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Panda poles yes or no?

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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
Have you seen panda poles?
ski poles made from bamboo?

kinda dig 'em they've got a few guys on the free ski tour riding 'em now too.

anyone tried them out?

Feb 21 2012 3:15AM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
met the owner at outdoor retailers show in Jan. super funny hippie dude.

they look pretty solid.

Feb 21 2012 3:26AM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
Thinking of getting bamboo poles how do they hold up ... durable? I allways snap poles, good for me or not:?
Feb 21 2012 12:10PM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
$85+ poles will snap only marginally less than $5 goodwill ones. Save your money.
Feb 21 2012 12:32PM
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AntEater
Posts: 207 - Karma: 45
My goodwill poles finally snapped after three years. Great $6 investment if you ask me
Feb 21 2012 1:14PM
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Velocirooster
Posts: 336 - Karma: 38
Im rockin some poles i took out of a bucket of rentals.  they work fine for me
Feb 21 2012 1:47PM
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YewTard
Posts: 619 - Karma: 196
Panda Poles are sick and I'd love to have a pair, but I just can't justify the expense. They're poles...
Feb 21 2012 1:49PM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
swag poles. chicks dig swag poles

Feb 21 2012 2:50PM
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A.Paul
Posts: 302 - Karma: 250
ooooooo i donno
Feb 21 2012 2:51PM
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*SNO*
Posts: 2575 - Karma: 925
I heard that silver poles attract the most females?
Feb 21 2012 2:55PM
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midwestpowhunter
Posts: 2198 - Karma: 189
ive broken so many pairs of expensive poles, im going back to the pawn shop. Ill get some for less than 5. At least then i wont have to call armada for the third time in a row bc i want my 75 dollar poles replaced for the tip breaking off after a week. bogus!!
Feb 21 2012 2:58PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
well they look over priced. They also say they're better than carbon fiber poles because carbon fiber poles use epoxy and its toxic and they say they produce bad toxins and "who knows what kind of by products" Well last time i checked, skis are made of epoxy.... lots of it...... so if you're buying these poles for that reason, you're likely mentally unstable.

also they only look alright, and the baskets look pretty retarded...... If you really want a pair OP take your current poles, strip them of the grips and baskets, and jam those on some sticks that you snapped off a tree.....
Feb 21 2012 2:58PM
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stoned_sorcerer
Posts: 659 - Karma: 72
goodwill?? Where the fuck do you guys get so cheap poles?
Feb 21 2012 2:59PM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
buy at sportchek during a sale.... Like 10-15 bucks for some aluminium poles that look good and feel good.
Feb 21 2012 3:01PM
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Janky
Posts: 1323 - Karma: -100
just go get poles from the rental shop and dont return them.
Feb 21 2012 3:08PM
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skifoo
Posts: 1396 - Karma: 45
How do you even find over $20 poles? I have $10 poles and those poles are super light and after 3 years still riding.

Of course your poles will snap if you buy trendy line poles.
C'mon!
Feb 21 2012 3:09PM
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chicken
Posts: 6843 - Karma: 2,123
I think they appeal more to the mid 20's crowd than to park skiers. When I was skiing park a lot I would never have bought a bamboo pole for that much money. I likely would have broke it really quick. Now though I will probably buy something like them because I know the poles are going to last a long time with just everyday skiing.

Another brand to look at is soulpoles. Same kind of idea.

On a side-note, does anyone know if a company makes bamboo poles more like a flyrod? like where they glue together strips of bamboo and then turn it on the lathe? I know these would not be quite as environmentally friendly but I bet they would be a lot stronger and much better swing weight.
Feb 21 2012 3:16PM
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PJS.
Posts: 11943 - Karma: 895
and then fall off a cliff, asshole.
Feb 21 2012 3:17PM
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UFOsarereal
Posts: 2285 - Karma: 1,132
yup yup

has happened to me on accident a few seasons in a row now... just get too into the moment & forget where I got the poles from... sometimes I just do a full-season loan & toss them back in on the last day of the season.
Feb 21 2012 3:27PM
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freeskibum82
Posts: 6355 - Karma: 5,055
bamboo is strong but the shear of it sucks. one edge hits them and they are done.
Feb 21 2012 3:33PM
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DubV134
Posts: 1541 - Karma: 690
would like to hear from some people who have actually felt the flexibility and weight of these poles. looks like a cool idea to me... i bought a pair of Goode carbon poles a longgg time ago and they are the best as far as im concerned. comfortable to use and when i land all fuct up and bash myself they flex instead of bend or break
Feb 21 2012 3:36PM
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sander_h
Posts: 1699 - Karma: 5,803
I have skied them since January of 2011. I usually go through 3 or 4 pairs of aluminum poles a year. I have only broken one pair since I started skiing on them. I landed on them at PC.

I must admit, I was really surprised at how well they have held up. Support the cause. Made in Salt Lake City Utah at the base of the Little Cottonwood canyon. There are a handful of professionals on them for a reason. Mark Abma, Dylan Hood, Oakley White Allen and a few more riders out there.

I ski primarily park and they have held up much better than any other pole I have owned.

Check out videos of them in the park.

https://vimeo.com/36465393

https://vimeo.com/35081310

https://vimeo.com/32948075

Any Questions you are more than welcome to PM me about them. Check out Pandapoles.com

Feb 21 2012 3:40PM
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majora
Posts: 860 - Karma: 157
pictures?
Feb 21 2012 3:49PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
Once I got my Goode graphite poles, I realized that I would have to keep them for life. 

Indestructable>Bamboo any day of the week.
Feb 21 2012 3:53PM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
finally an actual review instead of speculation. thank you sir.

bamboo has a higher tinsel strength than steel. In japan and China they use it in construction.
seems kinda cool. gotta check the warranty.



Feb 21 2012 3:54PM
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maxwell666
Posts: 554 - Karma: 20
tinsel isn't very strong.
Feb 21 2012 4:47PM
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Mules
Posts: 595 - Karma: 97
if you want to see some swag poles contact
Shenanigans they are made from wood and have light up baskets
Feb 21 2012 6:25PM
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Parks.
Posts: 5612 - Karma: 1,093
Honestly I would love to rock those...but in reality why would I drop $85 on poles when I just got line poles for $30?
Feb 21 2012 6:53PM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
what did those cost ya?

Feb 21 2012 6:59PM
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belden...
Posts: 2914 - Karma: 1,274
I saw someone (friend of OWA) absolutely ragdoll over trees and kinda hard snow and then came up with a perfect pole yesterday (the other pole was lost in the trees). I think these things are pretty damn strong. Oakley was waking them together pretty hard after the other guy got up as well. I definitely want a pair but i'm not paying the whole price, at least not while still skiing park.

They also make a dope long pole like this.

Feb 21 2012 7:40PM
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.peter
Posts: 1222 - Karma: 63
Damn you're getting like 1950's old school... For next season I'm coming out with a pole made out of maple tree branches to really go green... You must supply your own branches.
Feb 21 2012 10:32PM
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Billek
Posts: 5665 - Karma: 98
It's kind of a scummy story.  I stole some carbon fiber rental poles when I broke my aluminum ones.  Later that year my 14 year old Nephew broke his poles, and I told him to get some rental ones.  He came to the lift line with these sick Goode 8602 racing poles, thinking they were just carbon fiber rentals.  They are black faded into yellow and have 'GRAPHITE' in red painted on the side... one of the sickest pairs of Goode poles I've seen.  They are a lot stronger than the standard poles, and they don't bend as much, so they don't wobble when you push with them.  I immediately took them from my Nephew, and used them myself.  I feel kinda bad that they were stolen, but I couldn't pass up the chance to get poles like that.  I can't find them on the internet, but they are over $100 from what I can see on the Goode site by looking at comparable poles.  If you want to save money, the lower-priced carbon fiber poles are worth your money, they don't deform when they bend, and it's nearly impossible to break them by falling on them. 
Feb 22 2012 12:09AM
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ChuckTesta
Posts: 960 - Karma: 258
Click for larger image
Feb 22 2012 12:21AM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Leaf baskets straw grips and straps? Anyways ive changed my mind abit on these poles. Cool but just not worth the price. Like the 85 base price is without straps...... Seriously for that price you would hope to get some god damn straps.
Feb 22 2012 12:30AM
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Flying~Squirrel
Posts: 6494 - Karma: 192
if they werent so expensive i would be all over that because i think they look fucking sick. plus bamboo is good for the world.
Feb 22 2012 12:42AM
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NinetyFour
Posts: 8650 - Karma: 13,409
Price needs to be 45-60 dollar range? Maybe they would make more profit by selling more at a cheaper price. Now if only they could get in and throw downs some answers in this thread like knee bindings do in the threads that question them.
Feb 22 2012 12:46AM
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tbayskier
Posts: 1137 - Karma: 1,642
seriously man...not so cool
Feb 22 2012 12:47AM
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KyleA
Posts: 865 - Karma: 510
Steel is quite a broad term. I don't know what super bamboo Panda uses, but I would think the yield strength of whatever 7000 series aluminum companies use to make poles is comparable to the ultimate tensile strength of the bamboo.

I do like the location of the panda house in LCC though. They did that right. Assuming that is their house with the Panda Poles banner.
Feb 22 2012 12:48AM
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maxwell666
Posts: 554 - Karma: 20
Only in bamboo form, if you ever see bamboo clothing, stay the fuck away because that shit is horrible for the environment.
Feb 22 2012 5:28AM
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PandaPoles
Posts: 72 - Karma: 622
Thanks to everybody for their support on this topic. For those of you who scoff at the $85 price tag, consider this: Your $30 poles are manufactured in China (manufacturing in China costs about 75% less than in the US), made by someone who doesn't give a #%&! about skiing, and made with aluminum or carbon that requires lots of energy and produces toxic waste in its manufacturing process. Even the $220 Swix Race poles are made in China and break rather easily. Panda Poles are lovingly hand-crafted in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah by freeskiers and mountain mystics. Not only are they manufactured with love, and made from more sustainable materials, but they come with the world's first Zero-Drag Powder Basket--which shreds deep pow traverses, but won't snag in trees--and are "The most durable intergalactic ski poles in the Galaxy!", coming with a "Single-Season" 180 day warranty. They are used by some of the World's best skiers including Oakley White-Allen, Mark Abma, Chris Turpin, Julian Carr, Dylan Hood, Ian McIntosh, Chopo Diaz, Drew Tabke, Mati Imbert, Angel Collinson, Johnny Collinson, and Kasha Rigby, and have been tested under some of the harshest conditions. We understand using $5 goodwill poles, as that's what we used before we created Panda Poles, but if you want to have a more conscious ski experience, you've gotta try Pandas. Oh, and did we mention that they have crazy sex appeal...They are available on demo at Twin Peaks Rental and Repair in Cottonwood Heights, UT. Purchase @ PandaPoles.com

Watch all our videos at vimeo.com/pandapoles
Feb 23 2012 10:45AM
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PandaPoles
Posts: 72 - Karma: 622
There ya go...Should be able to see a little better now...
Feb 23 2012 10:50AM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
well said homie. time to place an order.

great video
Feb 23 2012 12:09PM
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C-Weezy
Posts: 786 - Karma: 50
They look sick.....but rental poles till I die!
Feb 23 2012 4:44PM
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stoned_sorcerer
Posts: 659 - Karma: 72
Never understood this. Does every NSer rent poles and steal them?
Feb 23 2012 4:55PM
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elguapo
Posts: 149 - Karma: 90
This is what's wrong with the ski industry. haha.

first ski poles next it'll be your skis.

Feb 23 2012 5:46PM
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RomanceExplosion
Posts: 9 - Karma: 13
I used to work on the production side of the pole industry for a company I wont name.

I understand the $5 goodwill pole purchase because I used to be a poor college kid and understand that poles break but $5 poles also make you look like a poor kid and like your not very serious about the sport especially when you are wearing super-nice outerwear!

What really frustrates me is all these rants on poles not lasting or being "overpriced"!.

The poles made by the Chinese are commodity poles and their quality is very poor. Yes, they may be made of a 7000 grade alloy (i.e. 7075-t6 aluminum) but the way they produce that alloy is with the cheapest stock and production material.

Even with the Chinese pole manufacturers/ brands like LINE are looking at a production price of between $11-$16 per pole (depending on grade of alloy of course 7000, 6000, 5000 etc..). This does not even include, graphic design, product design (grips, straps, baskets) shipping, customs fees, duties to import, marketing, packaging, employee costs, and biggest of all... distribution costs!

Italian poles (i.e. Joystick before K2?) are going to be nearly 25% more to produce! That's why Joystick sold the Donavan for $75 + this last year and in my opinion they should be selling their poles around the $85-90 mark. After visitng a few Manufacturers in 2006 in Italy and Austria I can't even begin to describe how much more time and workmanship goes into producing these poles.

Conclusion:

Chinese poles are cheaply made but margins are still very slim for theses companies.

ALL poles will break!

Italian and poles made in Europe are still going to break but the way the product is produced and the alloy is forged is WAY superior!

Panda Poles are handmade! So support a start-up company and don't bitch about prices because their margins are just as slim, I am sure they have a lot invested into this venture, and your poles are going to break regardless.


Feb 26 2012 10:52AM
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richard.
Posts: 873 - Karma: 55
How does someone's poles reflect one's financial status or make you look like you're not serious about the sport? They're just poles. And like you said, all poles break, so why would I want to buy $85 poles versus $5-30 poles. To me, it doesn't make any sense.
Feb 26 2012 1:33PM
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DirtyDan
Posts: 1576 - Karma: 158
People actually buy poles?

Click for larger image
Feb 26 2012 2:42PM
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RomanceExplosion
Posts: 9 - Karma: 13
Just my opinion. When I see someone with a $5 pair of poles or some shitty looking rentals I think noob or WT
Feb 27 2012 12:56AM
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