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November, 2024

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Char Poles

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MTPOW
Posts: 173 - Karma: 115
I searchbarred and didn't find anything on here surprisingly.

I found these poles and they look sick as hell! They have a lot of new features you can't find in any other pole and I think they are going to take over as soon as they start selling.
Some features
Tripod mount at top of grip(Great for GoPro)
A screwdriver in each handle(Flathead and Phillips)
Bottle opener in basket
Overall they seem really sick and functional. I really wanna buy a pair when they come out but they could be expensive considering all of the features. Plus they're really customizable.

What are you're thoughts on them?

Click for larger image
Feb 14 2013 8:16PM
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@+=~
Posts: 192 - Karma: 18
hm
with all those features, youd think it would look overdone
but they look pretty simplistic
i like em!
Feb 14 2013 8:19PM
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MTPOW
Posts: 173 - Karma: 115
Yeah I think it looks good too.

But more people need to see these! They appeal to everyone
Feb 15 2013 7:09PM
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Feign
Posts: 28 - Karma: 53
Looks like a really nice set of poles. Glad they're building some good features into their poles like the mono pod mount and screwdrivers. Would like to see maybe an inclinometer and a cap for that mono-pod mount; if you've ever taken a pole to the face you know how much of a lifesaver that would be, somewhere down the road.
Feb 16 2013 1:03AM
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Arabian
Posts: 701 - Karma: 1,244
1) The guy who designs them doesn't ski. He's a snowboarder who makes a shit product and outsources to China. 2)It's gimmicky, and support is a joke. 3) (this is a personal point) Please don't support the serial entrepreneur types that don't care about the community and just want to make a cheap buck cuz it's easy to make poles. They had stickerpacks and a 1000 likes on Facebook before they produced their first pole. Don't fall for the fake hype and go with a different, verified small company, please.
Feb 22 2013 10:55AM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Well, actually... we make our products in Salt Lake City, UT, using the the highest grade (expensive) domestic materials. We've done our research, and chose to engineer our own parts that are specifically made for different purposes and conditions. (I.E. Park shafts have slightly thicker sidewalls for maximum durability (& swing weight, -TJ Schiller). We're not corporate at all, and we're definitely not serial entrepreneurs looking to make a "quick buck," if we were... we'd go the easy "corporate" route, like everyone else, and buy our parts from the same manufacturer that every other company goes through. Ski Poles Suck... Don't be deceived by... whoever this is... The corporate world is scared!

As for the rest of the industry... Thanks For All The Support!!!
Feb 23 2013 9:23PM
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Stose
Posts: 7109 - Karma: 4,123
Not really. I know that myself as well as most of the kids I ride with just want simple light poles because they will break or bend and anything more than a cheap stick is pointless to us. Appeals to some
Feb 23 2013 10:19PM
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Arabian
Posts: 701 - Karma: 1,244
True or false: Your lead engineer (hardly engineering, bragging about not having a degree makes it more design) is currently engineering for 2 companies and is a snowboarder. How can you possibly make good poles if you don't even USE them?
Feb 24 2013 12:55AM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Thanks for the feedback! Our engineer is indeed a snowboarder, granted, he is very talented. I'm sorry you feel that we are incapable of manufacturing good poles for you. I feel like its hard for anyone to say these poles are "Good" or "Not Good" when we are only in phase two of prototypes.

As far as testing goes, we have skiers all over the spectrum giving us feedback. From your typical everyday skier to professionals, feedback has been very promising. Now if you'd like we will be happy to send you a pair for feedback; Maybe you can test them? You seem to be very knowledgeable and I assume you're close to Salt Lake City, UT. You, us, Hayden Price, Parker Cook, and some of our other local athletes should all go riding together. We can further discuss your concerns then.



Feb 24 2013 2:17PM
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MTPOW
Posts: 173 - Karma: 115
Hey if anyone you should send me a pair to test out haha I'm trying to promote Char Poles!
Feb 24 2013 4:11PM
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BlackcountryBill
Posts: 955 - Karma: 576
Solid reply to an idiot.
Feb 24 2013 4:29PM
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HungryHypocrite
Posts: 765 - Karma: 939
I love the concept of these poles and hope they make it big because theres something to it


if you are gonna make your poles expensive please make shafts you can order for cheap so if people are gonna dish out for good poles they aren't fucked if one breaks.. seriously.. it fucking sucks to have a single sweet as pole lying around knowing you payed shittons for the pair and one broke..
just my 2cents
Feb 24 2013 5:14PM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Indeed, we totally agree! We're going to be manufacturing specialty shafts too. For example, the park shafts are slightly reinforced to take an extra beating and the swing weight seems to help slightly with rotation (at least thats what our athletes have been saying). We'll be releasing a CF shaft line as well. The possibilities are incredible... Regardless, getting "Shafted" sucks, replacing them will definitely be affordable! Thanks for the input, we appreciate it!
Mar 9 2013 12:33PM
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Lick
Posts: 1927 - Karma: 518
This sounds awesome! Am needing new poles as mine got stolen two days ago.. looking forward for the product to be release and try them out now!
Mar 9 2013 1:04PM
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Birddogmurray
Posts: 239 - Karma: 300
any idea on what the price range for the blank/ plain poles is going to be?
Mar 11 2013 1:36PM
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VD.
Posts: 4054 - Karma: 4,565
So wait how much do these weigh?
Mar 11 2013 3:21PM
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Caucasian_Asian
Posts: 2447 - Karma: 1,665
More than your current poles.
Mar 11 2013 4:44PM
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Balbertt
Posts: 1585 - Karma: 4,723
My line pin poles cut down to 2 foot long are perfect.
Mar 11 2013 6:38PM
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RimJobber
Posts: 3313 - Karma: 10,058
The screwdrivers are cool, the tripod is ok, except you'd have to flip the pole around to use it (film yourself, it looks like shit skiing normal with a gopro on top of the pole) and that makes the top super heavy and awkward to hold because its so narrow at the bottom and you have to hold in front of the basket. Also, the bottle opener seems like a gimmick to get the "bros" or "frats" to buy them. That feature to me seems almost as douchey as a bottle opener on a hat, helmet or flip flop
Mar 11 2013 7:00PM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Stoked to see some interest building surrounding our products, but we wanted to clear up a few things!

1). The monopod is meant to be stationary. The concept allows for remote filming from multiple angles simultaneously, thanks to the GoPro wifi pack. The handle can also be removed easily, and we've found that using the handle to film is actually very useful (even without the shaft).

2). The tools are completely optional, and without the tools our park shafts are only10g heavier (pair) than average poles... we actually designed it this way for swing weight while spinning as well as for additional structural strength (poles break way to easily).

3). Last of all, our poles are completely customizable, which means you can swap parts daily if wanted, change color schemes, sizes, functions and purposes etc. This is rad for anyone who enjoys the park, yet also strays into the occasional pow. Our poles are the first to be completely designed from the ground up to suit the problems skiers face daily... whether or not you decide to use the features is up to you, but hands down our poles are the strongest most versatile pole on the market.

4). Our top-to-bottom strap design allows for a hands-free experience, which optimizes 5-finger grabbing abilities. You wont find this anywhere else guys - ski poles have been way too lame for way too long. In our opinion it's time for things to change.

Thanks for the support! Product dropping in August!


Jun 11 2013 6:21AM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Standard lines will be priced at $89.99 and depending on features prices will vary upwards to $119.

Thanks for the support!

Cheers!
Jun 11 2013 6:26AM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
Send and email to alex@charpoles.com! We'll get you some gear!

Cheers!
Jun 11 2013 6:28AM
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Melbourne.
Posts: 133 - Karma: 301
If your pole shafts were like screw out shafts or something to replace them that would be awesome. It sucks getting a pole and within a month or two they are bend way out of shape because something stupid happened to them. If you guys sold like separate parts of your pole like the screw drivers , the baskets or the shafts that might make people feel better about these poles if they are going to shell out money for them. But over all these poles seem pretty cool I just don't know about the bottle opener.
Jun 11 2013 7:48AM
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cydwhit
Posts: 5074 - Karma: 43,034
I have been watching your development for a while now and I am stoked to see the poles once they are released. I mounted a tripod screw in my handle last year and found it to be much more useful than a mount on the other end. The protective cap is also a good idea, that screw sticking out of my pole just makes crashing that much higher consequence. The handle mount makes it easy to keep the go pro on the pole while skiing, it is easy to use as a follow cam, and honestly if your biggest concern is filming yourself with the camera out in front you are missing out on a huge part of the gopro's potential. I am stoked to see some new features in the pole market. These poles also seem interesting because of the extended options for tinkering and adding custom features. Unfortunately the price is a bit steep for me so I will stick to messing around and tinkering with my own poles for now. It might be sick if you sold just the handles that people could mount to their own poles. I am also stoked to see what other features you guys come up with in the future since I fell like there is potential to design a lot more utility into poles. Sorry for the mega post, I have just been intrigued by these poles for a while.
Jun 11 2013 9:25PM
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CharPoles
Posts: 66 - Karma: 526
The shafts actually do screw off, and for me as a skier having the ability to change the parts of the pole to serve different functions is ideal. I often spend time in the backcountry on my tele setup, but i'll rip those puppies through the park as well if I'm not on my alpine setup. Taking a digger on skis can very easily end up in broken poles, which as mentioned above, is like throwing $$$ down the drain. Char Poles is hoping to change this, while adding a whole new element to ski poles that provides a fun and *useful* experience.

Poles break all the time, and this way you can replace them, swap them, change colors etc etc. The bottle opener baskets obviously wont help your skiing ability and hopefully people aren't taking glass up on the mountain, but it's just another idea we decided we might as well add. For better or worse, at least if you ever need it you've got it and it makes a pretty sweet item to carry along on summer adventures when your using your Char Poles to film your summer activities as well!


Jun 12 2013 1:05AM
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shr@gler
Posts: 1233 - Karma: 912
I really don't understand why people are bitching about this. Its another feature that you get with your poles just because why the fuck not. It seems that people are offended that they can open a bottle with their poles and that now they are obligated to be a frat boy. strange critique imo.
Jun 12 2013 5:00AM
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Doke
Posts: 185 - Karma: 401
I feel like everyone is complaining because having these extra features seem like gimmicks. Sure I don't always need a bottle opener, but there's definitely times where I wish I had one. I can't tell you how many times Ive wished I had a screwdriver for adjusting my bindings, and these seem really out of the way. I hope you guys make short, strong shafts too, unlike most pole manufacturers. I'm pretty stoked for these to come out.
Jun 12 2013 7:26AM
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MTPOW
Posts: 173 - Karma: 115
I was thinking the same thing, what does it hurt?

Ski poles have gone unchanged for so long, it's about time they got some legitimate improvements and features. Everything that Char Poles have, feature wise, is golden. Once they catch on, the industry is going to boom with these kinda things.
Jul 17 2013 7:03PM
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