Are you looking to get into serious camping?
Have you just purchased good tent stakes but realized you don’t know how to get them in the ground?
I’ve seen this over and over and even experienced it myself. When you switch from the plastic pegs to real metal ones, you may not know how to hammer them in and end up bending or breaking your stakes.
You need to know how to hammer tent stakes.
Hammering tent stakes the right way is essential for preventing bending and breaking. Use a quality rubber headed mallet to firmly tap the tent stake into the ground at a 90° angle. If this stake gets stuck, soften the ground or pick a different spot before hitting too hard.
Read the rest of the article for more details on how to get this done correctly.
What You’ll Need
Here are some items you’ll need to hammer in tent stakes.
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Mallet – The most important item when hammering is, obviously, the hammer!
But not just any hammer will do. You’re really looking for a mallet with a rubber-covered striking end.
Any rubber mallet will do OK, but getting one made for camping, such as this one, makes life a lot easier.
Tent Stakes – Obviously you’ll need good tent stakes. Plastic ones won’t handle being hammered well; they’ll break easily.
Look for ones made from aluminum, carbon core, steel, or titanium like the one at the link.
Tent – Larger tents such as this North Face one must have good tent stakes, and good tent stakes need to be hammered in.
Cheaper tents have loops for the tent stakes just like better tents do, but the tent loops tend to tear off in wind. What’s the point of a good tent stake if the loop just rips off?
Opt for a more quality tent such as this one.
Guy Lines – Guy lines are a must for any kind of wind. Basically, you use guy lines to secure more points of the tent to the ground.
Some tents come with them already, but these by Chill Gorilla are affordable and work well.
Step-By-Step Instructions For How To Hammer Tent Stakes
In this section, we’ll go over the steps for hammering in tent pegs without damaging them. Make sure to read the directions carefully, or you may end up with a broken peg.
#1 Pull Tent Or Guy Lines Taught
Before using the tent stakes, you need to pull the loops for the tent or attach the guy lines and pull them taught or tight.
When the loops are pulled tight, you prevent the loop slipping off the tent stake and prevent a lot of movement in the wind.
Guy lines need the same thing. Attach them through the appropriate loops and tie them to the poles around the tent.
Make sure the tension lines are fairly tight before getting ready to insert the stakes.
#2 Line Up Tent Stake Straight Up And Down
With the loop or line pulled tight, press the tent stake in with your hand in the center of the line or loop.
Note: Some guy lines are tie only. For these, put in the stakes partway first or tie them to the stake and then pull tight.
Line the stake straight up and down. This provides the best overall wind resistance from any direction.
Another common method is to angle the stakes towards the tent at a 60° angle. This works OK, but in my experience, straight up and down provides the best security.
#3 Gently Tap The Head Of The Stake
After you’ve pushed the stake in partly, it’s time to hammer.
Using the rubber side of the mallet, strike the top of the stake firmly but not hard. The stake should move into the ground a little at a time.
You may want to put a rock or piece of wood over the head of the stake to prevent damage from the mallet if you’re worried.
#4 Increase Driving Pressure Gradually
As you hammer the stake, increase the pressure to drive the stake in deeper. Pay attention to the stake.
If it starts to bend, you’re hitting too hard. In this case, the ground is too hard for the stake and needs to be softened (see next step).
Continue until the head of the stake is flush or level with the ground.
#5 Soften The Ground/Choose A Different Spot (Optional)
If the stake starts to bend or it won’t go level, you need to soften the ground or pick a different spot.
Picking a different spot would be easiest, but this sometimes isn’t an option.
In this case, soften the dirt by adding a cup of water to the dirt and waiting for 3-5 minutes and try again.
For more details, check out our guide on how to put tent stakes in hard ground.
Get it as close to level as possible with this method.
#6 Repeat With The Other Stakes
Repeat these steps with the other tent stakes you need.
Learn about how many tent stakes you need.
Congrats! You’ve now hammered in your tent stakes. For more visual learners, you may enjoy watching this video.
Commonly Asked Questions
How do you get tent stakes into hard ground? – Take a look at step #5 for a little more detail. Basically, pouring water on the ground will soften it up and make it easier for hammering.
What can I use instead of tent stakes? – We recommend using heavy rocks or logs on the edge of your tent instead of tent stakes if you have to use something.
Learn about how to secure a tent without stakes.
If possible, a better solution would be to make your own wooden tent stakes.
What tent pegs are best for hard ground? – The best tent pegs for hard ground are ones made of titanium or steel. They’re also V-shaped, Y-shaped, or use a screw method.
Some good examples are:
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Conclusion
Now you know how to hammer tent stakes in without damaging them. Just use a rubber mallet and provide firm tapping pressure, and you shouldn’t have a problem.
Just remember to be aware of whether or not the tent stake is actually going in or it could bend.
Now get outside and enjoy the fresh air!