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Pole Quality and Sweaty Hands
I was told recently by an instructor that X Pole is the only pole she would recommend for an in-home removable pole. I'd like to glean some knowledge from many poler's opinions on this. Are they so expensive because you pay for the name? Or do you get what you pay for? What are your opinions on Lil Mynx? I'm also wondering about what material to get. I've read the articles on Flexines about material, etc. but I still don't know for sure which material would be best for me.
I have small hands so a 45 mm would probably be good, slender enough but still solid enough for me.
I like that Lil Mynx poles have the option of taking them down when not using them and they are disguised as a plant hook. Does X Pole have that option I wonder?
As far as choosing a material, I noticed in class (I think the poles are stainless there) that my hands sweat up the pole and make it difficult to do spins after several minutes of use. It got too "grippy" and didn't want to let my hands slide easily. I had to wipe it down every 5-7 minutes or so. It got kind of annoying since the class was moving on and I had to keep stopping to clean off. However, my thighs don't really seem to sweat (very minimal, anyway), even when I'm working out hard. Plus, I have sensitive skin (earrings that aren't nickel free and cheap metals flare up my ear lobes, cheap necklaces irritate my neck when I wear them too long), so I don't know if chrome is an option.
Would you experienced souls out there lend me some free advice?
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13 Replies
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I am not an expert, but i love my lil mynx! I like that i can just take it down and put it away since the only place that is big enough in my house is the family room.
I have the powder coated, which i chose so that it wouldnt be so slippery. I still am slipping though, which i attribute to being new and not having a perfect grip yet. -
What size do you use? And is it sturdy? How much do you weigh?
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And thanks for the response by the way!
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I think any pole from Xpole, Platinum Stages, or Lil Mynx would be fine for you in terms of safety. It's more the cheap poles from adult shops that you have to worry about. I have never personally owned a pole other than an Xpole, but I know people who have the other brands in their homes and are very happy.
Many studios have permanent ceiling mounts, especially those that share their dance space with other types of fitness classes. The poles are removable but since the ceiling mount is anchored permanently, they are as strong as permanently installed poles. But a studio sees tons of people all day long, of all different sizes and ability levels. So the poles need to be tough.
My instructor did not like pressure mounted poles for studio use because she felt like they were not as secure and required constant checking for safety in a studio environment. But for regular home use by one person, a pressure mounted pole is fine. Lil Mynx requires drilling into the ceiling for the "plant hook" mount you described, but it can be spackled over. The Xpole does not require holes, but that's because it uses the ceiling dome to spread the pressure out across a larger area. A friend of mine has a removable 1-piece Platinum Stages pole that also does not require ceiling holes. I've used all 3 brands and while there are positives and negatives to each brand, I think any of them are acceptable.
Sweaty hands is a different story. I also have them and honestly, there is no magic solution. I will have to wipe the pole down frequently no matter what type of finish it is. I have used steel, chrome, brass, and titanium gold (all except powder coated) and I like them all for different reasons. A lot of if will be trial and error for you and figuring out what grip aids work best for your body. But a big mistake people make is mistaking lack of grip strength for sweaty hands. As a beginner you will slip on any pole once you are fatigued. You need to engage muscles and rely less on sticky skin. Different finishes may be easier or harder for you, but if you are strong enough, you can work on any material. There are some general tips and guidelines for finding the right pole finish for you that are outlined in the Flexines blog. But in my humble opinion, I think having the right sized pole for your body is more important than the material.
Hope this helps!
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And to answer your other question, yes the Xpole is removable and leaves no trace aside from a faint ring on the ceiling which can be cleaned off. I leave the ring because it helps me reposition the pole. It’s very well made, though the X-Joint is prone to rotation which is a big pain when it happens. It’s the Xpole’s chief design flaw. My brand new pole hasn’t rotated yet, so maybe they’ve improved the design enough to remedy that issue.
If you own your home, I might recommend a one piece removable pole from Lil Mynx or PS. It is cut to your ceiling height and won’t have the X-Joint issues. We are renters and may move again, so I wanted an X-Pole that can be modified to fit a wide range of ceiling heights. It’s perfect for a pole that might move from place to place.
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Thanks so much ninja! Very helpful advice! What is the X Joint, exactly?
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The X-Pole is made up of tubes (the actual pole surfaces) that connect together with X-Joints. The X-Joint is basically another, slightly narrower tube that you put inside the main pole pieces. There are holes in the main pole pieces and in the X-Joint. You put the X-Joint inside the pole pieces, line up all the holes and then use a wrench to expand the X-Joint inside the main poles. It expands and holds the outer pole pieces in position so they become one rigid piece. To take the pole apart, you twist the wrench the other way to tighten (shrink) the X-Joint enough to pull the pieces apart again.
Over time, an X-Joint can loosen up as you use the pole and rotate in place. If it loosens up enough to rotate inside the main pole pieces, then the holes won't line up anymore and you can't remove the joint the normal way. You then have to ram a broomstick into the pole to remove it (no joke, this is what Xpole recommends to do on their website.) This problem can be prevented with careful attention, and really you should be checking your pole every time you use it for safety's sake. Plenty of people never experience this issue, and I only had it happen once in over a year of use. But if you can get away with a one piece pole, it's one less problem to be concerned with!
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Have you tried grip aides like Drity Girl Poletice, Tite Grip, or dry hands for your hand sweat? You can also get some pole gloves to use. They help me. I tend to be immune to grip antipersperant grip aids. If you haven't tried grip aids, then I suggest doing that on the stainless pole first. If you have mega grip on the stainless, then you might run into overgrip on the other finishes.
I am allergic to nickel. I got a old school chrome x pole and that same week my hands had a HORRIBLE eczema flare up that lasted for months. I cannot say for sure it was the pole, but I suspect it might be. The chrome itself is fine, but the chrome is plated over a nickle layer. It is possible that, with use, the chrome can wear and the nickle can come though. I fear that was the situation with the xpole I had.
Titanium Gold is coated OVER the chrome, so it has nickle too. Stainless can also have nickle, but I have not reacted to stainless.
The X joints are what commect the pole pieces together. They take some getting used to. You also need to tighten them everytime you use the pole, otherwise they can rotate int he tube and cause problems.
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Ohhh okay. Good to know. That definitely does sound like a pain. I’m certain my hubby wouldn’t like that ha! He’s kind of anal about keeping the house in nice condition. Ramming a broom would not be his idea of proper mechanics. This causes me to consider Lil Mynx even more.
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Yeah, don't let the X-Joint issue scare you out of buying an X-Pole, it's just one extra thing to check. If you aren't careless, it won't happen. I fully admit that I used my pole without checking it on the day it happened to me, and it hasn't happened since. The portability factor was way more important to me since we are so mobile.
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Gypsy, I haven’t tried a grip aid but I’m sure I’ll be making that a purchase when i get my pole. Also, are crash mats expensive? Do I need one right away, or should I wait until I’m at least intermediate?
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Gypsy, I haven’t tried a grip aid but I’m sure I’ll be making that a purchase when i get my pole. Also, are crash mats expensive? Do I need one right away, or should I wait until I’m at least intermediate?
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Crash mats are definitely expensive. While you are saving up for yone, you can use couch cushions. You should at least put a cushion be the pole now, but you should definitely get a crash mat for when you start doing inverts. Yuo should get at least a 4" mat (not 2".)
Try Dirty Girl poletice.
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