Glen, from my experience, carbon fiber, assuming quality, would be much less likely to break or bend than aluminium, especially using today's manufacturing techniques.

They would also have a greater threshold of "placticity" than aluminum would. Also, the modulus of elasticity would come into play. I can't seriously imagine an aluminum pole coming even close to having the same modulus of elasticity, as a carbon fiber pole. This, in my opinion, would be the big "sell" for me, if I were working with something that would be arched for any real given lenght of time.

Assume a center line for both an aluminum pole and a carbon fiber pole, as that pole is bent, the centerline will actually move closer to the edge of the pole. The aluminum pole would bend easier as that imaginary centerline moves outwards to the edge of the pole, where the least amount of flexibility lies, however with the carbon fiber, that said centerline would be about, but not quite the same as if the pole were not arched.

Look at other examples, many fighter jet outer components, as well as civilian and commercial planes are moving from aluminum to carbon fiber for surfaces that are under heavy stress.

Most, ig not all of the best racing bycicles are made of carbon fiber, not only because it is lighter, but it absorbs stress and shock better. Even freestyle motorcross manufacturer's are experimenting with carbon fiber frames, although they haven't quite got there yet.

I'm wondering, if, those people concerned about the plasticity of the poles, are thiking back to the times when tent companies started using fiberglass poles (not carbon fiber) which had the propensity to snap?

My Kelty came with carbon fiber poles, and although I didn't encounter any high winds on it's first and only outing, I'm quite confident that they could handle anything a 3 season tent would although I wouldn't vouch for the rest of the tent.

I've noticed on the higher end of the tent price spectrum, at least through scouring the net, that many, if not most are going to carbon fiber.

Same with snow skis, water skis, ski poles, and on and on. Carbon fiber is used in most of the best fishing poles, and most expensive also. I have a couple of St. Croix bass rods in the light medium range that have literally been bent completely in half, I mean the top eyelet touching the cork grip, when inadvertantly catching large gar, while bass fishing, in the 20+ pound range, on a fishing rod that's more suited for fish in the (maximum) of 10 to 12lb range with much less fight and stress than those big gar can put on one. The first foot or so, the thinnest would be the first place they would break, if they're going to. The held up just fine. They also make excellent lightning rods in case a sudden storm blows in.

Just a thought,

J.