Drop + Dan Durston X-Mid 1P Tent Discussions | Drop

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Dec 19, 2018

How do we get a drop started for some carbon poles that are well matched to the X-Mid? I realize I can click over to Ruta Locura and select an appropriate length, but this seems like a classic Massdrop opportunity to pool interest and gain some economies of scale. Surely 5% or 10% or more of the 1000+ buyers of the X-Mid are going to want the option to use in situations w/o trekking poles? So sufficient demand and sufficient schedule runway for production. I'm a noob to the mechanics of the Massdrop site, so my apologies if there is a better place to propose such an idea. I've read much of the 900+ comments and didn't see this specifically proposed but maybe I missed it.

dandurston

5116

Dan Durston

Dec 20, 2018

InertiamanYou make a good point. I'll suggest this to Massdrop and see if they want to pursue it. Perhaps they have their hands full but if not it does seem worthwhile as you say. Also, if we did a pole with a bit of adjustability then it would work for the 2P version as well next year, since it will be similar.

Inertiaman

Dec 20, 2018

dandurstonThanks for the consideration Dan. I think an adjustable version (like the Ruta Locura or similar) would perhaps be best. Another variable that needs consideration is the number of segments. I know my preference, as a bikepacker, would be a 4 segment pole rather than a 3 segment (which is likely the default in the 120cm-ish range). The packability of the shorter segments would match well with the packability of the X-Mid. What a treat to have poles and tent inside panniers, or to fit in a drybag/harness between drop bars. Longer pole segments have often been a packing obstacle in bike setups. And with .450" dia carbon poles I don't think you'd sacrifice much in stiffness or weight.

dandurston

5116

Dan Durston

Dec 20, 2018

InertiamanIf Massdrop does this, I'd really like to do a pole that has a short packed shape like the tent, because packing it horizontally in a pack is important to hiker and also bikers as you mention. From the looks of the Ruta Locura page, the sections normally fold but the 8" adjuster slides in/out of the bottom section. So if we did a 4 piece pole at 44" plus up to 8" taller with the adjuster (so 44 - 52") that would be a good length and would hopefully pack down to 11" or 28cm (44" / 4 = 11"). However that assumes all the pole sections are the same length. The normal 4 section pole is 54" (13.5") so if they just cut one or two sections shorter then there would still be 13.5" sections. Of course if Massdrop was going a larger order they could probably get whatever they wanted. 11" would be nice because that fits in most packs. As soon as you get to 13" it rarely fits.

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Inertiaman

Dec 20, 2018

dandurstonI've ordered poles from Ruta Locura in the past, and even on two pole orders, they will happily do whatever segment length you want, even oddball mixed lengths. A 44" pole segmented to have identical length pieces when broken down would be 12.5". This is because the connecting ferrule extends 2" beyond the pole tubing (at least in case of .450 poles from RL). So the bottom segment of the 4 would be 12.5" with no ferrule, and the other 3 would be 10.5" with 2" ferrule extension. The formula is: Lp = [La + F(N-1)]/N where Lp = for packed length
La = assembled length (La)
F = ferrule extenion
N = number of pole segments

Inertiaman

Dec 20, 2018

dandurstonPerhaps a more helpful comment: doing the formula backwards for an 11" packed length and 4 segments would yield a 38" assembled length. The 8" adjuster would only get you to 46". So if 11" is really the objective, and 44" is the target assembled length, you'd be forced to a 5 segment pole. A 44" five segment would be 10.4" when packed.

dandurston

5116

Dan Durston

Dec 21, 2018

InertiamanThanks for this. I love how you put that equation in there. Totally my style :) Definitely good points about the ferrule lengths. Most UL packs tend to be 10-12" wide, so 12.5" would be pushing it. 11" would be much better but only get to 46" as you say. I don't see why Ruta Locura couldn't do a 5 section pole so that seems like the best way to go despite the additional ferrule weight.

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AraDill

Dec 21, 2018

dandurstonRuta Locura will make any pole you want. Tell them diameter, overall length and number of segments and they do the rest. Highly recommend them. http://www.rutalocura.com/Tent_Poles.html

dandurston

5116

Dan Durston

Dec 21, 2018

AraDillI'm a little worried that their "spike" that fits into trekking pole grommets is awfully long and might poke so far through it hits the tent. It looks awfully long in their photos, but as you say, they machine this stuff in house so they could do anything.

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AraDill

Dec 21, 2018

dandurston

AraDill

Dec 21, 2018

AraDillI should mention that pole is from a bridge hammock spreader bar and a wider diameter than a tent pole. Their site also mentions the spike in their tent poles is made to fit the grommet in tents that use a trekking pole spike.

(Edited)

dandurston

5116

Dan Durston

Dec 22, 2018

AraDillThanks for this picture and info! I had a look at the tent just now and it's hard to say how this would work. I think it would work fine, but that longer spike uses up some of the safety margin I added between the pole tip and the 210D nylon cone inside the peak. So it's closer than I would like it to be even though I don't think it would hit. I'm just worried that if the person sewing up the tent happened to position the grommet slightly higher than spec, then perhaps there would be an issue. So probably fine but no good reason to even have this issue if the spike could be made shorter. For an owner, I would just check this before using it (pitch it and see if there is pressure). If it is an issue you could easily file it down. I imagine it's aluminum so files down easily.

(Edited)

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Inertiaman

Dec 22, 2018

dandurstonWorst case -- there is no Massdrop for poles, and no custom tip length, and us pole-hunters buy stock Ruta Locura poles -- it would take less than a minute to file down the aluminum tip to any length you want.

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