Chrome, steel, brass, silicone, titanium gold, 50mm, 45mm, 40mm, spinning, non-spinning, stage, tension mounted... We get questions all the time about what X-Pole our members should order, since we have turned everyone into total pole addicts!

Why wouldn't you want to pole 24-7? Here are some considerations based only on our experience we hope it will help you decide!

1) Pole Size matters...kind of.

(FYI: Tantra Fitness uses 45mm poles.)

45mm is currently the standard for Canadian pole competitions, and likely around the world. We have heard that in Australian Pole Competitions, they like to use the 40mm poles, so if you're reading this from Down Under, you might want to look at 40mm so everything feels familiar. The smaller the diameter, the easier it is for your hands to grip and hold onto the pole, especially for those crazy gravity-defying pole tricks you'll be doing in no time!

However, the smaller poles will be slightly more challenging for your legs to grip on, you will have to squeeze a lot harder. This means, if your go-to tricks rely heavily on squeezing the pole in the knee pit or between the thighs it is easier to hold on with a thicker pole diameter like 50mm. In our experience, whether you chose 50mm, 45mm, or 40mm...your body will adapt to the one size after a couple practices, but again, we suggest you get the same diameter as the studio you practice in. Tantra Fitness' first 8 years of business used 50mm pole exclusively. Crystal Lai won Miss Pole Dance Canada training on 50mm brass poles!

2) Finishing is important.

First thing to consider is any known allergies. Some of our members are allergic to chrome, and some are allergic to brass. If possible, try pole dancing on both materials to make sure you don't get an angry red rash on your skin!
Next consideration is the type of skin you have. If you have dry skin, you might like chrome because it does NOT absorb moisture, and the little bit of moisture you get from your skin will actually help you stick to chrome. If you are a sweaty person or if you have oily skin, you might like brass better because it absorbs moisture, which will help your grip! If you have dry skin but sweaty palms or vice versa, you may need to do a combination of things. Using a grip aid for your hands such as DryHands, Dew Point, or Mighty Grip Gloves can eliminate the hands factor, so you can focus on what finishing is best for your body.

3) To spin or not to spin.

You don't want to limit yourself to one or the other.  Our suggestion is the the X-Pert Pole, it can be static OR spin. The pole comes with a maintenance kit, and one of the allen keys is used to adjust the pole from static to spin.

Pro tip #1: MAKE SURE YOU ALWAYS LOCK THE POLE WITH THE SCREWS LINED UP WITH THE "X". X marks the spot. If you don't, you can permanently damage the pole and it will not stay in static position.

Pro tip #2: MAKE SURE YOU ARE LOOSENING THE CORRECT SCREWS FOR SPIN MODE! Do not loosen any other screws other than the designated spin mode screws at the very bottom of the base! Safety first, folks.

4) Stage vs. Tension mounted.

The thing to consider with a stage pole is that it's *#@$ heavy! Which is what you want a stage pole to be...but not necessarily ideal for home use, unless you have lots of open space and ceilings 12' or higher. A lot of people think the stage pole is the better option because the pole doesn't touch the ceiling, and therefore won't cause damage. But it is a bit of work to put together, take a part, and takes up room for storage.

Our opinion is that the stage poles are more for outdoor demos and trade shows if you are in the business of pole dancing. X-Poles come with a ceiling dome that is lined with silicone to prevent damage to the ceilings when used properly and instructions are followed. It needs to be on a flat surface, and the pole needs to be directly under a ceiling beam/stud.

We have had questions about mounting an X-Pole onto a stucco ceiling and whether it would ruin the stucco. In our experience, the short answer is no, but we have only ever mounted poles on stucco ceilings for a couple hours on event bookings. When we took down the pole, it looked like it was snowing stucco, but because the ceiling is "clumpy" you couldn't tell some of it fell down from the ceiling dome being taken down.

If you want to be extra secure, we recommend getting a ceiling mount, these are permanent fixtures you need to bolt into the ceiling beam.

• Pro: if you install it properly, it is more sturdy, and the mount is also smaller in diameter than the dome.
• Con: you will have a metal block sitting in the middle of your room.

In sum, if you plan on keeping the pole up permanently, the permanent mount is a no-brainer...in our opinion. If you're a closet pole dancer, you may just want to stick with the ceiling dome that the tension pole comes with.

We hope this helps you pick the perfect pole for your home studio! Now get practicing.