In a rush? We discovered that the perfect all-around tent stakes are the MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes.
Everyone can agree that commonplace tent stakes usually are not that top high quality. After just a few makes use of, most are hardly good in any respect. That’s why many individuals go forward and spend money on a set of after-market tent stakes.
Today, we’ll overview the perfect tent stakes for any terrain.
If you want new tenting stakes, otherwise you wish to keep away from utilizing the stakes that include your tent fully, learn on.
Best tent stakes for tenting:
Best tent stakes for backpacking:
Best tent stakes for distinctive floor:
Still confused? Compare The Best Tent Stakes right here.
Best Tent Stakes: Our Top 10 Recommendations
MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes
Material: Aluminum Easton | Dimensions: 7.5 in | Weight (ounces): 0.5 oz
These MSR Groundhog tent stakes are nice for quite a lot of functions.
From holding down tents and tarps, to even holding up hammocks, the Y-shaped design makes these stakes good and durable on any terrain.
This Groundhog stake package comes with six light-weight aluminum stakes. This package is ideal for these backpacking with their tent gear.
Also, the reflective twine makes this set helpful for anybody organising their campsite in low mild.
Pros:
- The shiny and reflective twine makes it straightforward to search out these stakes within the floor, even when the bottom is roofed in leaves
- These aluminum stakes are light-weight, so that they received’t weigh you down
- Their Y-shaped design permits these stakes to take maintain on numerous forms of terrain and keep sturdy
- Their wonderful sturdiness helps maintain your tent safe even in very windy situations
- The notch on the high lets you connect man strains stress-free
Cons:
- These tent stakes might need points on robust, frozen floor
Best for: campers on the lookout for a stable set of stakes that can maintain nicely on many various sorts of terrain.
MSR Cyclone Tent Stakes
Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 9.5 in | Weight (ounces): 1.2 oz
If you’re tenting on sand, then basic tent stakes that include the tent received’t do. The soil is just too unfastened and if there’s even a slight breeze, your tent would possibly find yourself flying.
But these Cyclone stakes from MSR are specifically designed for these conditions. They have a spiral form, which makes them preferrred for anchoring in sand.
To place these stakes, merely twist them into the bottom.
The size of those stakes is 10 inches, which is 4 inches longer than commonplace stakes. This makes them steady even throughout windy situations.
However, this additionally means they’re a bit heavier than common stakes. This isn’t an enormous deal in the event you’re. , however it could be a difficulty for long-distance backpackers.
These stakes would possibly look skinny, however they’re manufactured from 7000 grade aluminum alloy. This is among the strongest aluminum alloys on the market, used for making planes and vehicles. This means you don’t have to fret about by chance snapping these stakes in half.
Pros:
- Thanks to the spiral design, these stakes present nice maintain in unfastened soil like sand
- Reflective pull loops enable you to find the stakes at the hours of darkness
- These stakes are 4 inches longer than commonplace stakes, which provides them a good higher maintain
- They’re manufactured from 7000 grade aluminum alloy, which is normally used for airplane elements
- No have to hammer them into the bottom – as a substitute, you may place them by twisting them into the soil
Cons:
- Somewhat heavier than most different tent stakes
Best for: tenting on seashores and sand dunes.
REI Co-op Aluminum Hook Tent Stake
Material: Aluminum 7075-T6 | Dimensions: 7.25 in | Weight (ounces): 0.5 oz
If you’re on the lookout for an inexpensive but sturdy shepherd’s hook stake, then these REI aluminum stakes could be simply what you want.
These tent stakes are manufactured from 7075 aluminum alloy, which has a wonderful strength-to-weight ratio.
But that’s not all. They’re heat-treated, which additional improves the power and corrosion resistance of the fabric.
With slightly below 1/4 inch in diameter, these stakes may appear slim, however they received’t bend regardless of how exhausting you hammer them down.
They’re 7.25 inches lengthy, which is appropriate for several types of terrains.
These stakes will certainly maintain your tent in place, regardless of how exhausting the wind blows. The solely wrestle you would possibly expertise is getting them out of the bottom.
Pros:
- These stakes are so sturdy, they’re virtually unbendable
- They’re longer than commonplace stakes by 1.25 inches, which makes them appropriate for each exhausting and gentle floor
- Since they’re offered individually, you will get exactly as many as you want
- For the value they’re offered at, these stakes are fairly a cut price
Cons:
Best for: campers on the lookout for inexpensive however sturdy basic stakes.
MSR Carbon Core Tent Stakes
Material: Carbon fiber core, aluminum coating | Dimensions: 6 in | Weight (ounces): 0.2 oz
These ultralight tent stakes are so mild, you’ll barely really feel them in your hand. But simply because they’re featherweight doesn’t imply they’re weak.
They have a carbon fiber core, however their exterior is manufactured from aluminum. That’s what retains them mild however sturdy.
The stake heads are vast sufficient so that you can apply extra stress to drive them deep into the bottom. They function holes the place you may pull strings by means of. And for the reason that heads are painted purple, you may simply find them when wanted.
These stakes are 6 inches, which is an ordinary tent stake size.
They’ll serve you nice in the event you’re tenting on very exhausting soil, however don’t anticipate them to work on sand. What’s extra, hammering them into a really rocky terrain would possibly trigger them to bend.
Pros:
- Each stake weighs solely 0.19 ounces, which makes them an amazing alternative for long-distance backpacking
- Stake heads are painted purple, which helps you discover them always
- They’re manufactured from aluminum and carbon, which makes them sturdy sufficient for exhausting soil
- Stake heads function holes the place you may pull the string by means of
- The producer gives a 3-year restricted guarantee
Cons:
- Hammering them into rocky soil could trigger them to bend
Best for: long-distance backpackers on the lookout for ultralight stakes to tackle the path.
Nemo Equipment Inc. Airpin Stakes
Material: Aluminum | Dimensions: 6 in | Weight (ounces): 1.4 oz
Are you a kind of people who find themselves simply plain dangerous at tying knots? You wrestle to make one, and then you definitely wrestle much more to untie the mess you made. If this is applicable to you, then these stakes are value testing.
These tent stakes function a 3-point locking system that assist you to pitch your tent in a matter of seconds.
The self-locking notch has tiny dots that information you into wrapping the twine round it. The directions are fairly clear, even a toddler can do it.
The stakes are manufactured from the very best grade aluminum, so there’s no fear they’ll snap in half in the event you hammer them too exhausting.
They’re of ordinary size and weight solely 0.35 ounces.
Sharp suggestions assist you to push them into exhausting and rocky soil.
Pros:
- A 3-point locking system lets you tie your tent with out utilizing any knots
- Tiny dots can function a information on how you can wrap the man strains across the locking system
- Since these stakes are manufactured from the very best grade aluminum, they’re nice for several types of soil
- Sharp suggestions assist you to maintain the angle you place them in at
- Fluorescent inexperienced colour makes them extremely seen
Cons:
Best for: campers who hate tying knots.
MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes
Material: Aluminum 7075 | Dimensions: 9.5 in | Weight (ounces): 0.7 oz
The MSR Blizzard tent stake set is nice not just for snow however sand too.
Thanks to their concave design with a number of holes alongside their size, these stakes create sturdy anchors in even the softest of soils.
In case of agency snow, hammer the stakes vertically. On the opposite hand, they need to be positioned horizontally in gentle snow with the intention to maintain nicely.
The cause why this design holds so nicely in such situations is as a result of the snow goes in and across the holes and retains them in place.
They’re manufactured from aluminum and weigh 0.74 ounces. They’re a few inches longer than commonplace stakes, however that’s crucial for higher maintain in gentle floor.
Pros:
- Concave form and holes alongside the stakes’ size maintain them nonetheless within the floor
- Since they’re heavier and longer than common stakes, they’ll maintain nicely even in gentle snow and sand
- Red colour helps you find them simpler within the floor
- You can stack them one into one other, which makes them take up much less space for storing
- Like different MSR merchandise, these stakes have a 3-year restricted guarantee
Cons:
- Only supposed for gentle soil like sand or snow
Best for: tenting on gentle snow.
Vargo Titanium Tent Stakes
Material: Titanium | Dimensions: 6.8 in | Weight (ounces): 0.26 oz
These titanium tent stakes from Vargo are shepherd’s hook stakes that poke into the bottom with ease. These are nice stakes to have readily available since they’re straightforward to drive into actually any terrain.
They can even stand up to quite a lot of climate situations – together with high-speed winds.
This six-pack of stakes is made with a lightweight, but sturdy titanium that received’t break. The titanium metallic can be extraordinarily light-weight, which makes it good for backpacking.
Pros:
- The fluorescent orange coated heads make it straightforward to identify these stakes within the floor, even at the hours of darkness
- Made with titanium, these stakes are tremendous skinny and tremendous mild and won’t weigh your tenting gear down
- The shepherd’s hook design permits these stakes to drive simply into the bottom and reliably maintain your tent or tarp in place
- These stakes are very tall and skinny, which makes it straightforward to drive them down into any type of soil – even dense, rocky soil
Cons:
- The fluorescent orange coating on the highest of the stake would possibly rub off over time
Best for: conventional tenting, or those that wish to reduce down on pack weight.
The Orange Screw
Material: Recycled Polycarbonate | Dimensions: 9.1 in | Weight (ounces): 1.8 oz
The Orange Screw makes for a singular tent stake for quite a lot of causes. The screw design of those giant stakes makes them straightforward to make use of and really sturdy.
Additionally, the big screw heads are nice for getting these previous few turns when twisting them into any type of terrain.
They additionally include a elimination device that helps you drive them into the bottom as a lot as attainable, and get them again out once more afterwards with none hassles.
Made from 100% recycled supplies, these stakes are very light-weight, however quite giant.
Pros:
- Made from 100% recycled supplies, these stakes are very eco-friendly
- The head of the screw capabilities as a built-in deal with so that they’re simpler to show and drive down into the soil
- The screw design permits these stakes to simply pierce any kind of soil and lock into place
- These stakes include a elimination device to help in eradicating them from exhausting, dense soil
- They’re very light-weight, making them tremendous straightforward to hold round
Cons:
- They may not have the perfect efficiency in iced-over land
- They’re bigger than most tent stakes – backpackers beware: they’ll take up barely extra room in your pack than most stakes
Best for: environmentally acutely aware campers who desire a distinctive stake that holds nicely in all types of terrain.
SE Heavy-Duty Metal Tent Pegs
Material: Carbon Steel | Dimensions: 10.5 in | Weight (ounces): 3.84 oz
These heavy-duty metallic tent pegs from SE will maintain your tent down sturdily on any terrain. Each tent peg glides simply by means of any type of grime with milled factors main the way in which.
Their giant PVC heads function an support when pulling them again out, in addition to a spot the place you may simply connect man strains.
They’re additionally lengthy, which helps them keep within the floor higher and extra securely throughout all forms of climate situations.
On high of that, the galvanized metal makes them proof against corrosion.
Pros:
- The milled factors are nice for simply driving these stakes into exhausting floor
- Made out of galvanized metal, these stakes are sturdy and sturdy even in chaotic winds
- The metal materials makes them proof against corrosion
- The giant PVC heads make it straightforward to connect man strains
- They’re straightforward to drive into gentle soil with out a device and simply as straightforward to take away in any kind of soil
- These stakes are lengthy, so that they create a safer maintain when pushed into the bottom
Cons:
- With repeated use, the PVC head would possibly put on down over time
Best for: campers who desire a basic, metal stake that’ll work on any land.
Top Tent Stakes Compared
Types of Tent Stakes
Tent stakes are available in quite a lot of sizes and shapes, every of them designed for a selected event.
To know which sort is appropriate to your wants, right here’s a fast breakdown of each kind of tent stake and what they’re designed for.
Shepherd’s Hook Stakes
These are basic tent stakes.
They typically come included whenever you purchase a tent, principally as a result of they’re the most cost effective to make.
They’re throughout respectable and may work with several types of soil. With that being mentioned, different tent stakes will do the job higher.
V-Shaped Stakes
These stakes are sturdy and received’t bend when in use.
They are nice for exhausting soil or floor with rocks.
And due to their V-shape, you may stack them to take up much less space for storing.
Y-Shaped Stakes
Y-shaped stakes are even stronger than V-shaped stakes, and you’ll ensure they received’t bend when in use.
These stakes are perfect for exhausting, rocky floor.
Since they’re like an improve from V-shaped stakes, they’re a bit heavier and pricier. But in the event you plan on tenting on a heavy terrain, they’re a worthy funding.
Nail Stakes
These seem like lengthy nails, which might be why they’re referred to as nail stakes They’re normally manufactured from titanium or metal, which makes them a sturdy possibility.
They’re nice for exhausting soil or rocky terrain.
Most of them have a plastic head, which lets you connect man strains to them.
If you’re on the lookout for light-weight stakes for a 1 or 2-person tent, nail stakes are an amazing possibility. However, for bigger tents you need to go for Y-shaped stakes.
Screw Stakes
These stakes remind me of huge corkscrews. They’re preferrred for gentle, unfastened soils, like sand.
They’re a bit heavier than different forms of stakes, however that’s a should for seashores and deserts. They can even work in snowy situations.
Snow Stakes
Snow stakes have a large U-shape and normally function a number of holes across the center. This design is meant to maintain the stakes in place in gentle soil, like sand or snow.
They’re normally manufactured from aluminum, which makes them heavier than different stakes.
And due to their size, they’ve superior holding power, which is a should for tenting in snow.
What To Look For In Tent Stakes
Tent stakes appear fairly simple till you attempt to purchase a set. There are quite a lot of tent stakes available on the market, all in fully totally different designs, shapes, sizes, and colours. So, how have you learnt which set of tent stakes to get?
The type of tent stake you need is dependent upon a number of elements, however what’s most essential is when and the place you’re tenting. Terrain and climate can have an effect on your tent stakes greater than you recognize.
So, to ensure you purchase the proper tent stakes, right here’s what to search for and what makes every set of tent stakes totally different:
- Material: Different supplies are higher for several types of terrain. If you might have a selected kind of terrain that you just do most of your tenting on, you’ll wish to know what sort of materials holds finest. Stakes could be made out of metal, metallic alloy, aluminum, titanium, plastic, and carbon.
- Design: The design of a tent stake normally determines the way it drives and stays within the floor. Not solely that, however it might additionally affect how straightforward the stake is to make use of. Depending in your terrain, you might wish to search for a selected design.
- Size: Not all stakes are the identical dimension and the scale you need is dependent upon whether or not you’re packing mild or packing for all types of climate. Large tent stakes aren’t nice for backpacking. However, lengthy stakes anchor additional into the bottom making them preferrred for tough climate. They do make lengthy, skinny tent stakes, however they’re additionally simpler to bend or break.
- Weight: The weight of a stake isn’t crucial except you’re a backpacker. Since you’ll wish to pack as frivolously as attainable, light-weight tent stakes are the way in which to go. And whereas some individuals assume {that a} heavier stake is extra sturdy, this isn’t all the time the case. Lightweight stakes could be very safe.
- Visibility: This is one thing that doesn’t typically cross individuals’s thoughts till they’re having bother seeing or discovering their tent stakes. Or, even worse, till they stub their massive toe on a tent stake whereas answering the decision of nature late at night time. A shiny and/or reflective set will clear up all of those points.
How To Insert A Tent Stake (Properly)
You can have the perfect tent stakes round, however it received’t do you any good except you recognize how you can correctly insert a tent stake.
To get essentially the most use out of your tent stakes, right here is how you need to correctly drive them into the bottom:
- Drive the stake straight into the bottom at a 90-degree angle. While many campers will declare {that a} 45-degree angle, dealing with away from the tent, is finest – in actuality, driving your stakes straight down has confirmed to be a significantly better possibility.
- Use a mallet to slowly drive the stake down at this angle. Avoid utilizing your foot, as that is extra prone to bend and harm the stake.
- If you’re unable to drive it down immediately, making an attempt transferring the placement of the stake over by just a few inches.
Our Verdict
When you’re on the lookout for the perfect tent stakes for any terrain, look no additional than the MSR Groundhog tent stakes. This set of stakes is made out of light-weight aluminum and has a singular Y-shaped design that retains them locked into place.
Not to say, the brilliant, reflective twine makes them straightforward to see in practically any situation. These stakes are nice for anybody who’s backpacking in any type of terrain.
Tent stakes are a vital piece of apparatus in your tenting arsenal of instruments. They assist maintain you and your belongings safe and guarantee that you’re not caught off guard by any surprises.