End Pole Alternative

**coachhahn** · 02-14-2018, 09:07

Just wanted to put this out there. recently picked up a UGQ Winter Dream tarp that had the end pole mod but needed a set of poles for it. I couldn't bring myself to spend $90 at UGQ (also my wife would have killed me) so I looked for alternatives. Found these on Amazon.
61QzMtRG4VL._SL1000_.jpg
Tried them out this weekend and they worked beautifully! They collapse down to ~14" and weigh about a pound for the pair; best of all they were $19.
Not trying to take away any business from UGQ but these are an inexpensive option.

**BigE94** · 02-14-2018, 09:48

I have a DIY Hex tarp and winter tarp that I have outfitted with replacement alum tent pole offerings from Amazon. You are correct ,they work great after some tweaking to the length. Good find!

**HanginEgger** · 02-14-2018, 10:11

It's always good to have options that you and the wife can both live with.
Glad it worked out for you.

**Carrico** · 02-14-2018, 10:56

You can get Easton poles off eBay for an old tcop for like 20-30 bucks good deal good poles.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Eureka-TC...oAAOSwcwhVM~3n

https://m.ebay.com/itm/2-NEW-Eureka-...EAAOSwstxVM~5D

**coachhahn** · 02-14-2018, 17:59

Originally Posted by BigE94

I have a DIY Hex tarp and winter tarp that I have outfitted with replacement alum tent pole offerings from Amazon. You are correct ,they work great after some tweaking to the length. Good find!

What did you cut yours too? I left mine alone and it seemed fine.

**coachhahn** · 02-14-2018, 17:59

Originally Posted by Carrico

You can get Easton poles off eBay for an old tcop for like 20-30 bucks good deal good poles.

https://m.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Eureka-TC...oAAOSwcwhVM~3n

https://m.ebay.com/itm/2-NEW-Eureka-...EAAOSwstxVM~5D

Thanks for the heads up!

**coachhahn** · 02-14-2018, 18:00

Originally Posted by HanginEgger

It's always good to have options that you and the wife can both live with.
Glad it worked out for you.

That it is sir, that it is! Otherwise, that would be my permanent shelter!

**MikekiM** · 02-22-2018, 06:13

You can find the tarp poles at the US Military Overstock sites... I bought two 13' poles for $25. I cut one down to use as an under-tarp pole, with 2QZQ pole pockets on my Superfly and with my own DIY pole pockets on my DIY Hex.
The other pole was cut in half to be used for exterior pole mod over the ridge.

There is a link to the site in a post somewhere in this sub-forum.

**Cabmanhang** · 02-22-2018, 08:05

Good find. I use those exact poles for a silpoly hex tarp I made.

https://www.hammockforums.net/forum/...poly-1-6/page2

While the poles are a bit long, they work on the bias.

They are a bit heavy for two poles.

Did you check the weight of the UGQ poles?

I think the difference between the UGQ/Dutchware poles and the Amazon stuff is the weight of the materials.

For those folks who have anxiety attacks about a couple of grams, the Amazon poles wouldn't be an option. But, likely, those folks wouldn't carry poles anyhow.

I am not prone to panic attacks over my base weight because:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZUFkJea2Ic

Let us know how they work out long term. I've had nothing but success with mine thus far. Thanks for sharing the dealfinds.

**MikekiM** · 02-22-2018, 18:12

The single pole I use, from the USM overstock site, weighs in at 4.8 oz. It's about 110" if I remember correctly. Two over the tarp poles are 2.87 oz each. I'm not a gram weenie, but I am not blind to the fact that ounces add up to pounds. I am totally fine with 4.8 oz considering how much of a difference the pole can make. For those days I feel the need to go super lite/fast I'll grab the Asym tarp and leave the poles home.