I once hated stakes with small hooks or notches because so many of the tents I've used had web stakeout loops that just weren't held securely. Wind - especially buffeting wind - un-anchored those tents alarmingly easily. When ITW developed the LineLoc3 cord buckle, I adopted it immediately and showed it to every client. it allowed the stake to be positioned so it avoided rocks and generally helped securing tents easily and well. And stakes with notches were much more secure too because you could cinch the tent tight to the stake.
But it wasn't until I thought to do THIS tentnique that the stake notch problem was fully solved (and now I even sell a whole line of DAC stakes with those notches that I once disliked).
Behold progress!
Bonus feature: it also makes it easier to pull out your stakes - no extra loop of cord on the stake required!
Push the stake backwards as you pull up - voila!
Some might want to retie the stake loop to make it bigger. I like a full 3" loop (left below). A smaller loop (1 1/2 - 2" on right) works fine for small stakes but bigger stakes are much easier to wrap with a big loop.
