Tent Stakes

Tent Stakes

There are many tent stake options on the market and at some point, you will need to replace your stakes or may wish to upgrade them.

If you are using guylines, and you should, your tent may not have come with enough stakes.  You'll was some good ones. 

Recommendations

• Car Camping

  • Steel Shepard Hooks

    • Get an entire bag and pass out stakes to Scouts who lost theirs

    • These also travel well in checked baggage for summer camp and jamboree use

    • These were selected because of price and ease of ordering

  • Steel Nails

    • 7" steel gutter nails are hard to beat, except with a hammer

    • Use these for hard or rocky soil

• Durable No-Nonsense All Around Backpacking

  • MSR Mini Groundhogs

    • Durable with great holding power

  • All One Tech

    • Almost as good as MSR Mini Groundhogs and much more affordable

  • DAC J-Stakes

    • May be just as good and sometimes better than Groundhogs

    • Easier to pound into ground and stack better

• Ultralight Weight Backpacking

  • Vargo Titanium Hook

    • Minimalist stake

    • Works most of the time, just be nice to them

  • MSR CarbonCore Stake

    • VERY Light but bulky and expensive

• Max Holding Power

  • MSR Core Stakes

    • Excellent when you need to stake down larger shelters or are dealing with high winds 

• Frozen Ground

  • Titanium or steel nail

    • Will survive being pounded into ground

    • Titanium needs to be at least 5mm in diameter

  • Vargo Titanium Nail Peg

    • 5mm peg works great in hard ground 

Tent Stake Options:

• Economy Stakes for Car Camping

  • Steel stakes work great for car camping

  • Steel Shepard Hooks

    • Great bang for your buck

    • Easy to pack

    • Works for most car camping (expect sand)

  • 7" Gutter Spikes

    • You can find galvanized steel ones for under $.050

    • Will take a beating, even from a Scout (most of the time)

  • Eurmax Galvanized

    • Fancy version of galvanized steel nail

  • All One Tech 12 Pack

    • Similar to MSR Groundhogs, but less expensive

    • High performance stake

    • Light enough for backpacking use

• Y-Stakes

  • These are generally the best no-nonsense option for long term use

  • Great holding strength

  • Very durable and can be pushed in with foot or hammered with a rock

    • You can use another Y-Stake to push in stakes

    • You can use another Y-Stake as a "T" handle to pull out stakes with a pull loop

  • Hard Ground:

    • They resist bein pounded into hard and rocky ground

    • Using your foot to push in pegs can tear up softer soles

    • Too hard for palm of hand

  • They don't rotate in ground

  • Generally made from aluminum 

  • MSR Mini Groundhogs

    • Smaller, lighter version for MSR Groundhog

      • Preferred by backers looking for:

        • Light weight

        • High performing tent stake

      • Better for hard ground

        • Thinner and penetrates hard ground better than full sized version

    • These work fine for most of the places we go

    • 6" / 0.35oz (9.40g)

  • MSR Groundhogs

    • Industry standard and favorite

    • Flanges have a slight twist and are tapered, making the center thicker and more durable

      • This design is better than many of the look alike Y-Stakes on the market

    • 7.5" / 0.49oz (13.95g)

  • Teragon Gear Pioneer Stake 

    • 3D printed Titanium

    • 5.9” (150mm) / 0.18 oz (5.1g)

    • Insanly expensive

  • Sea to Summit Ground Control Tent Pegs

    • 7075-T6 

    • 8" (20cm) / 0.5oz (14g)

  • All One Tech 12 Pack

    • Similar to MSR Groundhogs, but less expensive

    • High performance stake

  • Coghlan's Ultralight Tent Stake

    • 9" / 0.5oz (14g)

    • Economy option

      • Easier to Bend

    • Multi Use (you just need one):

      • Use to push in other stakes

      • Use as a "T-handle" to pull out stuck stakes

      • Use to stab ground to make a cathole

        • Better than trowel in dense pine duff and around some roots

      • Works as a tent stake

• Shepherd Hooks

  • Titanium ones are light weight - preferred by those looking to maximize weight savings

  • Will bend if you step on it or if you pull on them too much

  • Can spin in ground

  • Work well enough for the most part

    • Doesn't work well in hardpan where hammering won't work well

    • In some rocky soil, the tip will squeeze between rocks 

    • Won't work well in sand

  • Plan to replace these as they will eventually bend and become more bendable over time

  • Vargo Titanium Hook

    • Minimalist Hook

    • 6.5"L x 0.14"D  (3.5x165mm) / 0.3oz (8g) 

  • Hikemax Titanium

    • 6.3" / 12g

  • TiTo Titanium

    • 6.3" (3.0x165mm) / 6.1g 

    • 6.3" (3.5x165mm) / 8.2g

• V-Stakes

  • Compromise: Not quite as durable as Y-stakes, but generally much lighter

  • Great holding power

  • Don't rotate in ground

  • Resists bending, but NOT as durable as Y-Stakes

  • Easier to clean and stack than Y-Stakes

  • Penetrates hard ground better than  Y-Stakes

  • Often come in titanium 

    • Many of the thin titanium ones will bend when they hit a rock

  • Aluminum ones can be designed to have a thicker center area - making them bend resistant

  • Vargo Titanium Ascent

    • 6.2"  (158 mm) / 0.3oz  (10g)

    • Will bend when driving into very hard ground

  • TiTo Titanium

    • 6.3" (10x10x160mm) / 11.5g

    • 6.3" (14x14x160mm) / 15g

  • DAC J-Stakes

    • "J" is from DAC's Jake Lah

    • TH72M Aluminum

    • Wide center with tapered wings

      • Bend resistant compared to other V-Stakes

    • Size S: 6.3" (160mm) /0.38oz (10.77g)

    • Size M: 8" (200mm) / 0.56oz (16g)

    • Size L: 8" (200mm) / 0.71oz (20g)

      • Little wider than Size M

      • Good for consolidated snow or for use as deadman

      • Triple holding power compared to Size S stakes

    • Size T: 12" (300mm) / 2.26oz (64g)

      • Snow anchor size or super deadman

      • Sand anchor 

• Large V-Stakes

  • Used for sand and snow or in high winds

  • TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped

    • 6.5" / 0.42oz (90.7 g)

    • Holds well in soft ground

    • Loose sand leaks through holes

  • Military Surplus Tent Stakes

    • Aluminum stake is 12" long and 1.25" wide. They are 1/8" thick

    • 12" long 1.25" wide 1/8" thick / 3.8oz

    • These are 10x as heavy as some of the other options listed on this page

    • They can provide incredible holding power for large shelters in high winds

• Nails

  • Nails tend to be thicker than shepherd hooks and are better designed for hammering in harder ground

  • Use in harder ground when minimal weight is required

  • Can be used to make starter hole in hard ground for other stakes

  • Steel nails work great, but are too heavy for backpacking

    • Great car camping option

    • Shouldn't bend

  • Aluminum and titanium nails can bend and twist in ground

    • They may be thicker than shepherd hooks, but can still bend and twist in ground

    • Titanium less than 5mm are much more likely to bend when hammered than 5mm+

  • End doesn't hold guylines as well has a shepherd hook in high winds

    • Angle stake slightly away from structure to help guyline stay on

    • Use double loop at end of guyline to improve retention 

  • Vargo Titanium Nail

    • 6"L x 0.2"D (152 mm x 5 mm) / 0.6 ounces (14 grams) 

    • Good for frozen ground

  • Vargo Titanium Ultralight Nail

    • 6"L x 0.15"D (152 mm x 4 mm) / 0.3 ounces (8 grams) 

  • MSR Needle Tent Stake

    • 6" / 10 grams

    • Discontinued

• Tubular Stakes

  • Generally 8-9mm in diameter

    • Designed for softer ground

  • Good holding power due to size

  • Minimizes weight buy using tubular design

  • MSR Core Stakes

    • 7075 aluminum

    • Machined aluminum head

    • Long tubular aluminum shaft

    • Outstanding holding power

    • One of best stakes available

      • Resists bending and breakage in hard rocky ground

    • Heavy and expensive

    • 9" / 0.49oz (14g)

  • MSR CarbonCore Stake

    • Ultralight stake option

    • 6" / 0.18oz (5.36g)

    • Pricy 

    • Designed to be an ultralight stake with better holding power than shepherd hook

    • DO NOT hit with rock or hammer!

  • Hyperlite Mountain Gear Ultralight Stakes

    • Very high-quality tubular aluminum stake

    • 7075-T9 aluminum

    • 0.35x8.0" (9x203mm) /  0.4oz (11g)

  • Easton Aluminum Nano Stake

    • 7075-T9 aluminum

    • 6" (150mm) / 8g

    • 8.75" (220mm) / 0.4 ounces (11.3g)

    • More affordable than MSR or Hyperlite

    • Found at Tarptent and Outdoor Vitals

• Snow Stakes

  • MSR Blizzards 

    • Great holding strength in snow and sand

    • Great for deadman anchor

  • Olik Titanium Snow Stakes Set by Suluk 46

    • Very expensive

    • Excellent holding power in snow and sand

    • Snow doesn't stick to titanium as much as it does to other metals

Stake Use Science 

Stakes are NOT created equal.  Each works differently in different types of soils.  

Soil composition is also complicated:

• Density in upper levels

• Density in lower levels

• Rocky, loamy, sandy

Geometry and Interaction with Soil

• slowerhiking.com/shelter/tent-stakes-for-backpacking-what-you-need-to-know 

• backpackinglight.com/how-do-tent-stakes-interact-with-soils-to-create-holding-power

• https://backpackinglight.com/tent_stakes/page/4/

• Guidelines from Large Tent Rental Facilities state that a tent stake should be driving into the ground vertical

  • This provides the best results when using Stakes that are at least:

    • 1" in diameter

    • 2' Long

  • Backpackers DON'T carry tent stakes that large and different techniques are needed for smaller stakes

Stake Failure

• Stakes fail by being Levered Out

  • This is the side pull from the top of the stake

• Stakes fail by being Pulled Out

  • This is the force of pulling stake at 180° from tip of stake

  • Less force is required to pull out a stake than to push it in or lever it out

• Angle of Stake and Pull Out

  • Stakes placed vertical into the ground at neutral of pulling out

  • Stakes angled towards guylines are at HIGHER risk of pulling out

  • Stakes angled perpendicular to guyline (angled away) are at Lower risk of pulling out

• Angle of Stake and Lever Forces

  • Stakes placed vertical into the ground provide maximum resistance to lever force

    • Stake reaches maximum depth and likely more dense soil

    • More soil between stake and pulling force of guyline

  • Stakes angled away from guyline provide less lateral resistance to lever force

    • Stake does not reach denser soil

    • Less soil between stake and pulling for of guyline

  • Stakes angled towards guyline are at risk of pulling out

    • Increased forces applied to pull out vector

    • Stake does not reach denser soil

• Increased Angle of Guyline Increases Risk of Failure

  • As the angle of the guyline increases from horizontal

    • Increased risk of pullout failure

    • Increased risk of lever failure, especially after stake is angled away from guyline to reduce pullout failure

• Soil Density Affects BOTH Pull Out and Lever Out Failure

  • Sandy soil and pine duff provide minimal resistance to BOTH pullout and levering

  • Loamy and rocky soil provider better resistance 

• Stake Shape Effects Pullout Lever Failure

  • Longer is better, especially in loamy soil

  • Wider is better, especially in sand, snow and duff

Avoiding Stake Failure

• Drive Stakes all the Way into Ground

  • Having a extra inch of stake above the ground decreased depth of stake and dramatically multiplies lever forces on stake

• Use Longer Guylines

  • Ideally reduce guyline angle from stake to ground to 45° or less

• Use Longer Stakes

  • Longer Stakes reach denser soil

  • Greater benefit in loamy soil

  • 6" is the minimum length of a stake

  • 8-9" stakes are much more secure

  • Use longer stakes with higher winds

• Use Wider Stakes

  • Wider Stakes resist Lever forces better

  • Greater importance in sandy soil, snow and duff

  • Thin nails and shepherd hooks do poorly in soft soil

  • Y, V and Tubular Stakes provide better resistance to levering forces

• Optimum Angle of Stake

  • Never angle stake towards guyline

  • Optimum Angle affected by so many variables

    • Ground Level Guylines: Maybe angle stake 10-15° away from tent

      • This angle helps the guyline or anchor loop stay on the stake

    • Above Ground Guylines: 

      • Avoid guyline angles greater than 30° from ground to structure

      • Do NOT use guyline angles greater than 45° from ground to structure

      • Angle stake up to perpendicular (max 30°) to guyline angle if using shorter stakes

      • Maybe angle stake 10-15° away from structure if using longer stakes

• Mix of Stakes

  • You don't have to have a matching set of tent stakes

  • You can pack a few extra stakes for use is harder or softer ground

    • An extra long Y-Stake can be used as a tool for digging catholes, pushing in stakes and removing stakes.  It can also be used when you need a better stake.

• Multiple Stakes may be Needed

  • Can be used bunched together to increase width of stake

  • Can use 1 or more additional stakes to anchor top of primary stake

• Adjusting Location of Stake May help

  • Some areas are just denser or less rocky than others

  • Some areas are impossible for stakes

  • If you can't make a stake work in an area, move guyline out to try different area

• Rocks can Help

  • Place on top of Stake to Reduce Pull Out Forces

  • Heavy Rocks can be used as anchor or deadman

  • Roots, logs and trees might also be used as anchor points

• Use Deadman in very Soft Soil

  • In very soft sand and snow, use a deadman

Hammer

A hammer is an excellent tool to have for driving in tent stakes.

Car Camping Hammer

For Car Camping, your troop should have at least one good camp hammer. 

There are plenty of quality and affordable options on the market.  Avoid the hatchet/hammer combo that begs for a camp injury when used by Scouts. 

Backpacking Hammer

For backpacking, a hammer may sound like a ridiculously heavy tool to carry, and for the most part, that's true.  When camping on frozen ground, you may need a hammer to drive your pegs into the ground.

For most of our winter outings, only the top layer of ground will be frozen, or the ground will be covered in snow and you'll need snow anchors. 

MSR Stake Hammer

• Stainless steel head

• Light aluminum shaft 

• Great for driving Titanium Nail Pegs into frozen ground

Tent Stake Resources

• Slow Hiking - How to Stake and Guy Your Tent: Snow, Rock, Sand, Platforms and More 

• Slow Hiking - Tent Stakes for Backpacking: What You Need to Know

• Slow Hiking - How to Secure Your Tent for Strong Winds and Storms

• Ryan Jordan @ backpackinglight - How do tent stakes interact with soils to create holding power?