Many campers pack in a rubber mallet into the supplies just in case, but for the most part, many of these designs do not need them. Most stakes out there on the market have tapered and sharp ends that allow them to slip into the ground easily. If you are certain that the ground where you will be setting up camp will be soft and easy, you could probably leave the mallet back in your toolbox. However, if you are unsure of the condition of the soil, it may be in your best interest to bring a mallet along just in case. If your tent stake doesn’t have a plastic tip or fragile loops or arms, you could always improvise and hammer it into place using a rock.