Best heavy duty tent stakes for camping in the hard packed clay of Texas
Any seasoned camper who has tried to pitch a tent in the Lone Star State knows that Texas soil is legendary—and not for its hospitality. From the sweeping expanses of West Texas to the hills surrounding Austin and the dense pine woods out East, the…
What are the strongest metal tent stakes that will never bend in rocky soil
There is a distinct, frustrating sound known to almost every camper: the dull twang of a lightweight aluminum tent stake bending in half beneath the strike of a camp mallet. Whether you are trying to anchor a shelter into the unyielding, sun-baked…
How to secure a large family tent in high winds on open camping ground
Few outdoor experiences match the joy of a family camping trip. Setting up a basecamp on an open prairie in Texas, along the rugged coastlines of Washington and California, or near the exposed bluffs of New York provides spectacular views and…
How to prevent your tent stakes from pulling out of the ground in wind
There is nothing quite as disruptive to a wilderness experience as the middle-of-the-night sound of a tent wall flapping violently against your sleeping bag because a stake has failed. Wind is the ultimate stress test for your shelter, and when the gusts…
Best lightweight tent stakes for ultralight backpacking in loose sand and soft soil
When you are miles into the backcountry—whether you are traversing the shifting dunes of California’s coastal beaches, setting up camp on the soft, mossy forest floors of Washington, or navigating the loamy, damp terrain of New York’s river valleys—your…
Best way to clean muddy tent stakes after a rainy weekend camping trip outdoors
You’ve returned from a rainy camping trip with memories of a great adventure—and a bag full of mud-caked tent stakes. It’s tempting to toss them into your gear box and deal with them later, but ignoring them is a recipe for rust, corrosion, and a…
How to remove stuck tent stakes from clay soil without damaging the tent webbing
Every camper knows the specific, sinking feeling of a “stuck” campsite. You’ve enjoyed your weekend in the arid landscapes of West Texas or the heavy, moisture-laden soils of the Pacific Northwest. Now, it’s time to head home. You grab the…
What to do when you cannot push your tent stake into the hard ground
There is nothing more frustrating than arriving at a campsite, exhausted from a long drive or hike, only to find that the ground is as impenetrable as concrete. You’ve found the perfect spot, you’ve unrolled your tent, and you’re ready to relax—but your…
How to drive tent stakes into hard rocky ground without breaking the tent peg
You have finally arrived at that perfect, scenic campsite. Whether it’s the rugged, sun-baked terrain of Big Bend in Texas, the granite-strewn mountains of New York’s Adirondacks, the wind-whipped coastal bluffs of California, or the dense, root-tangled…
How do I clean my stakes after pulling them?
You’ve finished an incredible trip—whether you’ve been navigating the rocky ridges of the Adirondacks in New York, setting up camp on the sun-baked, clay-rich soil of West Texas, or surviving the damp, root-filled forest floor of Washington’s Olympic…