Tent Pole Upcycling Roundup

I wrote up about upcycling tent fabric in 2024. In this followup I present ideas for reusing tent poles. This is a tent pole upcycling project roundup.

Introduction

Upcycling involves turning something old into something new and useful. Tent poles may be made from steel, aluminum, titanium, fibreglass or carbon fibre. Tent poles vary in their diameter, wall thickness, strength, and flexibility according to their composition and age. Keep in mind, that even well maintained tent poles degrade with time:

wind and cold temperatures may break poles
zippers, pole attachments and other hardware wear out

These projects may not be suitable for your tent poles.

The Tent Poles

I have tent poles from a 2-room, 8-person, non-freestanding CampMate™ tent that weighs ~15kg (33 pounds). Most people can stand up inside this tent.

8 person, 2 room tent — 2-room, 8 person tent

These tent poles weigh ~6.8 kilograms (15 pounds). The ibreglass poles have a diameter of ~12 mm (0.5 inches) and the steel poles of have a diameter of ~18mm (3/4″). The steel poles walls are ~2mm thick (1/12 inch) and the fibreglass pole walls are ~ 6mm (1/4 inch) thick.

Tent poles from the 2-room, 8-person tent — Tent poles from the tent

Close-up of the tent poles showing their cross-sections — 1/2″ fibreglass and 3/4″ stainless steel tent poles

Newer tents have thinner, lighter poles.

I haven’t tested any of these projects so the photos and links are my inspiration for what could be made. These are suggestions for upcycling tent poles similar to those that I have. Use proper PPE when using tools and be aware that using tent poles for uses other than those they were intended for carries additional risk.

Beginner Projects

Tent pole sections can be used like sticks or dowels. Tape the circumference of fiberglass poles before cutting to avoid splintering. Cut fiberglass poles with a hacksaw or power tool. Pipe and/or tube cutters may work better for metal poles. Paint tent poles to change the color of your finished projects.

1) Garden Stakes

Mark rows in your garden plot or support plants with tent poles.

2) Flag Pole Or Banner Rod

Support light flags or banners with tent poles.

3) Towel Bar Or Curtain Rod

Use thin tent poles as the main dowel for a kitchen towel bar. Add curtain brackets and ends to metal tent poles for light curtain rods.

4) Wind Chimes

Cut metal tent poles into varying lengths to create wind chime.

5) Hiking Stick

Steel poles may be sturdy enough to make a fixed length hiking stick.

Intermediate Projects

If you have lots of tent poles and if you can access more tools and hardware, you can create more complex projects.

6) Sliding Towel Rack Or Hinged Towel Rack

Connect two or more tent poles to a support to maintain their spacing. Attach this unit to a sliding drawer hardware and/or hinges.

7) Clothes Drying Rack

Accordion style clothes drying racks are made with either wooden dowels or metal poles. Crisscrossing the dowels or poles where they intersect and adding screws allows the drying racks to fold.

Clothes drying rack that folds like an accordion — Accordion folding drying rack

8) Shelving Unit

Connect multiple poles to create the frame for a light shelving unit. Use plastic or metal plumbing parts or wooden blocks with holes drilled into them as connectors. Use taut fabric panels for the shelves.

Light-weight storage unit made from metal rods and plastic connectors — Fabric and metal tube storage unit

Advanced Projects

Use more metal tent poles to create sturdier projects. Multiple straight poles and curved poles can be used. Use a pipe or tube bender to curve metal poles for the frame of these advanced projects. Additional tent poles will fill in the frame and give the project additional structure. Screws will hold these project together.

9) Laundry Sorter Frame or Garbage Bin Frame

Create a sturdier frame or sectioned storage unit with thicker curved or crossed for a laundry hamper or garbage bin.

Metal frame of a 3 section laundry sorter on wheels — Three section laundry sorter

10) Entryway Coat Shoe Rack

Connect a towel rack to a low storage unit with long poles to create a coat shoe rack.

Conclusion

Old tent poles have more uses than poles for other tents.

Have you upcycled old poles tent?

Do you have suggestions for re-using tent poles or fabrics?

Did you enjoy this tent pole upcycling roundup?

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Tanya

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