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If you’ve ever pitched a tent on hardy rocky ground, you know how hard it can be to stake it.
And not to mention how brittle and breakable those cheap manufacturer stakes that come with tents can be.
Luckily, there are much better options available!
The three best tent stakes for rocky ground are the MSR Core Tent Stake, Beefoor Forged Steel Tent Stake, and the Eurmax Heavy-Duty Tent Stake. You really can’t go wrong when staking your tent on hard rocky ground with any of these options.
Now, let’s take a more in-depth look at each of these stakes.
Comparison Chart
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1. Eurmax Galvanized Non-Rust Heavy Duty Tent Stakes
The Eurmax heavy-duty tent stakes are my favorite all-around stake. And they are my go-to stake 95% of the time I’m tent camping (there are only special circumstances where they don’t make sense, like camping on sand. See our guide on the best tent stakes for sand if that’s what you’re looking for.).
They are made from galvanized steel, making them especially strong and durable. And they are relatively lightweight, less than 4 ounces each, I would guess. Physically holding them, they are definitely lighter than the Beefor stakes above but heavier than your typical tent stake. To me, they hit the sweet spot in weight and durability.
They feature a pointed end and a nail head perfect for hammering them into hard ground. And each stake has a stopper, so you don’t accidentally pound them too far into the ground.
Specifications
- Weight: Less than 4 ounces each (not confirmed)
- Size: 10″ long x 1/4″ diameter
- Material: Galvanized steel
- Color: Available in green, black, orange, and white
- Brand: Eurmax
- Kit includes: 10 stakes and 4 ropes (10 ft. each)
Pros
- Excellent balance of weight and durability
- Will not corrode
- Comes with 4 – 10 ft. ropes
- Available in multiple colors
Cons
- They may be too heavy or big for backpackers
Eurmax Galvanized Non-Rust Heavy Duty Tent Stakes
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2. MSR Core 9-Inch Tent Stake
The MSR Core 9-Inch Tent Stake is one of the lightest full-strength tent stakes that MSR offers, weighing in at less than 0.5 ounces per stake (the MSR Carbon Core is slightly lighter at the expense of durability).
These lightweight stakes are designed for strength and rigidity with a full 7075 aluminum construction, making them a great option to reduce your load when backpacking or hiking.
I actually like the design of this model better than the MSR Groundhog tent stakes, which are also designed for hard rocky ground. But, the Groundhog series is arguably just as good and durable.
With that said, these are probably the weakest of all the stakes on this list. You’re sacrificing a bit of strength for lighter weight.
If you happen to break one staking your tent into hard soil, rest assured that a three-year limited warranty covers them.
Specifications
- Weight: 0.5 ounces per stake
- Size: 9″ long x 0.39″ diameter
- Material: Full 7075 aluminum
- Color: Red and grey
- Brand: MSR
- Kit includes: 4 tent stakes
Pros
- Lightweight
- Full strength stake
- Great for backpacking
- Pull cord for easy removal
- Come with a three-year warranty
Cons
- Not as strong as the other stakes mentioned in this list
- May be too short for some uses
MSR Core 9-Inch Tent Stake
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3. Beefoor 12-Inch Heavy Duty Tent Stakes
These are the big boys on the block! These heavy-duty stakes are near impossible to bend or break, making them arguably the best tent stake to use on rocky ground (in most situations).
Beefoor tent stakes are made of high-quality forged S45C steel, making them virtually invincible. Plus, they feature a pointed end and a large nailhead, so you can easily hammer them into hard ground.
It also features a hook on the nail head end to prevent it from going too deep in the event that you’re wildly pounding it into the ground (I’ve done that with other stakes).
The only place these stakes fall short is in weight. Carrying all eight stakes with you will add over 2 pounds to your load, which can be a deal-breaker for some backpackers. With that said, you might not need all eight stakes. And if you backpack with others, you could split the stakes up amongst the other campers to lighten the load.
Specifications
- Weight: 0.37 lbs. each
- Size: 12″ long x 0.4″ diameter
- Material: Forged S45C steel
- Color: Black
- Brand: Beefoor
- Kit includes: 8 stakes and a carrying bag
Pros
- Strongest stake on this list
- Integrated hook prevents driving in the stake too deep
- Comes with a carrying bag
Cons
- Heaviest of all the stakes on this list
- Could not find any warranty information (though you probably won’t need it)
Beefoor 12-Inch Heavy Duty Tent Stakes
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4. TITO Titanium Shepherd’s Hook Tent Pegs (Honorable mention)
I know, I said I would review the three top tent stakes for rocky ground, but I wanted to give an honorable mention to these titanium shepherd hook stakes because of their lighter weight and price!
Not everybody wants to spend top dollar on tent stakes, and in most cases, you don’t need to. While these are definitely not as durable as the tent stakes mentioned above, they are made of extremely durable titanium and are very lightweight, perfect for those backpacking trips on rocky soil.
They feature a pointed end to help penetrate rocky terrain and a shepherd’s hook on the opposite end so you can easily tie your guy line to it.
Another advantage to these is that they are narrow and somewhat flexible in the ground, making them easier to work around rocks.
Specifications
- Weight: 0.2 ounces (6 grams) per stake
- Size: 6.5″ long x 0.12″ diameter
- Material: 100% titanium alloy
- Color: Silver, multi-color, or rainbow
- Brand: TITO
- Kit includes: 6 tent stakes and a carrying bag
Pros
- Extremely lightweight
- Very durable
- An affordable option
Cons
- Not as durable as some other tent stakes
TITO Titanium Shepherd’s Hook Tent Pegs
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What if I Could Choose Only One?
You should have no problem penetrating hard rocky ground with any of these.
But, which one is optimal for you will depend on your unique camping situation. For example, if you like to backpack long distances and your pack weight is crucial, then MSR Core Tent Stakes or TITO Titanium Shepherd’s Hook Tent Pegs will be your best bet.
If you often camp on extremely hard and rocky ground, and pack weight isn’t an issue, Beefoor Forged Steel Tent Stakes and Eurmax Heavy-Duty Tent Stakes are the top choices.
I’m not a big fan of saying one tent stake is the best for hard ground as one camper’s situation might be completely different than another’s. There are so many variables at play when it comes to camping. That’s why I like to offer multiple options and detail what each stake is best for.
With that said, if I had to choose the best all-around option, I would go with the Eurmax Heavy-Duty Tent Stake as, to me, it has the best balance of weight and durability.
How Do You Stake a Tent on Rocky Ground?
You can stake your tent on gravel or rocky ground just as you would on the soil. The main difference is if you are using thick heavy-duty stakes, you may have to pound them in using a mallet.
Hikemax Lightweight Outdoor Camping Hammer with Tent Stake Remover
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If there are loose rocks and you have thin stakes, you might have to shimmy them in the ground, working the somewhat flexible stake around rocks.
With that said, I’m going to let you in on a little secret…
You don’t need heavy-duty stakes or rock pegs to secure your camping tent on extremely hard and rocky ground. Instead, I like to use the “Big rock, little rock” system!
To put it simply:
- Find a small rock and a big flat rock for each stake loophole on your camping tent.
- Tie one end of your guy line to the stake loophole on the tent and the other end to the small rock.
- Lay the small rock on the ground as far away from the tent as possible (make sure the guy line is taut).
- Place the big rock on the guy line in front of the little rock.
- Repeat for each stake loophole on the tent.
Here’s a quick video demonstration of this technique:
And be sure to check out our guide on how to secure a tent without stakes for more tips and tricks.
Are Plastic Tent Pegs Any Good on Rocky Ground?
While they do make some extremely durable and hard ABS plastic tent pegs, I’ve yet to find ones that don’t get mangled, chewed up, tips broken, or completely breaking in half when using them on rocky ground.
This is why I’m a proponent of having a variety of tent stakes on hand for different camping scenarios. Plastic tent pegs have their place and even rival aluminum stakes for the best hold on soft ground, just not when camping on rocky ground.
Check out our guide on how to use tent stakes to find out which stakes and techniques for using them are best for the different types of ground you’ll encounter.