Can't compare the poles as I use Gardiner's SL-X18&25 and have never used XLine's poles. However, I am currently using the ExLine Evo-Lite rectangular brush and can say that so far I've been using it for several weeks now as my main brush and I'm very impressed with it. It hasn't misshaped at all and so far only about 3 bristles have come out of it. On the other hand every one of Gardiner's brushes I've ever used has lost bristles easily right from the get go and have also misshaped quickly. Don't get me wrong, I like their brushes, but wish they would last longer. The Evo-lite looks like it's going to last ages. We shall see