What to Look for in a Telescoping Flagpole

Telescoping flagpoles are poles that are made from different diameter aluminum tubes that slip inside each other. Each section is raised and locked into place, starting with the top section (the section holding the flag). Telescoping flagpoles do not have ropes to tangle and wear or clang against the pole in windy conditions. They are manufactured in heights of six to thirty-five feet. Due to the tapered effect, telescoping flagpoles generally maintain their strength-to-height ratios, but they are still not quite as sturdy as one-piece poles.

When looking for a telescoping pole you should take into account three things: tubing size, locking systems, and spring assist.

The strongest telescoping flagpoles have the largest diameters in relation to their height. When comparing flagpoles of the same height look for the largest diameter tubing in each section. Wall thickness, or thickness of the pole, has some to do with strength, but not nearly as much as pole diameter.

Locking systems will vary among different manufacturers, because most manufacturers have a patent on their processes. Look for a system that is self-indexing and self-locking. That means when each section is raised it is automatically guided into the locking position. The locking system should be a positive locking system, and not friction or expansion based. To minimize the risk of a faulty lock, look for a locking system with few to zero moving parts.

Make sure that the manufacturer offers a spring assist system. On smaller flagpoles the spring assist system makes it a cinch to assemble, and on flagpoles that are over twenty feet tall the spring assist is necessary because the pole weight can vary from twelve to twenty pounds.

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