[Phil J]

As above,
Just a couple of questions for the lads that have them. Thinking of buying an Extreme 47 , are they as fragile as I'm lead to believe and is it a PITA to maintain them, Just don't fancy stipping it down every week. Finally, what's the life expectancy?
Thanks in advance, Phil.

[NWH]

Above 25ft they are whippy ideal for skylights but with some dormers than can be bendy.

[zesty]

Great poles, always last me about 1.5 - 2 years at the 18-25ft level.

My xtreme 48 is lasting me years as I only use a couple of times a month.

Never maintain them, ever.

Never snapped a section except once when the pole blew over in the wind and smashed to the floor. So that’s my fault, not the pole.

Well worth the money!

[Splash & dash]

I don’t  like the extream 47 way to whipy  bends in the middle and hits the wall of the building at full height I sold mine and now have an ultimate much better pole , the other extream poles are better we have them in every size that there is .

[dazmond]

As above,
Just a couple of questions for the lads that have them. Thinking of buying an Extreme 47 , are they as fragile as I'm lead to believe and is it a PITA to maintain them, Just don't fancy stipping it down every week. Finally, what's the life expectancy?
Thanks in advance, Phil.

ive had my 47 footer for 9 years and ive only flushed it out a few times....still plenty of life left in it yet but it only gets used around 9 or 10 times a month.....

my main xtreme 25 gets changed(or the  3 top sections) every 12-18 months

[NWH]

If I was going for anything longer than 35-40ft from now on I’d go for a the slightly heavier Kevlar version although the entry level maybe longe than what you need it will be stiffer.

[Matt.]

I use my extreme 47 regular with absolutely no maintenance, I think in the whole time I have had it I only stripped it down once and cleaned it up.
If u use it to clean windows with then u won’t have many problems, if u try and close windows with it for sure it will snap. I have snapped number 1 section once and this was on a day it was biting cold and I missed the band in centre of the middle of the section and it just went ping like a floppy sausage, was totally my fault.....
They are superb poles

[Phil J]

Thanks for the feedback lads I'm gonna take the plunge and buy one.

[tom20001]

Thanks for the feedback lads I'm gonna take the plunge and buy one.

Good stuff me too ordering it today. Always used slxs to now! 

Ive finally saved up Daz 😜

[Alex Gardiner]

For those thinking of buying these poles can I add a note of caution 

Whilst they do offer the easiest way of working and will look after your body better than any other pole, there are some caveats.

1. Strength - these poles are not as strong as a standard SLX pole - the extra money does not buy you a tougher pole - it is more rigid, but this is not the same as knock or lateral force strength. You can snap these poles simply by pressing too hard!

2. Wear - due to the thin wall design of these poles they will wear out sections more quickly than a standard carbon SLX pole. The user guide for these poles need to be followed almost religiously and is a minimum level of care. I would budget for one replacement section after 12 months, then another after about another 6 months and so on every 12 months after that. That is even when cleaning weekly and servicing every couple of months.

3. It is best partnered with a lighter brush such as an Ultimate or Xtreme brush - it is slightly pointless using an Xtreme pole and then fitting a Super-Lite or Universal brush on the end.

4. It is difficult to go back to using standard poles after working with an Xtreme pole.

If you are happy with the above points then welcome to Xtreme pole ownership - your joints and body will thank you 

[Stoots]

Ive had 2 extreme 25s now

First one lasted 7 months before snapping top section (which i thought was poor)

but then 2nd one i snapped it after a month lol (top section again)

Both poles snapped after being dropped with the top section extended, when i say dropped more like falling over for example when they were leant up against something....

The second snap was actually quite funny, i dropped it which gave it a hairline crack. I thought ok i will see if i can glue it or something when i get home and carried on using it, it didnt look that bad. Few houses later i was scrubbing a front door and the thing just snapped in half like a twig... much to the amusement of the lad who was working with me 

I can literally throw my slx around and jump on it, kick it and it wont break, but as alex says the extreme can snap if you look at it the wrong way.

BUT its the top sections that are the problem the rest aint that bad, i replaced both my extremes with slx top sections and after that the rest of the pole seems pretty strong and lasts .

In future i think i will do what daz says and just replace sections as they wear, i wouldnt bother buying the top extreme section.

[the king]

You must be either very unlucky or very heavy handed my extreme 22 gets battered droped and i work on coastal town lots if sand grit i get 2 years out of mine rince them out every now and then in that to years 1 and 2 sections get replaced . I realy like them only thing that bugs me is the clamp glue can brake free and cause spinning

[Phil J]

Thanks for the info Alex, would you say the Ultimate is more hard-wearing ( ie the durability of an SLX and the rigidity of the Extreme or am I just wishing for the perfect pole?)

[Splash & dash]

Thanks for the info Alex, would you say the Ultimate is more hard-wearing ( ie the durability of an SLX and the rigidity of the Extreme or am I just wishing for the perfect pole?)

Yes it is but it’s heavier

[windowswashed]

I imagine the ultimate pole is higher grade carbon which makes the pole more rigid but heavier than extreme because of thicker wall thickness

[Phil J]

Gonna suck it up and pay the extra for the Ultimate 

[Alex Gardiner]

Thanks for the info Alex, would you say the Ultimate is more hard-wearing ( ie the durability of an SLX and the rigidity of the Extreme or am I just wishing for the perfect pole?)

The Ultimate pole is much harder wearing than an Xtreme - on par with the SLX and SMAX poles. It is also more rigid than the Xtreme pole.

If you want to maximize your investment then you can easily 'break-down' the Ultimate pole, by removing the bottom two sections and using as a 35ft 7 section pole as it has an insulated #7 section. You can also then remove the #1 section and replace with the #2 adapter that comes with the pole as a very rigid 30ft, 6 section pole for everyday use.

[AuRavelling79]

My everyday pole is the top 4 sections of an Xtreme 25. That gives 20ft but only four sections and lighter than anything by far except (obvs) an extreme 18.

When after a while -  2 years, say - it is worn and thin or I snap section 1 - I replace the top three sections and put the old ones in my xtreme 47.

This means my 47 has a change round of the top two or three sections every so often. I don't care if I have a snapped and shortened top section (or second section) in my 47 as a foot or so makes little difference to me.

I only use the 47 on occasional jobs. Rooflights, solar panels or a four storey Victorian block of converted flats quarterly.

I have a longer brush neck for solar panels or high rooflights because of pole sag.

[AuRavelling79]

Thanks for the info Alex, would you say the Ultimate is more hard-wearing ( ie the durability of an SLX and the rigidity of the Extreme or am I just wishing for the perfect pole?)

The Ultimate pole is much harder wearing than an Xtreme - on par with the SLX and SMAX poles. It is also more rigid than the Xtreme pole.

If you want to maximize your investment then you can easily 'break-down' the Ultimate pole, by removing the bottom two sections and using as a 35ft 7 section pole as it has an insulated #7 section. You can also then remove the #1 section and replace with the #2 adapter that comes with the pole as a very rigid 30ft, 6 section pole for everyday use.

I used this principle when I invested in my first Gardiners Pole. An SLX35 when the base section was grey fibreglass!  I think Alex was still at school then. 

I ran the top four sections as my everyday pole and added another two or three (generally) for higher work. The grey base section went on like the Xtreme 47 add on extensions if I recall correctly.

[Phil J]

Bought the ultimate 46 yesterday, will let you know my thoughts when it arrives I wanted the long quick-lock gooseneck, out of stock!. There seems to be a massive stock shortage at Gardiners as far as brushes go too