MSR Cyclone Tent Stakes

Will update this review in about two weeks when I get to test them out at Lost Maples State Park (Texas). Wanted to add a pic for scale. Gave them 5 stars for now, given that I am a fan of the design.

Banging these stakes into hard-packed earth was no biggie – no bending!

I bought a couple of these when I was on vacation just because I thought they looked cool. They work way better than they look! So i bought more here, and replaced my others. They stay in the ground- haven't had one come out on it's own, yet, and i have put them in pretty lofty soil. Also drive into hard-pack way easier than I thought they would, and haven't bent one on a rock yet, though rocks are hard on the anodizing; it actually makes 'me look cooler after they get beat up a bit. I like the head design as it holds rope very well(locks on itself). They actually pull out of the ground fairly easy when you pull on the little loop considering how solid they hold.

Beach camping in gale force winds and pouring rain and mine was the only surviving tent in the morning. A few of my guy lines popped free (other stakes), but the tent and vestibules stayed put. While I'd like to take full credit for pitching an awesome tent - these stakes in the soft sand bend through insane gusts. Don't hesitate on these if you'll be camping on soft ground - well worth the price!

The spiral helps these stakes stay in the ground better than others, especially in soft dirt/sand. Additionally the flanges add rigidity so these are less likely to bend if hit by a mallet.

If you're pitching a tent, shelter or awning in soft ground, these are a must. I use them very often in the Utah desert sand, and I've never had one pull out, even in some pretty severe thunderstorms. I can't say the same about my shorter v-shaped stakes.

I used these on a ten day archaeology stint in the back country. They were easy to pound in and stayed in place even when I was lazy and didn't pound them in completely. My only concern about these is that sometimes they get stuck in the ground so having an actual hammer to get them out was helpful when my hands were weak and aching from archaeological work

These are incredible in soft ground. In places that a stake will normally pull right out of, these grip like crazy! Plus, they're crazy light!