Successfully Discovered Camping Stakes for Sand that Deliver on Their Promise!
When it comes to setting up camp on sandy beaches or soft ground, traditional tent stakes might not cut it. Specialised sand stakes or sand pegs are the way to go, designed to hold in loose substrates.
Sand Stakes: Your Best Bet for Soft Terrain
Sand stakes are typically made from durable plastic or lightweight composite materials, designed to maximize surface area and grip in soft terrain such as sand or loose soil. For example, polypropylene plastic sand pegs with a large impact head and hook, like the BCF Sand Peg, perform well in sand and soft ground due to their shape and material flexibility.
Heavy-duty sand screws or large plastic stakes, such as Supa Peg’s sand stakes, are specifically designed for beach camping and soft soil. They provide good holding power by increasing resistance in loose ground.
Traditional Tent Stakes: Not Ideal for Sand
Traditional steel or aluminum tent stakes, like Kodiak's 12-inch solid steel stakes, are ideal for hard or rocky soil. However, they lack the holding surface required to resist pulling forces in loose substrates, making them less suitable for sandy or soft soil.
Snow Stakes: A Close Second
Snow stakes, such as the REI Snow Stakes made from 7000-series aluminum, are usually larger, flat, and designed to distribute load over a wider surface area in snow. They functionally resemble sand stakes in that both prioritize surface area and shape over penetration depth in loose material.
However, snow stakes are often shaped like paddles or plates to resist snow pullout, while sand stakes are usually longer or have screw-like flanges or extra surface area to grip shifting sand or loose soil.
Comparison Table
| Feature | Sand Stakes | Snow Stakes | Traditional Steel Stakes | |---------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------|----------------------------------| | Material | Plastic/composite or lightweight | Aluminum/plastic flat skis | Steel or aluminum rod | | Shape | Long with wide surface or screws | Broad paddle or flat plate | Straight rod or V-shaped | | Designed for | Loose sand, soft soil | Snow and soft frozen surfaces | Firm, rocky, or compact soil | | Holding mechanism | Surface area + screw threads | Broad distribution of load | Penetration and friction | | Unsuitable for | Hard soil or rock | Loose sand | Loose sand or soft soil |
Top Picks for Sand Camping
- Neso Ground Screw Stakes: Made of 100% recycled polycarbonate and manufactured in the U.S.A., these stakes use Orange Screw technology to screw into the ground. They are protected by a lifetime warranty.
- MSR Cyclone Stakes: These lightweight stakes have a spiral design for more surface area for the soft ground to grip.
- REI Snow Stakes: Effective in sand and loose soils, with a broad profile for excellent hold.
- MSR Blizzard Stakes: Lightweight and have a broad profile to stay in loose soils. They are also effective in snow and hard ground.
- Ogrmar Aluminum Stakes: Budget-friendly, with a weight of 1.76 ounces and a length of 12 inches.
Securing Your Tent in Loose Soil
In addition to using the right tent stakes, techniques such as the Dead Man Technique and the Big Rock Little Rock Technique can help secure your tent in loose soil. The Dead Man Technique involves digging down and inserting a stake at a harsh angle, while the Big Rock Little Rock Technique involves tying a guy line from the tent to a little rock and putting a big rock in between the little rock and the tent.
Remember, it's worth stocking your camping gear with stakes for rocky ground as well, to be covered regardless of the soil. Regular tent stakes are not effective in sandy soil or a beach.
With the right gear and techniques, you can ensure a secure and comfortable camping experience on sandy beaches or soft ground.
- The BCF Sand Peg, with a large impact head and hook, is an example of sand stakes made from durable plastic or lightweight composite materials that perform well in sand and soft ground.
- Supa Peg’s sand stakes are heavy-duty, designed specifically for beach camping and soft soil, providing good holding power by increasing resistance in loose ground.
- Snow stakes, such as the REI Snow Stakes, made from 7000-series aluminum, functionally resemble sand stakes in that both prioritize surface area and shape over penetration depth in loose material, but are often shaped like paddles or plates to resist snow pullout.
- The Neso Ground Screw Stakes, made of 100% recycled polycarbonate and protected by a lifetime warranty, are a top pick for sand camping, using Orange Screw technology to screw into the ground.
- The Big Rock Little Rock Technique, involving tying a guy line from the tent to a little rock and putting a big rock in between the little rock and the tent, is a method to secure your tent in loose soil, in addition to using the right tent stakes.
