Traverseon Stainless Steel Ground Stakes *6 pieces

Didn't expect much from a gift card buy. My fault there. I've used it every day for a month, plus a slow Sunday morning in the foothills. It's sized to the ground — 22cm for hardpack, 28cm for loose sand. The wrench slot and bottle opener get used more than I'd guess. Not cheap. My pack's already bursting, so

It showed up this afternoon and I had it set up in the backyard before dark. Perfect weather, no wind, my neighbor wandered over to watch. I picked the shorter one, the 22cm, since my ground's hard-packed clay. Fine so far. The longer size is supposed to suit loose sand, which I don't have here. There's a little hook thing and a slot I haven't messed with yet. It's not cheap, and for the money I'm still deciding. My neighbor asked where I got it. Is that a good sign or just nosiness?

Someone asked in the reviews whether this thing is overkill for a casual user. I'm not handy, and no, it isn't. My neighbor lent me hers and I didn't want to hand it back, so I bought the red one. First real use was dusk, clear and dry, out back with my brother. Had it about two months now. What I care about is daily wear, not the first-week shine, and the shaft hasn't loosened, nothing wobbles. The top's one forged piece with no weld points, with little holes for guy lines, wrench slots in 6, 8, 10 and 12mm, and a bottle opener. The shaft's slimmer than I expected, which I like for packing. It lives in my trunk next to a folding chair, which tells you how often it comes out. Not fancy. It just works. That's where things stand.

Grabbed it on impulse before a late-afternoon fire in the backyard, and I've only had it a day. The forged head's one piece with guyline holes and wrench slots, no welds. Not cheap-feeling. Who else needs a bottle opener that works?

Bought this to replace one that let me down last fall, and I tested it in the yard on a slow Sunday before driving it over to my folks. It's been three weeks now. That thick 9mm shaft grips the tarp on their shed tighter than the old one ever did, and it's light enough that my mom's hands don't fight it. Shipping took a little longer than I expected. Still...