6" Sonic Stake
These stakes are perfect to me : strong enough, really lightweight and the tiny string is very convenient too.
These Sonic Stakes have a "Y-Beam" shape which gives them great holding power in a small package. The three-sided design also gives them good bend resistance for an ultralight stake. The price of aluminum beats titanium or carbon.
These are bright blue, which makes them hard to lose. They have a cord on the end to make it easy to pull them out of the ground.
Never hammer ultralight stakes. While the bend resistance feels very solid, these are able to bend if you put your full weight on them. They can also be bent back reasonably well.
Weight: .3 ounces (8.5 grams) including the cord
Length: 6 inches (15.2 cm)
Diameter: 8 mm
Material: High grade aluminum
Holding Power: Better
Bend Resistance: Good
Ultralight stakes should never be hammered or they could get bent or damaged. Hold your foot in both hands for stability, and guide the stake into the ground with your body weight. If the ground is too solid to drive in stakes, anchor them with rocks instead.
Non-Freestanding tents can be pitched just about anywhere with a little creativity. If the ground is too firm, wedge just the tip of your stakes in, and then anchor them with rocks. If you are camped above tree line on stone, wrap the guy lines around rocks to anchor them. On beach sand, you can use rocks, driftwood, etc. as anchors for the tent guylines. On wooden tent platforms you can wedge the stakes between the boards, or use extra line to tie off to the ends of the platform. There are many ways to make it work if you use your imagination.
