I'd like to put a flagpole in my front yard.Something mounted on the house is a non-starter because of our vinyl siding, so a free-standing type looks like the best option. I'm thinking 20 feet, telescoping, anodized aluminum. Lots of vendors online and I'm having a hard time selecting a good one. Any recommendations?

I see this company every year at the Texas state fair and I keep saying I'm going to get one. They look well built in person.

https://www.uncommonflagpoles.com

I looked at telescoping, and never found one I really liked.

The downsides for me were they all had lower wind ratings vs. standard poles, the "half staff" position is only the bottom set of rungs, not a true "half", and the longevity of the raising and lowering locks are often brought into question in the reviews (if not cleaned they can jam, scratches on the pole surface, etc).

I'm currently saving for a 25" one piece pole so I can fly a 4x6 US and a 3x5 secondary flag. I'm also considered coastal, so I need a 110mph wind rating.

I have a 20' Titan - Made in the USA (here in ID and MN). Some sales codes going on and free shipping. Comes with the hardware for two flags to be on the pole. One nylon US flag comes with it. I have the solar rechargeable light on it and leave it up at night. I have 4X6 US and 3X5 Navy flags on the pole. Pole is fine when our wind picks up and I have not had to take down the flags due to it.

https://flagpolefarm.com/

I bought a 20' telescoping pole at Harbor Freight for $65 added a light for $20. Same pole on Amazon $120. It,s been up for three weeks now and everything seem to be just fine.

I have been satisfied with my 20' from Telepole. Made in the USA and heavy duty.

I bought an 'Uncommon' 25 foot pole at the fair about 12 years ago. I've moved it from my back yard to my front as a tree started to block it. I fly Old Glory the 6 month I'm in Montana and have an LED light on top of the pole. It was been great. It is in 4 sections with push buttons that lock each section in place. We get some pretty strong winds here and I've never had a problem.

I live in a high wind area, they never survive, under these circumstances.

quote:

Originally posted by Gibb:
I looked at telescoping

The downsides for me were they all had lower wind ratings
the "half staff" position is only the bottom set of rungs,
and the longevity of the raising and lowering locks

THIS^^^^^^

I bought probably the cheapest one you will ever find, from Harbor Freight on an impulse buy. $69... on sale for $59 and with a coupon made it less than 50 bucks, including a 3x5 flag. I added a top of pole solar light from Amazon.

It has worked fine for a few years but the concerns you post hit the nail on the head.

While it hasn't blown over I did take it down once during a very severe storm, once, and I probably wouldn't fly two flags on it.

You are correct about the half staff position but it's actually just fine that way.

Also correct about the locks... they failed stuck in the first year (I may have over tightened them) but that ends up not being an issue either because I just lift the very light weight pole out of the ground sleeve and lay it over to change the flag. Actually that ends up being easier and quicker than using the slip locks anyway. I do have a convenient prop to rest in on when laid down holding the flag off the ground. Otherwise it would require someone to hold it while you changed the flag etc.

quote:

Originally posted by texassierra:
I see this company every year at the Texas state fair and I keep saying I'm going to get one. They look well built in person.

https://www.uncommonflagpoles.com

^^^This^^^ I have had a 20'Uncommon Pole for going on 25 years, no complaints.

I think ours is 20'. We've had it abut 20 years, also. The first 10 years it was in the front yard. Then 10 years ago we built this house. Its been up ever since, but just extended on holidays. So far so good. I have no idea what the brand is.

The early years it was in the ground, in a plastic pipe mount filled with concrete. For the last 10 I bought a hole saw and cut through the deck rail, then into a piece of 2x6 as a foot mount. Works fine, by the way. But I don't fly the flag during storme or after dark. All along I've thought about a pirate flag or a Confederate flag. Still working on it.

quote:

Originally posted by rburg:
I think ours is 20'. We've had it abut 20 years, also. The first 10 years it was in the front yard. Then 10 years ago we built this house. Its been up ever since, but just extended on holidays. So far so good. I have no idea what the brand is.

The early years it was in the ground, in a plastic pipe mount filled with concrete. For the last 10 I bought a hole saw and cut through the deck rail, then into a piece of 2x6 as a foot mount. Works fine, by the way. But I don't fly the flag during storme or after dark. All along I've thought about a pirate flag or a Confederate flag. Still working on it.

I would advise against a Confederate flag. The Mayor may let the mobs tear your house down.

We have a 30’ telescoping, bought from Atlantic, made by Titan. It’s been up at least 3 years, maybe 4. Believe it or not, it gets windy in this part of Wyoming. The flagpole is holding up just fine. I hate to see my flags getting battered in high winds. The problem with telescoping is that when the wind comes up it puts a bind on the joints that prevents you from dropping the pole down. I was always able to get it down before dark by watching for momentary lulls in the wind, and they always come, still, it can be frustrating.

Last fall I adopted the pole to a lanyard and rigged up a temporary cleat that worked pretty well. This summer I had surgery and knew I wouldn’t be able to fight with it and my wife absolutely couldn’t raise and lower the pole (I take my flags in at sunset every day). Without compromising the ability of the flagpole to telescope, I converted it to lanyard for the roughly 7-8 months that I keep my flagpole up; winds are just too heavy in the winter.

I have no qualms about recommending a telescoping pole, if it’s quality made. If you live in a windy area, you might not like it all the time. I like the fact that sometime this fall, I can drop the pole down, pull it from its sleeve, and bring it inside the garage for the winter.

I have an Uncommon and absolutely love it.

30 ft, ?
60 ft.?
or 90 ft.?

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I decided to order a Titan 25 foot from Amazon and should see it in a little over a week.