Staking your camping tent will help protect it from the wind. Most tents these days are dome-shaped and free-standing. Modern tents are constructed from high-tech, synthetic materials and are durable and resilient to most camping experiences. As long as you fit your tent with a decent rainfly and protect it with a tarp your tent should keep you warm, safe and dry in most weather conditions.
However, there is one weather condition that will test the mettle of the strongest tent. Wind can wreak havoc on the stability of your tent. It blows over the top of the tent and can cause the tent to lift, causing all kinds of havoc. Even light winds can be a problem for many tents. To keep it on terra firma you will need to take some time staking your camping tent. Staking your camping tent is the only way to ensure your tent does not get blown around.
Staking your camping tent is also a good idea if you’re a light sleeper and tend to toss and turn or if you can’t find a level campground. Your campsite should be as level as possible and located on the highest ground you can find. If it rains you will be kept drier because water flows towards the lowest point in the terrain.
Your campsite should also be one which allows you to comfortably use your stakes. This is especially true if there are high winds in the area. Bear in mind that the various different kinds of tent stakes are designed for use in different types of ground. When staking your camping tent remember that you will not find stakes that can be used in all terrains.
Titanium stakes, for example, have a small diameter and can be used successfully in hard earth. However, you cannot use these stakes in snow or sand. Remember when staking your camping tent to choose stakes that are suitable for the terrain you will be camping on. The wrong stakes are going to be useless and won’t stop your tent from blowing away if it’s windy.
On the other hand, bigger angle iron/aluminum stakes can be used successfully for beach camping but will be useless on hard ground. If it rains they will be likely to pull right out of the ground. There are also some terrains in which any stake is useless. On a rocky or stone outcrop staking your camping tent will just not be possible and you need to take other precautions to protect yourself from the wind.
If you don’t know much about staking your camping tent observe fellow campers the next time you camp. Notice which tents stay stable in strong winds and which ones don’t. Ask for advice from your local outdoors store. Make sure you know what the terrain is going to be like at the campground before purchasing tent stakes.