Lil' Mynx:
Lil 'Mynx is the most affordable removable pole. They come is stainless steel and powder coated, and in 50mm (2in) and 45mm (1.75in) diameters. They come in stationary and stationary/spinning. They come in sizes for 8-9 foot ceilings and 9-10 foot ceilings, but can be made in custom heights. The poles require a permanent mount to be drilled into a joist with one screw. The mount can be disguised as a plant hook.
The way the pole works it there is a smaller tube inside the pole, at the top. There is a spring mechanism below that tube, inside the pole. You turn the inner tube and it will extend or retract. You adjust the length of the tube to be the correct height for your ceiling. Next, you place the pole over the mount at an angle, and pull the pole up towards the ceiling. That spring will compress allowing you to slide the pole into the vertical position. Release the pole when you get it vertical, and check if it's level in two directions. The inner spring maintains tension between the floor and the ceiling mount. This pole is the easiest and quickest, of all the poles, to set up.
The pole can be used on vaulted ceilings if you purchase their vaulted ceiling mount.
The bottom of the pole has 4 rubber feet that grip the floor, without damaging it.
This is the base of the spinning pole. The feet screw into the bottom of the base. That screw hole you see on the base is the spin locking screw hole. You tighten a hex screw, with a hex key, to put the pole in stationary and loosen it to put it in spin mode.
If you have hard wood floors, tile, or other slick floors, Lilmynx recommends you use their non-skid floor pad (be photo below), which is sold separately. You can see it being used in the photo above.
They do have a two piece travel pole, called the "pro-lite." It only comes in 50mm stainless stationary. It connects by a smaller tube that slides into the lower half of the pole. That small tube has two pins on the sides of it, and they slide into two grooves in the lower pole. It comes with a ceiling plate that has a material on the top, much like their floor pad. I've seen girls use the ceiling plate on popcorn ceilings, and it worked. I tried one on my smoother ceiling and it was not secure. You can still use the permanent ceiling mount with the portable pole. You can purchase it with a carrying case, or without. The carrying case can also be purchased separately.
The poles retail from $189 - $289 + shipping. Lil' Mynx has a 1 year limited warranty.
Studioveena has a great video demonstrating the features of the StudioVeena pole, which is a Lil Mynx pole.
Platinum Stages offers both 1 piece removable poles and multi piece removable poles. Both models are offered in stainless steel and brass, and in 50mm and 45mm. The 1 piece is also offered in 38mm, but the multi piece is not, yet. The multi piece connects via threaded ends, so you will want to purchase an anti seizing lubricant. It is bottom loading by default, but you can request a special adapter to use to make it top loading instead. The multi piece will fit ceilings of 7'9" to 9'9", but can go up to 12 feet with the proper extension, which can be purchased separately.
The 1 piece can be cut to fit a variety of ceiling heights, and will fit the one ceiling height. It can be cut down if necessary, and they are coming out with an extension piece for the 50mm and 45mm poles if you need to move it to a taller ceiling height. The adjuster rod will extend an extra 6 inches from the pole. It is both a top loading and bottom loading pole. It comes set up to be bottom loading, but all you have to do is remove the adjuster sleeve and flip the pole over to make it top loading. This is possible because the top and bottom adapters are the same. The poles are really easy to set up either way. You just extend the adjuster rod, level the pole and put the nuts flush with the pole. Easy peasy!
"Top" adapter, but can be the bottom is the pole is flipped
"Bottom" adapter attached to the adjuster rod. Can be the top adapter if you flip the pole.
If you set up the pole top loading, just remove the adjuster sleeve and set it aside. If you have dogs, it can provide an interesting way of entertaining them...
The ceiling plate and base are a strong plastic, coated with a metallic plating to match the pole material. The old style poles had metal bases and ceiling plates that were much heavier. These new ones are light and make setting up the pole easy when you are doing it alone.
Both the ceiling plate and the base have a clear silicone piece on the bottom, with round nubs on them. The silicone grips the ceiling and floor. The nubs compress to help grab the ceiling more. I've had my ceiling plate stay stuck to my ceiling when I've taken the pole down! It does not damage the ceiling or floor.
underside of the base
underside of the ceiling plate
This just shows that the pin can be removed.
Both poles can be stationary and spinning. There are pin holes, in both adapters, that a pin fits in. The pin goes through the adapter into a hole in the base (above). That pin holds the pole in stationary mode. The pin can be pulled out, putting the pole in spin mode. This pole has the easiest spin mode conversion of all the poles.
Both poles can be used on a vaulted ceiling if you purchase their vaulted ceiling mount.
The 1 piece poles retail between $299 - $409 + shipping. The multi piece retails between $349 - $479 + shipping. They used to have a 1 year limited warranty, but recently added a lifetime warranty.
X pole has 3 pole models in circulation. The original x pole, the xpert, and the sport pole.
The original x pole is a top loading pole. The pieces fit together with threads, so you will want to use an anti-seize lubricant. The pole pieces have holes in the sides to insert a pair of chopstick tools. They are used to get the pole pieces apar,t if they become stuck together. It takes some work, but they should come apart if you smack the chopsticks with a hammer (thus shocking the metal and releasing the tubes.) It is spinning/stationary and comes if 50mm and 45mm, in chrome and titanium gold. It has a metal dome and a metal base that are plated in either chrome or titanium gold. The dome and base each have a ring of silicone around the edge. These grip the ceiling and the floor and should not harm either. It is possible for the base to leave a ring in vinyl flooring, but the ring will go away over time if you take the pole down.
This shows the adjuster rod at the top of the pole in the original x pole.
The base of the original x pole is larger than the x pert. It is an articulating base, so if the pole slips, the base will angle and help the dome re-grip the ceiling. This instruction manual gives outlines the parts and features of the original X Pole.
X pole stopped making these because there are many companies making counterfeit x poles. The counterfeit poles were unsafe and became harder to identify as fakes.
*This is for all XPert poles 2013 and older.
The X Pert is a fairly new update of the old x pole. It is similar in features to the old style in that it is spinning/stationary, but it is bottom loading, which some people find easier to install, it has the new x joint connectors, has an articulating base, and the metal base is much smaller. Being bottom loading, it makes more usable pole available, as the adjuster rod is covered with a metal sleeve that is flush with the rest of the pole. The dome is also made of metal, and is plated with either chrome or titanium gold, depending on the color of the pole. The dome and base each have a clear silicone ring, that creates friction against the ceiling and floor, to hold it up. The X Pert comes in stainless steel 45/50mm, chrome 40/45/50mm, titanium gold 45/50mm, and brass 40/45mm. The X pert retails between $330 - $430 + shipping
X pert dome on the ceiling
Underside of the dome with the silicone ring. X pole has since added a smaller ring of silicone to the center of the domes.
X pert top adapter that slides into the pole and dome
Updated adapter with gaskets
X joint. It's hard to see, but there is a pin in the center of the joint which slides into the groove of the pole.
Inside of the pole pieces there are small grooves that the joint pins slide into.
Underside of the pole base. The clear ring grips the floor.
You can see how the base moves as a safety precaution.
Base on the pole. Two screws, on the bottom, align with the x's on the base and put the pole in stationary.
The adjuster rod a the bottom of the pole.
The x pert comes with a set of hex keys for setting up the pole, and to convert the pole to stationary/spinning by loosening or tightening the bottom two screws.
X pole provides a neat carrying case for the pole and dome.
*Note: X pole just released a new 2014 model of the X Pert. This installation video highlights the updated features such as: an adjuster cover that doesn't unscrew, but rather you line up a line on the pole with a hole in the adjuster cover, joints with elongated tabs and notches, larger and flat hex screws, among other new features. I will update this post with photos and details when I get my hands on my own.
All 3 poles can be adapted to a vaulted ceiling by using their vaulted ceiling mounts or made semi permanent by using their standard block mount. Just make sure you get the correct one for your pole. The newer x poles can be a bit tricky to set up at first, but once you get the hang of it, it is fairly easy. The poles fit ceiling heights of 7'4" to 9', but can go to a maximum height of 11 feet, with the proper extensions.
X pole has a 6 month warranty.
Pole Danzer:
Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to use a Pole Danzer pole, but I have talked with them about their removable poles a bit. From what I understand they have a fully removable pole and a semi permanent pole.
The fully removable one (above) is their "Portable Party Pole." It functions much like the x pole and platinum stages poles in that it is tension mounted between the floor and ceiling. I believe the pole needs to be taken down in order to convert it to spinning/stationary.
Pole Danzer offers their removable poles in stainless steel and brass, in 50mm only. They offer 2 piece poles on all of their models. They also offer extensions for their portable partypole, if you need one. Pole Danzer has a life time guarantee on manufactured defects and an 18-month guarantee on product wear-and-tear.
All of these poles need to be installed over a joist. If you don't know how to find the joists, you can get a stud finder from the local hardware store. I prefer the ones that detect the center of the studs, not the edges.
I know picking a pole is a very difficult decision. Hopefully this information helps you in that decision.
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