This is a long plastic tent stake with a great grip on the soil. It is very user friendly and a good stake for the masses.

My opinion on the grasping ability
I was shocked at how well it gripped the soil. I actually had very low expectation of the reliance stakes before I performed the tests. This was certainly the best gripping of the bunch (with the exception of the SMC which was about equal).

How easy is it to hammer in?
It is fairly easy to hammer in. The top has a nice flat, round head to hit. It offers more resistance when hammering than other metal stakes but it also has a much greater grip.

My opinion on the hook.
The hook is your average hook. It works and I have no concerns with it.

Consider the cost.
It was 3.99 for a set of 6. That comes to 66.5 cents each.

Does it fit through the typical tarp grommet?
It does not. Normally a tarp is used in conjunction with the tent poles as in the case of a footprint (a tarp made specifically for a specific tent.) So having a stake that fits a small grommet is not a necessity unless you are laying out the tarp to sleep out under the stars. Then you will need a small diameter tent stake like the aluminum hook tent stake. Your other option is to pound the stake directly through the tarp, which will damage it.

My tests.
The following is my list of tests with several stakes and a large spring scale. I hammered them into the ground and used a spring scale to pull them out. The higher the number, the harder it is to pull out of the ground (a high number is good).
The results are ordered from least to greatest grip.

Twisted skewer stake………………….…….- 24N&40N (see its review for clarification)
Aluminum hook tent stake…………………...- 30 N
MSR Groundhog………………..…….………- 32 N
Easton Aluminum Tent Stake with Cord……- 34 N
Coleman tent stake…………………………..- 40 N
Reliance 6 inch power peg…………………..- 48 N
Reliance 9 inch power peg…………………..- 54 N
Reliance 12 inch power peg…………………- 80 N
SMC snow stake………………….………….- 80 N


Note: These measurements are an average of several trials. There are here to give you an example of how hard they were to pull from the ground using a spring scale. Soil type and soil moisture levels will change these results. The tests were conducted in my backyard, which I feel is a good example of the average soil you will encounter when camping.

As you can see the SMC stake and the 12 inch reliance had the greatest grip on the soil. As far as backpacking stakes are concerned, I recommend the Reliance 6 inch stake because of the good grip and lightweight. The only problem with this stake is the durability issue with plastic. For car camping I am recommending the Coleman (better durability) or the Reliance stakes.

Why I recommend getting this stake?
I think this is a great stake for the average camper. It is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and easy to find. Just keep in mind that is will not last very many seasons.

Do I recommend it for backpacking?
Even though it is plastic, it is still too heavy. It is 28 grams heavier than its smaller cousin. Plus it takes up a lot of space.

What I like about this specific stake
-Light weight ABS plastic
-Rustproof
-No sharp edges (but that still doesn’t make it a toy)
-Brighter color so you can find it easily.

What I do not like about this specific stake
-Plastic is easily broken.
-In heat or light, it will degrade very quickly.
-The life expectancy is shorter than metal stakes.

Durability.
This is the big question. I have had a lot of plastic stakes break on me and I am not particularly confident in their longevity. A person with a strong pair of hands/arms can easily snap this in half. If you recklessly hammer it in then you will break it. And unlike metal you can’t hammer it back into shape.
As a child I have used the 9-inch and 12-inch a lot. I was never really impressed with them considering how many of these I have broken. But they did work. If I went into my father’s garage I would not find a single one of these left today, but I can still find a couple of metal stakes lying around.
Reliance also does not have a good track record with me with their water containers. My in-laws bought a /content_156349795972 made by reliance and lets just say it was a big disappointment.
Since I had six of these stakes I wanted to see if I could break one. I went ahead the hammered it in then made a poor swing at the stake. I cut it directly in half just by using the hammer. By the way this was a brand new stake that had not been exposed to sunlight or heat.

Materials
ABS plastic

Dimensions
Weight: 1 3/8 ounce, 40g
Height: 11 14/16 inches (not 12 inches).
Length and width: 13/16th of an inch each.

Summary
This is a good stake for the average camper. It is easy to use and has a great grip. But it is not as durable as metal and it breaks easily. As long as you keep extras on hand then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

Other tent stake reviews.
Aluminum Hook stake
Coleman tent stake
Easton aluminum tent stake
MSR Groundhog
Reliance 6 inch power peg
Reliance 9 inch power peg
SMC snow stake
Twisted skewer tent stake


Recommended: Yes