Last updated: July 2026
I invested in the X-Pole A-Frame so I could practice aerial yoga and hoop (lyra) at home. Possibly not the best laid plan given the English weather, but once I actually got it up it was completely worth it. Life is better upside down.
This is a personal review based on owning and using the rig, not a summary of the spec sheet. If you want the real-world experience, including the things X-Pole do not mention in the manual, so read on.
X-Pole A-Frame: quick specs
| Height range | 2.45m – 3.48m (approx. 8ft – 11.4ft) |
|---|---|
| Weight limit | 150kg / 330lbs |
| Floor space (lowest height) | approx. 4.4 sq m |
| Floor space (highest height) | approx. 8.9 sq m |
| Top bar (included) | 1.4m (2m extended bar sold separately) |
| Frame material | Lightweight aluminium |
| Assembly time | 5–10 minutes (two people) |
| Indoor / outdoor | Both |
| Disciplines | Hammock, silks, lyra/hoop, static trapeze, X-FLY pole (not flying trapeze or dynamic drops) |
My honest review of the X-Pole A-Frame
Delivery and unboxing
I came home to find a huge box in the hallway. It is such a good job my husband took delivery. I had no idea how heavy 35kg was until I had to push the box into the kitchen to unpack it. The first thing I found was that the wrong instructions had been packed in the box. I only discovered this after unpacking the entire thing, when the contents did not match what was described. I emailed X-Pole on a Friday night and they replied Monday morning to confirm the error was on their side. Frustrating, but their customer service response was fast and helpful.
Some people on forums report receiving no instructions at all. If yours are missing or wrong, email X-Pole directly rather than waiting. They will sort it.
I also noticed a few aesthetic issues with the poles on arrival: some dings and marks on the material. Nothing structural, but worth flagging. When I actually got to putting it up I noticed more.
Packing it into the carry bags
When I repacked everything into the carry bags (there are two: one for the poles and one for the leg connectors), I discovered you have to do this in a specific order or it simply does not work. There is no mention of this in the instructions. The first time took a good while. The second time was much quicker, but still a little fiddly.
My main complaint about the carry bags: all the poles go into one bag, and that bag is designed to be carried by one person. It is over 30kg. I am not weak and I could not comfortably carry it. For health and safety reasons alone this is a design flaw. I ended up getting a second bag and splitting the top pole out separately, which makes the whole thing much more manageable.
Assembly: what they do not tell you
Putting the rig up is a two-person job. This is only mentioned in the instructions manual, not anywhere on the product listing. If you are expecting to set it up alone like an X-Pole dance pole, think again.
The instructions also do not explain how to achieve the different height settings the manual advertises. There are three holes in the top poles, and by combining those with the holes in the middle-to-bottom pole junction you can get a range of heights, but the manual does not actually tell you how to do this. You work it out by trial and error.
One thing that caught me out: the instructions say never to go past the white stop cap. What this actually means is that when you pull the middle pole up from the bottom pole, you need to take the top pole fully above the middle pole before you find the hole. The instructions could do with a lot more clarity here.
Once you have done it a couple of times it becomes second nature. The first time, allow more time than you think you need.
First proper use
After what felt like weeks of waiting for a dry evening (English summer), we finally got the A-Frame up and hung a hammock from it. It was absolutely brilliant. There is nothing quite like being upside down in a hammock in your own garden.
The second time we assembled it was significantly quicker. We had figured out the system: once the telescopic legs are in the connectors and the frame is upright, pull the top poles immediately and pin them before trying to extend them further. That sequence makes the whole thing much easier.
Stability was good. We only used it at its lowest height for hammock work and it felt very solid. I would feel comfortable going higher once I have more experience with it.
Can it stay outside?
The product is listed as suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but the manual says nothing about whether it can be left up outside permanently. Based on forum discussions, the consensus is no: you should take it down between sessions. To be safe, that is what we do. It would be good for X-Pole to clarify this officially.
Pros and cons
What I like
- Excellent value for money compared to other freestanding rigs available in the UK
- Genuinely portable: it packs into two bags and fits in a car boot
- Versatile: works for hammock, silks, lyra, static trapeze and the X-FLY pole
- Height-adjustable from 2.45m to 3.48m
- Fast assembly once you know what you are doing (5–10 minutes)
- X-Pole customer service is quick and helpful
What could be better
- Arrived with scratches and cosmetic marks
- Wrong instructions packed in the box
- All poles in one bag is genuinely too heavy for one person
- Instructions lack detail on height settings and packing order
- No information on whether it can be left outside
- Delivery was slow and accessories (hammocks, hoops) were out of stock when I ordered, so I sourced a hammock from Firetoys instead
- Not suitable for flying trapeze or dynamic drops
Accessories you will need
The A-Frame comes with the rig, carry bags, weight bags and stabilisation straps. It does not come with any aerial apparatus. You need to buy your hammock, hoop, silks, or trapeze bar separately. Here is what to look for on Amazon UK:
- Aerial yoga hammock / aerial hammock. I sourced mine from Firetoys (good quality), but there are plenty of options on Amazon. Look for hammocks rated to at least 200kg.
- Aerial lyra / hoop. Make sure you buy a single-point lyra for use with an A-Frame rather than a double-point one.
- Aerial silks , fabric silks attach directly to the top bar. Nylon or tricot are good beginner choices.
- Sandbags for the weight bags , the weight bags are included but the sand is not. You will need it for outdoor use especially.
- Swivel carabiners , useful for attaching a hammock or silks cleanly to the top bar.
Verdict
The X-Pole A-Frame is not perfect out of the box: the instructions need work, the carry bag situation is not ideal, and mine arrived with scratches. But the core product is solid. It is stable, portable, and versatile enough to grow with your practice. For anyone in the UK who wants to do aerial work at home without permanently installing a ceiling rig, it is the best value option I have found.
Would I buy it again? Yes, without hesitation.
You can buy the A-Frame directly from the X-Pole UK website.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can the X-Pole A-Frame hold?
X-Pole rates the A-Frame for up to 150kg (330lbs) for standard aerial activities including silks, hammock, and static trapeze.
Can one person set up the X-Pole A-Frame?
The instructions specify two people, and in practice a second pair of hands makes it significantly easier and safer. Some people do manage it alone once they are very familiar with the process, but for your first few times plan to have help.
Can the X-Pole A-Frame be left outside?
X-Pole markets it as suitable for indoor and outdoor use, but the manual does not say whether it can be left up permanently outside. Forum consensus suggests you should take it down between sessions. We take ours down each time to be safe.
How much space does the X-Pole A-Frame need?
At its lowest height setting it requires approximately 4.4 square metres of floor space. At its highest setting (3.48m) it needs approximately 8.9 square metres. You also need enough ceiling clearance if using it indoors.
What can you use the X-Pole A-Frame for?
Aerial yoga hammock, aerial silks, lyra/hoop, static trapeze, and the X-FLY Flying Pole. It is not suitable for flying trapeze or activities involving dynamic drops.
Where can I buy the X-Pole A-Frame in the UK?
Direct from the X-Pole UK website. Note that stock can be limited , when I ordered mine it took several weeks to arrive and accessories were out of stock for months.