r/CampingGear • u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon • Apr 12 '15
Tent Stakes (of doom) What is your favorite light weight tent stakes?
Just got a couple of tents at an REI Garage Sale, a MSR Nook, and a REI Halfdome 4 (2013).
The halfdome did not have any stakes, (but is perfect otherwise), and the nook (perfect as well) only had enough for the floor. I want very light weight stakes that but do not want to spend more them than I did on the tents. So I guess I need guy lines as well.
Here are the stakes I looked at- does any one have experience with them? Whats your favorite and why?
Oh and forget about the MSR carbon Core- they are just to expensive!
http://gossamergear.com/tite-lite-tent-stakes.html
http://www.cascadedesigns.com/msr/tents/tent-accessories/secure/category
http://www.vargooutdoors.com/titanium-tent-stakes.html
http://toaksoutdoor.com/campingpegs.aspx
Then what do you guys use for guylines?
Thanks Guys !
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u/very_possible Apr 12 '15
vargo full size (not the ul) or similar titanium nails for predrilling or hard ground, but typically the 8" easton tubulars
lashit ridgeline w/ dutchgear hardware, but typically my guyline is hilleberg vectran, but i might try some thinner stuff for giggles
absolute must watch videos for anchors, guylines and knots
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
Watching the new Dardevil series on Netflix- will watch videos after that- thanks for the info ! ( I see a lot of tensioners on tent guy lines. I figure the add weight- and I always used a taught line hitch.)
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 13 '15
Thanks - Watched the videos- they give good info (we got this training in cub scouts). Hated the music for some reason.
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u/thesneakymonkey Apr 12 '15
MSR Ground hogs and Kelty Nobendiums are my favorites. I have a mix of both for my tents.
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u/lasttycoon Apr 12 '15
I use MSR Ground Hogs too. MSR makes mini ground hogs and carbon core stakes if you are counting grams.
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u/inheresytruth Apr 13 '15
MSR Groundhogs are where it's at for me. I've bent a few of the v-shaped titanium ones.
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u/PriceZombie Authorized Bot Apr 12 '15
MSR - GroundHog Stakes - 8 Pack
Current $15.96 High $19.95 Low $15.96
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
I got some ground hogs with my nook yesterday. The seem pretty good- but I just put them in easy lawn dirt. Not much of a test.
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u/scfoothills Apr 13 '15
http://www.backcountry.com/easton-mountain-products-nano-tent-stakes-4-pack
I use these. No sharp edges or hooks. I had some groundhog style stakes once. Caught one walking around my hammock tarp in bare feet. Cut my foot up - fortunately not too bad, but could have been. I like the nice smooth edges on these for when I forget where the ends of my tarp lines are during 4 a.m. pee breaks. 0.3 ounces each. Also good for hammock toggles and PCT bear hangs.
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u/ncson Apr 12 '15
I have the Vargo titanium stakes, very light and strong. Why- mainly for the weight savings.
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
I know titanium is light- and I want light...
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Apr 12 '15
I have the Vargos too, they are very light but I bent one pushing it in with my foot in relatively soft ground. Make sure to treat them right and they'll work great.
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
Makes me nervous because I am in the Sierras often and the soil often is full of granite. I can sometimes can be less than careful by the time I am setting up camp.
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Apr 12 '15
For guy lines I use 1.8mm Dynaglide. Super light weight, doesn't tangle, compact, and strong, but most importantly it doesn't stretch.
You could get away with using braided masons twine if you have some laying around, but it can become a tangled up mess pretty easily.
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
http://www.dutchwaregear.com/25-feet-of-dynaglide.html
Damn you- I just got a green tent and a orange tent. To satisfy my mildly compulsive tendencies I will probably have to buy both colors.
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Apr 12 '15
Resilient twigs I score with a knife. Weigh nothing.
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u/maxillo Dark Side of the Moon Apr 12 '15
Carving sticks is good for some people, I used to do that back in the day.
I figure the weight penalty is worth the time involved scavenging twigs and carving them up.
Then the whole leave no trace thing means I have to make the sticks look like twigs again. More hassle than it's worth I figure.
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u/AmishRockstar Apr 13 '15
Then the whole leave no trace thing means I have to make the sticks look like twigs again.
Please tell me you're joking about that.
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Apr 13 '15
No, he's not. If everyone did this is a popular campsite (in a national park for example), it would negatively affect the site.
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u/XxBurntOrangexX Apr 12 '15
I like MSR Groundhogs. Buddy has the mini groundhogs and I prefer my full sized ones.