Carbon fibre poles for window cleaning are expensive and personally I cannot see that changing any time soon...mores the pity...
But there is a big difference between a carbon fishing pole and a carbon WFP pole, the fishing poles are simply not robust enough by comparison.
I've both the SL1 and the SL2, I was forever breaking the SL1, the SL2 however is way more robust.
After 12 months of continuous use with the SL1 it had to be replaced, and that pole was an adapted fishing pole mostly.
The SL2 was made specifically for WFP, the make up and design of the way in which the carbon fibre is wrapped etc is very different, it's much tougher.
Mine has now been in use for over 18 months and I've only replaced one section and it really is used extensively.
And don't forget that those who develop these poles also have to spend a lot of time and money on R&D.
People moan about the clamps or black residue and so on, but do you really expect perfection from the very onset??
A good job Ford didn't look at the model T and decide that perfection had been achieved eh?
I'll bet that neither Alex or anyone else supplying a similar product could reduce their product by a significant degree and still be solvent.
I've also got a cheapo fibreglass pole, bendy as er....heck
I've had to glue the clamps back in place, continually having to adjust them, hands get full of invisible fibreglass splinters that drive you insane!! And even though it is only about 16ft extended, if I'm having to work at an awkward angle it is heavy and unwieldy in comparison to my SL2.
I've also got the Unger aluminium pole...forever consigned to the shed, never to see the light of day again.
Harris poles? If you like them and they suit you then great, but they really are a crap pole by any comparison to a decent carbon pole.
If my carbon poles had to be replaced every year at a cost of £300 or so then I'd do it, no question, and I'd not bother with the much cheaper fishing pole option either as those poles are simply not robust enough. Even though you could buy 3 a year and still be cheaper than a WFP specific carbon pole.
Yep, they are expensive, but worth every penny so far as I am concerned.
Ian.