Best Tent Stakes of 2024

Reasons to Buy

• Great holding power
• Visible and easy to locate
• Lightweight

Reasons to Avoid

• Occasionally hard to pull out

Weight

The MSR Mini Groundhog tent stakes stand out for their lightness. They're on the small side, which helps keep them light, but we didn't find that this compromised their holding strength. They anchor as firmly as a lot of bigger, burlier options.

Material

The MSR Mini Groundhog stakes are made of 7000 series aluminum, which is a common material for tent stakes. They're not as strong as some of the titanium stakes we tested, but they're also not as expensive.

Design

We really like the Y shaped design It definitely helps the MSR Mini Groundhog stay in the ground where a round design might not. However, it's important to note a design detail: the narrow point near the head, where a tent guyout point loops, can be a weak spot. If you're rough on them when putting them in the ground, banging on them with a large rock for instance, there is a chance they will break at this point. And removing these stakes from the ground is hassle-free, thanks to the built in pull cord. The three notches in the Y do a great job of holding your tent's guyout points or tent stake loops.

Price

The MSR Mini Groundhog stakes are a great value. They're one of the more expensive aluminum stakes we tested, but they're also one of the lightest, so we think that makes them a good value.

Overall

All in all, these are a great tent stake that just about anyone would be happy with. They're versatile, and will work in a wide variety of conditions.

Reasons to Buy

• Ultra-durable titanium construction
• Nail design is excellent for soil penetration
• Great value for the price

Reasons to Avoid

• Not as much holding power as triangular pegs

Weight

The Vargo Titanium Nail Peg is actually not an ultralight tent stake. Despite being made of tianium it's a relatively hefty nail, so in terms of weight it comes in around the middle of the pack. But for being such a strong, durable tent stake it is quite light.

Material

It's made of titanium, which is a more expensive material than the aluminum you typically see with tent stakes, but titanium is a much stronger material, so it's a natural choice for tent stakes, which always seem to be bending and breaking, no matter how gentle you are.

Design

The design is about as straight-forward as it gets with tent stake. This is a straight, round nail design. No beams or ridges or anything like that here. The nail design is great for penetrating harder ground. If you spend a lot of time backpacking in hard, rocky terrain, or are looking to drive a tent stake in to hard, partially frozen ground during Spring or Fall, a strong, durable nail design is a great choice. On the other hand, the nail design doesn't have as much holding power in looser soil. Those beams and ridges you see on a lot of other tent stakes really help to give tent stakes a lot of surface area to catch on.

Price

Titanium isn't cheap, and neither are these tent stakes. The upside is that these are far less likely to break or brend than other tent stakes, so you won't have to replace them much, if ever.

Overall

Overall, we really like the Vargo Titanium Nail Peg for the harder, rockier ground that we are typically backpacking in. We can pound on them with a rock to get them in to the ground without worrying about bending or breaking them. If that sounds like the kind of terrain you're typically backpacking in, these might be a great tent stake for you.

Reasons to Buy

• Great holding power
• Lightweight
• Hollow design keeps the weight down
• Very versatile, useful in many different soil types

Reasons to Avoid

• Stake heads may pop off with too much use

Weight and Material

The Easton Aluminum Nano Stakes are definitely on the lightweight side of tent stake market. They're made of aluminum, but save on weight by being a hollow nail.

Design

The hollow nail design gives the Easton Aluminum Nano Stakes a surface area that makes them a great choice for a wide variety of ground types. They have the strength and durability of a nail for harder ground, but are big enough that they won't pull out easily in softer ground. The one drawback of the design that we found in testing was the head. The head of the stake and the body are two separate pieces, and we found that with enough use, the head of the stake can actually pop off the body. This is probably due to repeatedly pulling on the head to get the stakes out of the ground, plus hammering on the heads to get them in to the ground. Generally we really like the design, but would love to see the body and head of the stake be one piece, to prevent this from happening. This has only happened to a couple of the 8 stakes we have, so it seems like maybe a manufacturing flaw more than a fundamental design flaw, but it's something to be aware of.

Price

They're not cheap tent stakes, but we feel like they're a good value. We found that these are less likely to snap or bend than some of the other aluminum stake options, but you may lose one or two stakes to the issue that we mentioned, of the head of the stake popping off. So solid value, but you may find yourself replacing them from time to time.

Overall

We really like the design of the Easton Aluminum Nano Stakes, apart from the body and head of the stake being two separate pieces. The hollow design means these are a bit bulkier than a lot of the other tent stake options we reviewed, but they hollow design also means they're a lot lighter than they look. We do like the MSR Mini Groundhogs better, but these are another solid option that are worth considering.

Reasons to Buy

• Super strong titanium material
• Fantastic soil compatibility
• Highly visible design
• Great value for money
• Impressive holding power

Reasons to Avoid

• Could be hard to pull out from compact soil
• May be a little lightweight for heavier tents

For those backpackers who prioritize a lightweight pack without sacrificing functionality, the Vargo Titanium Sheperds Hook Stake hits the sweet spot. Made out of titanium, these stakes bring durability and strength in a feather-light package. Titanium is known to be stronger and lighter than your average aluminum or steel stake, making these a great addition to your backpacking kit.

The traditional shepherds hook design is straightforward to use. Just push it in the ground, and your tent is secure. People love this no-frills design because you do not have to be an experienced camper to figure out how to use this product.

Weighing in at just 6 grams a piece, these stakes will hardly make a dent in your pack's overall weight. This feature alone has gained significant praise from weight-conscious backpackers who found it to be the perfect companion on multi-day hikes and long treks. Some hikers also mentioned that the stakes are almost unnoticeable in their pack, contributing to their gear's overall comfort.

On the flipside, its lightweight nature also attracted some criticism, with some users concerned about its ability to withstand extreme wind conditions or rocky terrains. While there is some truth in their concerns, most found that proper placement and angle of insertion could largely mitigate these issues. Plus, the benefits of saving weight for long hikes can far outweigh this minor inconvenience.

Another common critique of the Vargo Titanium Sheperds Hook Stake revolves around its price point. Being made of titanium, these stakes come at a higher cost than their steel or aluminum counterparts. However, many purchasers noted that the durability and versatility of these stakes made the investment worthwhile.

Reasons to Buy

• Works great in snow and sand
• Sturdy and durable material
• High visibility even in low light
• Superb holding power

Reasons to Avoid

• Bulky and heavy

Are you planning a snowy or sandy camping trip soon? If yes, the MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes are a serious gear to consider. Tailored specifically for loose, soft surfaces like snow and sand, this product has been a camper's favorite, with many people who bought it pleased about its performance.

These stakes, manufactured by Mountain Safety Research (MSR), a leading brand in the outdoor equipment market, stand out due to their spectacularly designed snow flukes. The wide profile and extra length provide a solid hold in less compacted conditions, a feature appreciated by users from across the globe.

Made of 7000-series aluminum, these stakes are just as sturdy as they come. Yet, the MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes aren't unnecessarily heavy. Weighing only 1.12 ounces each, campers were impressed at how easy they are to pack and carry. The stakes' lightweight property ensures that you won't be left panting and worn out before the camping adventure even begins.

Still, what has made them a hit among seasoned and newbie campers is their versatility. Even though they're designed for soft ground conditions, many users have attested that they also work great in hard terrain. This makes them a reliable choice regardless of where your adventurous spirit takes you.

Despite the praises, the product isn't without gripes from some users. Most common is the issue of durability. A few campers have mentioned that the MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes could be prone to bending when hammered into very hard ground. However, it's worth noting that these cases are isolated, and many others have found the stakes to hold up well even under harsh conditions.

Another point of contention is the price, as the MSR Blizzard Tent Stakes come with a slightly hefty price tag. While some campers think they're worth every penny, others suggest that cheaper alternatives can work just as fine. But that's subjective and entirely dependent on individual preferences and budgets.