Review on Enhance Your Outdoor Ambience With Bulbrite STRING15/E26-S14KT Incandescent String Lights: Perfect For Garden, Patio, Wedding, Party, Holiday, Lawn, And Landscape by Brett Tierney

I bought two strands of these a month ago this summer and they've seen some temperatures in the 40s-80s and several heavy rains. There have been no problems. There are two wires inside the strand. It is heavy duty. The bulbs are excellent - a nice yellow glow for my back patio that is just bright enough to see well, yet not bright. I was originally planning to put these on a dimmer switch, but they are perfect as is. Good thing because my electrician rigged me a GFI outdoor socket, which prevents me from using a dimmer.To erect poles to hang the lights from:I went to the hardware store and bought galvanized steel pipes which are used as horizontal rails in your average chain-link fences.They are 10 1/2 feet long and 1 3/8" in diameter and 17 guage. They only cost $11 each and will never rust. (The hardware store also sell these powder-coated in black or green for $27 each.). In the same dept, they also sell aluminum caps that fit these pipes. I used a little gorilla glue to make sure they stayed on. They are made of aluminum and have a hole which you can then use zip-ties to fasted the light strand to each one. (See photos)At first, I was going to dig a hole and use concrete to bury these pipes, but instead used this heavy big pipe with handles to pound them into the ground around my patio. I stood on a tall 8' ladder to pound these poles into the ground. I had a helper keep checking the pipe with a level to make sure pipes were exactly vertical. Next I glued the caps on the top of the poles. As I ran the light strand from pole to pole, zip-typing them on, I would wrap black electrical tape around the strand to create a cushion so that the zip tie did not wear into the wire, since the strands are hefty and I was running them pretty tight. Note: if you use zip ties to fasten them like I did, get the zip-ties that are rated for UV light so that they will last longer outside before rotting. Note: pounding the poles in caused a few to mushroom on the end preventing the caps from fitting on. I remedied this by cutting a 1/2 inch off the top of the poles with a sawzall.There are also little loops above the sockets which you could use to fasten them in some other manner.When you get ready to hang the strand and it is lying on the ground, Do be careful not to step on the bulb sockets, or you will squish them. It happened to about 6 of mine, but I was able to bend them back into shape with my fingers (make sure its not plugged in!)Everyone loves them. Even my electrician asked me where he could buy some for his yard.Update Nov '13 - A 60-70 mph wind came through and this setup survived without a problem.I did not mention before that the poles I used are thin enough so that they flex in toward the tension and weight put upon them. It is not noticable nor do they move around in wind, yet a bigger diameter or guage pole should be needed if this is a problem for your application.I decided I wanted some color and added some colored LED Xmas light strands to the light strand. (See photo). Another option would be to add flags between the light bulbs.Update Sept '14 - I left the lights up all winter and it was one of the longest and coldest and snowiest winters. Once in awhile, amongst the snow and cold, I'd flip them on to see if they worked and they always did. They survived fine. I did replace one light bulb this year, which I found a replacement for at Lowes. Also, regarding the flexibility of the poles, if you use that idea, you should angle corner poles outward from the direction of light string, as the poles will bend inward. I resolved my problem by tying a thin nylon rope to the top of a pole which had several lines puling it inward, and stretching it to a nearby tree limb which then holds the pole back in place.Update Feb'18 - The strands have been left up and outside the entire time I've owned them. They've endured the sunny 90-degree summers and the frozen winters of the midwest and have not suffered. In fact the only thing that has happened was the occasional bulb burning out. My local Lowes H/W store sells small wattage bulbs that are the same size and shape, albeit a little brighter. I stocked up on those several years ago.I finally bumped into one of the poles with my riding mower and bent it inwards. After disconnecting the strand from that pole, it was easy enough to bend the pole back into position by hand, and reattach the strand to it.I've noticed that there are many products on Walmart now that look like this product. Are they all from the same manufacturer with just a change of company name, or are they actually diiferent products? I don't know. I'd buy Bulbrite to be safe.