We tested some of the best tent stakes available today according to price, weight, holding power, and durability. Read on to see how they performed, which is best for you, and get some valuable buying advice.
Table of Contents
Best Tent Stakes
The best tent stakes are:
- Best Overall Tent Stake: TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped Peg
- Best Ultralight Tent Stake: ZPACKS Ultralight Titanium Tent Stake
- Best Budget Tent Stake: KELTY Nobendium II Stake
- Most Versatile Tent Stake: MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS Easton Nano Stake
- Most Durable Tent Stake for Backpacking: VARGO Titanium Nail Peg
- Tent Stake with the Best Holding Power: ORANGE SCREW Ultimate Ground Anchor
- Best Tent Stake for Car Camping: SNOW PEAK Steel Stakes
- Best Tent Stake for Snow and Sand: REI Co-Op Snow Stake
The product comparison table below is sortable. Click the arrow in the heading cell to sort the models by preferred spec.
| MODEL | PRICE | WEIGHT | MATERIAL | TYPE | LENGTH | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped Peg | $3.50 | 0.4 oz | Titanium | Perforated V | 6.5 in | 9/10 |
| 2. MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS Easton Nano Stakes | $3.75 | 0.4 oz | Aluminium | Peg | 8 in | 8/10 |
| 3. ZPACKS Ultralight Titanium Tent Stake | $2.25 | 0.19 oz | Titanium | Shepherd's Hook | 6 in | 8/10 |
| 4. VARGO Titanium Nail Peg | $4.50 | 0.6 oz | Titanium | Peg | 6 in | 8/10 |
| 5. KELTY Nobendium II Stake | $1.99 | 0.5 oz | Aluminium | Shepherd's Hook | 7 in | 8/10 |
| 6. SNOW PEAK Steel Stakes | $5.95 | 3 oz | Steel | Peg | 8 in | 8/10 |
| 7. MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes | $4.95 | 0.5 oz | Aluminium | Y | 7.5 in | 8/10 |
| 8. SEA TO SUMMIT Ground Control Tent Peg | $3.74 | 0.5 oz | Aluminium | Y | 7 in | 8/10 |
| 9. NEMO Airpin Ultralight Tent Stakes | $4.98 | 0.4 oz | Aluminum | Peg | 6 in | 8/10 |
| 10. ORANGE SCREW Ultimate Ground Anchor | $7.55 | 1.8 oz | Recycled Polycarbonate | Screw | 9.5 in | 7/10 |
| 11. REI Co-Op Snow Stake | $6 | 1 oz | Aluminum | Peg | 9.6 in | 7/10 |
Best Overall Tent Stake
Toaks Titanium V-Shaped Peg
Price: $3.50
✅ Best overall
✅ Lightweight
✅ Strong holding power
❌ Can bend
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.4 oz
- Material: Titanium
- Type: Perforated V
- Length: 6.5 in
- Best uses: Medium to firm soil
The Toaks Titanium V-Shaped Peg is our pick for the best overall tent stake. We love that the V-shaped design provides extra holding power. We found that its shorter 6.5-inch length held exceptionally well in most soil conditions.
These are some of the lightest tent stakes we tested at just 0.4 ounces each. And they run about a dollar less than similar options. We found the titanium to be strong, and it can take a decent beating. The V shape will bend, though, so don’t treat them as if they’re indestructible.
Most Versatile Tent Stake
Mountain Laurel Designs Easton Nano Stake
Price:$3.75
✅ Lightweight
✅ Versatile
✅ Durable
❌ Don’t excel in any particular area
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.4 oz
- Material: Aluminium
- Type: Peg
- Length: 8 in
- Best uses: Dry, soft, or moist ground
The Mountain Laurel Designs Nano Stakes are lightweight aluminum tent stakes that are 8 inches long. This gives them decent holding power despite the smooth peg-style design. We found them to be durable. They are strong enough to be hammered into the ground, great for hard-packed dirt.
We like these tent stakes as a versatile option. They score average or above in all our categories and work well in almost any condition. While we didn’t find any major flaws, they didn’t blow us away in any particular area. But this makes them a great all-around option.
Best Ultralight Tent Stake
Zpacks Ultralight Titanium Tent Stake
Price: $2.25
✅ Best ultralight
✅ Affordable
✅ Packable
❌ Not durable
❌ Less holding power
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.19 oz
- Material: Titanium
- Type: Shepherd's Hook
- Length: 6 in
- Best uses: Medium firm soil
The ZPacks Ultralight Titanium Tent Stakes are a shepherd's hook shape commonly found in ultralight backpacking kits. And for good reason. These are the lightest stakes on our list and, remarkably, the second most affordable. There is a price to pay for the low weight.
We found them to be fragile. Don’t even think about using a rock to hammer them into the ground; they will bend easily. The 6-inch length is the minimum length we’d recommend for a tent stake, and we found the holding power to be less than average. However, if you’re smart in how you pitch your shelter, you should be fine in most conditions.
Most Durable Tent Stake for Backpacking
Vargo Titanium Nail Peg
Price: $4.50
✅ Extremely durable
✅ Packable
❌ Less holding power
❌ More expensive than average
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.6 oz
- Material: Titanium
- Type: Peg
- Length: 6 in
- Best uses: Hard-packed dirt or rocky soil
Vargo’s Titanium Nail Pegs are 6-inch long tent spikes that can be pounded into the hardest soil. The flat head won’t complain, and the straight titanium shaft won’t bend. These are some of the strongest and most durable tent stakes we tested. You can pound these stakes in almost anywhere.
We didn’t try, but we’ve heard reports that they have been successfully hammered into ice. Because of the short 6-inch length in looser soils, you’ll need to put a rock on top of them, or they can be pulled out of the ground. Also, check out Vargo's original titanium Shepherd's Hook stake for an even lighter option.
Best Budget Tent Stake
Kelty Nobendium II Stake
Price: $1.99
✅ Best budget buy
❌ Hook shape can bend
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.5 oz
- Material: Aluminium
- Type: Shepherd's Hook
- Length: 7 in
- Best uses: Medium soft ground
The Kelty Nobendium are shepherds' hook tent stakes with a hexagonal shape to increase strength. But just because they’re designed to be stronger doesn’t mean you can hammer them into hard-packed dirt and expect not to bend them. Like any shepherd’s hook stake, we found the hook will fold if you pound on it too hard.
They run in the middle of the pack for weight and holding power. Our favorite thing about these tent stakes is the price. At $2 each, they are the most affordable on our list and our pick for the best budget tent stake.
Best Tent Stake for Car Camping
Snow Peak Steel Stakes
Price: $5.95
✅ Ultra-durable
✅ Strong holding power
❌ Heavy
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 3 oz
- Material: Steel
- Type: Peg
- Length: 8 in
- Best uses: Hard, rocky ground
The Snow Peak Steel Stakes are heavy-duty tent stakes. They are the most durable tent stakes on our list. At 8 inches long, they provide a ton of holding power. Being made of steel, these stakes could be the last tent stakes you’ll ever need to buy.
We recommend bringing a mallet to get these tent spikes into the ground. We liked the eyelet and hook at the top, making attaching guy lines and removing them from the ground easy. The biggest downside for us is the weight. These are the heaviest tent stakes we tested at 3 ounces each. Not ideal for backpacking, but if you’re car camping, we think these are a great choice.
Tent Stake with the Best Holding Power
Orange Screw Ultimate Ground Anchor
Price: $7.55
✅ Best holding power
✅ Durable
❌ Heavy
❌ Bulky
❌ Expensive
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 1.8 oz
- Material: Recycled Polycarbonate
- Type: Screw
- Length: 9.5 in
- Best uses: Softer to firm soils, even sand
The Orange Screw Ultimate Ground Anchor is a tent stake that looks like a giant plastic screw. It’s designed to be twisted into the ground by placing the carrying tube through the top eyelet to twist this tent anchor in.
We love the holding power of these stakes, the best we tested. At 9.5 inches long, we found they work in most types of ground. At 1.7 ounces, they are the second heaviest tent stake we tested and are the most expensive on our list. The screw shape makes them bulky in your pack too. We like them best for car camping and if you need a stake that can hold a large tarp in windy areas or keep a large dog leash in place.
Best Tent Stake for Snow and Sand
REI Co-Op Snow Stake
Price: $6
✅ Good for snow and sand
❌ Expensive
❌ Heavy
❌ Not versatile
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 1 oz
- Material: Aluminum
- Type: Peg
- Length: 9.6 in
- Best uses: Snow, sand, and soft ground
The REI Co-op Snow Stake is similar to the MSR Blizzard but slightly lighter and less expensive. We like the wide profile that holds onto snow or sand, and we found the holes in the stake further improve holding power. The holes can also be used as tie-off points, and the stake can be buried in powdery snow. They are heavier than standard tent stakes and cost $6, the second most on our list.
The biggest downside for us is that these stakes are only designed for sand, snow, and the softest of soils, so they aren’t very versatile. But they’re good at what they’re designed for and our top pick if you need a snow stake.
The Other Noteworthy Models
MSR Groundhog
Price: $4.95
✅ Strong holding power
✅ Durable
❌ More expensive than average
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.5 oz
- Material: Aluminium
- Type: Y
- Length: 7.5 in
- Best uses: Loose, soft soil
The MSR Groundhog Y Stakes are some of our favorites for holding up well in a wide range of conditions. This is thanks to the Y shape and the 7.5-inch length. They impressed us in windy conditions when we pitched our tent on loose soil. These are durable too. We like how strong they feel in our hands and when pounding them into the ground. At $5 each, they run a little more expensive than the average tent anchor we tested, and the longer length makes them a little less packable too.
Other noteworthy tent stakes by MSR:
- MSR Groundhog Mini: a shorter and lighter version of the groundhog, with less holding power but adequate for most applications.
- MSR Blizzard: a 9.5-inch aluminum snow stake also good for sand or other loosely packed ground (doubles as trowel).
- MSR Cyclone: an aluminum screw and Y stake hybrid for sow and loose soil.
- MSR Carbon Core: a 6-inch peg that shaves .1 oz from a comparably shaped fully aluminum peg stake. A bit fragile, though.
Sea To Summit Ground Control Tent Peg
Price: $3.74
✅ Good holding power
✅ Versatile
❌ Not as good value as similar models
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.5 oz
- Material: Aluminium
- Type: Y
- Length: 7 in
- Best uses: Loose, soft soil
The Sea to Summit Ground Control tent peg looks a lot like the MSR groundhog with one added feature. They have multi-height guy points to minimize leverage on the stake. This helps in situations where you cannot press it fully into the ground. We found this, along with the long Y stake design, makes them extremely versatile and will excel in most ground conditions.
We liked the rubberized coating on the pull loop to make removing them softer on your finger. These are good all-around stakes, although we’d probably choose the slightly cheaper and higher-performing Toaks Titanium V-Shaped Peg over this.
Nemo Airpin Stake
Price: $4.98
✅ Lightweight
✅ Packable
❌ Less holding power
❌ More expensive than average
KEY SPECS
- Weight: 0.4 oz
- Material: Aluminum
- Type: Peg
- Length: 6 in
- Best uses: Hard-packed soil
We like the Nemo Airpin’s unique 3-point locking system at the head of the tent stake. We found it eliminates the need for guyline tensioners or knots. At just 0.4 ounces each, these are some of the lightest tent stakes we tested.
They are a great option for tie-outs in places that don’t have built-in tensioners and where you don’t want to tie a knot every time. For us, their straight profile won’t hold the ground well in softer conditions. You’ll need to hold them in with a rock in that case. At $5 each, they run slightly more costly than average. These are unique in what they offer but only useful for very specific shelter setups.
Key Factors To Consider When Choosing
Price
Material and how much tent stake use will play a big part in the price. Specialty-designed stakes for sand snow that provide superior holding power will also cost more. We recommend nothing over $5 per stake unless you’re buying a specialty stake.
Tent stakes that provide the greatest value:
- TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped Peg
- ZPACKS Ultralight Titanium Tent Stake
- MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS Easton Nano Stakes
- KELTY Nobendium II Stake
Most Affordable tent stakes:
Premium tent stakes (most expensive):
Weight
Titanium and aluminum tent stakes are the lightest materials, and we recommend them for backpacking purposes. Steer clear of steel. Longer stakes will add weight. Depending on your tent set up and the weather conditions, you’ll need 4 to 12 stakes so that weight can add up fast. General-purpose tent stakes should weigh about 0.5 ounces or less each. Specialized stakes for snow and sand will weigh more.
The Lightest tent stakes:
- ZPACKS Ultralight Titanium Tent Stake
- MOUNTAIN LAUREL DESIGNS Easton Nano Stakes
- TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped Peg
- NEMO Airpin Ultralight Tent Stakes
Holding Power
Holding power is how much tension a tent stake can take before it is pulled out of the ground. Holding power is very important, perhaps the most important consideration if using a non-freestanding tent (i.e., a tent that uses tension to hold its shape). Longer stakes have more holding power, and stakes with a V, Y, or screw shape are designed to provide additional grip on the ground. We recommend at least 6 inches in length.
Tent stakes with the best holding power:
- ORANGE SCREW Ultimate Ground Anchor
- MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes
- SEA TO SUMMIT Ground Control Tent Peg
- TOAKS Titanium V-Shaped Peg
Durability
You want your tent stakes to last many trips. The most durable tent pegs are made of strong materials, like titanium and steel, are thick, and have a straight shape that is harder to bend. Hook-shaped tent anchors are prone to bending, especially if you need to hammer them into the ground. Thin-ultralight stakes also can bend easily on hard ground.
The most durable tent stakes:
Other Things to Consider
Type of Tent Stake (Best Uses)
Tent stakes are easy to identify since they are usually named after what they look like. Below are 6 common types of tent stakes.
Different types of tent stakes.
A. Y STAKES
Y stakes are shaped like a Y when viewed from above. These three-sided stakes provide some of the best all-around holding power among the tent stake varieties. Their three-sided designs also make them very strong. They can handle being pounded into hard-packed dirt with a rock.
B. V STAKES
V stakes look like a V when viewed from above. V stakes have a similar holding power to Y stakes but tend to be slightly weaker since they lack that third side of a Y stake. They are lighter than Y stakes and often have perforations to reduce further weight and increase holding power.
C. SHEPHERD'S HOOK
Shepherd’s hook tent pegs are shaped like a shepherd’s crook. The hook is very convenient for holding a guyline and pulling it out of the ground. These stakes are common in many ultralight backpacking kits. However, their holding power in loose soil is minimal, and they are prone to bending on harder grounds, especially if you try to pound them with a rock.
Titanium shepherd's hook tent stake (Vargo)
D. PERFORATED STAKES (SNOW/SAND)
Perforated stakes are larger to provide excellent holding power in snow, sand, or other soft ground. They have holes that fill with snow and allow the stakes to freeze in place once driven into the ground. The holes also help to keep weight down.
E. PEGS
These stakes are simple and often quite light. They look like nails and usually have a head to drive into the ground using a rock or mallet. For this reason, these stakes are very good for hard ground. They are some of the most durable, especially if made from steel or titanium. Note that some types of peg stakes have a carbon core and should not be hammered. You’ll have to push these in with your foot.
F. SCREWS
Screws are designed to twist as they are driven into the ground. These are heavy-duty tent stakes that are designed for use in sand, snow, or loosely packed soil. There are even some screw stakes that are designed to screw into ice.
Plastic screw tent stake (Orange Screw Ultimate Ground Anchor).
Material
The material your tent anchor is made from will affect many factors, including price, weight, and durability. The most common materials are listed below.
TITANIUM
Titanium tent stakes are high-performance stakes that are lightweight, strong, and durable. The exceptions are very thin tent stakes, like the ZPacks Ultralight Tent Stake, which can bend. Titanium is the most expensive material used for tent stakes.
ALUMINUM
Aluminum tent stakes are affordable and lightweight. They can bend more easily than titanium tent anchors if they are hammered in too hard. Look for Y-style aluminum stakes to add strength.
STEEL
Most heavy-duty tent stakes are made from steel. Steel is strong and is very hard to bend. It is also very affordable. The downside is they are heavy. We don’t recommend taking these into the backcountry.
PLASTIC
Plastic stakes are lightweight and cheap. They can crack and break if you hammer them into hard soil. We recommend using a plastic mallet instead of a metal hammer. Plastic screw stakes like the Orange Screw Ground Anchor have great holding power and are designed to work in the toughest conditions.
Ultralight aluminum tent peg (Easton Nano Stake)
Length
The length of a tent stake will affect its holding power. Too short, and it’ll pull out in loose soil or under tension. We recommend tent stakes be at least 6 inches long. Over 8 inches, and you should have enough holding power in harsh conditions.
Thickness
Thicker stakes are hard to bend, making them more durable. Solid nail-style tent spikes are hard to bend, especially if they are over 5 mm in thickness.
Packability
Tent stakes are fairly compact by design and should fit easily into your backpack. Long stakes, stakes with a hooked head, or screw-style stakes will take up the most space. Straight, short stakes are the easiest to pack.
Ease of Use
The easiest-to-use tent stakes can be pounded into any type of soil without bending or much thought required to where you are pitching your tent. Simply hammer in with a hammer or rock, and you’re done. Ultralight tent stakes require care when using them to avoid bending. Often you cannot use a hammer with these stakes. This means you have to hunt for a spot with loose enough soil to push the stakes in. But not so loose that the stakes pull out under tension.
Screw-style stakes have ultimate hold power but can take time and elbow grease to screw into the ground. Other specialty stakes, like snow or sand stakes, will require more fussing to get just right.
© Kelly Hodgkins
Versatility
When we think about tent stake versatility, two major things come to mind. The first is what types of soil. The most versatile tent pegs work in many soil types, like loose, hard, wet, dry, and sandy soils. Some stakes are designed for specific soil types or snow. Great for these conditions but not so much in other conditions. We recommend getting tent stakes that can be used in 90% of your camping conditions. Then you can buy (or borrow) additional specialty stakes for trips in other conditions.
Tent stakes can also be used for other uses - pitching a fly, tying your dog’s leash, or holding down a picnic blanket on a windy day. While not primary considerations, thinking of other uses you might need a stake for when making a purchasing decision is worthwhile.
Some photos in this post were taken by Jonathan Davis (@meowhikes)
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