Pole Storage

[Maverick986]

I've done some looking on this site and haven’t found anything on how to store a pole. I found something about a pole being poorly stored and the bend getting changed in the pole, but not proper storage...so I was wondering what is the best way to store a pole?

[cdmilton]

We have pole bags with the 12" drainage tube inside of them. They are stored in these all year. The drainage tube protects them from being stepped on or dinged.

[Barto]

The biggest issue is not to leave them for months on end exposed to the sun. The resin starts to dry out and then it gets ugly.

Barto

[RedstormVaulter16]

I've heard its not good for the poles to be stored in an air tight container.
That's why irrigationn piping (6" plastic tubing with ribbed walls that contain holes) covered with a pole bag is a great way to store poles.

[rainbowgirl28]

I've heard its not good for the poles to be stored in an air tight container.
That's why irrigationn piping (6" plastic tubing with ribbed walls that contain holes) covered with a pole bag is a great way to store poles.

Why would an airtight container be bad for poles?

The only problem I could see would be if water got in there, it might be gross, but the whole point of an airtight container is to keep water out.

[RedstormVaulter16]

idk ive just heard that from other coaches and at pv camps ive been to in the past. I just think its better to be safe than sorry.

[rainbowgirl28]

idk ive just heard that from other coaches and at pv camps ive been to in the past. I just think its better to be safe than sorry.

Considering the amount of bad advice that gets thrown out there, it would be good to understand the why of something, instead of just doing it because everyone else said to.

[RedstormVaulter16]

Considering the amount of bad advice that gets thrown out there, it would be good to understand the why of something, instead of just doing it because everyone else said to.

Why would an airtight container be bad for poles?

I've done some thinking on how to prove my statement about storing poles in an airtight container. This is what i've come up with :

Warm and cold temperatures would affect the air pressure inside an air-tight container. This is because, heat causes the air in the container to expand and cold would make the air contract. The expansion and contraction would change the air pressure inside the container. Increased pressure would apply a steady pressure on the pole(s) inside the container, thus warping and changing the circular shape of fiberglasspole, and by changing the shape of the pole you would change the bend (The circular shape of the hollow pole is what allows the pole to bend and "flatten out" and in response to "flattening out" the pole "snaps or reflexes" back into the circular shape, tossing the vaulter into the air and over the bar.)

For example, if you left the airtight container out in the sun the container would absorb the heat and energy from the sun's rays. The air in the container would expand and the increased pressure would apply gradual and steady force on the pole, eventually warping it out of shape.

This is why SUGGEST poles should not be stored in an air tight container. 6" irrigationn piping (plastic tubing with ribbed walls that contain holes) covered with a pole bag is a great way to store poles because its not air tight, the piping protects the poles from being "spiked" are stepped on, and the pole bag protects the poles from weather/water.

[Bruce Caldwell]

try hanging them from the ceiling from their pole tips
1. soft side never changes
2. poles stay fresh
3. never get dusty
4.the pole is marked on the grip side so you can always select the pole from the rack.

[Skyin' Brian]

try hanging them from the ceiling from their pole tips
1. soft side never changes
2. poles stay fresh
3. never get dusty
4.the pole is marked on the grip side so you can always select the pole from the rack.

this is assuming where you store them has quite a high ceiling!

as an expert, can you explain how a soft side would change due to improper storage. In the off season i've been storing mine in my bag(w/tubing inside) horizontally.

and what does stay fresh mean?

[rainbowgirl28]

I've done some thinking on how to prove my statement about storing poles in an airtight container. This is what i've come up with :

Warm and cold temperatures would affect the air pressure inside an air-tight container. This is because, heat causes the air in the container to expand and cold would make the air contract. The expansion and contraction would change the air pressure inside the container. Increased pressure would apply a steady pressure on the pole(s) inside the container, thus warping and changing the circular shape of fiberglasspole, and by changing the shape of the pole you would change the bend (The circular shape of the hollow pole is what allows the pole to bend and "flatten out" and in response to "flattening out" the pole "snaps or reflexes" back into the circular shape, tossing the vaulter into the air and over the bar.)

For example, if you left the airtight container out in the sun the container would absorb the heat and energy from the sun's rays. The air in the container would expand and the increased pressure would apply gradual and steady force on the pole, eventually warping it out of shape.

This is why SUGGEST poles should not be stored in an air tight container. 6" irrigationn piping (plastic tubing with ribbed walls that contain holes) covered with a pole bag is a great way to store poles because its not air tight, the piping protects the poles from being "spiked" are stepped on, and the pole bag protects the poles from weather/water.

I like that you are thinking about the issue instead of just spouting off what you heard.

However, you overestimate the amount of pressure that would build up in an airtight container, and underestimate the amount of pressure it takes to affect a pole.

Storing poles in the sun, ever, is a bad idea. Yeah your poles will be all right sitting out there in a track meet or something, but leaving them out there long term is a bad idea. The issue there is heat, not pressure. Yes, I suppose if you stored your poles in direct sunlight, an airtight container could be slightly worse than one with airflow, but either way the primary problem is the fact that you are being an idiot by storing poles in sunlight.

The poles are not your pet rock. They don't need to breathe.

The amount of pressure it would take to alter the shape of a pole is tremendous. Not something that would build up in an airtight container, even if you took the airtight container and flew it on a plane, where pressure changes a decent amount, your poles would still be fine. Even if you left the airtight container in the sun, the issue would be heat far more than it would be the pressure.

All poles are shipped from the manufacturers in airtight containers. Some are plastic and some are cardboard, but none of them poke holes in them to allow the poles to breathe.

[stormvault]

So that is why my pet rock hasn't touched his water in 3 years.
What does seasonal change in temp do to vaulting poles? Is there an optimal life span for poles? Being that they are made out of glass will they warp and change over time?