iDesign Cameo Metal Tension Rod, Adjustable Customizable Curtain Rod for Bathtub, Shower Stall, Closet, Doorway, 26-42 Inches, Bronze

This is just about perfect (for temporary tension rods, versus screw-in or mounted rods)!Previously, we had a simple twist-real-tight tension rod. In my experience, those rods are near worthless, and unless the walls that it's in contact with are high-friction and dry, any amount of real weight on the rod will pull it down.This rod, however, is a twist-and-lock spring-loaded model. Like most tension rods, you pull it out to about the width you need, then twist it firmly to "lock" it. However, the ends will now compress on a spring mechanism to create an outward force rather than just relying upon friction. This works MUCH better. Thanks to this rod, I also got a much better shower curtain made of fabric instead of a painter's drop-cloth quality sheet plastic, and the rod has not budged at all since putting it in place. (Concerning actual quantifiable weight-load, that's unknown, and likely depends upon how much the rod is extended and what kind of surface the ends are pressed into)Finally, concerning a lot of reviews about how this can only be twisted and locked once, and then it's permanent ... that is patently wrong. Perhaps in response to those reviews, the instructions for this rod make it very clear that after being put in place, the rod can easily be compressed, removed, then twisted to unlock it, then compacted. You just twist in the opposite direction. Of course, I would assume you also should do this GENTLY, and not go all Swartzanegger on it, because that will probably break the internal mechanisms. AND in case you don't happen to believe one set of instructions, or you lose them, the rod itself has a big bright sticker on it explaining how to release it.Obviously this is not a good rod if you're priority is appearances. But for me, for a 33 inch wide shower stall where finding permanent mounted rods would just be too expensive and too much work, this is great.

I went through a lot of reviews once I bought it, hoping for instructions because I was following the ones in the box and I was turning and turning with no result. I made a mark on the bar where I wanted the length to be (with a sharpie) because I had to keep fiddling with it. I set it down after a couple minutes to hunt for a video or better instructions online and found nothing solid. A lot of stuff like "it wasn't working at all until I read the instructions and then it was easy!" - not super helpful.I then went back to the bar and tried the same thing I tried before but this time I rotated slightly slower and applied a little bit of pressure inwards (pushing the little bar a bit into the larger one). That did it and I was able to hang it up and the tension is good. Holding some heavy curtains up no problem.So, you may need to fiddle with it a bit and the instructions are not great (only 3 steps: extend rod to length of doorway; remove from doorway and extend rod 1 inch further out and lock it; put back in doorway). There is a sticker on the rod that shows the direction you're supposed to twist, but, like I mentioned, I turned and turned in that direction with no result. I THINK the trick was turning it while pushing in slightly but I could have been doing something else that did the trick - that's just my best guess.Good luck! I managed to do it in about 10 minutes but I kind of feel like I lucked out and happened to give it just the right touch.

I moved into a new apartment that just had these cheap little blinds that did me no good as far as blocking out sunlight went. Asked myself, hmm, how to hang up curtains? Setting up and nailing and buying everything that involves curtain rods didn't sound too appealing.Next idea I found on the internet? TENSION ROD! Brilliant.I've got your standard 63'in length window, nothing too wide, so I went and bought the Small Bronze version of this rod. The box it shipped in seemed a little ridiculous, but that's probably because I bought a bath mat with it.Back to the rod: I received the rod, and was pretty impressed at how heavy it felt. I thought to myself, Looks pretty solid, hope it works!And so it sat for like a month until I bought a curtain.Now, when you unwrap all the packaging on it, be careful because I ripped the directions all up. But Amazon rocks and had a picture of the directions. SO SIMPLE!!! After a few turns, I could feel the rod tightening up, and surprisingly, yes, it still could push back an inch so I could fit it into the window! (I have no idea how the mechanics inside this bar work... but they work.)BAM a tall boyfriend later, I have a curtain hanging up in my window easily and quite sturdy. I've got a blackout curtain, so it's a decent amount of weight, but it's held pretty well in the first few days it's been there. We gave it just enought tension to hold, and just enough to be able to take it out again if needed (tall boyfriend adjusted the rod so the panel would just perfectly touch the window sill... tall people are so convenient)Overall? Impressive. Glad I ordered another for my other window in the apartment. The finish is great, quality is pretty sweet, and at an affordable price with easier setup that any other thing I could have got. 10/10, will recommend to others!!!