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ewolin
10
Mar 14, 2018
Although I really like Massdrop, for this particular item see Ebay for almost the exact same thing, as far as I can tell, from China. Way less expensive. I get all my stakes (Al and Ti) from China now. I'm guessing they manufacture them for just about everyone.
scope
198
Mar 14, 2018
ewolinHmmm, as far as I can tell, the price difference is about $12 for a 4pk of another make and design of questionable quality. Do you have something you've used that you can vouch for its reliability and give us specifics?
ewolin
10
Mar 14, 2018
scopeI purchased stakes back on October that look the same for about $1 each: "16pcs 10x10x160mm V-Shape Titanium Nails Camping Tent Stakes Outdoor Tent Pegs ( 262946386530 )." I haven't used them yet, but reviews of Chinese stakes (Andy Skurka, on BackpackingLight.com, other places) report good results. I purchased a lot of Chinese stakes this fall based on these recommendations, will be using them this coming spring and summer (somehow lost a bag of Al and Ti stakes on a trip to RMNP, needed replacements). So it's true I don't have personal experience with them yet, although they look and feel the same as others I purchased at much higher prices.
scope
198
Mar 14, 2018
ewolinThat's what I thought you were referring to. In general, I think its ok to say in these discussions that the same thing is available for similar (or less) price elsewhere. However, I don't think those really qualify as the same thing 1) due to some reviews that have me questioning quality, compared to the Keith brand, and 2) because of the way these Keith's are designed without holes, more metal surface area, which should mean they are less likely to bend. The price difference is minimal enough that the potential benefit could make them a better value. Not sure, can't find reviews on these Keith's.
Vargo makes a stake that is a dead ringer for those you mention. I can tell you from experience that I've had trouble with them bending. I have their nail stakes which I use in hard ground and I'm very careful to put only vertical pressure on them. Otherwise, I use groundhogs. But I do like how v-stakes fit together to make a nice small unit to carry, so these Keith's intrigue me.
ewolin
10
Mar 14, 2018
scopeYour point is well taken about the use of the word "same", probably "similar" is warranted, and one can decide how similar they might actually be, and the value of any differences found. I've heard mostly good things concerning the Chinese stakes, but some not so good things in some cases.
Brett919
128
Jul 9, 2018
scopeThose Vargo V stakes with the slots certainly do bend in hard ground, from my own experience. I wasn't using the proper stake for conditions so the fault was mine. What would concern me with these Keith's is, although there are no slots, they have machined what looks like a secondary guy-line notch a couple of inches down, where the sweet-spot for twisting and bending a stake is, at least in anything but sand and other soft soil which of course is what these are recommended for exclusively.
ewolin
10
Oct 15, 2018
Brett919I used the Chinese Ti stakes that look like the Keith stakes in very hard and rocky ground in campgrounds in the Canadian Rockies (I tried camping in the trees off the hard areas but the rangers told me I couldn't). I had to bang them in with rocks or wood pieces, they didn't bend at all. My Ti skewer stakes did bend a little, but they are not meant for banging into this kind of soil.
So my first experience with the Chinese stakes was very good.