There have been a couple threads here lately about tents. I watched a video on a Cabelas tent that said to put in the stakes at a 45 degree angle. I've read on a number of sites that putting them straight down is stronger. So, we have conflicting opinions. I found this video showing some comparisons. I guess I'll have to give this a try with a couple types of stakes that I use.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Interesting test...although those really small stakes are worthless in general.
I’ve used those titanium nail stakes to anchor an 8 man tipi, that has held up to measured 65 MPH winds. I’ve also used 30” Kifaru SST stakes that would barely hold a 4 man tipi in tundra type ground. All depends on the ground type.
Long Stakes approx. 45 to 60 deg angle for me. I have watched people put short stakes in at 90 deg and watched as their tents were blown down in mild winds.
I would never tell someone else how to stake their tent down unless they asked me.
I watched another video with a test of long heavy steel stakes, like you'd use for a circus tent. They drove them in and used a winch on a wrecker to try to pull them out. They had a scale in the cable. The vertical stakes were 3 or 4 times stronger than the slanted ones. That result was the opposite of the video I posted.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
I made mine from 5/8 rebar and they're 20" long for my wall tent. They don't seem to care what angle they're at. These flimsy things you can buy won't hold much no matter how you drive them in.
I've gone through two tornadoes and A horizontal can't see 30 feet blizzard in tents and the best angle is the one that stake will not pull out from. A green branch or willow sapling that tapers from1/2-3/8 diameter at the base to maybe 1/4 and shoved into soft ground maybe a foot will hold in almost anything because it will flex instead of work itself loose.
All of that to come up with something that every old tent camper guy learned a long time ago - and nothing about the more important aspect - tent stake FRICTION with the ground, whatever type. Chose the tent stakes with care.
My camping and camp crafts book which I received in 1959 says:
short, heavy pegs are hammered into the ground in a vertical position
in hard ground, long, heavy, pegs are set a a 60 degree angle to ground, pointing TOWARD tent (That one always seemed weird to me.)
in soft ground, long. heavy pegs are hammered in at a 90 degree angle to pull of line. with notch at ground level
If you are concerned about the strength of light-weight pegs, it suggests driving two in at 90 degree angles a small space apart, winding the line around the one nearest the tent, leaving enough tag to tie to the second peg.
It would appear that, like so many things, there are numerous ways to deal with pegs, and, like everything else, all of them except the one that you use are wrong.
Not a real member - just an ordinary guy who appreciates being able to hang around and say something once in awhile.
Happily Trapped In the Past (Thanks, Joe)
Not only a less than minimally educated person, but stupid and out of touch as well.
