TYPES OF PEGS
A brand-new tent usually comes with just one type of tent peg, two at the most, but did you know there are multiple types for different camping situations? Here are the 12 most common pegs – taken from a surprisingly long list.
Straight peg
The disadvantage of a straight wire peg is that it bends easily when the ground is rock hard. You need to hammer it down at an angle of between 30º and 45º with the hooked bit pointing away from your tent; otherwise the wind will pull it out. It’s advisable to use two pegs at each rope-end and hammer them into the ground at divergent angles.
Aluminium peg
An aluminium peg is, in terms of weight, superior to a wire peg. For this reason, it is popular among hikers who carry their all their gear in a backpack, with every gram adding to the load. Some aluminium pegs bend easily while others shatter upon meeting bedrock. Steer clear unless you’re a hiker.
Plastic peg
This type of peg also weighs less than a wire peg, but their main reason for being is to save money. Plastic pegs don’t last long when camping in truly inhospitable terrain. They are, however, perfectly acceptable when camping in your back yard on a manicured lawn.
Spring-loaded peg
Also called a Max-Peg, it’s the creation of industrious South African Connie Kruger of Maxcons. It’s basically a steel pin with a coiled spring between the peg’s hook and the tent’s guy rope. The spring acts as a shock absorber that prevents the wind from extracting a peg or ripping the tent’s canvas.
Anchor peg
Also known as an L, elbow or a 7 peg, and as the name suggests, it is suitable for anchoring the corner posts of your tent. Hammer it at a 30º angle into the ground so that its upper section lies level to the ground and won’t trip you up. After the spring-loaded peg, this is probably the best way to secure a tent.
Nail peg
Sometimes the ground is simply too hard for a regular peg, and then a nail peg of high tensile steel, tungsten or titanium is the only way to go. Unlike the previous pegs, you should drive the peg straight down – the ground is hard enough to hold onto it, after all. Best of luck pulling it out again…
Expanding peg
An expanding peg works like two straight pegs driven into the ground at divergent angles to each other. Squeeze the two shafts closer together with your hand (don’t let them touch, though) so that the tips move farther apart as you hammer it into the ground at an angle.
Spiral peg
None of the above pegs work particularly well in sand. For this, you need something like a corkscrew with a broad spiral. Screw this peg straight down, as deep as you can, and hopefully it will find wet sand to cling to. It certainly works better than a rope wrapped around a round river stone.