In this article I want to give you all the information you need to help you spot a fake X-Pole. X-Poles arent cheap so you want to ensure you are getting the real deal when parting with your hard earned money.
X-Pole only manufacture their poles in one factory in Shanghai, China. Nowhere else manufactures these poles, this has been the case for over 15 years so if your pole is manufactured anywhere else it isn’t an official X-Pole product.
How to spot a Fake / Copy X-Pole
Joints
X-Pole has been selling dance poles with X-Joints for over 10 years now, so, if a product is being sold as an X-Pole and has screw joints then it isn’t an official X-Pole pole and is a fake.
Any pole that has screw joints is not recommended as the pole with either be really old or a fake product – either way you don’t want it.
Upper Dome
X-Pole Upper Domes / Top Supports are metal, they aren’t and have never been made from plastic if a product has a plastic upper dome or top support then it is definitely a fake!
X-Pole’s upper domes are made from steel and have a very specific construction.
Serial Number (Xpert Only)
If you look on the flat part of the upper dome you will notice there is a small white label. This is the pole serial number. If you contact X-Pole with that number they will be able to tell you if it is an official X-Pole and whern it was manufactured.
If there is no serial number on the pole and it is a static and spinning pole then I’m afraid it is not an official X-Pole.
Height Adjuster
All X-poles that were produced in 2010 and onwards are ‘Bottom Loading’. What this means is the adjuster is at the bottom, not the top.
All X-Poles manufactured from from 2010 onwards have Hex Screws (x3) to lock the adjuster in position.
If the pole you are considering buying or have bought is Top Loading and has a ‘Nut’ to lock the adjuster and you have to use a spanner or wrench to tighten up the nut then this pole is definitely a copy.
Extensions
Another way to spot a fake X-Pole is to ask the supplier for an extension. Most fake X-Pole manufacturers and suppliers do not have extensions. If they are unable to supply an extension it’s very likely it’s a fake.
There are other ways to spot a fake X-Pole but the points above are a good place to start and should hekp you spot a fake or copy X-Pole.
Safety
X-Poles aren’t cheap and it can be tempting to go for a cheaper option but this is seldom a good idea, the main issue with fake dance poles is safety. A cheaper fake product can’t guarantee your safety. Some of the issues with fake poles include:
- Poor quality finish, chipped chrome can cause cut hands
- The metal the pole is made from is too thin, which can lead to the pole bending
- the pole bearing are poor quality and will fail
- Cheaper poles can unscrew themselves from the celing leading to injury
- They use cheaper plastic parts instead of metal parts
Summary
At the end of the day, you are trusting your body to the pole so it is very important to be able to trust the pole. Hurting yourself and not being able to fully trust the pole is not worth the money you would save purchasing a cheaper, inferior product that could well put your life in danger.
My advice is to trust your gut, if a pole seems too cheap then it probably isn’t a real X-Pole. Take the time to save the money and you can be safe in the knowledge that you are getting a real X-Pole which will you give you many years of happy, safe poling 🙂
2 Responses
Thanks for this, I saw this post yesterday, I went to pick a pole up today, it had the dip in the dome and had screws so I left it and took my money back. I was pleasant with them, but inside annoyed and relieved at the same time!! Thanks for sharing this, saved me some ££ which I will now be saving to put towards a new x-pole expert instead of hunting for 2nd hand ones xx
Hi Toni,
Glad I could help and saved you from wasting your cash! It makes my blood boil that people are selling these fake X-Pole’s – they’re so dangerous.