My worst stake(s) experience.

**Armor Like Fire** · 07-13-2013, 19:01

Hey guys I'm not crystal clear on How to post the pics in threads but I think I didn't this time. Anyways here's a pic of my stakes never buying Walmart stakes again. I live in Missouri hard ground but these stakes are horrible here.

**Beast 71** · 07-13-2013, 19:03

Thanks for the heads up! That stake at any price appears to be too much.

**HURTHEART** · 07-13-2013, 19:17

I am having a major giggle. I lived in Joplin and visited Branson a lot, way back when. We camped out, I do not think I have ever seen so many bent pegs in one place, even with my son using them.

I do hope you return them to Walmart. Some place on this Forum someone suggests using Chop Sticks for tent/tarp stakes. They are free, and might work better than the Walmart stakes.

Thank your for posting the images and the warning. I also appreciate the giggle.

**ClintGA** · 07-13-2013, 19:30

I had the exact same problem with those exact same stakes the other day. I just ordered some ground hogs to replace them with.

**DuctTape** · 07-13-2013, 19:55

Have you tried going stakeless? It is a similar learning curve to hammocks, but when you get there you don't miss them. I tie off to saplings mostly, rocks, logs, roots, etc...

**HURTHEART** · 07-13-2013, 20:23

I use found things mostly. I am kind of a rock hound anyway, finding the right rock for the job is kind of fun. I use whatever I can find, once you start thinking in that direction you see all kinds of opportunities to use found things. Just put them back where you found them, be careful where you put your fingers!

**XTrekker** · 07-13-2013, 21:03

Honestly, some of the best holding stakes I have ever used were just deadfall with a whittled point and hammered into the ground using another piece of deadfall.

**fallkniven** · 07-13-2013, 23:07

I've bent even MSR's on frozen ground. Haven't had any trouble with those titanium nails though...
http://www.amazon.com/Ti-Nail-Peg-Co...itanium+stakes

**Jimmy Shelter** · 07-13-2013, 23:29

I use the same Walmart stakes and have not had any problems. I also have camped in Missouri quite a few times and almost have always returned home with a pile of bent and broken stakes,regardless of what type ,brand,or material used. Looking at the OP pictures it looks like they were driven in rock heavy ground. No stake will go through rock

**XTrekker** · 07-14-2013, 00:29

Might be right about that, but Destikahr bought a set of those very same stakes and already bent a few of them in my yard which feels like a sponge when you walk on it. I think they are just cheap metal and you have to be extra gentle with them is all.