These stakes are 1-inch in diameter by 30 inches in length and are made from solid, cold-rolled steel. Included are four red removable safety end caps to keep and use for safe handling and transport. The safety caps are made of thick, flexible vinyl that quickly and easily slide on and off the ends of each stake. This one-inch stake is the official stake diameter for NHPA Sanctioned Tournament Play and our stakes are considerably longer than those in most all other backyard sets. They are made from precision cold rolled steel. They are blunt and deburred at both ends, making them ideal for permanent mounting in either a short section of railroad tie or in concrete. We bevel the ends for easy and safe handling. They can also be pounded directly into solid ground with ease for a temporary setup and will hold in place even longer than pointed stakes. When purchasing these stakes or any of our products that include these stakes, you'll receive a complimentary Horseshoe Handbook that outlines the basic installation methods, how to setup a pitching area and how to play the game… some very handy information! Remember, horseshoe stakes are not installed straight up and down. They angle towards each other on a 12 degree lean. Helpful hint... When in temporary use, it helps to paint just the top half of the stake white or a bright color before use (spray paint works fine). Then, when you're tapping the stake into the ground, just tap it down to the paint line and stop... no measuring required now, as that takes it down to the exact specified height of 15 inches for sanctioned play! Stake ends are deburred for safe handling.