Tent stakes, How do you guys...

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Nickelsig229

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Sep 7, 2004
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How do you guys use your tent stakes?

When I go car camping, i usually bring a mallet or the back of a hatchet. Simple enough.

But how do you do it when your on a hike through, or camping in a remote spot where your car isn't accessible to carry excess weight?

I'm looking for a piece of gear that I can use as a hammer. I don't typically carry a hatchet or cold steel shovel, so I'm wondering other then rocks, what do you use that's handy and not too obnoxious when it comes to weight, to hammer down your tent stakes.

I used a tree branch between my knee and the stake last time out but the branch slipped and it put a hurt on my knee. If anyone has any other better ideas that don't require a "hammer" tool I'm up for that too.

Thanks.
 
Nickelsig229 said:
How do you guys use your tent stakes?

When I go car camping, i usually bring a mallet or the back of a hatchet. Simple enough.

But how do you do it when your on a hike through, or camping in a remote spot where your car isn't accessible to carry excess weight?

I'm looking for a piece of gear that I can use as a hammer. I don't typically carry a hatchet or cold steel shovel, so I'm wondering other then rocks, what do you use that's handy and not too obnoxious when it comes to weight, to hammer down your tent stakes.

I used a tree branch between my knee and the stake last time out but the branch slipped and it put a hurt on my knee. If anyone has any other better ideas that don't require a "hammer" tool I'm up for that too.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

You can use your boots to stomp them in, and retrieve them with a loop of paracord.

n2s
 
yeah, I've done the boot stomp. Not happy with it. If the ground is hard and dry, the stakes flop over and It's annoying as hell. I've even watered the ground to soften it, but that doesn't always work and isn't Ideal.
 
I'm usually blessed/cursed with rocks where I camp. I generally palm one and use it to press the stakes in. I never have had to beat them. In my experience, beating will likely either bend them or drive them through a root making them hard to remove. If a stake just won't go in because of a rock or root, I probe around for a spot where it will and settle for them being slightly askew. Then I use another stake or a stout stick or some rope to pull them. I use a variety of aluminum alloy and titanium stakes, either shepherd crook or tee section. I have camped in places where neither worked like on gravel bars and on rock shelves. In that case, I use heavy stones or bags filled with sand or rocks for anchors. This is one reason I prefer a fairly freestanding tent design. Plus it can be picked up and moved without disassembling it.

2ilkhhi.jpg
 
I'm using free standing as well, REI quarter dome 2 + (love it).

I ran into some trouble last time out where I ruined an aluminum triangular stake and ended up getting some wind gusts that moved my tent around. Not much but at least 15 feet. So now I'm trying to find a better solution.

The pressing with a rock really is my best right now. But it's not ideal.

I don't have a flat and wide enough butt to my knife. I suppose I could use the flat edge of the blade to press down in absence of rocks, again not ideal but I hadn't thought of that yet.
 
You might augment staking with rocks, inside or out. My gear is heavy enough to hold my tent down most of the time. Also, when possible, locate the tent in a spot more protected from the wind. Do you carry a metal spoon? That is a possibility as a stake-pressing tool. You might even consider a short piece of PVC pipe with a hole drilled in one side as a pushing tool. Held like a lawnmower start rope handle if you get my meaning.
 
On second thought, a 1" or 3/4" pvc pipe cap might be just the ticket. I bought one yesterday for 79 cents. I may just drop one in my own stake bag!
 
That's actually a great idea. You could even put it on the stake then knee press it without worrying about it pop'n off and banging up your knee.

That may be the best light weight solution. Thanks I'm gonna try that on my next trip out.
 
The ground is so hard here right now that last week we actually were bending spikes trying to drive them in the ground. We had kids building temporary shelters who couldn't get hard wood pegs to even break the soils surface. It's making me rethink what I've been using.
 
I use one of these:
http://www.rei.com/product/407009/u-dig-it-stainless-steel-hand-shovel
Heavy at 5oz, but the lightweight trowels I've used tend to have a lifetime of <1 cathole in rocky soil.
No problems since I got the U-Dig-It. I've even icepick stabbed it through roots, pried up rocks, and used it in my yard a time or two. No damage, and only some light scratches.
The bottom is curved, so you can hold it in your hand to press on stakes as hard as you want, or close it and hold it near the tip, and use the bottom as a hammer.
Works great, so far. No complaints.
The Walmart verison I looked at was NOT the same, btw. Very hard to open and close, and grip strength is not one of my shortcomings.
 
Ouch! With my construction work, years ago we laid out excavations with 16" #3 3/8" rebar driven in the ground. I switched some years back to bridge spikes (because of worker injuries from the sharp ends), essentially giant nails, 6 to 12 inches long that can be driven with a hammer or even a sledge. Using one to drive a "pilot hole" might work. They are awful heavy to carry in useful quantities. And generally overkill for light tents.
 
I'm of no use.
My stakes are the plastic ones that came with my Coleman tent.
I usually use the pommel of my knife, or the back of my camp axe.
Last time I went (a month ago), the ground was so hard I had to POUND them in with the back of the axe.
It wasn't particularly windy, so I only used two.
I didn't try the u-dig-it. Next time I will.
I couldn't pull them up with rope, or pry them with the exposed tang, so I just left 'em there in the ground.
Not what I wanted to do, but at some point you have to cut your losses and cut out.
Luckily it came with twice as many as I can use at one time.
 
I've been using for the last 8 or so years the aluminum "nails" used for gutters on houses. THey usually come in bags of 10 with the plastic ferrels (which get tossed out) for about $8. They're light, pointy, long and strong enough to pound into hard ground.
 
Oh, and BTW, to sink 'em in hard soil put a rock on the top of the nail (when you're all set where you want it) and then use a BATON to beat against the rock and drive 'em in!!!
 
If it's that rocky,one can use a length of para cord tied to the tent pole, then tied to a large rock at all four corners. The tent might "dance" some but won't sachet away:D Just sayin
 
I've been in a few locations where the ground is close to impossible to drive a tent stake into. I've never bent an MSR Groundhog stake, but I've in situations where it wouldn't go in more than a couple of inches before running into rock. Most locations, I can just push in with my boot. I have found and used a length of baton with a knotted end to serve as a pseudo hammer. I like the idea of using the U-Dig-It trowel if you already pack it; I wouldn't pack anything specifically for pounding stakes if you packing anything over a significant distance.

ROCK6
 
I try to avoid pegs. I carry an excessive amount of cord, to take advantage of natural features like trees, roots, rocks etc.
 
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