Plus Size Dance Pole & Weight Limit

I purchased a pole only to find out the maximum weight is 180 pounds. Is this the rule of thumb to all poles? Or is there a special plus size dance pole to accommodate a larger sized person?
~Huneey

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Table of Contents

Is there a special pole for plus size pole dancers? (The short answer)

Plus size poles? (The longer answer)

Brands to avoid

Recommended brands

Important tips

Summary


Plus Size Dance Pole?
The Short Answer

No. Different poles have different weight limits and there is no special plus size dance pole on the market. But there are poles that are of better quality and/or that have installation methods that make them better able to handle more weight.

A recent site visitor asked about the best pole for plus size pole dancers, and Your Pole Pal gave a very detailed response explaining why dance pole weight limits can vary so much. Check out that page for all the details, as well as a comparison chart of different poles to help you choose the best one.

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The Longer Answer

These days, there are an awful lot of choices in home pole dancing poles, so choosing the best one for your needs can be a challenge for anyone. But for plus size pole dancers, the challenge of choosing the right pole is further complicated by the fact that accurate information on dance pole weight limits is not so easy to come by.

While Your Pole Pal doesn't know of any dance pole that is specifically marketed as a "plus size dance pole," some brands are definitely of better quality than others. And better quality usually means the pole can bear more weight, making it a better choice for heavier pole dancers.

However, even among the well-known major brands, there seems to be some reluctance to state a definitive weight limit. There are a variety of reasons for this, ranging from legal liability to the reality that there are a great many variables that go into calculating the maximum weight that a given dance pole can support. 

Just as a quick example, lifting 400 lbs straight up a dance pole is relatively safe. But applying even a 150 lb side load to a pole could be enough to bring the pole down, depending on whether the pole uses a friction pad or a bolted ceiling mount, whether the pole was correctly installed, and the amount of force behind the load. 

Basically a major reason why it's difficult for manufacturers to provide a maximum weight limit for their dance poles is that they have no idea what you're going to do on that pole.

All that being said, consider that many very muscular men pole dance. Despite the fact that muscle is much denser than fat - which means that male pole dancer may well weigh more than a plus size woman - no one seems to ask if there's a special dance pole for men. 

Plus size woman wondering

So it's really less about finding a plus size dance pole and more about finding out which poles are made of the best quality materials, have a design that maximizes the strength of those materials, and have the safest installation systems.

All these things together add up to a pole that should be able to handle more weight, whether the weight is in the form of a very lean and muscular male pole dancer, or a woman who considers herself to be out of shape and a hundred pounds overweight.

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Brands to Avoid

While there's no one right pole for every plus size pole dancer, there are a few brands that are likely best avoided if you're concerned about dance pole weight limits. We'll cover these first.

Then we'll take a look at some of the major brands that make good quality dance poles. These are the brands Your Pole Pal recommends checking out if you're looking for a pole that can handle not only your weight, but also the kinds of moves you're planning to do on your pole.  

So, if you're a plus size pole dancer who actually wants to get up on that pole, spin around, hang upside down, and feel safe doing it, here are the types of poles you probably want to stay away from...

  • Any pole that is marketed as an "adult novelty toy" or uses similar wording on the website, on the packaging, or in any promotional material. These types of poles are usually sold around the USD $100 - $150 price point. They should be considered props more than fitness tools and are often not designed to be weight bearing at all. 
  • Be very cautious about some of the cheaper dance poles and offshore imitations that were bound to come along. The branding on these poles seems to change frequently, but they're not hard to recognize. If you're browsing dance poles on Amazon and you see brands with names like Yaheetech, SereneLife, VANLIG, or similar unrecognizable branding, think twice. At the very least, ask lots of questions before you buy. 
  • Below are some specific brands to avoid if you want a dance pole that's built to hold up under your weight. Some of these brands are no longer available new, but may be on the used pole market, so it still bears mentioning them. If you're considering buying a used dance pole, these brands may not measure up:
    * Electra Pole
    * Peekaboo Pole
    * Hustler Pole
    * Fetish Fantasy

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Recommended Brands

A handful of dance pole manufacturers have established themselves with a track record of making a quality product designed with a strong focus on safety. These are the companies that Your Pole Pal recommends buying from if you're looking to invest in a dance pole that can handle a greater than average weight, aka a "plus size dance pole."

Below you'll find a summary of each company's recommended pole for plus size pole dancers, as well as links to read reviews and get more details about each one.

Remember, buying a dance pole is an investment, and it's worth a bit of time researching before you buy. That way you won't end up spending your hard-earned money on a pole that doesn't work for you.

Top Plus Size Dance Pole Pick ~ Lil Mynx

The Lil Mynx removable (aka semi-permanent) dance pole has always been Your Pole Pal's top rated pole for anyone concerned about maximum weight bearing ability, short of installing a permanent dance pole. And the Lil Mynx dance pole still gets top marks due to the design of its ceiling mount, which offers much greater stability and reliability than a friction pad.

As we'll see below, some of the other brands that started out using only a friction pad to hold the pole against the ceiling, now have a permanent ceiling mount option similar to what Lil Mynx has always had. This effectively turns these friction mounted poles into semi-permanent or removable poles, making them able to withstand heavier loads.

However, Lil Mynx still wins the top spot due to its patented ceiling mount design. The Lil Mynx ceiling mount is the smallest and least noticeable of all the removable dance poles. That's because the mount is installed using a single lag bolt that goes through the center of the mount. Because the mount doesn't require 4 screws as other brands do, the mount itself is quite small.

Measuring only 2" across or less (depending on the diameter of your pole), the ceiling mount is also white, which will match most ceiling colors Due to its small size and color, the Lil Mynx ceiling mount is almost unnoticeable once installed. 

Furthermore, installation of the mount is quick and easy, as it requires only that single lag bolt drilled into a ceiling joist. The bolt, along with the correct size drill bit and Allen key (all shown above), are even included with the Lil Mynx pole so you can't mess this up. 

For these reasons, Lil Mynx retains its top spot in Your Pole Pal's recommended list for those looking for a plus size dance pole. It's only a slight edge though, so read on for two more recommendations.

Is a Lil Mynx pole right for you? 

Visit the Lil Mynx website to view all their pole options.

Why is a semi-permanent dance pole able to handle more weight than a friction mount pole?

The two main factors that determine a dance pole's ability to stand up under a load are the strength of the pole itself, and how it's installed. Once we get into the higher quality dance poles, it's not so much the strength of the steel that's at issue, but how secure the pole is once it's been installed.

The top of a removable (or semi-permanent) dance pole fits into or overtop of a mount that's bolted or screwed into a ceiling joist. If excessive force or a heavy side load were to be applied to the pole, the top of the pole is designed to stay secure in its mount.

With a friction mount pole on the other hand, the friction pad can slip off the ceiling under a heavy load, making it more likely that this type of dance pole will come down. 

Another Quality Choice ~ X-Pole

X-Pole is one of the brands that is now competing with Lil Mynx in the removable or semi-permanent dance pole market. 

Previously, X-Poles were available only in a friction mount model or as a platform pole. However in recent years, X-Pole has introduced a number of different ceiling mounts which are available for purchase separately, like this mount designed for home use.

Like the Lil Mynx ceiling mount, this mount remains in place once installed. That means you install it once and then your pole simply slides into place for a secure installation. 

The key thing to know is that this ceiling mount transforms your X-Pole friction mount dance pole into a semi-permanent or removable pole.

Currently, the permanent ceiling mount is only available as an optional add-on, meaning that you will need to purchase a compatible model of X-Pole and then add a permanent ceiling mount to your order separately.

It's also important to know that, like the Lil Mynx pole, this ceiling mount must be installed into a ceiling joist or beam.

Because the mount is not included as part of the pole package, and due to its larger size, Your Pole Pal rates the X-Pole in the #2 spot for those with concerns about dance pole weight limits.

Otherwise, X-Pole is a quality brand and with the introduction of an optional permanent ceiling mount, they have shown that they are responsive to safety concerns and to the growing number of polers searching for a pole that can safely manage a higher weight limit.

Is an X-Pole right for you? 

Visit the X-Pole US website to view all their pole options. (For residents of Canada, USA & Mexico)

Visit the X-Pole UK website to view all their pole options. (For residents of all other countries)

Last But Not Least ~ Lupit Pole

Lupit Pole has also created a permanent ceiling mount for use with their brand of dance poles. Similar to X-Pole, this mount is attached to the ceiling with 4 screws.

The difference with Lupit Pole's design is that the ceiling mount is quite large, approximately 18" in diameter. This helps to distribute the pressure applied by the pole across a much larger surface. As a result, this mount does not have to be screwed into a ceiling joist. 

It does, however, have to be screwed into the plaster or drywall of your ceiling. Using it as a friction mount system won't provide the same security, nor will it significantly increase the weight limit of your dance pole. 

Lupit Pole Permanent Ceiling Mount

As with X-Pole, the fact that this mount is a separate accessory rather than part of the pole package is what moved it down the list of recommended plus size dance pole modifications. In addition, the larger size may not be as preferable as the very compact Lil Mynx ceiling mount.

However, Lupit Pole is rapidly earning a name for itself as a company that produces a quality product with safety in mind, so Your Pole Pal has no hesitation in recommending it. Particularly if you don't want to try to figure out where your ceiling joists are, or you just want a ceiling mount you can install with only a screwdriver, the Lupit Pole may be the right choice for you.

Visit the Lupit Pole website to view all their pole options.

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Important Tips to Keep in Mind

If you already have a dance pole, it's important to know that a permanent ceiling mount is normally only suitable for use with the same type of pole. In other words, using a Lupit Pole ceiling mount with an X-Pole or especially one of the cheaper dance poles, may not be safe.

The other important thing to know is that these "retrofit" permanent ceiling mounts may not accept all types of dance poles of the same brand. For example, X-Pole's home ceiling mount shown on this page is only compatible with their Xpert and Xpert Pro poles, but not with their Sport model. 

Finally, be aware that dance pole companies normally sell a different type of ceiling mount for vaulted ceilings. All of the ceilings mounts shown on this page are designed to be installed on flat ceilings, but each of the brands mentioned also offers one or more vaulted ceiling mounts. 

If in doubt, be sure to get in touch with the customer service department of the brand you're considering buying. They'll be able to help you make the right choice for a safe installation.

In Summary

If you're looking for a dance pole with a higher weight limit suitable for plus size pole dancing, you really can't go wrong with any of the recommendations on this page. Your choice of pole will likely depend more on what type of ceiling mount you prefer, and which would work best in your home given your available space and ceiling type. 

Any dance pole is a big purchase, but if you have particular concerns about dance pole weight limits and want to be sure you buy a pole that can handle extra weight, it pays to invest a little time in doing your research before you decide.

If you've read this far you should be well on your way to making the right decision. Remember though, that part of the reason the three brands on this page made Your Pole Pal's recommended list is that their customer support is top notch.

If you have questions that aren't answered on this page, or specific concerns about your particular situation, don't hesitate to reach out to Lil Mynx, X-Pole or Lupit Pole for answers...they'll be delighted to help you!


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