Always use a rubber mallet just to be safe. I hammer can work in most cases, but the problem you might run into is either damaging the stake (and that is tough because these are very heavy duty) or you can damage the loop you are trying to stake down. Some customers will be pounding on the stake-miss it slightly-entered the scene where the loop attaches to the tent. So, make sure you are careful and accurate and to be safe use a rubber mallet.