View Full Version : Tent Stakes
vaporjourney
02-24-2007, 22:45
Looking to replace my Easton tent stakes. I currently have these http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/items/easton_stake-250.jpg, but after having the top portion rip off where you grip the string, i'm reconsidering. I was really happy with them up till then, but don't want to trust this on a thru-hike. I really like the string that helps you pull it out, also they are very thick so it's impossible to bend the stakes. Any recommendations for alternatives? I'm currently looking at these although they are expensive: http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/images/items/lazr-hi-vis-nail-stake-main.jpg . Would be nice to find something similar that you can add a string to, flat top, but cheaper.
Footslogger
02-24-2007, 22:55
I've got some of those Eastons and although I have never had a problem with them personally I quit carrying them a while ago.
I now carry 6 of these:
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lazr_ultralight_titanium_tent_stakes.html
I haven't found pulling them out of the ground to be a problem. I just hook one of the stakes that I already have out under the hook of the one in the ground and out it comes.
If you are concerned about losing the ones above (and you don't mind spending a bit more) check these out.
http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lazr_hi_vis_ultralight_titanium_tent_stakes.html
They're nice but a little too rich for my blood.
'Slogger
vaporjourney
02-24-2007, 22:59
do you never have to worry about the first titanium stakes ever bending? Can they withstand a pounding from a big round rock?
Footslogger
02-24-2007, 23:04
do you never have to worry about the first titanium stakes ever bending? Can they withstand a pounding from a big round rock?
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I've only had to "pound" them in a few times and so far no problems. I tend to "tap" rather than "pound" though and that might be the difference. I had heard that the wider Eastons were better because they could take such a beating. But lately I've read some reviews that challenge their earlier reputation.
I've been carrying the same set of titaniums that I listed above for over 2 years now. None bent or broken.
'Slogger
peter_pan
02-25-2007, 07:37
The aluminum Summit stake is light, reasonable cost and absolutely bomber...drive it into 3/4 inch particle board with a hammer if you like....Find it here.... http://216.83.168.206/index_files/Stakes.htm scoll down thru other reasonablely priced stakes.
Pan
FanaticFringer
02-25-2007, 08:56
Go to your local REI and pick up some MSR Ground Hog Stakes. Hard to beat:
www.rei.com/online/store/ProductDisplay?storeId=8000&catalogId=40000008000&productId=12276843&parent_category_rn=4500663&vcat=REI_SEARCH
vaporjourney
02-25-2007, 10:57
Those MSR Ground Hog's look pretty good. Definitely like the bright red color. Just wish they weren't twice as heavy (or more) than most other good stakes. May look around some more before settling onto those. The price is right though.
'slogger: unfortunately, those stakes at backpackinglight are sold out...
Footslogger
02-25-2007, 11:08
'slogger: unfortunately, those stakes at backpackinglight are sold out...
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Yeah ...I see that. They're popular cuz they're good. If you're not in a huge hurry just send them an e-mail and they'll notify you when they are back in stock.
Man ...I've got at least a half dozen or so of just about every tent stake made stashed in my gear locker (somewhere) and these are the best.
'Slogger
The MSR Ground Hog stakes resemble those I've used for years, with good luck. The MSRs must be scaled up a bit or something, as I don't recall mine being quite that heavy. .7 oz per stake is a bit much. Mine look a lot like these (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38218460&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) -- $8 for a 10-pack at Campmor, and just under .5 oz apiece. The lightest Ti stakes I've seen are about .25 oz apiece -- and much more expensive (eg. these (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lazr_ultralight_titanium_tent_stakes.html) at BPL.)
Go to a building supply or hardware store and look at the aluminum gutter nails. 6 or 8 inches long, half ounce or less, 50 cents or so.
Footslogger
02-25-2007, 11:17
Go to a building supply or hardware store and look at the aluminum gutter nails. 6 or 8 inches long, half ounce or less, 50 cents or so.
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Did that ...and while they are cheap and inexpensive they do bend pretty easy. Guess you could always just re-straighten them though.
'Slogger
FanaticFringer
02-25-2007, 11:37
The MSR Ground Hog stakes resemble those I've used for years, with good luck. The MSRs must be scaled up a bit or something, as I don't recall mine being quite that heavy. .7 oz per stake is a bit much. Mine look a lot like these (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38218460&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) -- $8 for a 10-pack at Campmor, and just under .5 oz apiece. The lightest Ti stakes I've seen are about .25 oz apiece -- and much more expensive (eg. these (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lazr_ultralight_titanium_tent_stakes.html) at BPL.)
That's maybe the best deal I have seen yet.
Mine look a lot like these (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38218460&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) -- $8 for a 10-pack at Campmor, and just under .5 oz apiece. These are nice stakes. The fins help with not being dragged out sideways when you pitch your tent tautly, and are easy to pull out (you can invert a stake and hook it on the notch in the head of a stubborn stake and pull). If you break camp before dawn, they are easy to find with a headlamp because they reflect light very well.
These are nice stakes. The fins help with not being dragged out sideways when you pitch your tent tautly, and are easy to pull out (you can invert a stake and hook it on the notch in the head of a stubborn stake and pull). If you break camp before dawn, they are easy to find with a headlamp because they reflect light very well.
Haven't broken or bent one yet. They do retain a bit of dirt and mud when you pull them out of the ground. Takes a few extra seconds to knock or shake the crud off as you're packing up the tent. The notch at the top of the stake holds the line nicely, and the stakes can't "rotate" like a typical bent-wire stake.
Footslogger
02-25-2007, 11:48
Haven't broken or bent one yet. They do retain a bit of dirt and mud when you pull them out of the ground. Takes a few extra seconds to knock or shake the crud off as you're packing up the tent. The notch at the top of the stake holds the line nicely, and the stakes can't "rotate" like a typical bent-wire stake.
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Are they really made from Ti ?? I've got some downstairs but don't use them any more. Came with an old Walrus tent. I thought they were aluminum. Guess I'll go find them and see what they weigh.
'Slogger
Are they really made from Ti ?? I've got some downstairs but don't use them any more. Came with an old Walrus tent. I thought they were aluminum. Guess I'll go find them and see what they weigh.
The Campmor ones (and the ones I own) are aluminum. The BPL ones are Ti.
Footslogger
02-25-2007, 11:58
The Campmor ones (and the ones I own) are aluminum. The BPL ones ar Ti.
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Yeah ...I'll bet I have the Campmor ones. Found and weighed them. .5oz each. Guess I'll hold on to them in case my BPL Ti ones break or get lost.
'Slogger
TN_Hiker
02-25-2007, 12:03
I had the MSR Ground Hog Stakes, broke the top of two of them by pounding them in a rock. At that point, took them back to REI and went w/ some el'cheapo anodized alum. stakes.
Toolshed
02-25-2007, 12:21
The MSR Ground Hog stakes resemble those I've used for years, with good luck. The MSRs must be scaled up a bit or something, as I don't recall mine being quite that heavy. .7 oz per stake is a bit much. Mine look a lot like these (http://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?productId=38218460&memberId=12500226&storeId=226&catalogId=40000000226&langId=-1) -- $8 for a 10-pack at Campmor, and just under .5 oz apiece. The lightest Ti stakes I've seen are about .25 oz apiece -- and much more expensive (eg. these (http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/lazr_ultralight_titanium_tent_stakes.html) at BPL.)
Picked up a handful of these from EMS about 8 years ago - Only issue with these is that there is a notch at the top for holding your line - It gets bent easily if you need to "pound" them into hard ground - Several times doing this over the years and the notch 'joint" softens and breaks off.
I really like the Groundhogs - Much stonger and more durable (IMHHO)
DrewNC2005
02-25-2007, 13:02
I use and love these... http://www.gossamergear.com/cgi-bin/gossamergear/tite_lite_stakes_10.html
I also carry the titanium skewer type stakes like the ones at BPL and GG that others have recommended, though mine are about 7 inches long. I believe they came with my Tarptent a few years back although I see that Henry is now offering the aluminum Eastons. At any rate I have never had a problem with bending or breaking despite some indiscriminate rock banging, nor have they come loose. I spray painted them with some day-glo orange marking paint a while back to make losing them more difficult. The paint holds up pretty well and I can always add a new coat...
NICKTHEGREEK
02-25-2007, 13:50
There is no one stake that's perfect for all applications. Of the 4 most popular types each has advantages and disadvantages and you often find folks carrying a mix depending on the tent/tarp and ground conditions.
Easton pegs offer the best holding power because of their length. When fully driven into the ground at a proper angle they are virtually impossible to dislodge. They work best in loose or sandy soil and duff. Obviously in some areas there isn't a square inch of deep soil to drive them without hitting a rock about an inch down. They also present a challenge to remove. A stout branch or hiking staff (not an aluminium pole) through the loop can be used to lever them out. They're almost mandatory for a trapezoidal tent that needs lots of lengthwise tension to pitch tightly.
The Moss (now MSR) groundhog is as grippy and unbendable as they come in solid soil and works well in rocky areas where an easton can't get deep enough. They can be pricy, but well worth it.
Ti skewers are hard to get driven deeply in really hard ground. You have to twist them in. They really do bend if you get enough force on them, but nothing like the cheapo aluminium stakes. The holding power in mud loose soil or duff is nil. But they are light.
I found that the best approach is a mix of stakes based on your tent design. I don't have any free standing tents so I use 4 eastons for the fly and vestibule, 4-6 groundhogs for guyouts and 4 ti skewers fot the tent body corners.
vaporjourney
03-02-2007, 10:27
Just got these. More than I wanted to spend, but they look exactly like what I was looking for.
vaporjourney
03-05-2007, 16:41
After using the riduculously expensive Ti stakes I just got from BPL, I think i'm going to have to return them and try something else. The pic online really didn't give me a sense of the size of the overhang on top, and that it won't really hold the rings on my tarptent, which is probably the case with most nail-style stakes.
so....now I'm back looking for more stakes. has anyone here used both the Ground Hogs and Easton stakes? Both have their downfalls, but I was wondering if one was more durable than the other. I only had one Easton stake break on me, but I think the 2 piece construction is a definite weakness. The Ground Hogs (or others with fins, like those North Face) have the thin part in between the 'head' and fins at the bottom that are also a weak point. May have to pick the lesser or two evils here, since both have downfalls, just can't tell which is more likely to break....or just go with the skewers, which I like using less...