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Don't waste $300 on those carbon fiber telescoping poles for tree work
I bought a set of those fancy carbon fiber telescoping poles last spring from a online arborist supplier. Thought they'd be lighter and easier to use for getting up into those tall oaks around here. First couple weeks they were nice, real light in the hands. But on the third big job up near Lake Placid, one of the sections just cracked while I was trying to extend it to about 35 feet. No warning, just a sharp snap and the whole thing collapsed. Cost me $300 plus shipping and I had to scramble to finish the job with my old fiberglass pole. The warranty process was a nightmare too, took about 6 weeks and they only gave me store credit. Has anyone else had bad luck with these high-end poles or is it just me?
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margaret_chen4mo ago
Carbon fiber poles just aren't built for real tree work. That same snap happened to me with a different brand, right at the locking joint. Warranty took forever and they sent a replacement that felt flimsy too. Fiberglass poles might be heavier but they don't let you down mid-job.
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perry.karen4mo ago
Huh, gotta push back here @margaret_chen. My carbon fiber poles have been solid for years, no snaps even on rough days. Maybe you just got a bad batch or the brand you tried was cutting corners. Heavy fiberglass poles wear out your arms by lunchtime and they bend over time, which is just as bad as snapping in my book.
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craig.tessa3mo ago
One thing people don't talk about enough is how much temperature affects carbon fiber poles. I've noticed mine get noticeably more brittle when working in cold weather, like below freezing. Had a set crack right at a twist-lock joint during a winter pruning job, and the manufacturer basically said that's a known issue with carbon composites in low temps. Fiberglass just handles that temperature swing without any surprises.
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