How to Stake a Tent in Sand in Just 5 Easy Steps
Are you planning a camping trip to your favorite beach? Or want to explore the wonders of a desert? Then here’s what you should know about planting camping stakes.
Being stuck in the middle of a desert or a beach tangling with your tent and being completely clueless about how to stake your tent will not be a very pleasing experience.
In the next few minutes, you will learn how to stake your tent on a loose sand surface and enjoy your vacation without worrying about anything else. You should also read our previous article on how to use tent stakes effectively.
Sand is not so reliable for staking as compared to soil-based grounds. Wind can easily shake your structure as the sand particles are not at all tightly packed. If you try your regular tent setting up techniques and stakes chances of ending with an unstable shelter are high.
Before starting to know how to properly and easily stake a tent in sand, you need to know what makes staking a tent in sand different from staking it on a regular ground.
But, by the moment you are done reading, it can be assured that you have every bit of knowledge that is required to stake a tent in sand or any gritty ground. Without any further delay, let’s dig into it.
Table of Contents
How To Stake A Tent In Sand Properly: 5 Easy Steps That You Can Follow
1. Find the Perfect Place to Stake a Tent
Getting a good grip in the sand is cumbersome. So, the first thing you should focus on is to find a spot. Make sure the area you have chosen is not too close to moisture because the water line is unpredictable.
Many natural phenomena such as wind direction, tides, and other complex factors determine the waterline.
Make sure that you have prior permission to stake a tent in the area you have chosen. Being near a tree can be helpful because they act as wind stoppers and will provide you with shelter.
2. Finally Set Up the Tent
Start by spreading out the tent material first and then continue by inserting the tent poles. Once you are finished, tie the poles together and reinforce the fabric.
Though, every tent comes with its own specific directions based on its interiors and exteriors. It is always advised to follow them blindly for your tent to last long.
3. Pick Up the Stakes and Insert Them
Sand is easily movable therefore to get a stable set up you have to use specialized stakes. The tent stake needs to be broad and thick to provide the tent a firm footing. Shapes like V, spiral, and swirl can come in handy.
Afterward, you need to spread out the tent fabric. Insert the tent stake in the sand, put the sharp end in, and twist it while pressing it down. A rock can be used to hammer and hold the stake.
Make sure to pull the tent but not too strongly while driving the stake down to maintain its positioning.
Move one tent peg loop to the side and drive the stake in. Pull firmly while going directly across it and drive the stake in. Repeat the process for securing all the stakes.
Once you finish this process, your tent will be fully secured in the sand.
4. Set Up Guy Lines
First, look for loops around the corner, walls, edges, and sides of your tent. These small loops attached to your tarp or tent in a camper’s tongue is known as “guy-out loops.”
Then arrange a string, cord, rope, or twine. Campers call the additional cord used for staking as guylines. Observe your tent carefully and calculate beforehand how many guylines are needed to secure the formation of your tent to stake down.
Now cut them 3ft long.
The final step is attaching them to the guy loop by a tight knot. Then anchor the other end of the cord to the ground, you can use stakes for protected anchoring.
But, in case of a sandy or soft surface, utilize any heavy rock or log lying around your campsite.
5. Dead Manning
If you cannot find rocks or heavy logs to secure your anchors then dead man anchors are going to save you from losing your tent to a wild wind or storm.
Dig up a minimum 12inch hole on the surface and insert your stakes. Cover the dugout. And press firmly as you fill-up the dig.
To make the process easier it is recommended to carry the items below:
- Tent or Shelter- Though tent stakes play a more important role a good tent is essential for overall experience.
- Mallet- You may think that mallet is not needed because the surface area of the beach is spongy but there may be hard soil or rocks underneath the sand. That’s why you need a mallet to handle such a situation.
- Tent Stakes- In order to reach the goal of having a very secure tent in sand, you will need a special kind of tent stake. You can use a normal tent stake but in order to ensure safety in all foreseeable situations like the heavy wind, you will need a secured tent stake like a ground anchor because it’s heavy and grips the sand easily.
- Tent Sealers- Tent seams are fragile and it is possible for them to get damaged. Tree branches, wild wind, or improper handling can lead to injury to your tent material or inseam. So, carry a tent seam sealer to every camping journey of yours.
- Guy Line- A camping cord or string or rope is termed a guyline. Campers use them to provide structural strength to the tent where the terrain is soft like the beach, riverside, and desert. Non-freestanding tents when equipped with guylines provide the best support to your tent.
Conclusion
The camping journey never gets boring, you can camp at any corner of the world. But to make every trip a successful one you have to have descriptive knowledge about your campsite.
In this article, problems with tent staking in a sand-full ground have been efficiently discussed and addressed, which can stop you from having the best beach camping memories while on a beach.
Have a blast!
