I used to just use a split log to pound in tent stakes... but that's really hard on the hands, especially without gloves (splinters!). And I used to just use the tent's own loop the stake is thru to pull them out, sometimes that's difficult when the ground has frozen and agfain is hard on the hands. So rather than take my regular claw hammer camping, I bought this. So glad for it, too! This thing easily pounds in steaks, even into tightly packed earth with lot's of shale bits mixed in. The large square contact surface is great for making clean, solid contact with the stake head. On a tent fully staked with 10 stakes, I only glanced on TWO strikes, and by then my hands were clear. And no bent stakes because there's more control with this hammer than a log. And when it came time to pull up stakes and pack it up, the hook on this thing made doing so so much easier and somehow took less effort.Highly recommend this!