I have a Beckel Canvas Eena duck baker tent but unfortunately, I’ve lost all the original poles, pegs, and rope tighteners. I’m preparing for upcoming car camping trips and need to replace them. Over the years, I’ve tried various tent pegs—plastic, nail-type, sheet metal, wood—and all have been less than satisfactory. Given that we go camping in various soil types and sometimes encounter strong winds, I need reliable tent pegs that are easy to install and remove but won’t break, bend, or splinter. Weight is not an issue as this is strictly for car camping. Any recommendations for tent pegs that truly hold up?
I recommend Asian style stakes, available from 20 to 50 cm, made from solid or stainless steel. Although they’re a bit pricey, ranging from $3 to $6 each, they’re incredibly durable. Brands like Camping Moon and Snow Peak are available in the US and are highly dependable.
@Davin
Appreciate the suggestions. The peg hammers for these stakes also seem worth checking out.
Joss said:
@Davin
Appreciate the suggestions. The peg hammers for these stakes also seem worth checking out.
I can vouch for Snow Peak stakes. They seemed overly expensive initially, but they’ve proven their worth time and again. Definitely pick up a Snow Peak hammer too, it’s great not just for driving the stakes in but also for pulling them out.
Joss said:
@Davin
Appreciate the suggestions. The peg hammers for these stakes also seem worth checking out.
The copper head hammers are particularly interesting; they show your camping prowess by how worn they are!
For most terrain, 10-inch landscape spikes work well. For sandier soils like deserts or beaches, consider getting sand screws.
Lior said:
For most terrain, 10-inch landscape spikes work well. For sandier soils like deserts or beaches, consider getting sand screws.
I wasn’t aware of sand screws before. Thanks for the tip!
Consider 12 or 16-inch heavy-duty steel tent stakes, often made of rebar and either galvanized or painted. They’re about 1/4 inch in diameter and very sturdy for personal tents, shaped like a large candy cane.
@Koa
Thank you for the suggestion!
Check out GroundGrabba stakes, they’re excellent.
Kim said:
Check out GroundGrabba stakes, they’re excellent.
They look promising, thanks!
I’ve started using 8-10 inch exterior screws instead of traditional tent stakes. They’re inexpensive, durable, and easy to replace, though you need to attach a loop for grommet connection.
Zen said:
I’ve started using 8-10 inch exterior screws instead of traditional tent stakes. They’re inexpensive, durable, and easy to replace, though you need to attach a loop for grommet connection.
That’s an inventive solution, much like using ice screws. It sounds perfect since we always have a cordless drill handy. Thanks for the idea!
I’ve had great success with MSR Groundhog stakes. They’re a bit pricey but perform exceptionally well across different soil types and are very durable.
Amari said:
I’ve had great success with MSR Groundhog stakes. They’re a bit pricey but perform exceptionally well across different soil types and are very durable.
I’ll give them a look. Thanks for the recommendation!
For a no-nonsense solution, pick up 12 or 14-inch spike nails from a hardware store. They’re sturdy and won’t bend or break. You can even weld washers to the heads for better functionality.
You might find some good deals on r/preppersales; they often track sales on durable tent pegs.