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Most tent stakes, especially those that manufacturers supply with new tents, are not designed for use in sand.
So, if you’re planning a beach camping trip or anywhere that has sandy soil, you’ll want to go prepared with the right stakes.
Let’s look at the three best tent stakes for sand, learn what makes a good sand stake, plus the best technique to stake your tent in the sandy ground!
Best Tent Stakes for Sand
The three best tent stakes for sand are the Orange Screw Ground Anchor, MSR Blizzard Stake Kit, and the MSR Toughstake Tent Stake. All three options are great for securing a tent on beach sand, in the desert, or any sandy soil.
Now, let’s take a closer look at these three top models to find the sand stake that’s best for you.
Related: Best Tent Stakes for High Winds
Sand Stake Comparison Chart
*Buying through links in this chart may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
Orange Screw Ground Anchor
The Orange Screw Ultimate Ground Anchor has made several of our “best tent stakes” lists due to their high-quality construction, unmatchable holding power in multiple types of ground, and lifetime guarantee!
These extra-long 12 1/4 inch screws are perfect for securing a tent in sandy and loose soil. Plus, they come with a special T-Grip tool to make screwing them into the ground much easier.
Check out this video on how to use Orange Screws.
Tip: The best way to get the Orange Screw to work in the sand is to dig down 3 – 5″, removing the soft top layer of sand and screwing the Orange Screw anchor into the ground. This will help create a more firm grip in the soil.
All Orange Screws are made from 100% recycled polycarbonate in the USA.
And if all that isn’t enough, they come with a lifetime warranty! You break a screw, and they’ll replace it for free!
Specifications
- Weight: 3.6 oz. per screw
- Size: 12 1/4″ long x 1 1/8″ diameter
- Material: Recycled Polycarbonate
- Color: Orange
- Brand: Orange Screw
- Kit includes: 2 screws and a gripping tool
Pros
- Lightweight at just 3.6 oz. per screw
- Extra-long for added stay power
- Made of 100% recycled materials
- Nearly indestructible
- Kit includes a T-Grip Tool to easily screw them into the sand
- Have multiple uses around the house, garden, and camping
- Made in America
- Lifetime warranty – if one breaks, they’ll replace it
Cons
- Can be costly if you need a lot of stakes
Orange Screw Ground Anchor
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MSR Blizzard Stake Kit
The MSR Blizzard Stake was specially designed to anchor your tent in sand and, as the name suggests, snow.
The Blizzard tent stake is made of 7000-series aluminum and has the strength and holding power to withstand stressors that would cause other stakes to fail. And just because they’re durable doesn’t mean they are heavy. In fact, they are the lightest weight tent stake on this list at only 1.12 ounces each!
The best way to set these stakes is to either dig down below the soft sand layer on top (until your reach firmer sand) and insert it into the ground like you would a regular stake or as a deadman anchor (see diagram below).
Learn more about MSR tent stakes with this quick video.
A limited 3-year warranty protects MSR stakes.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.12 oz. per stake
- Size: 9.5″ long
- Material: 7000-series aluminum
- Color: Red
- Brand: MSR
- Kit includes: 4 stakes
Pros
- Ultra-lightweight tent stake, perfect for backpacking and hiking trips
- Made from durable 7000-series aluminum
- Can be used multiple ways and in sand or snow
- Long 9.5″ size
Cons
- Smaller than off brands that have the same design
MSR Blizzard Stake Kit
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MSR Toughstake
The MSR Toughstake features a patented design that they claim has 10x more holding power in loose sand and soft ground than other stakes.
Just a quick clarification, Toughstake used to be its own brand, but they went out of business, and MSR now uses the name and the same patented design.
The MSR Toughstake is made of heavy-duty, aircraft-grade aluminum and comes with a stainless steel cable for extreme durability.
Here’s a pretty cool video of how the Toughstake works.
As you can see in the video, they are different from the usual tent stakes on the market. Their “self-diving” design dives deeper into loose soil and sandy conditions when tension is placed on the cable, while the spade head helps to further lock the stake into place.
MSR stakes are protected by a limited 3-year warranty.
Specifications
- Weight: 1.5 oz. for the small
- Size: 9″ long for the small
- Material: Aircraft-grade aluminum
- Color: Red
- Brand: MSR
- Kit includes: 4 stakes and stainless cables (2-pack is available for the larger stakes)
Pros
- Patented design has 10x the holding power
- Lightweight
- Works in sand and snow
- Extremely durable
Cons
- Out of stock quite often
MSR Toughstake
Price:Clicking this link to make a purchase may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
How Do You Peg a Tent in Sand?
You can peg a tent in the sand by digging down 3 – 5 inches and using a screw anchor or the deadman anchor technique, which is when you tie your guy line around the tent stake and bury it in the sand.
Can You Use Normal Tent Pegs in Sand?
Normal tent pegs won’t work well in the sand. If that’s all you got, you’re better off using pieces of wood, rocks, etc., to secure your tent. For example, find a small branch or rock, tie your guy line to it, and bury the branch below the sand, ensuring the line is taut.
Check out our guide on how to secure a tent without stakes for more information.
Ideally, you’ll want to use one of the recommended sand tent stakes above as they are designed for use in loose and sandy soil.
Do Snow Stakes Work in Sand?
Most snow stakes work extremely well in sand. In fact, the MSR Blizzard Stake and the MSR Toughstake are designed for both sand and snow use.
Not all tent sand stakes work well in snow, however. For example, screw pegs are an excellent choice for sand and loose soil, but they may break trying to screw them into frozen, snow-covered ground.
Related: 3 Best Tent Stakes for Rocky Ground