Speed Cinch Stakes
There’s a new stake on the market that offers something unique: a no-knot tie-off and cinching mechanism built in to the stake itself. I almost passed up the opportunity to test The Speed Cinch Stakes because on first glance they look too bulky and heavy to use on my lightweight trips, but I decided to give them a go because the cinch mechanism looks promising. Indeed, after using them, I started wishing they made a lighter version (maybe Aluminum or Titanium, hmm?).
Speed Cinch Stake Details
| What they say | What I say | |
| Dimensions | 9 x 2.5 in (23 x 6 cm) | 9.5 x 2.5 in (24 x 6 cm) |
| Weight | 1.7 oz (48 g) ea. | 1.7 oz (48 g) ea. |
Manufacturer: Speed Cinch Inc. Made in the USA.
Listed Features
- MSRP: $11.89 (4-pack)
- Akulon K224-PG6 impact modified nylon
- 30% glass reinforced
- High-visibility yellow, or grass green
Besides the locking mechanism, I like that the stake head is at an angle. This helps orient the stakes so you drive them in at an angle away from the tent. The head also is flattened, making a nice strike surface. The head cinch tube makes a sort of toggle that makes it pretty easy to grab and pull out of the ground.
To me, the stakes have a resemblance to Q*bert on one side and a duck face on the other. For easy reference, the Q*bert side faces the tent.
The stakes are very straightforward to use. Once the stake is buried into the ground, feed the guy line through the cinch tube and then pull it back through the notch. A single wrap back to where the line entered adds a redundant cinch point for the guy line.
The manufacturer recommends ropes between 1/16 and 1/4-inch diameter. 1.75 mm and 2 mm Zing-it and Lash-it line work fine.
Where I live, I rarely use stakes (finding tree and rock anchors are more common), and the small aluminum stakes I often use weigh between 10–12 grams (less than 1/2 ounce), so the Speed Cinch Stakes are heavy by comparison. However, the plastic material and rugged construction make them suitable for winter camping, especially when tying knots with gloved fingers is a nightmare.
As I said before, I’d love to see a lightweight version, maybe out of Aluminum or Titanium.
Disclosure of material connection: The author (Derek Hansen) was provided with a free sample from the manufacturer for testing and evaluation purposes. The comments in this post (written & spoken) are of my own opinion, which I formed after personally handling the gear. I was under no obligation to publish a review of this item.