Stakes for ZPacks Duplex on 2016 thru

[kadowookiee]

I've got a a couple sets of regular ti shepard stakes but they bend easy in rocky ground and they don't hold well in soft ground. I'm looking for a versatile stake I can rely on for a thru since I plan on tenting as much as possible. Any recommendations?

[soumodeler]

http://www.rei.com/product/829838/ms...take#tab-specs

[kadowookiee]

I've almost bought these on several occasions, but how do they hold up against the regular groundhogs? Am I better off with the full size?

[soumodeler]

Don't think you will break either. Both are pretty tough.

[Mountain Wildman]

I bought the MSR Needle stakes to use with my Lightheart Solong 6, I have not used them yet but they are more substantial than the Ti Shepherd stakes and weigh almost the same.

[Tuckahoe]

I went the route of 7in brown aluminum gutter spikes. And at .49 oz (or 14g) and $0.49 each they do the job jas as well as anyother tent peg.
20150630_140334.jpg

http://www.acehardware.com/product/i...id=body_rv_img

Okay, so I cheaped out on tent pegs, but I could not fathom $3+ each or $20-$30 for a pack of pegs. I did it once and they performed no better.

[Dochartaigh]

I've almost bought these on several occasions, but how do they hold up against the regular groundhogs? Am I better off with the full size?

Bigger is always better in regards to holding strength, but I've been perfectly fine with the mini groundhogs in almost every situation. Only place the larger ones would have held better so far is in sand. I've even found the smaller mini's were more conductive in gravel-like areas because they could more easily slip between hidden rocks under the surface - and even with pounding them in with a rock, they don't look any worse for wear.

Also take note of nearby objects/trees/rocks/etc. to tie down to. Many tents can also be setup in freestanding mode and don't need anything but the weight in your pack inside (to keep the tent from blowing away) to stay put.

[cycle003]

I use MSR groundhogs for the ridgeline tie-outs since those are the most crucial and receive the most stress. Ti shepard hooks work fine for the rest.

[SteelCut]

I use MSR groundhogs for the ridgeline tie-outs since those are the most crucial and receive the most stress. Ti shepard hooks work fine for the rest.

+1. This is exactly what I do for my Zpack's Duplex tent.

[Gry]

The titanium stakes on zpacks site held up well, would get bent hammering into the ground but would easily regain shape to pitch

[Casey & Gina]

I love these, very strong and compact. Not as light as the thinner needle style but much stronger:

http://www.amazon.com/TOAKS-Titanium...s=toaks+stakes

[Starchild]

Shephard hooks worked fine on the AT with the occasional rock on top as reinforcement for the critical stake on the Zpack. Hex tent. Due to losing one Shephard hook I replaced it with a imitation ground hog from Wally World. And cut it down to mini groundhog size. Amazing hold over the Shephard hook for that critical stake and less then a dollar plus a bit of labor and tax.


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[Mr Liberty]

Best to bring a small variety. I'd recommend two groundhogs, two nail/shepherd style, and a full set (as many as your tent needs) of the following:

[MuddyWaters]

Overall, thin ti skewer stakes cant be beat.

They will go inbetween rocks in rocky ground when you cannot get others in 2".

Just be prepared to put rocks on them in some places. You dont even need stakes, rocks and sticks work fine, stakes are a convenience.

Typical pitch in solid rock slab
14110049639340.jpg

[poolskaterx]

Regular MSR ground hogs will take a beating and hold REALLY good, Ground hog minis... eh, my buddy got them and the weight savings vs strength I don't think is worth the trade off. I carry a 4 MSR ground hogs and 6 carbon stakes... worse case I can make stakes with sticks or use rocks to tie out too.

[cmoulder]

+2... Ti shepherd hooks + ground hogs for the ridge line. Shepherd hooks can be coaxed into small cracks when nothing else will. But a loop tied to a stick or small rock for a chock, with a big rock placed on top works pretty darn well. However, take some spare cordage because over time rocks will abrade the cord, sometimes quickly if it's windy and a guyline is rubbing against a rough rock.

[bigcranky]

I use the big Easton nail stakes, two 9-inch for the ridgeline tie outs and 6-inch for the rest. They are light and strong, though like most stakes they can bend if jammed hard in rocky soil.

[QHShowoman]

I've also been using the mini groundhog stakes with my Duplex and they've worked well.

[Berserker]

I've been using a set of MSR Groundhogs for years, and they work great. The one thing I really like about them is if you get into hard soil you can pound them in with a rock pretty easily, and they take the pounding without issue.

[Dogwood]

I've got a a couple sets of regular ti shepard stakes but they bend easy in rocky ground and they don't hold well in soft ground. I'm looking for a versatile stake I can rely on for a thru since I plan on tenting as much as possible. Any recommendations?

All Ti Shepard Hook stakes are definitely not created equal. Some are made from thicker Ti. Off the top of my head I've seen Shepard Hook stakes in 2.8., 3, 3.2., 3.5, 3.8., and 4 mm thick Ti. There are different lengths that increase holding power. Shape of the hook differs too that allows some pounding into even heavier compacted slightly rocky ground. ie; the ones from Lawson Equipment(I'd spray paint them orange day glo though) Joe at Zpacks gives a good run down and Vargo gives some info on choosing appropriate stakes for your needs too.
http://www.zpacks.com/accessories/stakes.shtml
http://www.vargooutdoors.com/titanium-tent-stakes.html

I use MSR groundhogs for the ridgeline tie-outs since those are the most crucial and receive the most stress. Ti shepard hooks work fine for the rest.

+1. This is exactly what I do for my Zpack's Duplex tent.

+2... Ti shepherd hooks + ground hogs for the ridge line. Shepherd hooks can be coaxed into small cracks when nothing else will...

All these approaches make sense because those that typically employ a ZPacks Duplex do it for wt saving goals. With proper siting of your shelter AND considering the Duplex uses 8 stakes(distributes forces on stakes well) AND as Cycle003 is aware the ridgeline stakes tend to experience the most force making greater holding power stakes most critical for those stake sites you can still get away with perhaps lower holding power and possibly hence lower wt stakes in the other areas.

Lots of possibly rocky rooty campsites on an AT thru but very little overall in sand. And, since the AT is largely a forested hike with abundant loose rocks it's usually nor difficult to anchor by tying off in part rather than always staking out all 8 guyout pts.