I sometimes get Radio-Controlled airplanes, or bungee-launched free-flight airplanes, stuck in trees. This is really nice for getting them out. This pole can be extended via 2" PVC pipe as well, which is very nice.

I expect that the maximum extension possible without getting too much slop would bring the pole out to perhaps 50~60 ft long or so, but I'm not sure. I extended my pole to 37" as follows: I bought one 10ft 2" PVC pipe, and one long 2" to 2" coupler. One end of the Jackite pole is too wide to fit into the 2" PVC pipe, so I cut the 10ft pipe into two sections: 6ft and 4ft long. I then carefully pushed the Jackite pole into the 4ft section of 2" PVC pipe until no more fits in. The string winder retaining clips on the side of the Jackite pole are good, as they stick out enough to make this a snug fit. Then, I put on the 2" coupler, which DOES fit over the wide end of the Jackite pole, and I attached the 6ft section of PVC pipe to the coupler. Now, my pole is essentially 37ft long. If I bought another 10ft PVC pipe and 2" coupler, I could extend to 47ft, then 57ft, etc.

Again, GREAT FOR GETTING THINGS OUT OF TREES! :)

I bought this to use as a portable antenna mast. The idea is to have something that will loft a reasonable amount of antenna wire very quickly for a temporary "field" amateur radio operation. For example, at 31 feet extended, it is about the length needed for a half wave antenna on the 20 meter band. Lower bands can be covered using this amount of wire and loading coils or an antenna tuner. Alternatively, a longer wire could be lofted, using this as a support for one end, and the wire in a sloper, inverted "L" or even "V" shape. These types of antennas can be very light if they are intended for QRP, or at most 100 watts.

I've not used it for that yet, but have extended it and tested its ability to stand on its own, first in a light breeze, then in a stronger and more gusty wind (did not measure wind speed). The stronger wind was "roaring around the eaves" a bit - but was no more than "kite wind", I'd say. If I have it up in a stronger wind, I'll try to measure the speed and report back how it holds up. Under these conditions, it was bending a little, in a graceful arc, but showed no signs of "distress".

It erects quickly and easily and seems stable enough against telescopic collapse. Starting with the small top section, each one is extended until it gets snug in the one below, then is twisted slightly and pulled so that it is "firm" in the lower section. You just keep repeating this process until the last telescopic section is locked snugly into the outer bottom section. Reverse the process to take it down. This can be done in the conditions described above (and likely a good deal fresher wind) without difficulty, so long as you don't lose control of it when a gust gives it a tug.

As a simple test of its strength, I tried (in very low wind) to lower it from the vertical to the horizontal, and raise it back to the vertical - all the time holding it by the bottom section only as you'd likely do securing it to a stake, post, or other field support. This tested whether it was strong enough to bare forces equal to its distributed weight. Lowering and raising it slowly and smoothly, it flexed a good deal, but did so in a nice arc, without any sign that the strains were concentrated in one area.

All told, and comparing it to similar telescoping fiberglass poles, it seems to have reasonable strength and durability, especially for the price. I've seen YouTube videos where users have left one of these (same brand and size) up for a couple of years, through summer and winter, holding up a light wire, with no issues. To avoid sections telescoping down as the wind-sway worked at the friction-fit, I believe he used a tape wrap on each "joint".

I did have a little "adventure" getting a good condition pole, which taught me a little more about the pole's strengths and weaknesses, (and which Sunlight Industries handled very well, so I learned about them too!).

Sunlight Industries ships this item from Amazon, so is dependent on their packing and inventorying. I think what happened is that Amazon put a damaged returned pole back into inventory and shipped it out to me. Most of us have experienced or heard of this - where a damaged or defective item is shipped as new - it's generally rare and the key is how well Amazon or the merchant handles it. Sunlight Industries responded to my Friday PM email almost immediately, and arranged for a replacement pole by Monday - I had a new pole in a little over a week. They were in email communication several times during the process. I couldn't ask for more in customer service.

Seeing a used and somewhat damaged pole gave me some insight into the weaknesses of this design. Aside from obvious wear, the only damage to the pole itself was to the top edge of a couple of sections, where the fiberglass was notched a little. In one case I think it would have weakened the pole, mainly because the most likely failure mode is probably splitting from stresses where sections overlap. That "notching" is a weak spot where a split could start. It wasn't obvious how this occurred, especially to the section near the top. It didn't appear to be a natural result of how the pole assembles. I can only imagine that someone had attached something metallic at that level which abraded the pole as it rubbed against it. The lower section looked to be damaged slightly through some kind of rigid lashing against a support.

My conclusion was that this used pole had been abused and experienced abnormal wear. Securing sharp metal objects to the pole or securing the pole to a support with metal bands or clamps is the probable cause - they should have used some kind of cushioning material, tape, etc., to avoid the metal cutting into the pole under wind-sway.

The other problem with the damaged pole reveals a weak spot that a user should take care with. The top of the pole is "plugged" with a nice rubber "stopper" to keep sections from cascading out during transport. The bottom end can be opened to remove the sections for replacement or cleaning (Jackite sells replacement sections). The bottom is secured with a molded black plastic collar onto which is screwed a plastic cap. The damaged pole had BOTH of these pieces cracked, so the collar slipped off the pole and spilled out the sections at the slightest tilt, and if that was held on, the cracked cap popped off.

I can see how the cap or its retaining collar could be damaged by "banging" the bottom of the pole onto a hard surface (like cement), or possibly by allowing the sections to collapse abruptly and "ram" down into the bottom. Just be careful not to do either of these things. Even with the bottom retaining cap broken, the pole is still usable, and something could be improvised to keep the sections contained during transport. So all is not lost if an accident happens here.

A final warning for hams thinking of using this pole as an antenna mast: It ISN'T a replacement for a rigid mast, not even the heavy-duty fiberglass ones. They are much more rigid (and costly). They might well hold up the center-feed of a dipole, and a balun, along with the weight of a coax feed-line. This is not up to that job. You might be able to run a light feed-line part way up, but not to the top. Similarly, a balun, or the weight of a long wire suspended from the tip, is too much for this pole, especially if there is any wind. Keep it down to a light wire running to the tip, or perhaps suspended from below the tip, or a heavier wire or feed-line going only part way up. It is a fraction of the price of the heavy-duty poles, and if it isn't over-burdened, it should perform well.

A final detail: my pole, fully extended, measured 30 feet 3 inches, bottom to top. Maybe I'd have gotten another inch or two if I'd really pulled each section out tight? Mine, at least, is a LITTLE less than the advertised 31 feet. Since I'm looking at lofting an end-fed wire in the 28.5 to 31 foot range, and will secure the pole up a foot or so from the ground, it's close enough

Not the PERFECT pole, but every indication that it is good enough and rugged enough to act as a light-duty temporary mast (or even semi-permanent with the joints secured) for end-fed wire antennas or other similar configurations that don't place a lot a weight near the tip.

BTW, Sunrise Industries mentioned in one of their emails that the black version of this pole will be coming in soon (month or so). Jackite hasn't made this model in black for several years, and a number of people have wanted them for "stealth" installations. If you've been wanting the 31 foot pole in black, keep an eye on the listing for it to crop up. Meantime, the orange one gets the job done for those of us who aren't trying to hide!

Reading the product reviews, it is obvious that these poles are popular among amateur radio operators like myself. A couple of points that I didn't see mentioned elsewhere (I have the 20-foot pole, btw):

1) There is a small metal loop on the very tip of my pole. This is extremely convenient for attaching wires to, or for passing a guy string through if you are using the pole to support one end of a dipole.

2) The lowest section has a spring hook bonded to the exterior of the tube. This is perfect for lashing the pole vertically to a backpack. I have another pole from a different manufacturer that doesn't have this feature, and no matter how tightly I lash it to my pack, it always ends up coming loose and sliding through the lashings.

This pole is not sturdy enough to support heavy 14-gauge wire, but for portable antennas made with 24-gauge wire, it fits the bill perfectly. I bought mine to support the center of my all-band doublet on camping trips, when I finally got tired of fighting with uncooperative trees. I use a couple of light bungee cords to strap the pole to a small tree or whatever happens to be handy -- so much simpler!

Becareful of the line holders on the side. They can cut your hand. Only wish they made a 34 ft long. Would be useful when making a 40ft 7mhz antenna.

This is a very well made pole, extends nicely .
31 foot and actually very light to hold with hands, to retrive items up in trees, as my purpose for this pole.