Different campers will tell you that one is better than the next. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal preference. Many campers feel that steel stakes are highly superior to aluminum because they are less likely to bend and break, especially when hammered into the ground. On the downside, these stakes can be pretty heavy, and can really weigh you down if you are trying to keep your backpack light. Aluminum stakes are sturdier than plastic, but they run the risk of bending more easily than steel. On the bright side, they are typically very lightweight, and won’t weigh hikers down with a lot of extra weight when making long-distance treks.