- Joined
- Jan 29, 2003
- Messages
- 1,568
I have had a bit of birthday money coming in lately (I wonder when I am too old to get birthday money) and I used some of it to purchase a couple of items for my shelter kit that I am very pleased with. I am a big fan of simple poncho/tarp tents in warmer months because they are so light to carry, quick to set up/take down and, in the case of the poncho, have multiple uses.
I picked up an 8 pack of MSR Groundhog tent stakes. I was previously using small plastic pegs, carving my own in the field, or using the skinny "L" shaped steel pegs. The plastic ones take up too much space, are too broad to be inserted easily, and I have broken several - thankfully they are cheap and light. The steel ones don't hold very well and are heavier that they need to be. Carving my own works well enough I suppose but sometimes it is worth it to save the effort. The Groundhog stakes are impressive. They have a three edged construction (similar to the old SKS folding bayonets) so they resist bending in all directions. They extremely light weight and really stay put well once they are driven into the ground. They also have cord pulls which makes lifting them out with a SAK corkscrew/hook or Spirit X hook a snap.
The other item that I got was a package of 4 small Nite Ize Figure 9 rope tighteners. These how so many cool applications. I have been using the jumbo ones with some good synthetic rope in place of ratchet straps in my track (these are much easier to deal with). My main use for the small ones is to quickly and easily tighten the lines for my poncho tent. Now I don't have to struggle with knots when my fingers are cold and wet. I can literally break down a poncho tent in seconds. These things are handy! I find new uses for them all the time.
If you are looking for some cheap stocking stuffers this year or some cool toys for your own kit, check the MSR Groundhog stakes and the Nite Ize Figure 9 rope tighteners.
I picked up an 8 pack of MSR Groundhog tent stakes. I was previously using small plastic pegs, carving my own in the field, or using the skinny "L" shaped steel pegs. The plastic ones take up too much space, are too broad to be inserted easily, and I have broken several - thankfully they are cheap and light. The steel ones don't hold very well and are heavier that they need to be. Carving my own works well enough I suppose but sometimes it is worth it to save the effort. The Groundhog stakes are impressive. They have a three edged construction (similar to the old SKS folding bayonets) so they resist bending in all directions. They extremely light weight and really stay put well once they are driven into the ground. They also have cord pulls which makes lifting them out with a SAK corkscrew/hook or Spirit X hook a snap.
The other item that I got was a package of 4 small Nite Ize Figure 9 rope tighteners. These how so many cool applications. I have been using the jumbo ones with some good synthetic rope in place of ratchet straps in my track (these are much easier to deal with). My main use for the small ones is to quickly and easily tighten the lines for my poncho tent. Now I don't have to struggle with knots when my fingers are cold and wet. I can literally break down a poncho tent in seconds. These things are handy! I find new uses for them all the time.
If you are looking for some cheap stocking stuffers this year or some cool toys for your own kit, check the MSR Groundhog stakes and the Nite Ize Figure 9 rope tighteners.
