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Pole Dancing Gear — Your Guide to Poles, Shoes, Grip, Mats & More
By Susan Peach
Today's pole dancing gear can help you stay safe, reduce injuries, and keep you more comfortable while you're learning, practicing and even performing. Of course, the right gear can also help you look and feel your best, which is important too!
From grip aids and crash mats to special pole dance clothing, shoes, and more, there's plenty of gear to choose from. To help you find what you need, let's start by taking a look at some general categories, with links to dive deeper if something clicks for you.
And for those who know exactly what they're looking for, here's a handy table of contents so you can jump right to the gear you're after...
Dance Poles
It goes without saying that a dance pole is going to be your most important piece of pole dancing gear, so if you're still in the planning phase of your pole dancing adventure there's a lot to learn about dance poles. There are just so many options these days, from basic static poles to high-end stage poles and everything in between.
If you're planning to buy a pole dancing pole, either for yourself or as a gift, you'll want to fully understand what your options are, including the pros and cons of the different brands and types of dance poles available.
There's a lot to take in here, as the choices have really expanded in the last few years. But it's important that you get informed so you can make the right decision the first time. Your Pole Pal is thrifty by nature, and she does not want you wasting your time and money on a dance pole that's not the right one for you.
Ready to learn about dance poles? Let's Go!
Crash Mats
One item that's really gaining in popularity, and for good reason, is a pole dance crash mat or safety pad.
In September, 2010, a British woman was left paralyzed after falling just one foot to the floor while inverted on a pole. She broke her neck and severely damaged her spinal cord.
While accidents like this are rare, they are serious enough to remind us that all sports have inherent dangers.
A good pole dance crash mat can reduce your risk of serious injuries
To reduce the risk of serious injury when practicing inversions and other advanced tricks, a safety mat is essential. It really should be part of your pole kit from the start.
Studio owners, in Your Pole Pal's opinion this is a must-have item for any classes where you're teaching these types of moves. Protect your students and yourself by making sure you have appropriate safety measures in place, including crash mats for all your dance poles.
Grip Aids
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, which is why getting your hands on one or more suitable pole grip products is a really good idea.
This particular piece of pole dancing gear is not expensive, and may just help you avoid a fall. Apply it to your hands if you're prone to slipping due to sweaty palms, excess humidity, or just because you're working hard.
It's also great for any level of pole dancer working to master that next move. Pole grip can give you an extra boost of confidence so you can focus more on your technique and less on whether or not your grip will hold. Not that it's a magic bullet mind you, but in practical terms it can be just the edge you need when you're working towards that next tricky pole pose.
Pictured below are just two of the many brands of pole grip now available.
Pole grip products can improve your grip and help you stay put!
Pole grip can also be used on your legs or other parts of your body that need a little help holding onto your pole.
While using grip doesn't guarantee that you won't slip or lose your grip on your pole, it can definitely help improve your grip, making it less likely that you'll experience an unexpected slip.
Besides, it's cheap enough to make using it a no-brainer once you start learning intermediate moves.
Pole Dance Clothing
Pole dance clothing has come a very long way since the early days when pole dancing was first becoming a fitness activity. These days there are so many options for great pole clothing.
Whether your preference leans more towards comfortable and functional fitness wear, or all out sexy wear, you're sure to find something that suits your taste.
Online shopping is definitely the way to go when it comes to pole dance clothing. The selection can't be beat, shipping is often free over a reasonable purchase amount, and returns/exchanges are generally hassle-free.
You'll find lots of options for pole dance clothes in this section, no matter what part of the world you live in or what your style preference is. Check them out today!
Pole Dance Shoes & Boots
While pole dancing shoes are not a requirement (plenty of polers prefer bare feet), they can certainly add a whole new element to your pole dancing. But they're not just for looks! The high heels and platforms typical of pole dance shoes can elevate your routine in so many ways.
For example, shoes made of vinyl or PVC can aid in climbs and other moves where you're using your feet to help grip the pole. Boots in particular can help with grip as well as protecting your legs from pole burn.
The high heels and platforms of most pole shoes can create the illusion of longer legs, which in turn can increase the sexy factor, if that's what you're going for.
Platform pole dance shoes also offer your feet some support and protection. If you've ever had pole burn on the balls of your feet from practicing pivots and pirouettes in bare feet, you'll get the picture!
Finally, the added weight of a platform pole dancing shoe acts as a counterweight during inversions where your feet and legs are held away from the pole. Once you become accustomed to this effect, you can use it to your advantage to help with balance and control during these types of moves.
Learning Aids
Pole dancing DVDs and books are important pieces of pole gear, especially for those who are learning to pole dance at home because they don't have a studio in their town, or can't attend classes due to scheduling conflicts.
These can also be helpful as reference material for those who are attending classes. During home practice sessions, it's easy to look up a move and get reminders and about technique or other tips that can help you get more out of your practice time.
Check out these recommendations for books and DVDs you might want to add to your home library.
Of course, these days online lessons are rapidly replacing DVDs as a digital learning tool. That's why Your Pole Pal covers the pros and cons of online learning in general, and lets you know what the best courses are, while steering you away from the duds.
Accessories
Pole dance accessories fall into two basic categories: accessories for you, like leg warmers, knee pads and shoe protectors; and accessories for your dance pole, like different types of ceiling mounts, carrying cases for portable poles and pole extensions to customize your dance pole to fit a particular space.
Just For Fun Pole Dancing Gear
Accessories for a pole dance costume, an LED light for your pole party supplies, or a fun t-shirt or mug as a gift for the pole dancer in your life, these just-for-fun items make great gifts, whether for the pole dancer in your life or just to treat yourself.
Susan Peach is an early pioneer in pole dance fitness and the voice behind Your Pole Pal, a long-running resource for the pole community. She taught dance & fitness for nearly 30 years, leading hundreds of classes and working with thousands of students aged 6 to 80+, and created original programs when formal training did not yet exist. She also produced one of the first pole fitness DVD series, along with instructor training and Latin dance fitness programs. Today, she writes and builds Your Pole Pal, still with a soft spot for Latin dance music.
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