However there is some good news.
Carbon poles will be available but they'll be made to order. I've managed to track down a supply of tips of the correct size, so you'll be able to choose to have plain dome ends, spiked ends or a mixture and whether to have them shockcorded or not (obviously in shockcorded form they'll be a fixed length but if non-corded you'll be able to add or subtract sections to alter the length).
Aluminium poles have undergone a bit of a rethink. There was nothing wrong with the previous incarnation but I figure that any improvement can only be a good thing. So, the new poles are made using DAC featherlite sections. The joins are swaged which means that the joining pieces can be a larger diameter than previously, resulting in a stronger pole for virtually no weight penalty. Again, there'll be a choice of ends and a shockcorded option. They'll be available in custom lengths and standard lengths 'off the shelf' to suit the more usual shelter set ups.
The first pair of version II alloy poles are going out to Mart ... configured specially for his SilShelter. Here's what the new alloy poles look like. Prices, weights and the ability to actually buy some will be along very soon ... promise.
) , i've had the forum in my bookmarks for ages, ashamed to say i forgot about it, but after Stuart posted advice on my 
to myself rather than an expression of "christ this stuff is expensive", i guess you could say i've been bikepacking "as it is now called" since the early 90's and i've cobbled together some weird and wonderful creations back in the day, i used to have a 10ft square of light Lorry tarpaulin with brass eyelets that we used as a shelter, admittingly it was rather heavy and awkward to roll up but at least it was waterproof, bombproof/nukeproof would be a more apt description.
