General stake query

Tent Stake Holding Power: Comparative Evaluation of Various Designs and Lengths

That's perfect – took me a moment to realise it was a link as I'm on an iPad at it just looked like a bunch of words! Sensible words, but just words…

I used to use titanium shepherd hook stakes for their light weight. I’ve since switched to Big Sky’s Ultra-C tent stakes. The latter have higher holding power, can take more pounding before they bend, cost less — and all this without weight penalty.

I use a combination of Ruta Locura 9 inch carbon fiber stakes (7.5 grams) and long titanium shepard hooks from Lawson Equipment (7.25 grams).

Opinions differ. Hawthorn, oak, hemlock, ash have all been recommended.
One version has it that the stake will be consumed; others say not.

Oh, sorry – that's for vampires.

Cheers

Elder is good against certain witches..l

Which witches?

(Sorry, I couldn't help it!)

Magpie Hedge witches – I know, I did a course!

Like Nathan, I use a mix of Ruta Locura 9" carbon stakes and Ti Shepard stakes, a beefy 6.5" version.Specifically, I take 4 of the 9" carbon stakes for corners, and rest are the Ti Shepard stakes.

Hey Lizz,

I'm up in the dales and lakes and i use a combination of Alpkit Y-stakes and Ti pins. The Y stakes in particular are cracking and have held securely in 50+mph winds using my MLD Solomid XL. I believe they do an XL version of the Y stakes and as per the article on stakes length is all important, so these might also be good in the sand. failing that some snow stakes will do the trick.

With regard to weights: Ti pins are 6.5 and y stakes are 14. Some might say this is heavy, but i prefer to carry a few extra grams to know my tent is bomber in the wind on an exposed moor. They are also really reasonably priced- £6.50 for 10 of the Y stakes and £10 for the ti pins- i don't reckon you can find cheaper for the quality. I have no connection to alpkit- i just like their stakes (and ti pots…)

Is it just me? No one has mentioned that if you really tend to camp in "grass, moorland, turf, or in woodland" you've sort of hit the tent stake lottery, because very light skewers will work just fine. You don't need an MSR Groundhog or some other kind of Y-stake, just something like this, available almost anywhere nowadays:

http://www.vargooutdoors.com/titanium-tent-stake-ultralight.html

For the beach, yes, you'll need something substantial, if not an actual sand anchor.

It seems like everytime I go on this site, I spend money. Now have a set of 4 Ruta 9" stakes in route to try out on my next trip.

Well Scott, at least you are getting some good kit out of the deal..:)

Support US craftsmen. Go on BPL…

Unless you're English. Then you should support U.K. based businesses. BPL is global, don't forget that.

I use MSR Groundhogs.

"Unless you're English. Then you should support U.K. based businesses."

Well, I am American. But I certainly don't limit my gear patronage only to American businesses.

But Ken, I think your intention isn't that at all — you just want to remind us that BPL readership is global — and we shouldn't write like everyone is American here. And that, I heartily agree. :)

I think U.S. people should favor purchases from countries that have relatively balanced trade with.

Like Canada or U.K. Probably Mexico.

Dis-favor buying stuff from China because we have the biggest trade imbalance. Bad for both our economies.