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Guide to Tent Pegs Designs

Tent pegs come in a range of different styles and materials, each suited to different conditions. Making sure you have the right set of pegs for your camping trips can make a massive difference both in pitching your tent and in its performance in different weather conditions.

Take a look at the common tent peg designs below to see whether you have a suitable set of tent pegs.

Skewer Peg

This simple tent peg is perhaps the weakest available and is prone to twisting in the ground, causing the guy to slip off the peg. Best used on groundsheets with the head pushed down to the ground to prevent tripping.

Rock Peg

This is the hardened metal version of a nail and is suited to camping on rocky soil that will damage other materials or designs.

Stake Peg

This most common peg will be suitable for most conditions, if you choose a number of designs and materials. Thick wood or plastic pegs are suitable for medium to soft ground.

If you’re camping on particularly soft ground, such as sand or mud, longer and thicker pegs are recommended to provide a stronger hold in the ground.

Metal Stake

Usually have a V- or U-shaped vertical cross-section for grip and to prevent any rotating in the ground. Their strength can withstand hard and stony ground conditions that would otherwise damage plastic or wood.

It’s useful to have a number of metal stakes with varying lengths to meet any conditions – though more are recommended if you know you’ll be on hard ground.

Delta Peg

Ideal for stormy conditions, these pegs have a unique design which effectively makes them dig deeper into the ground when any force is applied.

Shaped like a 7, the long vertical section goes into the ground leaving the horizontal section flat above ground. The guy rope hooks on to the end, making it very difficult to pull the peg out in the direction of the tent.

Delta pegs typically come in one of three designs to meet a range of conditions: nylon for general ground use; stainless steel, best suited for long life and all conditions up to hard ground; and another stainless version to be used with rock pegs.
tent-pegs

Top tips

Mix and match pegs to suit various conditions.
Concentrate on securing the tent’s key structural points
Purchase a mallet and peg extractor to save any accidents (a peg can easily pierce a soft shoe, and can also fly out of the ground if you remove them by pulling on the tent’s rubber loops.

This guide was developed with Outwell, experts in tents and other camping equipment. You can find more information in our other guides, or by visiting their website.