When assembling tent poles, never allow the sections to snap against each other, and always make sure that all sections are fully engaged before bending. Keep the poles clean and free of silt, sand, and salt. Take special care with the aluminum tips, which are not anodized and can corrode.
How do I repair them?
All tent poles are field-serviceable by hand. If you break a tent pole, repair the break temporarily by splinting the pole with a short aluminum sleeve (called a repair sleeve, available at many outdoor gear retailers). The aluminum repair sleeve is fitted over the broken pole section and taped (or wedged) into place. In a pinch, ski pole repair sleeves, tent stakes, and even branches can be used to splint broken tent tubes.