpole · 5/20/2012
CRAP! It's totally metal, it's welded at the joints... It's stood up so far on inverts and spins. What the hell am I gonna do now? My husband got it for me for my birthday!
Dancing Paws · 5/20/2012
I think Lyme Lyte may have had a pole like yours. You might want to ask her what she did. Did your hubby pick it out? If so, just tell him the truth. It's a rip-off pole. The 4 that I listed are meant for heavy duty use. All the other poles are novelty poles meant for dancing around. Compared to what you could have spent, that pole isn't that much of a loss. I've heard girls spending $300-$400 on those stupid flirty girl poles. I'm assuming this is the one he got?? http://www.amazon.com/Portable-Fitness-Exercise-Stripper-Spinning/dp/B005IPK7AU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1337540030&sr=8-1 It's not that much to lose comparatively, to be honest. I can't say for sure that it ISN'T safe, since I have never played on one. If you notice anything unusual about the pole, then I'd scrap it. I suggest taking it down periodically and taking it apart to make sure all the parts are still intact and in good condition. If you do decide to get a better pole, go directly to the poles website (no amazon or ebay.) You CAN, however, buy an x pole from here for cheaper shipping (free shipping right now.)
northpole · 5/20/2012
The whole thing is metal and it doesn't bend or anything. If there were plastic pieces, I surely would be off it in a second. I think I'm just going to be taking it apart every so often to check wear and tear. It's durable, no chipping paint, no bendy pieces. I was sure that those carmen electra or the playboy woman ones were crap, so I tried to be discerning. Go figure. I'll keep folks posted on progress/ wear and tear. I just don't have the money to go get another pole and toss this one when it's been great so far. Thanks for the heads up, everyone, I'll definitely be watchful for developments.
chemgoddess1 · 5/21/2012
Can you post the manufacturer?
Lyme Lyte · 5/21/2012
Chemical, I don't think there is a manufacturer name anywhere. I know my pole doesn't have any markings and oc course all my paperwork says x-pole, although I know it isn't.
Lyme Lyte · 5/21/2012
Chemical....damn I pad spell check!
Charley · 5/21/2012
While no one wants a knock off X-pole if the pole pieces fit all the way together and it goes up - it should be fine. I had a student - years ago - buy a knock off and her issue was that the pieces didn't fit together, had they actually fit together in my opinion the pole would have been safe. The one you are talking about is a top loading pole witha large dome, correct? They may not be as high a quality as an x-pole but for the mean time it won't fall over - it works the same way :) hope that helps.
Danielle Tillie · 5/22/2012
I've had a knock off X-pole for two years and it's only just given me some issues. I'd say ride it out. There are crappy knock offs and then ones that aren't so bad. While I don't recommend buying one just to see if it is ok (I didn't know any better at the time, and neither did your hubby), if you end up with one and it seems sturdy, then by all means keep using it. Just be cautious and vigilant about it's condition.
X Pole Rep · 5/25/2012
If you are unsure if you have an authentic X-Pole, please feel free to call us during business hours at 888-976-5387. We are happy to offer special pricing to anyone who believes they have an unsafe counterfeit pole and would like to replace it with an authentic X-Pole.