best pole, hose and vacuum head

[sdtfp]

Where can I get a great pole and vacuum head? The pole I have doesn't stay rigid anymore and shortens when i push it during vacuuming. The vacuum head i have is the rectangular one with rollers and that one seems to push stuff away more often then not. Maybe just because its older. I also have too much suction and its hard to move the vacuum around, but not sure the pole/vacuum head can do much about that.
The connector in the skimmer also moves around with the hose so that I have to keep readjusting it so that it points to vacuum. So maybe I need to replace the connector or hose as well.

I do have a robot, but for openings and closings the manual vacuum is faster then emptying out the robot a lot.

What do you guys recommend and more importantly where can I buy it? I have a leslies pool near me and it seems like they just carry junk.

 

[1poolman1]

Where can I get a great pole and vacuum head? The pole I have doesn't stay rigid anymore and shortens when i push it during vacuuming. The vacuum head i have is the rectangular one with rollers and that one seems to push stuff away more often then not. Maybe just because its older. I also have too much suction and its hard to move the vacuum around, but not sure the pole/vacuum head can do much about that.
The connector in the skimmer also moves around with the hose so that I have to keep readjusting it so that it points to vacuum. So maybe I need to replace the connector or hose as well.

I do have a robot, but for openings and closings the manual vacuum is faster then emptying out the robot a lot.

What do you guys recommend and more importantly where can I buy it? I have a leslies pool near me and it seems like they just carry junk.

Much depends on your budget. I use the Eliptilock pole from Skimlite. No moving parts other that the telescoping ones. My poles are over 20 years old and still work like new, even the "homeowner" model I first bought before getting the heavier "professional" one. Have had to shorten the "homeowner" model as the holes that the locking pins go into wore out. Cut it shorter, drilled new holes and done.

Vac-heads are the same. It sounds like yours may be old or has been left in the Sun a long time. The "homeowner" ones get very soft and collapse, both pushing the dirt and getting stuck to the floor. Get a "professional" one with ball-bearing wheels.

If your vac hose is not leaking and the cuffs are good, keep it as long as you can. The good ones are expensive but don't work any better.

 

[djpool21]

I really like my carbon fiber Primate Pole. If you want a light but expensive pole this is the way to go. I don’t use it with a vacuum head so I don’t know about that. However, it supposed to work fine with them.

 

[sande005]

My 25 yr old 16' straight aluminum pole is still going strong, although the end is getting pretty beat up from the years of changing heads. For that reason, I got:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PKTH7Q8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 pole and brush combo. After the summer with it, the brush is fantastic. The pole, well it is heavier but much sturdier. The extending mechanism and attachment end looks like it will last for decades. In my shallow end, I like to rest the pole on my shoulder as I move it in and out - and the "joint" is bulky and a bit irritating as it hits my shoulder. But both notes are minor quibbles. I don't like their fine net - used to one with an on-ramp to help scoop up stuff on the bottom. This one requires a push broom action to get the junk floating a bit to scoop it up. I'd buy the brush and pole again, but won't have to as it has a lifetime free replacement warranty!

For vac head - Hayward triangular, clear, with replaceable brushes. I add/remove brushes as needed depending on scrubbing needed, or if I just want to direct water flow into it to better suck up stuff in its path. Never a sticking issue. But it does only seem to last a few years.

This hose is as good as any I've had in the past. No sign of problem after two years. But I doubt it will be a lifetime purchase...https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00106WWYA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[sdtfp]

Much depends on your budget. I use the Eliptilock pole from Skimlite. No moving parts other that the telescoping ones. My poles are over 20 years old and still work like new, even the "homeowner" model I first bought before getting the heavier "professional" one. Have had to shorten the "homeowner" model as the holes that the locking pins go into wore out. Cut it shorter, drilled new holes and done.

Vac-heads are the same. It sounds like yours may be old or has been left in the Sun a long time. The "homeowner" ones get very soft and collapse, both pushing the dirt and getting stuck to the floor. Get a "professional" one with ball-bearing wheels.

If your vac hose is not leaking and the cuffs are good, keep it as long as you can. The good ones are expensive but don't work any better.

Thanks!... there is a skimlite dually at leslies.com and amazon. I dont see anyone selling the eliptilock. Skimlite website lets me find a distributor near me, but it looks like its only for b2b. I might try the dually if I find it in the store. Its also one that is8 to 16 ft and i wonder if thats too big for my small pool. The eliptilock comes in 6 to 12 ft per the website. But again, I cant find a place to buy one of those.

 

[sdtfp]

I really like my carbon fiber Primate Pole. If you want a light but expensive pole this is the way to go. I don’t use it with a vacuum head so I don’t know about that. However, it supposed to work fine with them.

no sellers near me, seems like a florida, CA, texas only pole.

 

[sdtfp]

My 25 yr old 16' straight aluminum pole is still going strong, although the end is getting pretty beat up from the years of changing heads. For that reason, I got:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07PKTH7Q8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1 pole and brush combo. After the summer with it, the brush is fantastic. The pole, well it is heavier but much sturdier. The extending mechanism and attachment end looks like it will last for decades. In my shallow end, I like to rest the pole on my shoulder as I move it in and out - and the "joint" is bulky and a bit irritating as it hits my shoulder. But both notes are minor quibbles. I don't like their fine net - used to one with an on-ramp to help scoop up stuff on the bottom. This one requires a push broom action to get the junk floating a bit to scoop it up. I'd buy the brush and pole again, but won't have to as it has a lifetime free replacement warranty!

For vac head - Hayward triangular, clear, with replaceable brushes. I add/remove brushes as needed depending on scrubbing needed, or if I just want to direct water flow into it to better suck up stuff in its path. Never a sticking issue. But it does only seem to last a few years.

This hose is as good as any I've had in the past. No sign of problem after two years. But I doubt it will be a lifetime purchase...https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00106WWYA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

thanks a lot of good info here! Didnt realize until you mentioned it that I need to compare the extending mechanisms for the different pools. I also like that hose has a swivel cuff. That might be what I need to stop moving the adapter out of the vacuum position.

 

[Newdude]

I will be going back to This one when the pro tuff dies. I leave it outside to help speed it along but it was new this year so its going to be a while. The I-beam like pole on the handle half is uncomfortable to hand-over-hand. The pole is very heavy with lots of flex. The linked pole above weighs a fraction of the pro tuff and has zero flex to it, for $100 less. Also the handle grip is a rubber sleeve that isn't going to last. It was sliding around on the 3rd use.

I do give the locking mechanism on the pro tuff top marks, but the rest of it is an expensive disappointment.

The pro tuff brush is amazing.

The pro tuff net doesn't scoop well for me either, and Temu has a knockoff for $7. Lol

I also second the Hayward triangle vac.

 

[1poolman1]

thanks a lot of good info here! Didnt realize until you mentioned it that I need to compare the extending mechanisms for the different pools. I also like that hose has a swivel cuff. That might be what I need to stop moving the adapter out of the vacuum position.

Swivel cuff goes on the vac head so the hose doesn't twist while it is in use.