View Full Version : Stakes for a Squall II
Bootstrap
03-16-2009, 20:27
I just got my first tarptent, a Squall II. It wants to be pitched taut, definitely tauter than my REI Half Dome, and my rain gutter spikes keep pulling out of the ground (which is very moist right now).
Am I trying too hard? What stakes do y'all recommend for this tent?
Jonathan
In my experience, stake's that are round "O",pull easier than stake's with more area-look's like an "X" when viewed from the bottom.I don't know if that makes any sense, think I'll let someone else try.
I use the shepherd's hooks that came with the tent (do they not include stakes anymore?), and I've only had the stakes come out of the ground once, out of around 100 nights use.
BPL did a fairly extensive review on stake holding power, ( http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/tent_stakes.html (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/tent_stakes.html)) the short version of it is that the long Y stakes (like the MSR Groundhogs 7.5") work best in most situations (IE if you wanted to use the same stakes in different grounds)
Incidentally those are the only type I have not managed to bend/brake as yet. However because of my absent mindedness I have cut my self a few times pulling them out of the ground.( I have loops now)
Franco
garlic08
03-16-2009, 21:41
Henry stopped including the titanium stakes with new tents, but I still have the ones I got from my first Tarptent back in '03. The 6" titanium stakes have always worked great for me. In extremely soft sand and dirt, I'll put large rocks on top of the stakes, or I'll dug small pits with my heel and drive the stakes below surrounding ground level into firmer ground, then cover them back up and tamp down. And try to use a good anchor like a tree, stout bush, downed log, etc for at least one point.
Definitely pitch the silnylon as tight as you can. You won't hurt it by stretching and it will be tighter in the morning.
Bootstrap
03-16-2009, 22:42
I got it tight enough now, it's raining nicely, the tent is staying dry. I think I should stake out the sides on this, it would vent better.
I love the lightness. Doesn't seem any warmer than sleeping under a tarp, so I may want to add a layer of something to stay warmer. I was kind of expecting that ....
Jonathan