what to do with tarp stakes

**Scubahhh** · 03-29-2014, 06:24

Tyvek envelope that Zpacks sent me some trinkets in.
I just cut off one end; toss in the stakes an guy-lines; wrap it up and seal it with a Nite Iza twist-tie.

Doubly light, since its from Zpacks ;-)

WV · 03-29-2014, 09:45

So many good suggestions! I have two more.

1) I made a stake bag sewn into one corner of a sil tarp using a piece of pack cloth. The bottom is folded over about 2" to cover the pointed ends of the stakes, but one side of the bag is the sil tarp material itself. There's a top flap with a snap closure. The bag is placed so there is stitching along both edges of the tarp corner, so it reinforces the tie-out webbing (no need for another reinforcing piece). The best thing about this is the convenience of having the stakes right at hand during set-up and take-down. I did this 4 or 5 years ago, and it has stood the test of time.

2) When using other tarps without stake pockets I wrap the stakes in a 12"x12" piece of absorbent cloth (Camp Towel, chamoix cloth, Zorb fabric) and put a rubber band or small bungee loop around tham. Surprisingly, this gives plenty of protection against pointy ends sticking out, and the camp towel gets used wiping water off the tarp when I break camp. This has usually riden in a mesh pocket of my pack.

Right now I'm working on a few small modifications to one of Gargoyle's Ogee tarps, combining these two methods. (Trust me to take a superior design and try to improve it a bit.)

David

**MAD777** · 03-29-2014, 10:49

I've seen this thread title running for a while and figured that the question would be answered quickly, and the thread would die. But it lives on, so I finally read it. Now I realize that my answer to the question of "what to do with tarp stakes" is a bit more complex than my answer of, "Stick them in the ground and tie your tarp to them."
But after reading the thread, post #8 has my vote for the best solution!

WV · 03-29-2014, 11:11

I confess. I have used solution #8, as well. However, I don't need to wait until the dog is looking the other way to slip the stakes into his/her pack.

**gps4** · 03-29-2014, 11:32

Originally Posted by MAD777

I've seen this thread title running for a while and figured that the question would be answered quickly, and the thread would die. But it lives on, so I finally read it. Now I realize that my answer to the question of "what to do with tarp stakes" is a bit more complex than my answer of, "Stick them in the ground and tie your tarp to them."
But after reading the thread, post #8 has my vote for the best solution!

The thread topic is not so much a question as it is a statement followed by an explanation of how I stow my stakes without damaging my gear. I suppose this is one of those instances where punctuation means everything.

WV · 03-29-2014, 11:45

Originally Posted by gps4

I suppose this is one of those instances where punctuation means everything.

You're preaching to an empty choir loft here.

**walterharold** · 03-29-2014, 20:47

I was worried about the stakes poking a hole in my gear too. I've been clipping them onto the back of my pack with a carabiner and then securing the loose ends with some shock cord to keep them from clanging around. The shock cord was originally intended to secure a water bottle to the front of one of ULA's pack straps.

**cougarmeat** · 03-30-2014, 13:22

The DIY ideas are great (and light) but for quick solution, if you have an REI nearby, they have peg bags for about $4.50, various colors with a little Velcro on the flap. Often I've found pegs/stakes that start out clean, end up a bit dirt/mud incrusted during the outing. So the bag not only keeps sharp edges away, it also corrals the dirt. I put the stakes in the bag with the points up. It looked like they were more likely to poke through the bag the other way.