MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes

Description

Rikkar Specs

Specification	Details
Product Type	Tent stake
Quantity	6 stakes
Individual Weight	0.49 oz / 13.95 g
Length	7.5 in / 19 cm
Material	7000-series aluminum
Design	Y-beam
Color	Red
Pull Loop	Reflective
Soil Conditions	Wide range of soil conditions
Country of Manufacture	South Korea
SKU	05807

Key Features

• Lightweight 7000-series aluminum construction
• 0.49 oz / 13.95 g per stake
• 7.5-inch / 19 cm length
• Y-beam design for increased holding power
• Designed for a wide range of soil conditions
• Strong and highly durable construction
• Reflective pull loops for easy removal
• Notched head for securing guylines
• Sold as a six-stake kit
• Suitable for tents, tarps, and other shelters
• Excellent balance of weight and strength

Y-Beam Design

The defining feature of the Groundhog is its Y-beam construction.

Rather than using a simple round or V-shaped profile, the three-sided design creates multiple contact points with the surrounding soil. This increases the stake’s resistance to pulling and helps it maintain a secure hold when a tent or shelter is placed under tension.

The design also gives the stake a strong structure without requiring a large amount of material. That keeps the Groundhog relatively light while still providing considerably more holding power than many basic ultralight stakes.

This combination of low weight and dependable holding power is a major reason the Groundhog has become such a popular choice for backpacking shelters.

Strength & Durability

The Groundhog is constructed from 7000-series aluminum, giving it substantially more strength than the inexpensive aluminum stakes commonly included with tents.

That matters when you’re pitching a shelter in firm soil or dealing with significant tension on a guyline. A stake needs to resist bending while being driven into the ground and remain secure once the shelter is fully tensioned.

The Groundhog is not indestructible, and it can still be damaged if it is hammered aggressively into extremely hard or rocky ground. But for normal backpacking use, its combination of material strength and Y-beam construction provides an excellent level of durability without adding unnecessary weight.

For hikers who regularly replace flimsy stock stakes, upgrading to Groundhogs can be a worthwhile improvement to the overall shelter system.

Holding Power

A good tent stake isn’t simply about weight. Its real job is keeping your shelter attached to the ground.

The Groundhog’s 7.5-inch length gives it considerably more purchase than shorter ultralight stakes, while the Y-beam profile helps distribute the load through the surrounding soil.

They perform particularly well in medium to firm soils, but the design is versatile enough to work across a broad range of normal camping conditions.

As with any stake, placement makes a major difference. Driving the stake into firm ground at the appropriate angle and ensuring the guyline is properly aligned with the direction of the load will maximize holding power.

In extremely loose sand, gravel, or very soft soil, a specialized stake designed for those conditions may still be a better choice.

Weight

At 0.49 oz / 13.95 g each, the Groundhog strikes a very good balance between weight and performance.

A complete six-stake set weighs approximately 2.9 oz / 84 g, giving you a full set of robust stakes without adding a significant amount of weight to a backpacking kit.

There are lighter stakes available, including MSR’s own Mini-Groundhog, but the standard Groundhog provides a useful increase in length and holding power for a relatively small weight penalty.

For most backpackers, that makes the Groundhog a particularly sensible middle ground between ultralight stakes that prioritize minimum weight and heavy-duty stakes designed primarily around maximum holding power.

Ease of Use

The Groundhog is designed to be easy to use in the field.

The pointed end penetrates soil effectively, while the Y-beam profile provides good resistance once the stake is buried.

The reflective pull loop is particularly useful when breaking camp. It provides an obvious place to grab the stake and makes locating and removing the stakes easier in low-light conditions.

The loop also gives you a convenient attachment point for your guyline while making it less likely that you’ll leave a stake behind at camp.

What Are The Groundhog Stakes Best For?

The MSR Groundhog is best suited to backpacking tents, trekking pole shelters, tarps, and other lightweight shelters where dependable anchoring is important but excessive stake weight isn’t desirable.

They’re particularly well suited to three-season backpacking and long-distance hiking, where shelter stakes need to survive repeated use while remaining light enough for an ultralight or lightweight pack.

They’re also a good choice for hikers who don’t want to carry different stakes for every part of their shelter. The Groundhog is versatile enough to handle most normal soil conditions and provides enough holding power for primary tent corners as well as many guy-out points.

For ultralight shelters that can place significant tension on their stakes, the Groundhog is especially appealing because it provides more holding power than many tiny titanium stakes while remaining relatively light.

The Tradeoff

The biggest tradeoff with the Groundhog is that it isn’t the absolute lightest stake available.

At nearly 14 grams each, a full set weighs more than some minimalist titanium stakes. If your shelter is designed for mild conditions and you are focused exclusively on reducing every possible gram, there are lighter options.

The 7.5-inch length also takes up more room in a small stake bag than shorter ultralight stakes.

On the other hand, the additional weight buys you a stronger stake with substantially more holding power and a much more versatile design.

The Groundhog can also be overkill for extremely lightweight shelters used exclusively in soft, forgiving soil.

For most backpackers, however, the small weight penalty is easy to justify.

Rikkar Take

The MSR Groundhog is a great example of a piece of gear that doesn’t need to be complicated to be excellent.

The design is simple: a 7.5-inch Y-beam made from strong 7000-series aluminum, finished with a reflective pull loop. But that simple design delivers an impressive combination of strength, holding power, durability, and relatively low weight.

At 13.95 grams per stake, the Groundhog isn’t the lightest option on the market. That’s actually part of the appeal. You’re getting a substantial 7.5-inch stake that can handle a wide range of camping conditions without turning your shelter system into a heavy load.

We particularly like the balance between durability and weight. For backpackers who want one reliable stake that can be used for everything from a lightweight tent to a trekking pole shelter, the Groundhog is an easy recommendation.

There are lighter options if saving every gram is the priority, and there are larger specialized stakes for extremely soft or sandy ground. But for general backpacking, the Groundhog sits in a very useful sweet spot.

If you’re tired of bending cheap tent stakes, replacing flimsy ultralight stakes, or wondering whether your shelter will stay anchored when the wind picks up, the Groundhog is exactly the kind of simple gear upgrade that can make a noticeable difference.

It’s not the lightest stake.

It’s not the smallest stake.

It’s simply one of the best all-around stakes for backpacking.