Pole dancing in isolation – tips and tricks to get the best pole fit for your home
Image taken by Perfect Pole Photography
I told my partner I was looking into buying a home pole, and his immediate response was:
‘Absolutely not! I’ve seen polelols.’
Since he unfortunately has a point that ending up in the hospital during a global pandemic is a truly terrible idea, I’ve put together this buyers guide, and list of safety tips, if you’re trying to get your hands on the only thing worth panic buying right now.
Where should I buy my pole from in Australia?
Xpole have the reputation for making the safest poles around, and they are getting a new shipment in soon. So if you’re on the market for a home pole, be sure to check their website regularly.
Pussycat poles are fantastic poles, and there are a number of second-hand ones on Gumtree at the moment for excellent prices.
Lupit offer great poles (although there is no direct Australian branch). You can buy them off other websites such as fairypolemother, but right now they are out of stock.
DO NOT buy your pole from wish.com, or cheap poles from imitation manufacturers. This should be obvious but if it was then polelols would have a lot less content to post. Be sure to research your pole before purchasing and know what you are spending your money on. You can get very serious injuries if your pole falls while you’re performing a trick, and your safety is always the priority. Remember that your home pole is an investment, and your health is priceless. Why would you trust a website that designs products destined to haunt us in our dreams with the design of your pole?
What sort of finish should I get?
If you love the pole at your favourite studio, the obvious answer is to choose a finish that closely matches theirs. But there are some key questions that you should ask yourself when selecting the right pole for your own personal use.
Are you a sweaty poler? If yes, then brass, the more traditional finish for pole dancers, is best (since it’s a porous metal). Brass is expensive though, so if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative then think about a powder-coated pole. These poles offer relatively good grip, but you need to keep them very clean if you’re a sweaty poler as they can get slippery with use. One exciting thing about powder-coated poles is that you can get them in a range of colours – including hot pink!
Do you have sensitive skin or allergies? If you do, then think about going with silicone or stainless steel. Chrome has been known to cause allergies, so if you’ve never trained on this finish before it might pose a risk to you. Brass can also cause an allergic reaction if you’re sensitive to metal, although it seems to be less common, so be sure you’re familiar with your finish before you purchase.
Are you a more modest poler? If you’d rather not strip off to practice tricks, then go with silicone as they’re high grip and you need to wear clothes to train on them. If you’re a fan of booty shorts and crops, this is not the pole for you. When considering silicone it’s also good to note that this type of pole is not the best choice if you’re planning on training for comps in Australia, which tend to use 45mm brass or stainless steel. Silicone poles also come in a range of colours.
Do you live in a humid area? If you do, then stainless is less likely to tarnish. Stainless offers a medium grip and it’s in the middle price bracket. Brass is also great in humid areas.
What diameter pole should I get?
45mm is industry standard and is typically the size of comp poles, but there are a lot of studios that use 40mm poles. It’s worth finding out what mm your studio poles are if you want the same – otherwise if you’re up for a challenge, having a different type of pole at home can help advance and extend your skillset by allowing you train your tricks under different conditions.
What sort of mount should I get?
This is where things can get a bit confusing and stressful.
If you’re after a freestanding pole with plenty of room around you for floorwork, then first, check your ceiling height, as these poles must be attached securely to your ceiling. The type of mount you can get is dependent upon how tall your ceilings are. You might also need extensions if you have a taller ceiling, so once you’ve got your measurements you can check out your desired pole retailer to see what specific parts you need to buy.
Xpole say that domes from their pressure-mounted sets are only appropriate for ceilings under 3.4m – anything above should be using a permanent ceiling mount. If you’re unsure about what type of pole is right for your ceiling, contact the manufacturer directly before purchasing. If they are a reputable retailer, they’ll be happy to guide you and answer all your questions.
You MUST install your pole directly underneath a solid or concrete ceiling, metal girder supported ceiling, or a ceiling using wooden joists. A lot of accidents occur when poles are incorrectly installed under a ceiling where there is no solid support overhead, so ensure that your ceiling is suitable for you to install a pole. For home use you’ll most likely have wooden joists, so use a stud finder to locate an appropriate joist overhead before you select your pole.
Although a stiletto heel through your TV screen gives you a good excuse to buy a bigger one, to protect yourself and your possessions you’ll need to measure at least a 1.5m diameter around your wooden joist to ensure you can dance safely once your pole is installed. You’ll also need to factor in light fittings, which may need to be removed to make more space.
If you don’t have a ceiling suitable for a pressure dome, consider getting a stage pole. Xpole offer an Xpole lite, which is great for home use. This version will be slightly more wobbly given it is not mounted to the ceiling, but they are safe and once you have played on it for a little while you won’t notice the difference. The raised platform does make floorwork a challenge but it also offers a chance to get creative with your moves. You’ll also need to check your ceiling height if you want to use it indoors, as you’ll need at least 3m for the pole and that’s before you factor in the base. The base diameter is 160cm and it comes with leg extensions to aid in stability, so you need to consider this when measuring your space.
To correctly and securely install your freestanding pole to the ceiling you’ll need a friend to help you. As a side note the boxes that will arrive, especially if you order a stage pole, are very heavy – so make sure you have someone to help you lift the boxes safely.
Set-up will vary depending on the type of pole you have purchased, so be sure to follow the instructions from the manufacturer when installing.
Second-hand poles:
If you’re looking at buying second hand on eBay or Gumtree, be sure you’re buying a genuine pole from the brands above, as there are a lot of fakes and cheap imitations on the market. Be sure to ask questions about:
how long the seller has had the pole
if there are any missing parts
how often it was used
if it was left outside
if it was left in a fixed location or moved around a lot
if it has been dropped or damaged.
All of these things will inform you if it’s a safe and reputable pole to purchase, or if it’s worth investing in a new one.
If you’re looking at a second-hand Xpole, you can even ask for the original order number and Xpole Australia will look it up for you to ensure it’s actually one of theirs and not a fake – at no charge!
Bonus safety tips:
To be on safe side, perform regular stability checks to ensure your pole is screwed in tight.
Invest in some good grip aid.
Always be sure to warm up and cool down, and don’t forget to isolate and rotate your neck and shoulders to reduce the chance of injury to these sensitive areas. For a recommended warm-up, follow the guidance of your instructor or coach.
Don’t use oils or body lotions before you pole – they’ll make your skin incredibly slippery and this can lead to injuries.
Make sure you’re wearing appropriate clothes for the type of coating you have on your pole. My personal recommendation is that only advanced polers should risk practising tricks with clothes on.
Stay hydrated!
Don’t forget you can invest in crash mats for your home pole. They’re expensive, sure, but they’re a lot cheaper than a trip to the emergency room. Check out Xpole or fairypolemother for some great options.
Grip:
Dry hands is one of the best grips around, especially on brass poles, but since it’s currently harder to get a hold of than toilet paper, here are some accessible alternatives for sweaty polers:
Girlie grip has some of the same key ingredients as dry hands, plus it smells better. It’s a great grip for a powder-coated pole.
Xdry Sports Grip is a great little grip, but it’s a very dense gel, meaning that more comes out of the bottle at once than you need – and you’ll need a lot of it as it does not last long.
Holy Grip Rapid Traction offers a thin layer of grip if you’re not a super sweaty poler and just want a little bit of help staying glued to the pole. I didn’t find this grip super effective, but it might vary depending on the coating of your pole.
All these grips are currently available through fairypolemother, as well as a range of others, and their shipping is extremely fast.
Personal Favourite
My personal favourite pole type is brass, as it’s the most common and it offers me the best grip. When selecting my own pole I wanted brass, but given the limitations available at the time during the COVID-19 panic buying, as well as the difference in price between brass and the other poles, I went with powder-coated. It’s got a relatively good grip but I do have to use grip aid more often than I do with brass.
I got an Xpole lite (since I live in a rental and don’t trust the ceilings), and it did take a few tries to get used to the wobbling and to be able to do tricks like an extended butterfly comfortably. In saying that, it’s bit more of a challenge for me than brass, so I think once I get back in the studio to my regular pole it’ll make things feel even easier.
Do you have a home pole or are you thinking of getting one? I’d love to see what you went with. Perform your favourite trick on your home pole and tag me in a post on Instagram @atmosphere_training
