Tent Stake Advice

[oldfatman]

I searched BBC and found bits and pieces of information but not definitive info.  I am still prepping to start some back packing in Bibe and Gumo this fall.  What can you experienced folks tell me about tent stakes?  My tenting has all been in developed dirt sites in state parks so the yellow 9 inch stakes were the thing to use there.  Please tell me about the real world of stakes in these places.

[Al]

Well, I'll start the debate. I tend toward the wire stakes because you can usually find a place to drive them in where there are rocks mixed in the soil. The problem with stakes are multi-fold.  In a sandy or consistent fine grained soil, the plastic stakes are probably best. But in soil with rocks in it you are more likely to be able to find a spot where you can drive in a wire stake than a plastic stake.  In many cases you are better off tying off to a rock or bush.  I would make sure you have lots of nylon cord to be able to reach out an tie off to something in lieu of stakes as necessary.  A tarp usually gives one more flexibility than a tent on where one can tie or stake to.

Al

[EdB]

I use these most of the time.
http://www.rei.com/product/682543

They work pretty well. I've never had a problem with getting them into the ground and staying there (with the exception of camping in sand, and that's a completely different ballgame). Definitely stronger and less bendable than this type: http://www.rei.com/product/693153

[homerboy2u]

The Pegs that Big Agnes offers, similar to REI's cost the same. There is another approach, in a way similar to what Al recommends: You can always try The Blow Down Tent Anchors, also offered by Big Agnes. They seem pretty innovative on rocky ground.

[WL2]

I agree with EdB, the MSR stakes are the best general backpack one I have used.  However, there are places in BIBE where a hardened steel spike .5 inches in diameter cannot be pounded into the ground with a three pound sledge. 

[oldfatman]

Does using rocks as deadman anchors work at all or is that just another repeated error from one "outdoors writer to another"?  I really appreciate you folks taking the time to let me learn from your experiences.  Most store clerks even at REI leave me doubtful.  You know the old tale of how to tell if a salesman is lying.  The salesmans lips are moving. 

[bdhawk133]

I agree with EdB about the MSR stakes for most places, but I have found that in BiBe and Gumo, the cheapy wire stakes actually work much better. They tend to be easier to navigate around the rock obstacles within the ground. I usually end up bending atleast one, but that problem is easily remedied with a little persuasion from a large rock, and only pennies to replace later. As for using rocks as anchors..... a must at times. The pic below is from a trip around the outer mountain loop. Along the Dodson trail, the ground is extremely hard and rocky. Even though it took holding my tongue just right in order to pound my stakes in through the rocks, the ground didn't hold them very well afterward. In order to safegaurd from becoming a passenger on AIRTENT in the event of a strong wind, I anchored down with rocks and had no problems. Hope this helps....

[RichardM]

A slightly messier option for using rocks as anchors is to put them inside the tent.  I've used that technique a few times, but with a cheap tent I didn't mind tearing up.  It also helped that it was a much bigger tent than we needed and had extra floor space.

When using the wire stakes sometimes you have to use two or three at each stake loop, placing them at angles to provide more resistance in soft dirt.

[oldfatman]

To you experienced folks these comments probably look obvious. Be assured that they are only obvious to the experienced.  My forehead is getting worn out from all the "of course fool you should have figgered that out" episodes.  Do the big nail with a plastic hook near the top tent pegs have any worth anywhere?  Also is it worth the bother to bring a tool of some sort to help pull stakes out of the ground.  I am striving to have most everything I need when I do back pack but very little I do not need.  Thank you for all the help.

[RichardM]

Do the big nail with a plastic hook near the top tent pegs have any worth anywhere?  Also is it worth the bother to bring a tool of some sort to help pull stakes out of the ground.  I am striving to have most everything I need when I do back pack but very little I do not need.  Thank you for all the help.

Those plastic hooks always seem to break off at the worst possible times.  The stake puller tools come in handy when car camping, but probably not worth the weight while out on the trail.  With the wire stakes just use another stake to assist in pulling them out.  If you use the stake loop/strap on the tent to pull them out, be careful not to rip the loop loose from the tent.  Not that that's ever happened to me.

[Casa Grande]

I use rocks laying around the ground; tie them with some nylon ropes....the suggestion by homero is great.....I don't worry about stakes, besides many tents these days don't really need them.

[badknees]

Rocks

[Al]

Does using rocks as deadman anchors work at all or is that just another repeated error from one "outdoors writer to another"?  I really appreciate you folks taking the time to let me learn from your experiences.  Most store clerks even at REI leave me doubtful.  You know the old tale of how to tell if a salesman is lying.  The salesmans lips are moving. 

Just make sure they're big enough otherwise with a high wind you'll have to duck and run when they come flinging through the air!  Actually I'm serious.  Make sure the rocks are big enough otherwise the results will not be good.

Al

[oldfatman]

Right Al.  Back in the 60's, my parents had an elevated bay house near Galveston where the wind could get strong.  So one day my dad and I put up a couple of tarps to block the wind.  Tied the tops to the underside of the house and the bottoms to some left over pieces of steel of some sort that were left from some project.  The wind about beat the bottom out of the house with those chunks of steel before we could get the tops released.

[homerboy2u]

Looks as though, Big Agnes has picked from the idea of Badknees (Rocks) and  bring it down to what i posted. I too have done the same, but i like the idea of tightening down the tent with the rock accesory. I hve not tried it yet, but looks obviously good.

 OFM, you are not alone on the forehead issue. Heck what i like the most, when i go out camping is when they see me doing some stuff on the campground, which i know my buddies have not seen before, and look at them selves saying: WOW...this guy knows his stuff...HA!...if they only knew, where i learned it...HERE !!