[Carl@Cwc]

currently using couple gardiner slx,s and some elite poles.
i really need a new pole soon and looked at the extremes but a 18 slx is £200 and a new 18 extreme is  £500

are the extreme range really worth the extra cash nearly £300 more

[g.brookes]

Absolutely definitely.  your body is your number 1 asset.  if you can protect is enormously with a far lighter pole, then the extra few hundred quid are totally worth it.

[Smudger]

NO !

not for me anyway - i don't like the lack of adjustment - section is fully in or out many of my jobs need variation in height
throughout the clean due to access or amount of space around the building.

great i would say for commercial building work surrounded by car parks or open spaces

Darran

[g.brookes]

thats not quite true.  the bottom section can be extended full or halfway, which gives more than enough adjustability

[KS Cleaning]

NO !

not for me anyway - i don't like the lack of adjustment - section is fully in or out many of my jobs need variation in height
throughout the clean due to access or amount of space around the building.

great i would say for commercial building work surrounded by car parks or open spaces

Darran

I got a new 18' Extreme a few weeks back,they now come with halfway clamping points on all sections.
Is it worth the extra money? for me,absolutely,makes my working day so much easier,you can't put a price on that

[Mike #1]

currently using couple gardiner slx,s and some elite poles.
i really need a new pole soon and looked at the extremes but a 18 slx is £200 and a new 18 extreme is  £500

are the extreme range really worth the extra cash nearly £300 more

Hi carl just curious do have a carbon Elite and if so what is your view on it .  had mine 18 months now and great pole only pole i use everyday starting to wear . So looking to buy a new pole in a few months possibly SLX or Phoenix .

What size SLX do you have and do you find it is rigid enough when fully extended more so the top section when its windy . Thanks Mike

[Dave Willis]

No, not at the shorter lengths. Once you get to 30' then yes. I have two and they are the best poles I could possibly have but they just aren't worth the money over an SLX.
However, I now have a predicament ......... what do I buy next? Could I work without it? Can I downgrade to an SLX?
Difficult one, just fortunate my wife doesn't really study my business expenses. £700+ for another stick with a brush or a weekend away?  
Once you buy one then you will be hooked.

The other thing is - the top couple of sections wear like the clappers (as most poles do) so that's £300 every eight to to ten months for me- if I need three sections. Sounds dreadful but spread over the year it's only an extra £6 a week to keep it going once the initial outlay is spent.

[dazmond]

I reckon I'm going for a 25 ft extreme for my next pole as this size pole is what I use for most of my work.

The phoenix poles look good but as I've bought 3 carbon goosenecks that don't fit on these poles then I'm out.

My 25 ft SLX has still got plenty of life left in it yet though so it won't be for a while!!

I expect my main pole to last at least 2 years before needing replacing,if not 3 years!so 200quid a year for a top light pole is not too much is it??

[ARWindows]

I have an 18 ft Gardiners extreme,the best pole i have ever used but you are right, sometimes hard to justify the price.Hopefully will last longer with less wear than slx.

[SB Cleaning]

NO !

not for me anyway - i don't like the lack of adjustment - section is fully in or out many of my jobs need variation in height
throughout the clean due to access or amount of space around the building.

great i would say for commercial building work surrounded by car parks or open spaces

Darran

I haven't been in a situation where I couldn't use my extreme 25..

Amazing poles if you ask me I would never go back to the slx

[John pearce]

I got the extreme 35, but mostly use it with 2 of the sections off, but don't take long to wip them back on if need to,

i think they are worth the money, i don't feel so achy around the neck and shoulders like with my other pole,

and if you look after it, i can't see why it shouldn't last a few years, even if you only have to replace the one and two section which takes most of the stress, not bad....

JUST wondered if any of you guys that use expensive poles, do you leave in van or take in doors at night,

I take mine in, cant afford that to be theived...   jp

[Carl@Cwc]

currently using couple gardiner slx,s and some elite poles.
i really need a new pole soon and looked at the extremes but a 18 slx is £200 and a new 18 extreme is  £500

are the extreme range really worth the extra cash nearly £300 more

Hi carl just curious do have a carbon Elite and if so what is your view on it .  had mine 18 months now and great pole only pole i use everyday starting to wear . So looking to buy a new pole in a few months possibly SLX or Phoenix .

What size SLX do you have and do you find it is rigid enough when fully extended more so the top section when its windy . Thanks Mike

I don't use the elites very often ,as I use an  SLx 22 for the majority of my work.
And fully extended its great to be honest , some days I have it in some really precarious angles and it belies belief.
We have 2 elites and to be honest have had to replace 2 clamps in the 18 months we have had them. And the breakages were our fault really as had over extended them leaving only 1" in the top part of the clamp which cantilevered the clamp to cause it to break.

The 1 lad I have refuses to use anything else lol as in his words
" your slx is too light to feel like its actually working".  Lol I know

I mainly do big jobs, connys roofs ,fascias etc etc

But am just about to throw the cat amongst the pigeons and do alternate days on each van to speed up the round and use the saved time leafletting/canvassing.

So I will need a new pole shortly and considered the extreme range as I have shoulder bursitis, trapped fluid  ( which causes pain when left arm is raised above shoulder height).and I need a knee op...   I'm dropping to pieces lol.

Think I'm gonna sway the slx 18 way as I really can't justify the extra £300 to be honest.
And think by going to an slx 18 ill appreciate the weight loss anyway.
I'll keep the slx22 for odd days I need it.

[Mike #1]

Thanks for that mate . Mike

[Richard iSparkle]

I've got a 25" extreme.  Not worth the extra for me no.  Don't think the  limit on the extension is an improvement.  I wont be spend the extra on this pole again.  Suppose at longer lengths the weight becomes more relevant.

[Nameless Drudge]

Yes they are worth the extra,they are faster and require less energy input to to do the same task as a heavier pole.
 If you are still going to the gym and admiring your muscles every time you see a mirror then i`m sure the pole weight wouldn`t seem an issue but don`t neglect the speed factor.

I`ll guarantee you will do 20 reps with a 10 kg bar faster than a 20kg bar.With the extreme, the weight difference may seem subtle compared to the class leading SLX but its there and you`ll know it when you use it.

Some of your underpriced work will suddenly seem "bang on the money" and nicely priced when you get brave enough to increase it.

If you have one you won`t like using anything else.

If you buy one and then decide it wasn`t worth the extra cost then you can sell it,probably as in the case of "hardly used SLX`s" for nearly the same as you paid!

I`m not seeing any for sale!

[AuRavelling79]

I have an SLX extreme 47 plus two extensions.

We run it as a 35ft and add the extra when we need it - 4th floor, solar panels etc.

Other than that for every day work we use an SLX20 (top 4 sections of my old SLX35) and an SLX18 - top 4 sections of my SLX22.

Oh! I used the top 3 sections of my old Unger teleplus for some trad. indoor 2nd floor stuff today.