After months of waiting, the R-Pole finally came out.
In case you didn’t know, the R-Pole was to be the next generation of stage poles. No heavy stage parts to lug around, no big stage base, just a flat circular section and a pole.
Seems like a great idea, and I was curious about the price, really curious, especially since I wanted a stage pole in the worse way. So I waited on this RPole, I kept checking their site, and they said they were going to release prices in late July, but once the days spilled over into August, I was tired of waiting and I got an X-Stage.
But last week, it seems that the R-Pole had a release party and announced their prices. They are only selling to UK for now, so I couldn’t get one if I wanted to. That, and the price (conversed to USD) is about double what I paid for my X-Stage.
There are some photos of a release party here.
And a video of the pole in use here.
I must say, now that I see actual photos of the pole…I flat out don’t like it. I hate the squishy pinkish mat. It looks sloppy, not something I want on stage with me when doing a performance. I despise the color of the mat as well. Just because Im a woman, dont assume Im really into that color. The whole point of the R-Pole is this revolutionary base. And the base is what I don’t like about it.
I am glad I got my X-Stage when I did. And Im totally over this R-Pole. Maybe the next version after this wont bother me, but for now, slightly impressed with the idea, but not the execution.
A great article and well written. If I could offer some explanation in that we were inundated with enquiries prior to launch so guilty of delays in replying to people which is not professional and something we have now dealt with. Just to confirm the R Pole IS available in the UK AND USA as well as Europe and we don’t charge VAT for the USA which makes the static 38mm split pole just over £400 or approx $640 plus delivery. The pink ‘squishy’ mat is a prototype 40mm mat and is actually firm under feet and certainly girls were dancing in heels on this without a problem. Any colour mat is available with order at this time. The x-stage is a ‘stage’ and cannot really be compared with the R Pole which was designed for ‘pole fitness’ in health clubs or at home. The R Pole weighs approx 40Kg which is less than half the x-stage at 86Kg (almost 190lb)which you no doubt have figured out. I am glad you like the x-stage as its audience and use overlaps ours rather than competes against us and the market is certainly big enough for all needs and desires. Thank you again. Steve Penney ~ http://www.r-polefitness.com
Stephen, thank you for responding.
Basically the R-pole is for a different purpose than the X-stage?
This I can understand now, in starting my polesque troupe, I needed a stage pole, not something for learning or teaching, but for stage performances.
So its good that there are now two choices of portable poles for different purposes.