The 7 Best Tent Stakes of 2024

When choosing your tent, you have to buy all the necessary accessories including tent stakes. The strength and stability of your tent hinge on the proper selection of stakes that anchor it securely to the ground. Therefore, you must choose tent stakes with optimal holding power based on the specific environmental conditions of your camping location.

There is a wide range of tent stakes designed to suit all needs and circumstances. The selection spans from lightweight and robust options to specialized stakes tailored for sand and snow. Within this guide, we present the top seven tent stakes currently available on the market.

Best Tent Stakes 2024 (At A Glance)

• 1. Eurmax USA Galvanized Tent Stakes – Best Overall
• 2. Relaxdays 20Pcs Steel Camping Stakes – Editor’s Choice
• 3. MSR Carbon Core 6-inch Tent Stake – Best Carbon Tent Stakes
• 4. MSR Toughstake Medium Tent Stake – Best for Snow and Sand
• 5. Ram-Pro Heavy Duty Tent Stakes – Best for the Money
• 6. Holiday Joy All Commercial Tent Stakes – Versatile Use
• 7. Tentock 6pcs Titanium Alloy – Best Ultralight Tent Stakes

1. Eurmax USA Non-Rust Camping Tent Stakes

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The Eurmax USA brand offers a set of 10 very practical and solid tent stakes. These are made of heavy-duty and rust-free steel. Each piece is 10 inches long, providing optimal support for your tent. The galvanized coating ensures they remain rust-free, even after exposure to rain and moisture.

Eurmax tent stake is equipped with a T-shaped ABS plastic handle. This greatly simplifies anchoring. It is no longer necessary to have a mallet to plant on the ground. All you have to do is take the stake by the T-handle in your hand and press down firmly.

Eurmax tent stakes have the advantage of being versatile and stable. They adapt to different types of soils whether stony soils, forests, meadows, campgrounds, and even woods. For hard surfaces and clay courts, plant the stake in the ground while making rotational movements with the stem. This technique enhances the stake’s penetration and stability in challenging terrains.

In addition, these tent stakes are robust and the screwing allows a good grip on the ground. The only downside concerns its storage box which is too small for the number of stakes.

2. Relaxdays Set of 20 Steel Camping Stakes

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The Relaxdays brand offers a set of 20 tent stakes for your outdoor outings. They are very compact as they are made of steel. Each rod measures 22*2.5 cm and has a diameter of 3 mm. The round shape is perfect for securing cords.

Relaxdays tent stakes weigh in at around 18 grams per piece. You can sink them up to 20 cm into the ground to optimize the fixing of your tent. This also allows for a very stable hold. However, it is highly recommended to use a mallet with a rubber head to drive in the stakes.

These tent stakes are made with more or less hooked heads. This allows the pegs to slide in and out. These stakes are suitable for normal terrains such as campsites with grass or forests.

They have more stability than plastic or aluminum ones. Indeed, they offer a solid anchoring in the ground to enjoy your campsite with complete peace of mind. Keep in mind, these stakes are not strong enough to hold a tent in dirt or rocky ground.

3. MSR Carbon Core 6-Inch 4-Pack Tent Stake

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With the MSR carbon-core tent pole, resistance and robustness are at the rendezvous. Its long part is composed of a rigid and light carbon core, covered by an aluminum sleeve to ensure its durability. While they may be a bit pricey, their quality justifies the cost.

It has a profiled polycarbonate head allowing easy anchoring in the ground manually. The sardines each weigh 6 grams. The MSR carbon-core post is suitable for outings where you have to travel light. It is more suitable for medium-compact soils and for a light tent for 1 or 2 people.

Each stake is ultralight, allowing comfortable handling. It is quality equipment that has made many campers happy. It is stable and allows a firm hold of the tent whatever the position. This set offers a long service life thanks to the aluminum profile.

However, the MSR carbon-core tent pole is a bit pricey. Also, keep in mind that the heads of the stakes could crack if you use a hard surface to strike them.

4. MSR Toughstake Medium Tent Stake for Snow/Sand

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Due to its exceptional shape and self-drilling appearance, MSR’s Toughstake tent stakes offer 10 times the ground anchoring capacity of a conventional tent stake. These stakes come with the cable that goes in the stake. The medium cable is pretty tough too.

When its cable is tensioned, the stake sinks deeper into the ground. This type of stake is suitable for soft ground such as sandy ground or snow. However, we don’t recommend using these on anything other than sand or snow.

Its enlarged head keeps them firmly in place. It is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, which makes it strong and lightweight, and at the same time resistant to any test in snow and sand.

MSR Toughstake tent stakes are excellent and are specifically designed to fulfill their intended use exceptionally well. They will provide very good stability and firmness even in strong winds.

5. Ram-Pro Heavy Duty Galvanized Metal Tent Stakes

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The set of 8 tent stakes of the Ram-Pro brand allows multiple uses. They can be used for various outdoor activities, making them suitable for backpacking or camping tents. You can also use these for football nets, gazebos, trampolines, canopies, swings, and even for gardening.

Because these are made of galvanized steel, these anchor stakes are very robust and allow the rods to have high resistance and longevity. They are also rustproof. As a result, they can adapt to all varieties of outdoor situations.

Ram-Pro metal tent stakes can be used to fix a shelter in the ground or the sand for years to come. As for the dimensions, it is 30 x 7.5 x 30 cm with a weight of 1.28 kg. Each stake weighs just 1 ounce but is guaranteed unbreakable. However, be careful to use hammers, they can bend very easily.

As for the anchors, it’s simple and easy. Simply place the stake into position in the ground, and drive it down onto the anchor with a hammer until it is firm and secure.

6. Holiday Joy All Purpose Commercial Tent Stakes

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If you want to fix a tarp or a tent in the ground, this set of 12 stakes can be useful for you. The Holiday JOy tent stake is made of ABS plastic. The dimensions are 2 x 6 x 11 inches. They allow you to fix a beach shelter, tent or tarp. However, they are also useful for various uses in the garden.

They are super strong, good, and hard to tear off. And the icing on the cake, it’s hard to lose them given their fluorescent red color. We highly recommend this tent peg set for frequent outdoor use.

The item has a robust design featuring a substantial no-slip hook, which ensures a secure grip across a diverse range of soil conditions. The curving design also makes it much easier to store and transport equipment. And for your convenience, all parts are delivered in a storage and transport bag.

Anchoring in the ground is very simple, thanks to the V-shaped beveled end which sinks easily. In addition, the long size and hook ensure optimal support and allow the tent to be more resistant to the wind.

7. Tentock 6pcs Titanium Alloy Ultralight Tent Stakes

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In the final recommendation of our ranking, we present Tentock as the ultimate choice for the best ultralight titanium tent stakes on the market. Tentock brand tent pegs are made of pure titanium. They are light but have a strong resistance (more than steel or aluminum).

One of the great advantages of titanium material is it is healthy and respectful of the environment. These stakes can be inserted into any type of soil. They can even pierce a rock. You can use them for all outdoor activities: camping, hiking, mountaineering, gardening, etc.

For size L, the dimension is Φ8 x 240mm with a weight of 56g per piece. As for size S, the dimension is Φ5 x 165mm, with a weight of 15g per piece. To penetrate and hold firmly in various kinds of different soil, these tent stakes have much higher tensile strength than aluminum stakes.

These tent stakes are corrosion-resistant, remaining impervious to both alkali and acid. Their exceptional durability extends to resistance against wear and tolerance to extreme temperatures, whether high or low. Additionally, they have a bright orange reflective drawstring which is highly visible.

How to Choose the Best Tent Stakes?

Selecting the best tent stakes involves considering several factors to ensure they match the specific requirements of your camping environment. Here’s a guide on how to choose the best tent stakes:

The size

The size of the stakes plays a very important role in keeping the tent on the ground. Indeed, the larger the diameter, the higher the anchorage resistance it offers. We recommend choosing a tent stake with at least 17 cm in length and 2.5 mm in diameter on average.

The material

Tent stakes can be made from a variety of materials. These accessories must have incomparable robustness while being sufficiently light. For this, we find these steel and aluminum. Plastic is also an alternative. These are made in such a way as to optimize anchoring. This material differs from others by its great resistance to bad weather.

Design

Different terrains may require specific stake designs. Y-shaped or V-shaped stakes are excellent for softer ground, providing better holding power. Triangular or needle-shaped stakes work well in rocky terrain, penetrating the ground more easily.

Anchorage system

Various models of tent stakes with a diverse range of anchoring systems are available. The fundamental versions resemble nails and require driving into the ground using a mallet. For these, it’s essential to have a hammer as part of your equipment. Alternatively, you can explore tent stake models with screw-in (threaded) or push-in manual designs. They typically feature a specialized handle and/or a sharp point for easy insertion.

The weight

If backpacking or hiking to your camping site, weight is a crucial factor. Choose lightweight stakes without compromising on strength. Titanium stakes are an excellent choice for those seeking ultralight options.

Solidity

One of the criteria not to be left to chance for tent stakes is their solidity. To avoid possible disastrous situations, it is better to turn to reliable tent stakes. Those made of metal will thus be able to offer maximum security. They are very strong and can withstand strong elements. There is less chance that they can break.

The type of ground

Be aware that during your outings, you will be faced with different constraints. The ground can be an obstacle when it comes to fixing a tent. To avoid an anchoring problem, opt for stakes suitable for all types of ground. The steel and aluminum stakes adapt perfectly to hard ground and loose ground.

Conclusion

The frustration of attempting to set up a tent is all too familiar when the stakes struggle to secure into the ground. Driving stakes into challenging surfaces can be a daunting task. Therefore, selecting the appropriate tent stakes based on their design is crucial. Stakes with sharp and well-pointed ends make the process significantly more manageable. Our product recommendations stem from both independent test results and a comprehensive evaluation of testimonials from numerous satisfied customers.

Thanks for reading!

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• The 6 Best Pop Up Tents Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
• Best 3 Room Tents Reviews (In-Depth Reviews)
• 10 Best 2 Room Tents Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

FAQs

What are V stakes and what are their benefits?

V-stakes are elongated anchoring pins that taper to a point at the bottom. At the top, they are wider and kinked. Tent stakes with a V profile are significantly more stable than ordinary stakes. That is why they are used for fastening family tents, large tents, and tarpaulins.

V-stakes are usually made of steel, iron or aluminum. In some cases, holes on the lower part provide additional support. On the other hand, a hole at the top of the stake serves to make it easier to pull the tent hook out of the ground. Because stakes with a V profile have a larger surface to hold well in loose ground.

What are T-stakes and when are they used?

T-shape stakes are significantly wider in shape than standard pegs. This makes them more stable so that they hold extremely well in loose soil. The T-stakes are usually made of iron or steel.

What are screw stakes and what are their advantages?

Screw stakes have a screw thread at their lower end, which ensures that these stakes sit very firmly in the ground. This means that a secure tent stand is possible even on very damp soil. The screw thread makes these types of stakes suitable for sandy and soft ground as well as for harder and stony ground.

Which materials have the best advantages in tent stakes?

The stakes made of iron or steel are considered to be very stable and robust. However, this material is much heavier than aluminum or plastic. For this reason, steel pegs are rather unsuitable for long hikes.

Aluminum is used frequently for the production of stakes. This material is very light, although slightly less strong than steel. So you have to be careful when driving an aluminum stake into hard ground.

Plastic tent stake has advantages because it is extremely light, but plastic pegs quickly fall through the cracks due to their lower stability. These models are only recommended for camping on very soft ground such as on the beach.

Can I use regular nails or pegs as tent stakes?

While regular nails or pegs might work in some cases, it’s not good to use them as tent stakes. Tent stakes are specifically designed to provide optimal holding power and durability in various soil conditions. Regular nails or pegs haven’t the necessary strength or shape to anchor your tent securely. Additionally, they can damage your tent’s fabric or be difficult to remove from the ground.