first of all, i have to say that i have an x-pole and my pole studio uses PS brass poles. i prefer the PS brass poles over my x-pole. however, i loooooove my x-stage and i like it just as much as the PS brass poles. for some reason, it doesn't even seem as slippery as my x-pole. maybe cuz i use it more so it's warmer?
about my x-stage lite: i absolutely love it! i love it more than my x-pole. there are several reasons for this. it's very tall (almost 10 ft!), it's sturdy (still wobbles though), it spins way better than an x-pole, it comes with a platform so i could practice in heels if i want (i have carpetted floors). by the way, i don't even use the extra stability legs so they don't bother me. it's really not necessary, unless you're alot heavier or just starting out and don't know how to control your momentum.
The other thing is, i don't think the PS SSA is very safe! it's not very stable and the pole isn't locked in place. it comes off when you twist it! that means that if you're going in the wrong direction, it's come apart! i try to work both sides so this would not work for me and it's dangerous! the stage pieces are just like puzzle pieces that are also not locked in place so they might come apart as well. also, to get the same height as the XS lite on the PS SSA, you would have to get an extension which is also twisted on like the pole so there's no locking mechanism there. imagine the pole coming apart while you're up at the top. yikes! so scary to think about.
both stages come out to roughly the same price, after getting all the extras on the SSA (carrying case, extension), so why not get the better and safer pole? x-stage all the way!
