Which MSR Tent Stake is Right for You?
A significant amount of your tent’s overall stability comes from the stakes that anchor it to the ground. That’s why choosing a stake that will hold strong in the type of environment you’ll be camping in is essential. We’ve engineered a full line of tent stakes to meet just about any need—from the lightest, full-strength tent stake available to specialty stakes for sand and snow.
Here’s a quick guide to our tent stakes:
Cyclone Tent Stake
The Cyclone’s spiral design screws the stake into the ground as it is driven in. The deeper it is set the more holding power it develops. This 7050 anodized aluminum stake is best for anchoring in firm sand and soft soil. The 10-inch design is also capable of securing large shelters and tarps in in windy environments.
Groundhog Tent Stake
Originally introduced in 1989, our most popular stake was updated in 2013 and continues to be the gold standard for all around performance. The Groundhog tent stake utilizes an extruded T-beam design that is super-strong and holds well in most ground conditions. 7075 anodized aluminum makes this stake one of our strongest and most corrosion-resistant. At 7.5 inches, it is long enough to secure most large tents, but at 13 grams it’s barely noticeable in your pack. The Groundhog is best for situations where the soil is firm or rocky, requiring you to drive this rugged stake in with something other than your hand.
Mini Groundhog Tent Stake
A smaller version of our durable Groundhog stake, the Mini Groundhog strikes a good balance between weight and durability and our lightest stake designed for firm ground.
CarbonCore Tent Stake
This stake has no equal when it comes to weight and strength. Its carbon core shaft is stiff and lightweight, wrapped by an aluminum sheath for durability, while the convex polycarbonate head and tapered end makes driving them easy–even with your hand. At less than 6 grams per stake, the CarbonCore stake is for those times when saving weight is paramount. This stake works best in medium-compact soil, and for securing lightweight 1-2 person tents.
Core Tent Stakes
Constructed entirely of 7075 aluminum, the simple and rugged Core Stake was engineered for use in hard ground. Like its ultralight carbon sibling above, this stake offers high strength and holding power, but brings the added durability of all-aluminum construction to withstand being driven into defiant terrain.
Blizzard Tent Stake
In our line since 1999, the Blizzard tent stake offers a great ratio of weight to holding power. Its 9.5-inch length and broad surface are perfect for snow and soft sand. It can be used as a traditional stake or girth-hitched and used as a deadman (buried sideways) in snow or sand when nothing else will do. The drilled pattern not only saves weight, they also allow you to tie them off securely when placed as a deadmen or when they simply can’t be fully driven. When you are in severe conditions and you can’t risk a stake failure, this is the stake to use.
Related Posts:
- The Ultimate Guide to MSR Tents
- Tent Care Tips: How to Make Your Tent Last Longer
- Tent Fabrics Part 2: Waterproof Ratings
Updated. Originally Published November 6, 2017.
