Favorite tent stakes

[Johnny 5]

The tents and shelters I use are small and often freestanding only requiring stakes to secure them in windy conditions. I sometimes use rocks or natural items in place of or in addition to stakes but I always bring stakes. The ground I encounter most often is hard and rocky. I prefer compact, lightweight, and durable stakes. The titanium spike, titanium shepherd hook, and aluminum mini groundhog stakes have worked well for me in hard ground.

 

[sweeper]

In most places here in the Northeast, we have a deep organic layer I use these from Dutchware @ 10 grams.

Titanium Ultralight Ascent Stake (Single)

An all-around tent stake designed for sandy soil or snow. Reflective cord offers increased visibility and easier removal. 0.35 ounces. Shop today!

dutchwaregear.com

 

[Mason]

$4 a stake is a bit much to save 3 grams per stake. I take 14 stakes for my 4 season tents, that's $56. I've used the cheapos from Amazon to excellent results, hammering them into rocky gravel bars with large rocks. I haven't bent one yet--13 g/stake, even lighter (and lots cheaper) than the common MSR Groundhog, and 12 for $10. Cheapo stakes

 

[yellowcanoe]

Rocks are sometimes the only way to go on the Canadian Shield. That is why there are tent rings I suspect.
On sand we use ten inch long u shaped steel stakes. Not lightweight. Similar in shape to the Vargos but much wider and longer. Had them for at least thirty years.
Otherwise the MSR Groundhog stakes work ok on soil if you have that.

 

[Johnny 5]

$4 a stake is a bit much to save 3 grams per stake. I take 14 stakes for my 4 season tents, that's $56. I've used the cheapos from Amazon to excellent results, hammering them into rocky gravel bars with large rocks. I haven't bent one yet--13 g/stake, even lighter (and lots cheaper) than the common MSR Groundhog, and 12 for $10. Cheapo stakes

I own several types of aluminum stakes that perform poorly for me.

Individual requirements and priorities vary. I just wanted to share what works well for me and learn what others are happy with.

 

[DuctTape]

I haven't used stakes in decades. I tie off to trees, saplings, roots (my favorite), rocks, logs.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I have a collection of the ones in the middle picture. Have not bought a single one of them. There always seems to be one left at a campsite by a previous owner. Often bent.

 

[Pinecones]

I take these pegs for everything canoeing or backpacking:

Y-pegs are used 99% of the time. The extra long 9" Woods Canada brand is very inexpensive. More holding power than shorter MSR Y-pegs. I just press them into the ground with a foot - never pound them as they're not designed for that. My Zpacks Duplex tent ventilation benefits from having its guylines tie off a bit above the ground, not pinned to it. These longer Ys are great for that.

I bring a couple Vargo titanium spikes for when nothing else will work.

And an english-made aluminum snow stake for digging catholes, cleaning firepits, etc. It's a spare stake if needed.

An

 

[Odyssey]

I use the Y-pegs that came with whichever tent we're using. More often than not most of them stay in the bag as I've become a rock hound having to deal with thin soils.

 

[Johnny 5]

I use the Y-pegs that came with whichever tent we're using. More often than not most of them stay in the bag as I've become a rock hound having to deal with thin soils.

I too am often a "rock hound" .

 

[Barry1954!]

On our first trip to Sturgis Sd. in the 80s we went to Hardware Hanks and bought 13" bridge building spike nails <40 years later still using then. For canoe camping too !

 

[Jim Dodd]

I use those orange Coughlan's tent stakes.
Cheap, and durable.
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[PacketFiend]

I use the same titanium stakes @sweeper posted. It's not just that they're light. They're also indestructible, small (and they nest together too), and easy to pull back up. But yeah, they can be pricey.

For car camping I also often use the plastic orange Coleman's stakes:

https://www.amazon.com/Coleman-9-In-ABS-Tent-Stakes/dp/B0009PUTK2/ref=sr_1_10

No biggie if they get lost if I'm camping with children.

 

[jdeerfoot]

I have a collection of the ones in the middle picture. Have not bought a single one of them. There always seems to be one left at a campsite by a previous owner. Often bent.

Me too. Over the years I have found way more stakes, and they are nice ones, than I ever purchased.

 

[bark-eater]

On our first trip to Sturgis Sd. in the 80s we went to Hardware Hanks and bought 13" bridge building spike nails <40 years later still using then. For canoe camping too !

I use these for my Mountainsmith tipi. Been a while but I'm pretty sure their still packed in the wood stove, bundled with the ends tucked with some cheap leather gloves. I also used those aluminum gutter nails for backpacking.

 

[memaquay]

Like Bark-eater and Barry, I use 10 inch galvanized spikes when weight is not a factor. Fall hunting trips with the snowtrekker being the main use for the spikes.

 

[Odyssey]

I was using a different tent recently which came with pointy round aluminum (?) pegs, something like these:

They required persuasion with those handy hammers found everywhere in Ontario disguised as rocks. Good thing I had an ample supply of pegs as they bent easily when encountering more buried hammers. These have been my second least favourite tent peg. The worst being those yellow plastic cartoon ones better suited to lush lawns and gardens.

 

[lowangle al]

That 12 pack of aluminum stakes for 10 bucks looks like a great deal and I'd like to have them but, I have so many different stakes from all of the tents I've ever owned I just can't justify buying them.

 

[Mason]

That 12 pack of aluminum stakes for 10 bucks looks like a great deal and I'd like to have them but, I have so many different stakes from all of the tents I've ever owned I just can't justify buying them.

I've been pretty pleased with them, having used them on a couple of long trips.

 

[lowangle al]

I should upgrade. All I need to do is gather up all my other stakes and turn them in at the scrap yard. It might cover the cost.