If you like to spend time in the great outdoors or are just getting into the groove, chances are you will spend time in a tent. Tent camping is a great way to explore nature at your own comfort level. Whether you like to camp out of a car or go on week long adventures to far off and untouched landscapes, using a tent can provide the perfect temporary home for any outdoor location.

Most likely, your tent will need to have tent stakes in order to secure it firmly to the ground. The stakes that come with a tent, usually, are not of high quality and any great tent can be further enhanced with the best designed accessories. The best tent stakes can ensure your tent stays grounded, whether you need stability from shuffling around inside or experience extreme weather conditions.

Tent stakes are a great accessory to add to your tent and the best tent stakes will have a variety of features to ensure that they provide the best design to further enhance your experience with camping.

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How To Choose The Best Tent Stake – Buying Guide

When you are deciding which tent stakes are the best to buy, it is important to consider a few key features. You will have to decide with stake design best suits your needs, how stakes are used, and where they can be used. There are elements to each design that can enhance your safety and security, while delivering easy use when camping in the great outdoors.

Type

The type of stake that you need will depend on the activity in which you are planning on using or needing a ground anchor. There are many different stakes for many different needs. It is best that you match the design of the stake to the type of terrain you will be using it in. This will ensure that the stake will work for your specific situation.

Some stake designs are better for anchoring into hard ground, rock or ice. These stakes will often feature a sharp point, strong top, and are made of galvanized steel. With a hammer, you should be able to drive these stakes into about any surface. Keep in mind, these stakes may seem to be a great fit for you, but they are on the heavier side in terms of their weight.

If you are looking to use stakes in a softer surface, such as sand or snow, there are specifically designed stakes that will best suit your needs. A softer and looser surface will best take an anchor if the design is broader and flatter. Some have a concave shape, which gives a better grip and feature holes in the middle. The holes allow sand and snow to fall through, further anchoring the stake in place.

For backpacking, you will want a stake that is ultra-lightweight. Weight is important when you have to carry it on your back and a material that delivers in being lightweight is the best option for you. As well, the terrain of where you are backpacking to, should be taken into consideration.

Durability

One of the most important features of a tent stake is its durability. You don’t want to bring along a set of stakes that won’t work. Unreliable stakes could leave you in a dire or dangerous situation. Stakes needs to be strong and durable in order to have the ability to withstand strong elements. The most durable stake would be made of metal. These stakes are less likely to break or deteriorate. The only downside to metal is that it is heavy; often heavier than plastic. Again, it is best to consider your situation and terrain. A plastic stake may be just fine to anchor what you need, but if you are thinking you need a more durable option, metal is the way to go. Either way, it is important that the stake you choose matches your specific needs for durability.

Ease of Use

Let’s be honest. Using stakes can be frustrating at times. Nothing is more irritating than trying to drive a stake into what feels like solid concrete. It can be hard to drive a stake into a tough terrain, but there are designs that should make the task easier. When it comes to ease of use, it is important to find a stake that has a sharp and pointed end. The point will make driving your stake into terrain easier. As well, the design of the stake’s head end should help in the ease of use. A stake with a wider head will allow you to use a mallet with ease, without risking breaking or bending your stake. This can make using your stakes a little less frustrating.

Value

While spending money on a set of stakes, apart from what came with your purchased tent, may seem unnecessary or a not fun expense, tent stakes are an extremely necessary outdoor accessory. The value of a set of stakes goes beyond what you paid for them. They offer security and comfort, knowing your things won’t be picked up by the wind. However, we understand that the value of the stakes with what you pay, can affect your choice in what to buy. To get the best value out of stakes, you want to select designs that offer high durability and high-quality materials. You can save yourself time in the long run by investing in a good set of stakes that will last you years of use. As long as you don’t forget to gather them up after each trip and take good care of them, one set can easily last you years of use. It’s better to invest in a great stake set once, rather than have to keep buying sets along the way.

Design

The vast majority of tent stake designs will be the same. There are only so many ways to make a long shaft design unique. What does differ between designs is the top of the stake. There are a wide variety of stakes that each have a unique design on the top end. Some models are more minimal and feature a single hook, while others come with a plastic piece that has a hook or eyelet to thread rope through. The ability to use guylines for secure loops and hooking other ropes can be a feature that you become reliant on. The ability to tie off a rope in a variety of ways adds extra security. As well, some designs feature elements that cater to making the stake highly-visible, ensuring that it wouldn’t ever get left behind. From fluorescent loops to glow in the dark tops, these designs make sure the stakes are always easy to see. For any adventurer, it is a personal choice as to which design is wanted and what would best work for any given situation.

Material

There are many different materials that can be used in tent stake designs. Some are made of plastic and some are made of metal. The material you choose can cater to suit your needs, but the best tent stakes are always lightweight, durable, and highly visible. Here are some of the materials used in the design of tent stakes.

Metal Alloy: This material is the most commonly used in tent stakes that are provided with the tent, next to plastic. They are one of the cheapest materials available. The material is ultra-lightweight but does have some drawbacks. Often, they are not as durable and are easily lost. These stakes are most commonly provided with the purchase of your tent and are easily upgraded with a stronger material.

Steel: This material is heavier, but usually very strong. To extend durability and reliability, it is best to get galvanized steel, which can help the stakes be anti-corrosive and anti-rust.

Aluminum: For a strong but inexpensive stake, the best option is aluminum. Aluminum is widely available and delivers on lightweight strength.

Titanium: Titanium is a great design blend of being lightweight and strong. Titanium delivers the strength of steel, but in the weight equivalent of aluminum. Titanium products normally are a bit pricier, but they would deliver on durability and give you years of reliable use.

Plastic: The upsides to plastic is that it is lightweight and can easily be colored to give a high visibility design. The downside is that plastic is less durable and more prone to breaking.

Carbon: Carbon is a great choice if you want to invest in a stake for backpacking. Carbon is not as strong as steel or aluminum but is very light in weight. Most carbon tent stakes are encased in aluminum, which can give strength but still save on the weight.

Visibility

The best tent stakes are highly visible to ensure that they are not left behind as litter after a camping trip. Less visible tent stakes are often driven too far into the ground to pull out or are simply too difficult to see once all the ropes are removed. More visible tent stakes are less prone to damage through an accidental kick and are a visual reminder to take them with you at the end of your trip. Visibility can provide safety and save money, ensuring that you aren’t having to constantly invest in new stake sets.

Size and Length

The size and length of a stake can give you the ability to drive the stake further into the ground to give you a larger anchor point. It also means that the larger the stake, the more weight there is to carry around. Larger stakes also take up more space. It is up to you and your needs to decide what size stake you need. Don’t forget to take into consideration your activity, terrain, and weight limit.

Type of Ground

The type of ground will also be a large consideration for which tent stake design you will use. There are different design elements of a stake that cater to different terrains in which they will be used. Some designs are stronger and better for using in hard-packed ground or rock. Others have a design that will allow a strong grip in loose terrain, such as sand or snow. It is best to match your stake design to the type of ground they will be used in. This will ensure that their design is matched to suit perfectly to your needs on any adventure.

Intended Use

It’s always important to consider what you need to use your tent stakes for. The intended use of the stakes may cover a wide ability of uses, but some will feature designs that cater to a specific need. Some stakes can be used for tents, canopies, or landscaping materials. Others are best suited for specific elements, such as sand or snow. While the intended use does not have to specifically be their only use, remember that not all intended uses will suit your needs. Having a general use stake is great, but it may not do the job for a rugged backpacking trip.

FAQs

Q: What are tent stakes and why do I need them?

A: Tent stakes are an accessory that are specifically designed to help you anchor down a tent, ensuring that it will not blow away in strong winds or float away in heavy rain. Tent stakes ensure that you tent stays where you want it and if you should leave, that it will be there when you get back.

As well, most tents will come with a set of stakes included in the purchase. You may wonder why people would invest in another set of stakes, but the answer is most commonly durability. Tent stakes that are provided, usually are not durable and break within a few uses. Or they are simply not strong enough for an adventure from the start. If you want to ensure that your gear stays where you want it, in any element it faces, it’s best to ensure you are prepared. By investing in a durable set of stakes, you can ensure multiple uses throughout the years, which will save you money in the long run.

Q: Can I reuse tent stakes?

A: Yes. The best tent stake design will ensure durable and reliable use for multiple uses. If you can, the best tent stakes can be reused for years, as long as they are taken care of or not forgotten in the ground. The best way to ensure a set of tent stakes can be used and reused is to ensure that they can easily handle being driven into the terrain in which you will be camping. By matching the terrain to the durability, you are ensuring that the stake can complete a job and do that job again. As well, remember to remove every tent stake to keep your set complete. Even if your stakes get a little dirty, a quick soak and wash with soapy water will ensure they can be dried and stored for use at a later time. Tent stakes do not have to be a frequently purchased accessory. As long as you are using them properly and by investing time in finding which design best suits your needs, you can save yourself money and use one set for years.

Q: Is it better to get plastic or steel tent stakes?

A: The answer to this question will depend on what you need to use the tent stakes for. Plastic is the material of stakes that is one of the most commonly provided with a purchased tent. Plastic can be durable in the moment or a one-time use. However, if you are looking for multiple uses throughout the years, plastic is not recommended. Plastic is more prone to breaking through the actions of driving the stake into the terrain or an accidental kick. Plastic can easily be used in soft soil, but if you suddenly hit a rock, it will likely snap in half. For long lasting durability, it is better to invest in metal tent stakes. Metal provides strength and durability that can easily be used, cleaned, and stored throughout multiple uses. Many metal stakes can give the lightweight design of plastic, but with a better durability. This makes them the better and more likely to be, one-time investment.

Globo Surf Overview

When it comes to your outdoor anchoring needs, finding the best tent stakes is important. With a durable stake set you can be prepared for any adventure and ensure that your gear will stay grounded and safe. You can bring peace of mind with top rated tent stakes that ensure your experience in the great outdoors is positive and stress free. The best tent stakes will withstand any terrain and any weather condition. If you know exactly what you need and what terrain you will be exploring, you can save time and money by investing the best tent stakes.

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Do you own one of the tent stakes that made it onto our list? Let us know how it has worked for your outdoor needs in the comments section below.