R&D Minute
CHOICE OF POLES AND SLEEVES
Poles, sleeves, and guy lines are central elements in tent construction. The advanced finish and attention to detail on these components are at the heart of our Research and Development team's philosophy. Adrien Guillon, Head of Product Development & Marketing, gives us the inside story on the design and thinking behind them.
The choice of poles begins with the choice of supplier. We have sourced and tested several, comparing similar references from different suppliers and performing laboratory comparisons. We were looking for the best ratio, the best compromise between several factors. First and foremost, strength and rigidity to minimize movement when the tent is under stress, thereby maintaining its shape. Then, maximum force before breakage, and finally, weight.
Battery of Tests
Within our facilities, we test and size all our poles in order to achieve the best ratio for each of our tents. Thus, for lighter tents, particularly those in the ULTRA range, we choose lighter and thinner poles than for the 8K range, for which we choose much thicker poles.
Initially, we use tensile testing benches to perform three-point bending tests. This technique consists of taking a section of the pole and applying stress to the center to characterize its breaking strength.
We also use the buckling bench. Buckling is a phenomenon that occurs when a thin structure is subjected to a compressive load high enough to cause it to begin flexing laterally. This can lead to permanent deformation or structural failure if it is not designed to withstand this load. Our test bench has a force cell that informs us of the power required for the pole to buckle. We can therefore determine its rigidity and have precise knowledge of the degree of deformation under pressure.
Partnerships
We currently work with DAC® for our aluminum poles, as this is the supplier that allows us to obtain the best ratios. For a pole of the same weight from a competitor, we would have less strength, and for a pole of the same strength, it would be heavier. For example, the DAC FeatherLite™ NFL 8.7 mm, used in the Samaya2.5, are the poles that, for us, offer the best ratio between strength and weight.
The carbon poles in the ULTRA range were subjected to the same research and supplier sourcing process as the aluminum poles. We work with Easton®, who provides us with poles that are extremely lightweight for an excellent strength-to-weight ratio, which perfectly suits our quest for ultra-lightweight performance.
Sleeves and Guy Lines
All these choices are part of a broader reasoning that encompasses an entire reflection on sleeves.
Thus, although the Samaya2.5 poles are components that can be found in other tent models on the market, our added value lies in the addition of sleeves that offer several advantages.
They allow for great resistance and stability in windy conditions, as the tent will move as a single unit and the whole assembly will be less prone to deformation. The sleeves contribute significantly to the ease and speed of assembly. The pole simply needs to be slid inside the sleeve, and it will then be naturally guided by it.
The sleeve also features an interaction zone with the guy line that wraps around it, attached to a strap. In high winds, the stress of the tent’s movement is directly transmitted to the cord. Our guy lines have a Dyneema® core, which makes them completely rigid, allowing the tent to stay in place and maintain its shape. This design also prevents the guy line from cutting into the assembly and pulling directly on the fabric during high winds.
