Backpacking Tent Stakes: The Ins and Outs
Dial in your kit, and lighten it up, with the right stakes
Table of contents
Tent stakes can make or break your camping experience (quite literally). When the weather turns and the wind starts howling, you’ll want to trust that the stakes anchoring your shelter are up to the task. And while it’s easy to default to whatever comes with your tent and call it good, if you’re looking to truly dial in your kit, it’s worth asking whether those included stakes actually make the most sense. Below, we break down the ins and outs of the most common backpacking tent stake styles, explaining how they work and where they shine, so you can choose the right option for your setup.
The Impact of a Tent Stake
Despite its small size and relatively minuscule weight, a tent stake plays a critical role in keeping your shelter anchored and properly tensioned. It secures the corners, holds down the fly, and keeps your guylines and vestibules tight and functional. On calm days, stakes help you get the most out of your living space. A well-staked tent keeps the floor squared off and the vestibules taut, preventing fabric from sagging into your entryway or drooping onto your gear. Perhaps most importantly, they’re a key part of a tent’s stormworthiness, helping it hold firm and upright in strong winds and rough conditions.
Keep in mind that tent stakes can make up a meaningful percentage of your backpacking tent’s total weight. Entry-level tents often come with heavy, steel stakes. For instance, the REI Co-op Trailmade is a very popular beginner backpacking tent, and its 10 steel stakes weigh a whopping 12.5 ounces total (1.25 oz. per stake). On the other hand, premium, lightweight tents will usually splurge on more expensive but higher-quality stakes. These are smaller and lighter (around 0.5 oz. or less), typically made from aluminum or titanium, which have superior strength-to-weight ratios to steel. Or you can buy specialty stakes that further reduce the weight (down to 0.2 oz. or even less).
Tent Stake Design
Talk to any seasoned backpacker about their tent setup, and Y stakes will almost certainly enter the conversation. Like V stakes, they’re typically made from lightweight aluminum alloy and follow a similar design, but with an added third fin that gives them their “Y” shape. That extra flange increases surface area and soil contact, resulting in a stronger hold. It’s a simple design tweak, but one that can make a noticeable difference in keeping your tent upright during a storm. Because of their minimal weight and performance edge, most high-end ($400+) lightweight backpacking tents, including those from Nemo, Sea to Summit, and MSR, come with Y stakes.
If you’re feeling left out that your tent of choice doesn’t come with Y stakes, fear not. The MSR Groundhog series is one of the most popular third-party options—and one we’ve used extensively, including on a thru-hike of the John Muir Trail, where it kept our tent secure in constantly shifting high-alpine weather. There are also variations within the Y-stake family tailored to different conditions. Some models, like the MSR Cyclone, feature a spiral Y shape that further increases surface area and improves holding strength in soft or sandy soil. And while not technically Y-shaped, Big Agnes’s Dirt Dagger Stakes (included with its marquee tents like the Copper Spur and Tiger Wall) use an I-beam design built on similar principles.
Like V stakes, their wider profile can make them harder to drive into rocky or root-filled ground. The extra flange also adds a slight weight penalty (both the small DAC J Stake and the MSR Mini Groundhog weigh 0.4 oz., though the Groundhog is 0.3 in. shorter). But for most backpackers seeking a reliable, all-around option—whether you’re gearing up for a big thru-hike or simply looking to optimize your kit—Y stakes remain the go-to choice.
As the name suggests, V stakes feature a wide “V” profile, typically with a small notch at the top to keep guylines from slipping off. The design is simple but effective, offering a clear performance upgrade over basic shepherd’s hook stakes. V stakes are generally lightweight and compact, most often made from aluminum alloys or titanium. Thanks to their increased surface area compared to shepherd’s hooks, they offer better holding power and don’t need to be driven as deeply to stay secure. That added surface contact with the soil also makes them more versatile, particularly in softer ground where friction is key.
The tradeoff? In rocky terrain or root-filled soil, the wider shape can make V stakes harder to slot into tight spaces. And while they’re slightly lighter than Y stakes, they sacrifice a bit of holding power. Still, for their balance of weight savings and reliable performance, they’re common in many mid-range to expensive ultralight tents, where ounces matter more than they do with budget models. Specifically, setups like the Black Diamond Beta Light 2P and the Durston X-Mid 2 include the popular 6.3-inch DAC J-Stakes, which weigh around 0.4 ounces each.
Though still mostly a part of weight-conscious shelters, we’re starting to see V stakes appear outside the ultralight world as well. The most notable example is the latest iteration of the REI Co-op Half Dome 2. At 5 pounds, 15.1 ounces, it's hardly a lightweight tent, but it still benefits from the stake’s improved design and lighter weight compared to its old shepherd’s hook anchors. True budget tents aren’t going to make the upgrade, but with the popular Half Dome 2 making the switch, others may soon follow.
When you picture a tent stake, chances are you’re thinking of a shepherd’s hook. With its long, narrow shaft and simple hook at the top, it’s the classic design found in many tent setups. On the budget end, you’ll find inexpensive steel versions that are heavy (sometimes weighing 0.7 ounces or more), bend easily, and feel downright flimsy. At the premium end are higher-grade, rigid aluminum alloys, along with ultralight titanium models, like those sold by Vargo Outdoors, that can shave extra ounces from your base weight.
In general, shepherd’s hooks are typically less expensive than more complex stake designs, but those savings come at the expense of holding power. Compared to V- or Y-shaped stakes, shepherd’s hooks have relatively small surface area, which means less friction between them and the ground. In practical terms, that makes them more prone to rotating or pulling out in heavy wind, especially in loose loam or sandy ground. To help compensate for that smaller surface area, shepherd’s hooks are often longer than other stake shapes, allowing you to drive them deeper into the ground.
Shepherd’s hook stakes are most commonly found in entry-level tents, where affordability plays a larger role than weight savings. For instance, both the $199 REI Co-op Trailmade 2 and the $220 Stormbreak come with cheap steel shepherd’s hook stakes. The occasional weekend warrior who typically backpacks in fair weather will probably do fine with these, but if you’re looking for better holding power, or simply want to lighten your load, consider upgrading to V or Y stakes.
Tube stakes feature a hollow, cylindrical design with a pointed tip and flat head. This shape makes them easier to drive into the ground with your foot, and their relatively wide diameter and increased surface area help them perform well in soft ground, where friction is key to holding power. They are also generally lighter than solid V- or Y-shaped stakes, making them a favorite in the ultralight community.
Most tube stakes—such as the once-popular but now-discontinued Easton Nano—are made of aluminum, though there are variations. Some models use lighter but more brittle carbon fiber, like Zpacks’ Carbon Fiber Stake (0.22 oz. each), while others take a hybrid approach, such as MSR’s Carbon Core Stake (0.18 oz. each), which pairs an aluminum tube with a carbon fiber core.
Regardless, it’s rare to find a shelter that includes tube stakes, as they occupy an interesting zone. Tents on the heavier end of the ultralight spectrum tend to come with V- or Y-anchors, while the featherweight shelters you might expect to come with tube stakes, such as the Zpacks Duplex or Hyperlite Unbound 2, typically require you to purchase them separately (likely because their target users have specific stake preferences). Overall, if you’re looking to shave extra ounces while maintaining decent holding strength, tube stakes can be a compelling option.
If tube stakes shine in soft ground, needle and nail stakes are built for the opposite conditions. They’re particularly useful in rocky, root-filled, or even frozen terrain, where bulkier anchors struggle to penetrate. Typically made from (yup, you guessed it) aluminum or titanium, needle and nail stakes feature a sharp, pointed tip for driving them into the ground. Their defining characteristic is a very small cross-section, which doesn’t have the same holding strength as other stakes but makes it easier to slip them between rocks, roots, and other underground obstacles. These stakes are also ultralight-friendly, rarely weighing more than half an ounce.
Most needle and nail stakes, like those sold by Paria Outdoor Products and Vargo Outdoors, use tiny hooks or shallow grooves to secure guylines (though the Nemo Airpin Stakes buck this trend with several notches on their heads). That means you’ll need to be careful when tensioning your tent to ensure the guyline is properly seated—especially in bad weather. If a guyline slips off during a storm, things can unravel quickly. Given the niche appeal of these stakes, they aren’t usually included with most backpacking tents, but if the weight savings and use cases make sense for you, it's worth it to invest in them.
Snow and sand stakes are specialty tools designed for one specific job: anchoring your tent in soft, loose ground where traditional stakes simply won’t hold. Whether you’re camping on a beach or pitching in snowy conditions, these are built to maximize grip in terrain that shifts easily. They’re often larger and heavier than standard tent stakes, with a wide, concave shape that dramatically increases surface area. That extra contact with the surrounding snow or sand helps create resistance and keeps the stake from pulling free under tension.
Many snow and sand stakes also feature cutouts or holes along the body. These serve two purposes: reducing overall weight and providing attachment points for guylines lower on the stake. In some cases, you can even bury the stake—with the guylines attached—under packed snow or sand to create a stronger anchor. In soft conditions where holding power is everything, these designs make a meaningful difference.
Because these stakes are reserved for specialized conditions, they don’t come standard with most shelters, meaning you’ll need to purchase them separately before a beach trip or winter alpine outing. MSR pops up again as a popular choice with its Blizzard Tent Stakes, though at $42 for a pack of four, you’ll need to be ready to spend. REI Co-op offers a slightly cheaper option at $8 per Snow Stake, but Paria Outdoor Products wins the affordability race, selling its Sand and Snow Stakes in a pack of eight for $20. They’re slightly heavier than the other two options (1.2 oz. vs. 1 oz.), but if you only venture into these conditions occasionally, the cash savings are worth the small weight penalty.
Weight Matters
It’s easy to underestimate the impact your tent stakes can have on overall base weight, but even hikers who don’t count ounces will appreciate a slightly lighter load (and hey, maybe use the savings to pack out an extra donut or two). Budget steel shepherd’s hook can run about three-quarters of an ounce or more. Bring ten (enough for the tent corners, vestibules, and a few guylines), and that’s nearly half a pound of weight. V and Y stakes, on the other hand, often come in under half an ounce apiece (the popular MSR Groundhog is exactly .5 ounces per stake). Multiply that by ten, and you can easily shave off a few ounces or more.
For ultralighters looking to shave every possible gram, nail, needle, and tube stakes are the place to look. Most needle and nail stakes (including premium shepherd’s hook designs) can weigh as little as 0.3 ounces each. For an even lighter setup, super-lightweight nail stakes like Suluk 46’s Atani Titanium stakes) get all the way down to .18 ounces per. Is there a point of diminishing returns with each upgrade? Sure. But hardcore ultralighters trimming as much fat as possible from their base weight will appreciate the incremental savings.
On the opposite end of the spectrum are sand and snow stakes. These hover around one ounce each, but the significant boost in anchoring power makes the weight feel justified. Even if you stick with the stakes that came with your tent, understanding the options and their weight implications will help you make a more informed choice and better enjoy your time outside.
Common stake weights:
- REI Steel Stakes: 1.25 oz.
- The North Face Steel: 0.7 oz.
- REI Aluminum Hook: 0.5 oz.
- MSR Groundhog: 0.5 oz.
- REI Backpacking Tent Stake: 0.4 oz.
- MSR Mini Groundhog: 0.4 oz.
- Nemo Airpin Ultralight: 0.4 oz.
- Big Agnes’s Dirt Dagger: 0.3 oz.
- Zpacks’ Carbon Fiber Stake: 0.22 oz.
- MSR’s Carbon Core stake 0.18 oz.
- Suluk 46’s Atani Titanium: 0.18 oz.
Maximizing the Effectiveness of Your Tent Stake
Even the best tent stake won’t do much if it’s not used correctly. First things first: you need to fully stake out your tent for it to be effective. That means securing all the corners and vestibules—and, if the weather looks questionable, tensioning any guylines as well. Failing to properly anchor your shelter largely defeats the purpose of bringing stakes in the first place. Technique matters, too. With ultralight or more delicate stakes, you don’t want to hammer them aggressively into the ground—that’s a quick way for them to bend or snap, rendering them useless. Instead, apply steady, controlled pressure, either by pushing them in with your foot or carefully pressing them into the soil to protect the shaft.
When it comes to stake placement, the basic idea is simple: you want to minimize the force pulling the stake straight out of the ground while maximizing the force pushing it sideways into the surrounding soil. That lateral resistance is what creates holding power. There’s an ongoing debate (and lots of science considerations) about whether stakes should be inserted vertically or angled relative to the guylines, but in any case, you’ll want the stakes fully driven into the ground for maximum security.
Choosing the Right Stake for Your Backpacking Trip
At the end of the day, your stake choice should match how and where you plan to use your tent. If you’re gearing up for a long thru-hike or simply want a versatile option that performs well across a range of conditions, Y stakes are a reliable go-to. They strike a solid balance between weight and holding power for most backpacking scenarios. Other trips may call for something more specialized—whether that’s tube stakes for soft ground or dedicated snow anchors for winter camping. Conditions matter, and your stake kit should reflect that.
In addition to your stake choice, you’ll also want to consider how many you’re carrying. Most tents come with eight to 11 stakes, enough to allow you to fully stake down your tent, including the guylines. At a minimum, you’ll want enough to anchor the corners and vestibules (typically six stakes). From there, evaluate the conditions and forecast. If you’re heading out for a calm, sunny weekend trip, you can probably leave the extras at home. But if harsher weather is in the mix and you want the added reinforcement of the guylines, or if you’re embarking on a longer trip and might lose or break a stake, it’s wise to bring a few additional backups.
On the other end of the spectrum, some tents require you to purchase additional stakes to fully anchor them. Take the The North Face Stormbreak, for example. It comes with 10 stakes, eight of which are needed to secure the corners and vestibules. That leaves just two—fewer than the rainfly’s multiple guylines and stake-out points require. If you find yourself in conditions where you want to maximize stability, you’ll need to bring a few extra stakes. So don’t assume the number of stakes a shelter comes with will always be adequate for your trip.
And remember: just because your tent comes with a certain set of stakes doesn’t mean you’re locked into using them. With a bit of research and preparation, you can tailor your setup to better suit your needs—and reduce the chances of a middle-of-the-night tent collapse in the process.
get outside
Backpacking Gear Guides
Gear Guide
Best Backpacking Tents of 2026
Gear Guide
Best Backpacking Backpacks of 2026
Gear Guide
Best Backpacking Water Filters of 2026
Gear Guide
Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads of 2026
Gear Guide
Best Trekking Poles of 2026
Gear Guide
Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags of 2026