Didn't need one, so I bought one anyway
I have had my eye on the SOTA BEAMS Carbon 6 mast ever since I first binged watched Jerry KG6HQD's YouTube channel, that got me full on into SOTA and POTA.
While I have have been drooling over it for years now, it remained a low priority on my amateur radio wish list. In fact, it is the fourth mast I have purchased if you include the inexpensive fishing pole I started out with. Which by the way, I still use and would strongly recommend hams who might be interest in trying SOTA or POTA start with.
The reason it took so long to buy a Carbon 6 is, well... there were better options for me. Since most of my POTA and SOTA are either drive up or easy hikes, I went first with taller more robust options. But I still always wanted a Carbon 6.
So why did I buy one if I don't need one?
Seems like a waste of money, don't it? Maybe, we'll have to see how much I use it.
There are two reasons I got this super compact and lightweight telescoping mast.
First, while in my area there is not much for physically demanding hikes. The SOTA summits are pretty mild. I like to refer to Wisconsin SOTA as POTA on a slight incline. I do like to go on multiple day backpacking trips. Over the course of a few days, the weight of the larger mast options I have will take their toll. Plus the more compact size is less likely to get in the way while hiking. In fact, this little mast will fit inside most of my packs.
The other reason why I finally picked one up is for travel.
Both kits I have for my Icom IC-705 and my Yaesu Ft-818 will easily fit under the seat of an airliner. With the SOTA BEAMS mast in my carry one bag, I can have a fully functional portable station with me when I fly, without checking a single bag.
Since I travel occasionally for work, this could make those business trips a little more fun when I can find an evening to sneak in a quick POTA or SOTA.
While I avoid flying in my personal life, the smaller mast would be nice for road trips as well.
So far so good
I've brought the Carbon 6 with me on a few hikes now. Just to have it out and about, basically. The weight is very impressive. Practically like carrying nothing. Since the length is small enough to fit inside most of my pack, it doesn't get in the way. Even on the outside of my smallest packs the Carbon 6 doesn't get in the way or hung up along the trail.
Above is a video from the first time I actually used the Carbon 6 during a POTA activation.
I was very pleased with this little mast!
I attached a 20 meter EFHW to it and just leaned it against a tree. So easy to move around being so light weight. Yet is stayed in place without issue. Granted the wind was calm and the mast was situated in a relatively protected spot.
The S-biner for the antenna slipped over the tip and nested nicely where the 2nd and 3rd section of the mast meet. The mast did not bend from the weight as I was expecting. Granted it was my small 20 meter PackTenna EFHW, so there is not much to support.
Got a strong feeling I may be using this mast more than I originally thought I would. I will by no means stop using my 10 or 12 meter Spiderbeams masts by any stretch of the imagination. But the Carbon 6 will be brought out more than for special occasions.