Tarp Stakes

[greyhound352]

When using the shepherd hook stakes i usually wrap a round turn around the stake and then tie with a adjustable grip hitch, similar to a taut line hitch. I really like using the adjustable grip hitch for guy lines. This knot works well for those that leave the lines on the tarp and you can leave the knot tied and then slacked after use so your ready for your next hang.

https://www.animatedknots.com/adjustablegrip/index.php

[cmoulder]

I use the UL ones myself since I'm trying to go UL and they work fine but you do need to make sure any force is inline with the stake or you can bend them. Ask me how I know. Normally I don't need to use a rock, I just stick them in the ground and use my foot to drive them the last few inches if the ground is hard.

Definitely requires some finesse, feeling around for cracks in the subsurface rocks, and learning just how hard you can tap them without bending. And if you do bend them a little, they're fairly easy straighten out.

[sidneyhornblower]

Like cmoulder I use Lawson ti stakes and like them. They don't do well in sandy loose soil, but neither do most stakes. They're also easy to lose sight of if you drop them in leaves, so I may end up painting the crook blaze orange. Those small drawbacks are worth the light weight for me at present.

[MikekiM]

I haven't had great luck with the Ti hooks.. I use them only for the tarp doors, and for my day tarp. I carry Mini-Grounhogs and rarely have a problem with them holding...

[Wmt90]

How do the groundhog minis work? I've been wondering.

[Brooklyn]

Like I mentioned earlier in the thread, I recently purchased some Groundhog-like stakes but have yet to use them. Needed more and these were the right price and weight. Been using the Ti hooks.

Anyway, I’ve been toying with the idea of fashioning stakes from found sticks and/or using stones and rocks when making camp early enough to make it feasible. Hasn’t happened yet, but my mind is on it and I imagine it would be fun.

[scrope]

They're also easy to lose sight of if you drop them in leaves, so I may end up painting the crook blaze orange.

I did that and wrote an Instructable on the process. It's very easy to do.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Maki...-More-Visible/

[<-Pointer]

I don't like TI (or aluminum) shepherd hooks because they rotate too easily. For dedicated gram weenie trips I am fond of the MSR needle stakes now - they are bit stouter than the shepherd hooks (which bend easily,) have a stronger hold (because of the larger circumference,) and won't rotate on me in the middle of the night and dump the line off (flat edges.) Not much of a weight penalty either. A bunch of heavy stakes add up.

[sidneyhornblower]

I did that and wrote an Instructable on the process. It's very easy to do.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Maki...-More-Visible/

Oh cool! (or hot, actually). That looks like it produces a much better finish than whatever I would have done.
Thanks.

[scrope]

Oh cool! (or hot, actually). That looks like it produces a much better finish than whatever I would have done.
Thanks.

I first tried using nail polish and that didn't work well at all. So now I have a bottle of orange nail polish that I'm looking to find another use for.