Camping Panda
As with any structure, it is the foundation that determines its integrity and strength. The structural integrity of your outdoor shelter depends on the best tent stakes to keep them up and steady.
Tent stakes are often neglected, given that they are the smallest component of your tent system. Due to their size, they are most probably the first to be forgotten or worse – lost.Â
The best tent stakes provide your beach tents the stability it needs to keep you worry-free on your outdoor trips. We did our research to come up with a list of tent stakes for your needs. We also included a buying guide for all your considerations to guarantee that you buy the best tent stakes.
Seasonality
Is it wheatherproof?
Compatibility
Is it versatile?
Portability
Is it easy to carry?
Lifespan
Is it long-lasting?
Usability
Is it easy to remove?
Durability
Is it strong enough?
Design
Is it practical?
Washing
Is it easy to clean?
10
Hours Researched
12
Products Evaluated
3k
Reviews Considered
2
Sources Researched
The BareFour Heavy Duty Camping Stakes are made from high-quality forged steel, your fear of them breaking is already gone. They have been tested to withstand use in rocky terrains.
 The hook at the top of the stake keeps the stake from going too deep into the ground.
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The RIY tent stakes are coated very well and can last for a few years. Made from forged steel, it is meant to withstand the extreme demands of hammering into hard grounds. Its corrosion-resistant large head and shard end guarantees ease in hammering into the ground and pulling up.
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We chose the DAC V-Best Tent Stakes for our premium as it has a wide variety of choices depending on the grounds you’ll use them for. We chose the “sM” size being the one size fits all among the four sizes.Â
The “L” size has the most holding power among the four and can be used on soft ground. “S” is the easiest to drive in hence for use on hard grounds. Anything in between these two is for “M” size. the “sM” size is the one size fits all.
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The Ogrmar tent stakes are specially designed to be used on soft ground or snow. It has a wider and longer U-shaped design for stronger holding power.Â
The Ogrmar tent stakes provide a variety of rigging options thanks to the six holes on the body of the stakes. It is the lightest but poses strong holding power due to its U-shaped design.
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This stake is one made to last for a long time! It is galvanized and not painted to prevent rust. The Pinnacle Galvanized Tent Stakes is one rare stake that disproves that round stakes are prone to break easily.Â
They are made from heavy-duty steel that can hold off stronger outdoor shelters like canopies or tarps.
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Wise Owl makes sure you are not one stake short on your outdoor trips. Their 16-pack tent stakes are aircraft-grade aluminum that packs lightweight despite the numbers. The three-sided design ensures durability against any type of ground.Â
Every tent stakes have a highly visible red paracord for easy pull-up during take-downs.
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In bright yellow colors, it will be hard to miss the Hikemax tent stakes. They are made from high-quality plastic making them corrosion-free and durable. It can be used on any soil type due to its strong holding power.
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The unique Auger design of the Rhino Outdoors Tent Stakes ensures that it will not break on mallet impact. Aside from being made from heavy-duty steel, the screw-like design distributes the force of impact on a larger surface area rather than being concentrated in one point if using a straight stake design.Â
With this, it can withstand strong impact by a mallet or bodyweight upon staking and can be used on heavy-duty anchoring needs.
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This is the spiral design counterpart of the Hikemax Pack Plastic Tent Stakes. They both come with the Hikemax heavy-duty ABS plastic material to guarantee durability. The spiral design makes it ideal for loose soil ground or the beach.Â
These plastic stakes won’t garner rust and can be easily spotted with their bright orange color.
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The Coleman Tent Stakes are made from heavy-duty steel for durability. They pack a little weight for a four-piece set but guarantees you support even on the toughest ground as take-off. Their shiny color makes them easy to be spotted on the ground or grass for visibility so you won’t lose another stake while outdoors.
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The best tent stakes for you will depend mainly on how and where you will be using them. For your tent, beach canopy, on the ground, or sand. Check out the buying guide we have prepared for you to get the maximum out of your tent stakes.
Length: Tent stakes are supposed to provide your tent with stability. Generally speaking, the deeper the stake is in the ground, the more holding power it has.
Surface Area: This needs to be considered if you plan to use your tent stakes under different conditions. The greater the surface area, the more traction it has.
Soil Conditions: Where do you plan to use your tent stakes is one of the determining factors which to buy. For use on sand or loose soil, we recommended Hikemax Spiral Plastic Tent Stakes, its spiral design helps to give the extra grip in the sand. For hard-grounds, take a pick on our steel stakes like the RIY Tent Stakes for instance. For snow, the Ogrmar Aluminum Stakes is higly recommended.
Weight: For backpacking use, you wouldn’t want the extra weight. You probably won’t need your stake to hold weight as well since your gear is mostly lightweight. For outdoor camping with a vehicle, where you have to hold down roof-top tents or canopies, you would need a tent stake that can withstand the tension of the shelter you are anchoring. Steel pegs like BareFour Heavy Duty Camping Stakes or the RHINO OUTDOORS Auger Stakes are recommended for heavy-duty staking. Each stake weights 0.37 lbs and is made of steel.
There are four common materials used for tent stakes: aluminum, steel, plastic, and titanium.
Titanium will be the most costly of the four. Titanium is also the lightest and strongest option. Titanium stakes have a smaller diameter compared to aluminum-made stakes, making them easier to hammer into the ground.
Aluminum made stakes are the most common tent stakes. They are lightweight like titanium but breaks easier.
Steel tent stakes are the most durable but also pack weight compared to aluminum stakes.
Plastic made tent stakes are lighter and can also withstand some hard ground staking. The only disadvantage is once a plastic tent stake breaks, there is no reusing them. Unlike for metal tent stakes, they can be reshaped for reuse when it breaks.
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V-shaped tent stakes have a lot of surface area allowing for more room to hold a guy line tension. Given this, V-shaped tent stakes are the most versatile and can be used for soft soil or packed soil. Due to their shape, they will not rotate easily in the soil.
Y-shaped tent stakes are commonly used for smaller tents and are commonly made from titanium or aluminum. They can be used in a wide variety of terrains. The Y-beam provides extra surface area for anchoring in high winds. The shape of the stake shaft gives extra strength that provides tension strong enough to be hammered into the rocky soil.
Round stakes are usually the default pegs included in a tent package. It is designed for general use but not for holding the main guy line. Due to their shape, they tend to turn easily with the wind, releasing the guy line. Round stakes are prone to bend easily.
Screw stakes are best for loose soil or sand.
After much ado, you have finally chosen a tent stake. Here are a few tips on how to maximize your chosen best tent stake.
It is easy to forget about your tent stakes with them being small and you, pressed for time to pack-up. Try tying a loop of cord to your stakes so you can easily spot them in the morning. This will also help you pull your stakes from the ground easier.
Clear your area of debris. This extra step will ensure that when you pitch and stake your tent, you are securing them straight into the ground and not under the leaves. Also if staking in rocky grounds, make sure to check for small rocks that may cause your stakes to bend when hammered into the ground.
Do not press your stakes with your boots. They are most likely to break if you do.
Guy lines should be putting tension into the stakes at an angle and not straight up. Otherwise, you’ll be pulling your stakes up in the middle of the night. Stake them at an angle pointing away from your tent to secure the tension of the guy line.
Reinforce tent stakes. On windy conditions, try crossing two stakes over. Drive two pegs near each other, so they cross underground. You can also place a rock above the stake to secure them.
Loose soil or sand still favors sandbags as an anchor. Though, tent stakes can still be used as a secondary anchoring system. We have included some tent stakes in the list that we believe might be usable in loose soil or sand.We recommend the Ogrmar Aluminum Tent Stakes for use in loose soil or sand. The holes in the body helps to keep the stakes anchored in the sand.
Yes. You need to stake your tents. It can be tempting to not stake your tent on days the weather condition is perfect. But always remember that conditions can change without warning especially when you are outdoors. Do not risk your safety by not staking your tent.
As a non-spoken rule, you only need one stake per corner of your tent. Following this rule, you need a minimum of four stakes for each corner of your tent. Another four if you wish to attach your rainfly. You may wish to add stakes when you are on high grounds, where the wind is too strong.Â
It is our recommendation to carry tent stakes twice the number of your shelter corner. This way, you have spare just in case one of the stakes break during the trip.
To achieve the stability tent stakes promise, they have to be staked properly. Tie your guy lines into the allotted hole on your stake. Set the stakes perpendicularly to the ground. Tap the stakes into the ground using a rubber mallet or a stone to ensure maximum holding power. Test the structure of your tent and adjust length or position if needed.
The purpose of tent stakes is to provide weight in the corners of your tent to prevent it from being blown over or toppling. You can use sandbags instead of tent stakes for beach canopies. For backpacking tents, you can use your guy lines and tie them around a tree or a big rock as an alternative to tent stakes.
