[XLR 3-Pin] This is a very well made boompole. The only two issues iI have with it are the bottom XLR connection and the lack of any case. However, because I got it on sale, I can deal with that (keep on reading). The bottom connection is inconvenient if you have to rest the end of boompole on the ground from time to time during a shoot. So, here is what you need to do: get an angled XLR cable like Kopul M4001.5RC that is also available from B&H. For the case you want a hardshell one, but K-Tek charges an outrageous price for it, so what I suggest is Cavision's Boompole Single Tube Carry Bag model SC804S that you can get for less than $25. It fits very snuggly and it is a hardshell to boot! Enjoy.

[5] For some reason (hard use) the cable between the poll and the rocorder seems to always take the worst of it. This is the only off-the-shelf cable that holds up to the abuse.
In short, buy it. It will save your butt time and time again.

[Twist Lock] Just used it for the first time in the studio, and it is indeed lightweight, easily adjustable, and I'm happily free from lapel and table top mics and cables. I look forward to using it out on location with the field recorder.

[3/8"-16 Male] This is not my first K-Tek boom pole (third, actually), but the shortest one in my kit was the 9’ aluminum. A good pole, but doesn’t collapse to a length that’s easy to stash in my travel case.

So I added this pole to the kit. The graphite design is lighter-weight than the aluminum, and it’s short enough when collapsed to fit in my Pelican 1615 for travel when I don’t need the longer poles.

The 9’ range is ideal for ENG, run-and-gun, and doc work, and this pole is one of the best options in that class.

And if your K-Tek pole ever needs service or maintenance, K-Tek customer service is top-notch.

[XLR 3-Pin] Going from a $50 pole to this one is quite the change. It's great in terms of weight (fully loaded it weighs less than my old pole empty). The coiled cable that it comes with is also really good quality. The right-angle connector at the top is adjustable if you want to change the angle of the pins.


Yes, it does have some handling noise because of the coiled cable inside. However, if you don't swing it like crazy, it doesn't make noise. One thing that I am doing to help alleviate this is to add 2mm thick felt to the cable, spaced out about 1 inch apart when compressed. This is so that I can still be a little rough and have the pole be more forgiving.


Something else that I like about this pole (compared to the pole I had before), is that I can keep that base pole, but change out some parts if I want. For example, if I want to get ride of the internal cabling, I can do that and not make it look funny. One thing that I have in mind as a possible change, would be to change out the right-angle XLR port on the bottom and just use a flow-thru for a straight cable.


The tension rings can be a little slippery when you want to adjust length. For example, when you want to extend the pole, sometimes one of the bigger rings will slip and make the smaller sections rotate a little. For me, if I leave a little more room so I can grip it with my fingers to prevent that, works just fine.


It's not perfect, but it's great compared to what I'm used to and I still really like it for my needs.

[Coiled] Sturdy but lightweight, with side-exit XLR to preserve your cable when you inevitably rest the boom on its end, but not too long in the collapsed state or a thousand bucks...

[Twist Lock] Lightweight and very useable.

[3 lb] super light and works great, it can't hear the rattle of the cable inside the tube. Now the sound guy won't get too tired :)