Nemo Airpin Tent Stake Test

[Dennis D]

Why would you test stakes by angling them back at 45 degrees? Stakes have their greatest holding power when pounded straight down, or as nearly so as the gound will allow. Angling them back creates a lever, making iit easier for the rope to pull it back to vertical, then out. The depth is much less at 45 degrees than when driven vertically.

[Mark Fowler]

You usually want to set stakes at 90 degrees to the guy line so there is no upward force on the peg as the guy line flexes under the changing wind load on the tent.  Unless you are using a screw type stake a stake has less resistance to forces along its length tending to it pulling out compared to the levering forces which work around some point on the peg where the resistance to movement is equal above and below that apex.  If you drive it vertically then there will be an upward force applied to the stake which may work it loose. That said there are soil conditions where setting the stake vertically may be better – no one rule for all occasions.

[Roger Caffin]

Stakes have their greatest holding power when pounded straight down,
Not according to the laws of physics, unless your guy rope is lying on the ground.
Read what Mark wrote.

Cheers

[Author]

Posts