I tried to set up the other day by myself, and realized how necessary a kite stake is. I was forced to use my leash and hook it around the brakeline and tree while I went to secure the kite.

Can someone recommend kitestakes that will work correctly on both ground which will be freezing soon, and in the snow. I figure these things can't be too expensive, so I'd prefer to get a better one so it will serve its purpose.

Oh and when I'm riding, wtf do I do with the stake. I'd rather not fall on it, so am I stuck with putting it in my bag and going to retrieve it while the kite is in the air or landing the kite when I'm near my bag so I can stake it up? Any input would be appreciated.

Go to the nearest home improvement store, ie. Menards, Lowes or Home Depot, go by the nail section, and they should have giant spikes there, pretty much just giant nails. They work just as well as the stakes you get online, except you might wanna put some colorful tape at the edges so you can see where you put them while not in use.

Total damage to my wallet was about 7bucks, 2.5 for a set of 4 spikes, and another 3ish for the orange duct tape, then tax...

$2 steel spike from a hardware store for hard pack ground, $3 plastic peg for soft

hmm.. i might need to get my self a plastic peg for the oncoming snow...

Frozen ground - you'll need to wrap the leash / brakes around something. I hook mine to my skis and stab them into the snow - but that's 'cuz we get enough snow to do that. Otherwise on the lakes we use ice screws (the kind ice climbers use).

No snow? Frozen ground? Your best bet will be to walk hand over hand up the leash line to the kite and weight it down as if you were just getting ready to launch? What were you flying? Might have some specific tricks to ground handling.

Even frozen ground should let you pound a good long screwdriver or something into it.

spikes are cheaper than screwdrivers :D

but im not crazy enough to go out snowboarding on hard packed ice, ill end up hurting my self with my selection of kites...

That's why if it's clear ice and light winds you grab your Outlaw and some hockey skates and go have a blast! (just don't run over your lines ; )

Hell, that Outlaw would probably get you going just by blowing on it

I sell enough of the HQ kite stakes that I practically buy them by the kilo from HQ. Sure the big nails are fine and cheap but easier to lose. The HQ' bright orange plastic handle is easy to spot from a distance and ergonomically correct for grinding the steel shaft into hard-pack sand, Playa, or firm ground. Probably frozen ground too, but it has been a lot of years since I have seen that to try ;-)

For carrying, you did not say on what. On an ATB, I have seen a lot of folks rig a sheath for their lower leg. Both the steel HQ stake end the Peter Lynn plastic stakes have basic sheaths with them that you could adapt to a lower leg strap. Good for skis, too I presume.
For the buggy, the standard practice is to tie-wrap a length of vinyl tubing about 3/8 - 1/2" ID to the wheel strut on one side of your front fork and stick the stake in there. Sized right, the stake will not fall out even in a flip.

A lot of good stakes are home made with a bright-colored golf ball (for the handle) drilled out for a steel shaft that is epoxied in.