Durston Z-Flick Tent Pole

World's Lightest Adjustable Tent Pole

The Z-Flick tent pole is an exclusive collapsible tent pole that allows hikers, bike packers, canoeists, single pole users and others to enjoy the X-Mid and other tents that use trekking poles. By designing them specifically for this purpose, we have managed to create a collapsible tent pole that is truly the finest in the world. That includes being the world's lightest adjustable tent pole at only 93g (3.3 oz), the stiffest pole in its class, the only collapsible pole with an easy-to-use external adjuster, and the only collapsible pole that is compatible with almost every tent on the market.

Please note that they are sold individually.

INNOVATION

Collapsible poles (to replace trekking poles) have typically been treated as an afterthought by most tent companies. Almost all existing collapsible poles are built from traditional tent pole tubes (which are designed to flex) or generic carbon poles (heavier than necessary), resulting in a pole that is unnecessarily flexible and heavy, and rarely adjustable (important for fine-tuning tent placement).

With the Z-Flick poles, we started from scratch and applied our philosophy of first principles to design a truly optimal folding pole. We are convinced that Z-Flick poles are the best available because they are:

ULTRALIGHT These are the lightest adjustable rods on the market at only 93 grams (3.3 oz). We accomplish this with premium carbon and larger diameter tubes, providing more strength for the weight. There are slightly lighter non-adjustable poles, but anything significantly lighter uses very weak and flexible tent pole tubes that are unsafe in bad weather.

ADJUSTABLE Adjustment is essential to fine-tune the positioning of the tent, yet few collapsible poles are adjustable and those that are use either twist locks (harder to use, less reliable) or a peg lock system (harder to use, only adjusts in increments). External 'flick' style adjusters are faster, continuously adjustable, lighter than a peg lock system and the most reliable way to adjust a pole. That's why we are pleased to offer the first and only collapsible rods with an external adjuster.

STELLA Z-Flick poles are the stiffest poles in their class for reliable use in tough weather. We achieve this in three ways: (1) we use carbon tubes that are designed to be very stiff (unlike tent pole tubes that are designed to flex), (2) we use precise tolerances between sections to avoid sloppiness, and (3) we use slightly larger diameter tubes that provide greater strength for weight (12mm compared to the usual 9.5 - 11mm).

HIGH QUALITY Our goal is to build the highest quality outdoor gear, which is why we partnered with the same factory that builds premium carbon hiking poles and carbon avalanche probes for several leading brands. This quality is a clear contrast to collapsible poles built with generic aluminum or carbon tubes that offer lower performance and reliability.

COMPACT A compact rod is essential for bike packers and many users, which is why the Z-Flick rod uses 5 sections to achieve a short packed length of 12 inches (31 cm).

UNIVERSALLY COMPATIBLE

More than just a great pole, the Z-Flick poles are the most widely compatible folding poles on the market. All other collapsible poles only work with a subset of tents, partly because they are rarely adjustable in length to fit a wide range of tents, but also because other poles only have one type of tip, yet the world of tents that use trekking poles is divided into models that are positioned in two ways: handle up or tip up.

The Z-Flick poles address this by being adjustable and having tips that fit both tip-up and handle-up tents. This means they work for any tent with a peak under 51.5 inches (131 cm) (almost all tents).

We've accomplished this with a unique idea: the four upper collapsible sections can be flipped to insert either end into the external adjuster, so we provide a different tip style on each end. One end has a custom shaped pointed tip for tents with eyelets, while the other end has a blunt aluminum cap for tents with the handle up.

The result is a very versatile pole that works with almost every tent on the market that uses trekking poles. They will work for your current tent and your next tent, and will be much easier to sell if the time comes.

The Z-Flick poles set the standard for collapsible poles, as they are not only the lightest adjustable poles on the market, but also the stiffest poles anywhere near this weight, compatible with almost every tent, and the only poles that have continuous external adjustment. A pole that is lighter has a fixed length and is very likely to be much less rigid. Whether you own a tent from us or someone else, these poles are almost certain to be your best choice.

SPECIFICATIONS Weight 93 g (3.3 oz) per pole

Packed length 12.25 inches (31 cm)

Adjustment range 43.5 - 51.5 inches (111 - 131 cm)

Diameter 14 mm / 0.55″ (lower section) 12 mm / 0.47″ (upper sections)

Personal impression:

I have to say that these Z-Flick tent pegs are really a game changer for me when it comes to tent adventures. Being able to take advantage of their collapsible design makes packing and transportation much easier, especially when every gram counts. I love that they are not only the world's lightest adjustable tent pole, but also stiff. The external adjuster makes life so much more convenient when I need to quickly adjust the height of the pegs.

The fact that these tent pegs are compatible with almost every tent on the market makes them even more indispensable. No one has to worry about compatibility issues anymore. So, if you are looking for a reliable, lightweight and versatile tent peg for your adventures, I can highly recommend Z-Flick. They have truly taken my tent life to a new level of convenience and performance.