I’ve never thought of tent pegs as being a complicated subject. The choice of which tent pegs from my kit to use in any given sutuaiton generally comes down to a couple of options.
Ask Google about tent pegs, however, and the result is an excess of choices – many of which appear over-engineered and highly priced. If I was genuinely looking for new tent pegs, I would have felt overwhelmed and reverted to buying something similar to the pegs I am trying to replace. At Snowys, we often address the question of whether additional pegs are required when purchasing a tent. We also recommend which are the best tent pegs to replace those old battered lengths of steel that now better resemble some form of modern art.
So, I thought I would outline eight basic and reasonably priced peg styles that will cover most conditions the average camper will find themselves in – all of which have kept my shelters secure for decades of camping adventures.
The difference between the pegs that come with the Coleman Instant Up 6, compared to Poles Apart Galvanised Steel Peg.
Steel Pegs: Tough and Affordable
Steel pegs are tough, and good ‘extras’ to have in your camping arsenal for securing large items (such as tarps and gazebos) on hard and rocky ground.
The 8mm version of this peg is slightly more robust than the average tent peg found in mid to high-end tents, while the 11.2mm pegs are for big shelters on firm ground.
Their construction is just as the title suggests: steel. No galvanised or zinc coating either, so they will rust over time if left exposed to moisture.
Three sizes of the classic Steel Tent Peg – perfect to keep on hand in your camping kit.
Galvanised Steel Tent Pegs: Long Lasting
In most cases, these will be the closest equivalents to the pegs that came with your tent. The 4mm size is akin to pegs found in low to mid-priced tents, while the 6.3mm sizes are much like the pegs included with most family tents.
These pegs have a galvanised coating too, which means they won’t rust and are easier to find if they get dropped! They are great replacements or ‘extras’, and best suited for medium to firm ground such as in caravan parks, or grassed campsites.
Versatile, strong, and with a range of sizes – the Galvanised Steel Pegs from Poles Apart are a winner!
Plastic Sand Pegs: Lightweight
When it comes to sand and loose surfaces, these are the pegs we recommend. They can be a little bulky in your kit, but are light and provide good holding power in soft ground. The shorter versions suit pop-up beach shelters, while the longer styles are for wind catching shelters, tarps, and gazebos.
These pegs are designed with both a hook and loop on the end, where the loop is particularly useful for use at the beach in securely tying the guy rope to the peg. This makes it easy to find, as it will always be at the end of the rope!
Their rounded tops also mean that there’s less of a chance for your kids to cut their feet while chasing each other around the shelter.
Poles Apart Plastic Pegs are perfect for anchoring different sized shelters on the beach or soft ground.
There’s more tent peg talk where this came from, on the Snowys Camping Show:
Aluminium Sand & Snow Pegs: Lightweight Holding Power
Aluminium sand and snow pegs do a similar job to the plastic sand pegs mentioned above. The great part about these is that they all nest together neatly. They are good for anyone needing the holding power of a large sand peg, but have limited storage space in a pack or kayak.
The curved shaft features a number of holes that increase holding power, especially in snow, while the two sizes cater for both small and large shelters.
The downside? They are a tad more expensive than the plastic alternatives, and are best suited to those with a specific need.
Lightweight yet sturdy options for alpine or sandy conditions, or where space in your pack is scarce.
Aluminium Angle Pegs and Anchor Pegs: Tough & Lightweight
These are great alternatives to the pegs that come with lightweight tents. I have had a handful of these for over a decade, and am yet to bend one. They feature a 90-degree angle shaft that provides exceptional strength and holding power in medium to firm ground. Plus, they all stack neatly together, so are easy to pack into a rucksack.
The Supa Peg Ground Anchor pegs are a unique style, designed to push the peg deeper into the ground when the rope pulls against it. Hammered flat into the ground, their bright orange is also highly visible. When it’s time to pack up, they’re also easy to remove with a peg puller.
Steel Sand Pegs for anchoring a shelter on soft to medium ground & Aluminium Angle Pegs for lightweight tents.
Steel Sand Pegs: Alternatives to Provided Tent Pegs
The unique steel hook on the end of this style enables the wide-shafted sand peg to be used with small loops or eyelets, ideal for holding down the base of a side wall on a gazebo. You can also use them on the walls of a tent awning, or to anchor a tarp set up as a wind break.
It would be worth adding 4-8 of these to your camp kit. They are also great alternatives as the key anchor points of your tent, like guy ropes when setting up camp on soft to medium ground.
Sea to Summit Ground Control Pegs – the luminous pull string prevents midnight stumbles, and the multiple anchor points help secure guy ropes.
Sea To Summit Ground Control Pegs: Lightweight Performance
There are many of this sort of peg on the market. All of them claim to be the best – but in my experience, they are all pretty good. The main thing to look out for is the quality of alloy. These are made of one of the good alloys, 6061-T6 to be precise, with an anodised coating to prevent corrosion.
Now, I’m not going to say these are necessarily the best – but for a tent peg, they do have a couple of cool features!
Firstly, the little pull string has a luminescent segment so you can locate it at night. Secondly, they feature multiple anchor points, so you can secure the guy rope closer to the ground if you can only get it so far in.
Available individually, as pack of six, or a pack of eight, the Sea to Summit Ground Control Pegs are ideal for lightweight hike tents.
Ben and Lauren also discuss the best tent pegs for hiking and lightweight adventures on the Snowys Camping Show podcast:
Keep pegs in a few sizes and materials to make sure you’re equipped for a range of conditions.
Drillable Tent Pegs: Taking the Strain out of Setup!
Drillable pegs are also an option for those who want to be able to set up their tent quickly and easily without the strain on your knees or back.
These can be inserted easily inserted and removed with help from a drill or impact driver, which is particularly useful to use with larger tents or shelters or for camping on hard ground. This style of peg is significantly dearer than your standard options, but prove to be super popular for those who want to spend less time setting up, and more time enjoying the outdoors.
If you want to see how to use drillable tent pegs, then hit the play button above.
Check out the STEADFAST range by Tiegear – including the Hard and Soft Terra Screw pegs, as well as the Hard Terra Lite model.
While the Hard Terra sports forged 304 stainless steel construction, the Soft boasts a UV-stabilised, engineering-grade reinforced nylon for robust yet flexible strength. Both models are designed to to stand up to harsh Aussie climates and rough outdoor use, each featuring a 19mm, double-hooked heads for compatibility and easy alignment with multiple tie-down directions. Meanwhile, the reinforced nylon Hard Terra Lite is of a smaller, slimline, and sleek design, and is often applied in harder-to-reach places (such as rocks and debris) for a reliable hold.
The reinforced nylon Hard Terra Lite is often applied in harder-to-reach places for a reliable hold.
So… should you buy additional pegs for your new tent?
If you’re buying a mid to high-end tent, the pegs that come with the tent will mostly suit the average grassed or dirt campground with medium to hard ground.
For campers with sandy or particularly rocky campgrounds in their sights, it’s worth adding 6-10 suitable pegs as described above for use on key anchor points, to ensure your shelter stays upright during your stay.
It’s never a bad thing to be too prepared. What else do you keep in your arsenal for pitching in difficult conditions?