Tent stakes

Ikeepitcold

Administrator
Staff member
Feb 22, 2011
10,028
1,615
Reno Nv
What tent stakes are you guys either using or replacing the ones that come with your tent? Some high end tents come with some good ones but others are junk.
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
7,316
8,696
72
Gypsum, Co
From what I have seen out there 90% of them are junk.

I worked for a telephone company and I saved quite a few pole steps that I used for my tent stakes. They are around 12" long a 5/8" in diameter with a L on one end. When you put one of these into the ground they are going to stay there. Now this is for my tent that I'll haul around in my truck.

My old pack tent now has stakes made out of 1/4" bolts. They will bend if you hit a rock but they are still better than the ones that came with the tent. Also if I have to I'll use ropes tied off to buried rocks to hold everything down.
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,016
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
I agree that most tent stakes are junk. Years ago, I just made a set of wood stakes for canoe camping, and for backpacking I would make a fresh set when needed. Eventually, I ended up using the lightweight "shepards crook" aluminum stakes that do bend very easily, but they do the job and aren't difficult to straighten. My KUIU 2P tent has some fabulous stakes that are strong and lightweight, and even have a reflective head. They are tubular aluminum that is also anodized.
 

tdub24

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2011
1,331
558
Carlin, NV
For my Alaknak tent I purchased these to replace the stakes that came with it.

61qMcPB8LRL._SL1500_.jpg

For my backpacking tent, I replaced the original with a set of smaller light weight ones that look like these.

ul_stake.jpg
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
Staff member
Feb 3, 2014
7,922
2,827
www.eastmans.com
Truthfully, usually whatever comes with the tent...

Then after I use and abuse them they slowly get replaced by a variety of metal options.