Top-Rated Buyer’s Guide: Best Tent Stakes for Hard & Rocky Ground

Rilor Staff
Update: August 11, 2020
Table of Contents

There are times where we will inevitably have to face rocky and seemingly impregnable camping grounds. In these situations, it would really be beneficial if we brought the best hard ground tent stakes. 

Well, they are incredibly useful in these applications. They do the job; they don't break, and they ensure that they can pierce through the surface. Other stakes might break or bend when dealing with callous substrates. Trust me. I've been through that experience a couple of times. 

Right now, you need stakes that are equally tough and hard-hitting. The following can do these things.

Review Of The Best Hard Ground Tent Stakes 

1. MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes - Editor's Choice

You'll never get wrong with the MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes. These are the stakes that can deal on any surfaces, regardless of how soft or hard they are. 

This particular kit includes six stakes. Each of them is incredibly lightweight, rugged, and versatile. They can work on various applications, including camping and backpacking. Once they are pound to the ground, they can make your tent immovable. 

The Y-beam design is proof that these stakes are not prone to moving or wobbling. It also provides extra penetration power so that you can use it on hard-to-pierce grounds. The holding power of these stakes is impressive, too. 

The notch of these stakes allows superior means of securing your guy lines. Meanwhile, the reflective pull loop on its top enables you to remove them smoothly. 

Pros:

  • Y-design enhances its holding power
  • Extra durable and rugged construction
  • Guaranteed to penetrate hard surfaces
  • Made from the lightweight 7000 series aluminum
  • Can be removed quickly

Cons:

  • The tip may get blunt after consecutive use on hard grounds

2. DAC V-Best Tent Stakes - Runner-Up

With the DAC V-Best Tent Stakes, you will never have any problems with rugged and sturdy surfaces. They are durable and sharp enough to perforate any ground. 

Each of the stakes is made from the high-strength aluminum alloy, which is known as the TH72M. It is known to be one of the strongest and hardest alloys today. In fact, it is sturdier than the aerospace-grade 7076-T6, which is downright impressive already. Expect that these stakes can perform the way you want them to be. 

Interestingly, these stakes are not heavy. The largest DAC stake only weighs 0.70 ounces. Furthermore, they are compact and easy to pack. Since they have a V-shape construction, they are not susceptible to movement. They can be nested together, too. 

The holding power of these stakes is guaranteed, thanks to their large surface area. They can hold your tent steadily regardless of the condition. 

Pros:

  • Pierces the ground effectively
  • V-shape body renders the stake immovable
  • Excellent holding power due to their large body
  • Lightweight; easy to pack
  • Head is resistant to bending or breaking 

Cons:

  • Paint strips off quickly

3. Coghlan's 9309 ABS 9" Tent Pegs - Budget-Friendly Pick

The Coghlan's 9309 ABS Tent Pegs are also great for dealing with tough surfaces. They are packed with sufficient piercing power that can go through to hard-to-dig substrates with minimal difficulty. 

These stakes also have excellent power. Once they are buried in the ground, they become steadfast anchors. They are void from any movement, which can make the tent unstable. The strong winds won't blow them over. 

Each of the stakes is around 9 inches long. It is an assurance that they will not make a shallow hold. Moreover, the stakes are painted with bright colors. It is easy to see them in low-light conditions. 

It is notable that the hook section of the stakes is large. They enable impervious support to the guylines so that the latter can have a robust hold to the tent. 

Pros:

  • Virtually unbreakable
  • Highly visible appearance
  • Features large and non-slip hooks
  • Long enough to ensure a stable hold
  • Holding power is pretty impressive

Cons:

  • A little too big for some tents

4. BareFour 12-Inch Tent Stakes - Premium Pick

I am pretty sure that the BareFour Tent Stakes are designed to pierce anything. Their nail-like structure is quite efficient in digging through soils, regardless of how seemingly impenetrable they are. 

The stakes are about 12-inch (1 foot) long and have a circumference of approximately 0.4 inches. They are an excellent solution for dealing with rocky and firm campgrounds.

Keep in mind that these stakes are made from the premium S45C steel, which has been forged to reach its maximum strength and durability. Because of this material, you can guarantee that the stakes will not snap or bend. They can withstand constant use and abuse, which is pretty nifty in any situation. 

Meanwhile, the hooks of the stakes will ensure that they won't go too deep. Even if you hammer the stakes, they will keep their head on the surface, allowing you to remove them anytime you want. 

Pros:

  • Stakes are extra long for a firmer hold
  • Made from highly sturdy steel
  • Not prone to bending or snapping
  • Allows quick removal from the ground
  • Can punch through the most rugged surfaces

Cons:

  • Requires careful handling as the tips are sharp

5. TRIWONDER Forged Steel Tent Stakes

Same as BareFour, the TRIWONDER Tent Stakes are made from forged steel, making them extra durable and rugged. Their heavy-duty construction enabled them to become hard to break and deform. Even if you hammer them to sturdy grounds, they will not bend. They ensure impressive holding power that you can rely on in any condition. 

The length of these stakes is roughly 11 inches. You can pound it properly so that it can have a superior grip on the group. Notably, the stakes don't move once they are under the ground. They just sink tightly, and without you moving them, they will remain there. 

These tent stakes have sharp tips. You should be careful in handling them, as they can wound you if you become careless. But at the same time, the sharp end enables the stakes to punch through asphalt, which is the hardest ground that you can encounter. 

The head of the stakes is large so that you can hammer them conveniently. The hooks prevent them from sinking like a nail and guarantee that you can remove them whenever necessary. 

Pros:

  • Highly rugged steel construction
  • Can penetrate through asphalt
  • Doesn't bend or break
  • Impervious to shaking or rotating  
  • Enables quick removal

Cons:

  • Tips are too sharp

A Guide In Choosing The Best Hard Ground Tent Stakes

It is not easy to settle in a campground where the soil is dense. Trust me; it will never be easy to pierce it. If you have ordinary tent stakes, they won't break even an inch of the surface. 

Needless to say, wooden stakes are not suitable choices, too. 

If you have examined the area where you are planning to settle in your next camping or backpacking trip, you are probably aware of the kind of substrate you are dealing with. You are quite lucky if the soil is not that solid. Any stake can do the trick. 

But if it is rocky and rugged, then you will need a set of heavy-duty stakes to set your tent.

So what's the ideal tent stakes for these seemingly impenetrable areas? The following factors should be taken into account. 

Material 

The material of the tent stake is crucial for its performance. You will never want something that is feeble. Otherwise, they will bend or break once you hammer in them on rough surfaces.

Aluminum is a decent choice already. But keep in mind that ordinary aluminum is not that reliable, especially for rugged applications. It is still susceptible to bending. Aluminum alloy is known to be more robust than aluminum, and the former should be an excellent material of choice for stakes.

Of course, titanium is your next bet here. It is ultra-durable and sturdy and can withstand heavy punishment. However, it is known to be costly, too. 

Meanwhile, steel stakes are quite a catch these days. They may not be as light as aluminum or titanium, but their sturdiness is almost peerless. Even if you hammer them strongly, they won't bend or break. 

Design 

There are numerous designs when it comes to tent stakes. Of course, each of them has their respective function. 

For hard grounds, you need something that you can pierce through down to the earth. Ideally, the tip of the stake should be sharp or at least pointed enough so that you can pound it. 

If the tip is rounded or blunt, penetrating a tough surface would be difficult. Even if the stake is built from a sturdy material, it will never pass through hard grounds. You need stakes that have "piercing" capability if you want to make a hole on dense soils.

If you can't find a needle-like peg, you can go for those V-shaped or Y-shaped stakes. Although they are not that sharp, they still have pointed tips that enable them to dig efficiently. 

Length

The length of the stakes does matter. Honestly, if you pick stakes that are too short, don't expect that they will become stable once you put them down. 

But how long is long? 

Well, the ideal ones are those that reach up to 12 inches in length. You can guarantee that they can showcase extreme holding power while they are being buried. However, the length of 6 inches is already decent enough for stakes. You just have to make sure that you can bury the body to the ground. 

Keep in mind that a good tent stake should have hooks on their head. The function of these hooks is simple: they stop the stakes from being punched entirely to the soil. If that happens, removing the pegs would be a difficult process.

Tips In Pounding Stakes In Hard Ground

Brute force is not always the solution when it comes to pounding stakes in rough and rugged surfaces. You need to be clever and intuitive about it. 

If you think that the earth is too hard for your stake, try to emulate the following procedures:

  1. Locate the area where you are planning to pound the stake.
  2. Next, pour water on it and wait for a few minutes so that the water can settle in.
  3. If the ground is already penetrable, hammer the stakes already. 
  4. Repeat this procedure until such time all stakes are in place.

Quite simple, right?

Conclusion

Now that you discovered the best hard ground tent stakes, I am confident that you can surmount even the toughest terrains. Always remember that the combination of proper tools, skills, and techniques can help you overcome any difficulties in your outdoor adventures. 

These stakes are simple, but they can ensure that your tent is stable and free from any movement. Therefore, investing in them is never a regrettable decision. 

That's it for now. If you have questions, feel free to drop them in the comment section. 

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