Camping requires tent stakes and gravity to keep your tent attached to the ground. Due to the fact that gravity is largely out of your control, tent stakes are necessary. Whether your tent is staked to the ground or pegged, stakes anchor it physically to the ground, providing structure and keeping it from blowing away.
Any person who has chased their tent knows how crucial it is to avoid being caught by a gust of wind. The use of tent stakes in four-season camping tents for the conditions you are likely to encounter during your trip will be discussed. You’ll learn how to simplify your camping life using our decades of experience using stakes. It’s time to start using the tent stake now!
Pick a site and clear it
The moment you arrive, take some time to walk around and select your site. In a few hours, you will sleep on the ground where you are standing right now. Check the ground for rocks, roots from large trees, or pinecones and acorns that have fallen from trees. Taking these considerations into account is important.
When falling acorns wake your kids up in the middle of the night and you wake up with a lump on your side, imagine how irritating it is to hear them scream. Take a moment to pick up rocks, twigs, seeds, or other items you find along the way. This is something you will be glad you did in the future.
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Choosing Tent stakes
Consider both the surface area and the length of the stake when choosing a stake. The three most popular tent peg types are as follows:
7″ Aluminum Tent Stakes:
These aluminum stakes are lightweight and strong, making them the perfect accessory for any project. Having three sides makes the mug more secure because of its increased surface area. Perfect when weight is an issue, particularly when tents are being used. Using a longer peg will be necessary when working in sandy soil.
11″ Galvanized Steel Stakes:
There is a more traditional look to the tent pegs shown here. They are extremely heavy-duty despite their weight. Ten steel pegs weigh 3 pounds each. Although these are not recommended for backpacking, they could be used to sleep under your car or in the backyard.
12″ Aluminum Tent Stakes (For Sand or Snow)
These heavy-duty stakes have a curved shape and a large surface area to ensure that they hold firmly in place. Sand and snow are soft surfaces that can be used with these. With multiple holes, riggers are not only granted improved holding power but also have the option to use a deadman anchor. Every one of these carries a couple of ounces of weight.
Straight and angle corner guy lines
Furthermore, staking off the tent base requires that you tie guylines as well. You can maximize the tent’s interior space by using these elements as structural elements.
When you pull the line at a 45-degree angle, you allow as much space as possible inside. Additionally, it holds waterproofing in place even in windy weather. It will be more comfortable and spacious inside your tent if you have it taught. If the weather is windy, you should always pack extra stakes.
Yes, that sounds exactly like what it is. To ensure the stakes penetrate deep enough and are resistant to higher winds, hammer them down straight. The use of this method has proved effective in storms with wild winds.
Hammer not Forgotten
For driving stakes in, you can use an axe head, rock, or tire iron. If you want the strongest hold, you should enter straight. Car camping is far more enjoyable with the help of a rubber mallet. It will take you less effort to drive your stakes this way, and you won’t have to crush them at the end. A hatchet will be sufficient if you are backpacking.
Be careful not to touch the ground with your hands or feet. It is possible that as you wiggle your foot to maintain balance, the stake may bend as a result of uneven pressure. Furthermore, it will soften the soil around the stake, so you won’t be able to secure it as firmly as you should.
Uncertainty Stakes
You can add more stakes or tie your tent to a tree if you’re not sure if your stakes will hold your tent in place. It is necessary to stake more deeply and longer on sandy soils, unless you have wedged stakes on hand. You can plant a tree if you don’t have any.
It’s awesome to feel like Superman when you can push a stake in and take it out with your bare hands, but don’t forget that you can do the same thing with a stake. A storm will cause the tent to rise along with the ground once it gets wet and soaked.
Useful hooks
There is an obvious reason for its presence. Adding tension to your guy’s rope is easiest when you use the soil’s resistance. The soil strengthens your hook when it is facing away from your tent. It can be used as an anchor backup if necessary. Also, if your rope faces toward your tent, it is more likely to be lost.
The tent should be set up with an S-biner carabiner in addition to your tent. In addition to being lockable, these carabiners are also double-sided and can be used to connect stake loops with tent guy lines. This type of carabiner can also be used to secure tarps above a fire or tent.
Stakes and ropes can cause trips
This is common sense, there is no doubt about it. It is possible to trip over the stake when you accidentally forget where the rope ends and the stake begins in the middle of the night. A 45-degree angle should also be maintained between the tent entrance and the stake.
In the absence of an anchor for your tent, you can tie a rope to a rock on the ground to install a makeshift stake. To further strengthen it and keep it in place, you can place a large rock on top. This method is useful if there is a storm suddenly blowing up and you are unable to get additional stakes, or they are too far away to reach before the storm.
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Final Thoughts
You can stake down a tent easily, but chasing after a runaway tent is not a good workout. Don’t worry, now that you know how to use tent stakes properly, you won’t experience any problems. Choosing the right camping spot, driving the tools down straight, and pointing the hook away from the tent will ensure a great camping experience. Now is the time to step outside and breathe in some fresh air!
