Whether it be camping or backpacking, having the correct tent pegs for your tent is very important. When you buy your tent brand new it will be supplied with tent pegs. Now many of these tent pegs may well be sufficient enough to cope with the task that is expected of them. Unfortunately though many tents come with inadequate tent pegs. You will find that you will have to replace your existing pegs with more adequate pegs if you are upgrading to serious camping or if you are camping in an area that has different or unusual soil.
The majority of new tents come supplied with metal tent pegs. From experience these pegs tend to be rather thin and very flimsy. They have the appearance of long thick wire with a bend or loop at the top of it which we are sure you are familiar with. These styles have a rather annoying habit of bending, breaking and getting lost. They do perform to a certain level of capability but are not to be trusted for serious camping or camping out in adverse weather conditions. You may find your tent floating away on the horizon.
Camping and Outdoor Equipment
Tent Pegs
Plastic tent pegs are a viable alternative to flat metal tent pegs. They are very functional and are actually very good. If they are made from a sturdy plastic it will take quite a lot to break them. They also have the benefit of being lightweight which gives them appeal to backpackers. However they will take up quite a bit of space in a backpack which negates the lightweight factor for the backpacker. So for the backpacker where they wish to keep their pack as light as possible, titanium tent pegs have been designed and manufactured. Tent pegs can be of a significant weight but these titanium ones are lightweight and durable. In fact the titanium tent peg is the sturdiest peg available, but that comes at a cost and the are the most expensive forms of tent pegs.
The best advice to give about tent pegs is that before you set out on your camping trip, try to ascertain the conditions where you will be pitching your tent. These conditions will dictate how you will pitch and which type of tent peg you should be using with your tent. For example if the ground is hard clay then a cheap version of the tent peg will not suffice due to not being strong enough to sink in properly. And if you try to force these types of pegs they will definitely bend and more likely than not, actually break. And if you are going camping in a sandy area , again you need to select your tent peg carefully. A basic metal peg will just pull out of the ground if it is sandy. The type of peg that you want is a larger peg that has been designed to use with sandy grounds.
Heavy Duty Plastic Tent Peg Set From Blackspur
When it comes to having plastic tent pegs in your camping and outdoor equipment these heavy duty ones are of the type that you should be choosing from. They are made from a very hard plastic and can cope with hard ground very easily. And because they are of plastic there is no chance of them rusting. They are ideal for tents and additionally awnings and even gazebos. Even if you do not use them as you main tent peg, they are perfect to have as a back up in case of an emergency. These tent pegs are 2 cm thick and 29 cm in length. The approximate weight of a set of 12 of these pegs is 388 g making each peg weighing about 32 grams. Strong, durable and very hard to break these pegs are a great addition to your camping gear.
Examples Of Tent Pegs
Terra Nova SOS Strong Alloy Tent Pegs
These tent pegs from Terra Nova have a large surface area and extra length to give a great bite. Perfect for conditions when a firm pitch is essential. When it comes to winter conditions these pegs come in to their element. But they are just as good in soil that is loose and sandy conditions. A versatile tent peg that is well worth adding to your tent parts and camping and outdoor equipment.
When using these tent pegs you will have peace of mind that your tent will be well anchored down on most grounds in any high winds. The Nova pegs are a little heavy when you compare them to the MSR blizzard stakes for example. But these pegs are made from alloy rather than aluminium. One suggestion that has been passed on is that it is possible to drill a couple of holes in the pegs in an attempt to bring the weight down if you need to. Apparently this does not affect their performance but it does seem like a long winded way of doing things and maybe it is just better to buy lighter tent pegs.
Features
35 mm diameter to give great additional bite
Length of 30 cm to give you a very stable anchor.
Weight of 42 grams each.
Tent Pegs - Basics
The tent peg is basically a spike that has a hole or hook at the top end. Pegs can be made out of wood, metal, plastic or some form of composite material. The tent pegs are pushed in to the ground and hold a tent firmly to the ground to prevent it from moving. The pegs support and secure the tent via the tent material itself or by the use of ropes, called guy lines, which are attached to the tent.
Use Of Tent Pegs
1- The tent is pegged to the ground with the tent pegs via direct attachment to the tent’s material and, or via guy lines.
2- As well as securing the tent, tent pages will also help to maintain the shape of the tent and protect it from any wind.
3- Ideally it is best to be able to put tent pegs in to the ground by hand. But this is not always possible and a tent peg mallet has to be used.
4- For the tent peg to give the best security, the point of attachment of the guy line is at ground level. By having this the guy line is unable to apply leverage to the tent peg which can loosen the peg or even pull the peg out of the ground.
5- Leverage has been a problem with tent pegs over the years. Now though there are Delta pegs available. These have an arm at the top of the peg which makes sure that any tension is directed to a point under the ground where the soil is firm.
Types
Tent pegs come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and materials. They are all designed to perform the same operation but some are better than others, particularly in different grounds. To decide which tent peg is the one for you there are a couple of factors you need to take in consideration. These factors are:
1- The type of ground where you will be pitching your tent. What you are ascertaining is the gripping or holding strength of the ground against the ease of penetrating the ground. Once ascertained you can pretty much pick the peg for the job.
2. The size of tent comes in to play as well. The size and weight will determine the strength and capabilities you require from a tent peg. Inadequate pegs will cause you all sorts of problems and maybe a lot of uncomfortable time.
3- Weather conditions are also applicable when it comes to selecting a tent peg
4- And finally the actual weight of the tent peg is important especially if you are backpacking.
Tent Peg Characteristics
What you tend to find with tent pegs is that the better quality versions have symmetrical tips. These tips are either conical or V shaped. These conical and V shaped tips ensure that their tent pegs are driven in to the ground without veering of course. Another feature that better quality pegs possess is having a hook extension. This allows the end of the hook to be driven firmly in to the ground to give a second ground contact and help add stability as well as dealing with any possible tension issues and problems. There are versions of tent pegs that have eyes so that the guy lines can be passed through them and hence not lose contact with the peg by coming off. And then there are Delta pegs. These always point towards a tent and it’s not possible for them to turn. With these Delta pegs the guy lines are buried and cannot slip off the hook.
Tent pegs vary in length as well. The general length range is from 150 mm to 490 mm. Thickness too differs with the range from anything like 1.6 mm to 3.2 mm with flat tent pegs and up to 11.2 mm for wire rod pegs.
Plastic tent pegs are usually very wide and a lot longer than metal tent pegs. Plastic pegs are ideal for the softer ground types as well as light soils and sand.
Materials For Tent Pegs
Many materials have been used in the manufacture of tent pegs. Steel rod or wire, aluminium, titanium alloy, plastic and polystyrene have all been used by manufacturers to make different pegs with different strengths and capabilities. Even carbon fibre tipped tent pegs are available.
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Terra Nova Super Lightweight Titanium V Tent Pegs
Here are super lightweight versions of the 18g titanium peg that has a slimmer shape. The benefit of having the V shape is that it increases the surface area without adding much bulk. It also gives a great purchase in many varieties of grounds making them extremely versatile and well worth having as a part of your camping gear. Each peg weighs just 11 g each and will give you greater security and anchorage without adding too much weight.
Features
Lightweight version of the Terra Nova 18g peg
Slimmer
V angle for increased surface area and greater purchase
Length of 165 mm
Weight of each peg is 11 g.
Metal itself is a fine material in itself to have as a tent peg but you should be looking for metal tent pegs that are shaped out of a flat piece of metal, as opposed to the wire shape, to add to your camping and outdoor equipment. These flat metal tent pegs are more sturdy and do hold in to the ground so much better.
Just as long as you have the correct tent peg for the conditions you will have you tent set up and secure in no time at all, leaving you stress free with peace of mind that the tent is correctly staked. And with camping the weather can be unpredictable at times so you need to know that your tent can withstand any strong winds or heavy rains. If you are going to take your camping seriously, then it is recommended that you add several different versions of the tent peg to your camping and outdoor equipment, so you are always correctly tooled up and well prepared.