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OK guys you know how the weather has been so far this year. Wendy as hell at times. Anyways, I think if you just use those little simple stakes that come with most tents then your just asking for trouble. I found some really good tent stakes at Wallmart and Amazon and there roughly the same price either place. I am taking an 18x10 tent and a 4x4 shower tent and plan on using 40 of these little bad boys to hold things on the ground.
40 might be overkill, but heck, at those prices you can share with neighbors relying upon the prepackaged toothpicks. Still, having stuff in your tent won't be enough. I've seen some wicked nasty storms hit festivals (Langerado 08) and people's tents crushed/airborne/etc.
Since you aren't hiking around, weight doesn't matter, get the biggest heaviest stakes around (the ones you have linked look good) and be sure to drive them in angled away from the tension line. If the tension line goes like this \ then your stake goes in like this /. Think physics and directions of force. Never a stake straight up and down.
Tents should be staked at their corners and then the rainfly staked separately. 6-8 stakes usually, depending on design. In a pinch, 4 can do with the fly staked into tent corner stakes. Take out as much play as possible so everything is as tight as reasonable. Seams and cords snap or tear due to whipping from being loosely tied more often than from sheer wind force (think of it like yanking vs. smooth pulling). Guy lines do not need to be way out far from the tent, you can guy pretty close to the tent itself, with good staking.
6-10 for a gazebo/ez-up, depending on design. Tall narrow shower tents likely need 8, as they need guy lines from each of the top 4 corners due to narrow base vs. height and susceptibility to wind.
Still, the kinds of stakes you linked or else similar 10-12" solid stakes (or eyebolts work well too) are perfect. Don't try to go hiking with them, but they have not failed me through some horrendous festival storms.
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
Post by krstlpeach on May 29, 2011 10:05:19 GMT -5
Anyone use galvanized spike nails? My neighbor who camps often swears by them. I picked up some of the 10" ones but have never used them before. Just curious as to how they perform under stress.
Post by sufficientlyvague on May 29, 2011 14:39:10 GMT -5
I've camped all my life and always helped set up tents and awnings etc. I had heard that the ground was hard at Bonnaroo so I packed a hammer. I had no idea how hard it was! It broke my hammer (not the best hammer in the world but still) Trying to get the suckers out to break camp was a b!tch too. I recomend those nine inch nails and heavy duty steaks and a good strong, well made hammer with a claw on the back. Be sure to tuck your hammer away in amoungst your camping hardware and not in an easy place to be found on routine searches. I remenber one year some people had their hammer confiscated upon entry and they were wandering around begging to borrow one from neighbors who were not so unfortunate.
My neighbors the first year I went were not big camping people. They were surprised when you couldn't just push the toothpicks that came with their tent into the ground with their hand. Thankfully for them, I had a big impact hammer for them.
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
2007 was the only year we ever needed a sledgehammer, dustaroo. But we don't even buy stakes. We just have large nails (10-12") with washers on them. Cheap!
2007 was the only year we ever needed a sledgehammer, dustaroo. But we don't even buy stakes. We just have large nails (10-12") with washers on them. Cheap!
Washers over the nails is a GREAT idea. I am off to find some washers that fit our big nail stakes! Thanks!
But I've heard voices not in the head Out in the air they called ahead Through ripped out speakers Through thick and thin They found a shelter Under my skin -Evgeny Aleksandrovitch Nikolaev
