I purchased the Big Agnes Tensleep 6 person tent. I never use the stakes that come with a tent. I purchased the plastic orange stakes (same as the yellow ones). However, I am afraid at some locations these may be difficult for me to pound in the ground. I was wondering if the "dimensional" metal ones that Walmart carries would be a good option. I have heard that the "nail" type ones are usually not a good choice. I am a female senior & will be pitching my tent myself, so I need to find what will work best for me but also keep my tent secure.
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Tent stakes ?
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Re: Tent stakes ?
I am a female senior (and with puny muscles). I prefer these. They are the easiest for me to take out of the ground as I can loop something around it to give me more pulling power. I can also see them to take them out at the end of the trip, too
My Walmart has them in a bin in the camping department for less than a buck each.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-10...iews_limit=10&Last edited by actad; 05-13-2016, 07:39 PM.- Laura
Coleman Dome/Instant Cabin Tents, Kamprite IPS, Shasta Oasis 18ft Travel Trailer
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Re: Tent stakes ?
If you would consider carrying a cordless drill or cordless screwdriver on your trips, you might like what I came up with after years of aching from old knees and a bad back.
http://www.campingforums.com/forum/s...highlight=spax
Those bolts with fender washers make some seriously easy in, easy out stakes. They grip better and work in rocky and compacted clay soil unlike any stake I'd ever pounded in.
I'll add to that post by saying that most tents don't need heavy bolts like I do for my canvas tent. Last trip out, I took a 4 person nylon dome and used 5/16ths bolts and probably could have used 1/4 inch. I didn't even need the 18 volt drill - used a small 12 volt cordless screwdriver and still had no problem.Last edited by MacGyver; 05-13-2016, 08:33 PM.
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Re: Tent stakes ?
There was a comparison done on BPL a while back under controlled conditions. The aluminum 3-bladed stakes (such as one can buy at WM) are the best performers. Long nail stakes came in behind them but still do quite well. IME the plastic stakes are too hard to work with in rocky ground, or on gravel camping pads.2018: Any way the wind blows; doesn't really matter to me....Too Meee....
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Re: Tent stakes ?
Originally posted by CampinLady View PostI purchased the Big Agnes Tensleep 6 person tent. I never use the stakes that come with a tent. I purchased the plastic orange stakes (same as the yellow ones). However, I am afraid at some locations these may be difficult for me to pound in the ground. I was wondering if the "dimensional" metal ones that Walmart carries would be a good option. I have heard that the "nail" type ones are usually not a good choice. I am a female senior & will be pitching my tent myself, so I need to find what will work best for me but also keep my tent secure.
I used to be a fan of the plastic (think I have a mixture of yellow and orange ones) stakes but despite the high visibility found the guyline hook ends broke off w/ too much regularity.
Now I use the metal "V" shaped stakes with great success.
To remove and place tent stakes I use a rubber mallet that has a...glavanized steel hook screw(?) in the center of the wooden end. Had to buy one at the hardware store to replace the puny version the mallet came with.
My problem with the nail type stakes is the plastic heads tend to loosen.2017:
July 3 to July 16- annual kiddo trip
Aug 2 to Aug 14- adult trip to recover from kiddos' outing. Bring on the Campari!
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Re: Tent stakes ?
I had a random collection of different types of aluminum stakes that kept bending and breaking in rocky ground. Then tried the 10" nail type stakes with the plastic heads but didn't like the weakness of the plastic heads. Finally ended up with Snow Peak 12" forged steel stakes. A little heavy but they are plenty strong. I look at them as a long-term investment, usable with any present or future tent.Last edited by Fred; 05-15-2016, 05:51 PM.
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Re: Tent stakes ?
I just use the giant spikes that you can find for a buck. If I ever cant get them out I will just leave them in and pound them into the ground. No big loss.“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.”
– E. B. White
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Re: Tent stakes ?
If you have the big nails with the plastic tops you have discovered the plastic breaks or loosens and won't hold after a few uses. It just dawned on me that you can do like MacGyver and add fender washers to the nails. Tie your guys under the washers and they will be secure. Also, the washers should give you more surface to grab when you pull the stakes.
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Re: Tent stakes ?
Originally posted by MacGyver View PostIf you want to stay with stakes, the cheapest, most durable option I've come up with are the landscape spikes you can get at any big box hardware store. Add a fender washer and you're done.Nights outside so far 2016: 19
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