Tent Peg Opinions - please

[Aidan]

Hi,
After my last 5 week cycle tour I've finally noticed the pegs from my Macpac Microlight are looking a little well used with some of them being somewhat malformed from the abuse I've subjected them to.

In reality they've likely been looking past their sell by date for a while, but with another upcoming extended tour approaching I was wondering whats on offer and whats good.
I've no issue just replacing them with the same but thought I'd ask if there were any standouts

My use is cycle touring below the snowline if it makes any difference.

What prompted my post as well as my memory was being on the Helinox site and inadvertently spotting there offerings:
https://www.helinox.com.au/the-key-to-t ... olding.php

I was actually there to look at an umbrella.....

[sunnyape]

I take two types of pegs with me when I go cycle touring. My 4 primary pegs are hollow aluminium Easton nano pegs http://eastonoutfitters.com/product/nano-tent-stakes/. They penetrate very hard ground and never bend, but the caps can come off. Love 'em.

I also take three L shaped pegs that have no brand on them, but look similar to the Easton V-Stakes http://eastonoutfitters.com/product/v-stake/. Two are for the side guy lines if it is going to be very windy, the other is a spare. They bend if you don't drive them in carefully.

All of these style pegs are no good for snow, as they are too short and narrow

[Gadgetgeek]

I've got a few different types. The MEC tent I bought when in Canada last came with DAC J stakes(without split rings), and I quite like them. the nest together pretty well, and are not as bulky. I've got the vargo aluminum summit stakes. they would work better in very soft ground. I used them during the big dry that a lot of queensland got, and bent one while putting it in the concrete hard ground. (My method is to start them by hand, then push them in with my foot.) I use them for my hammock fly, as well as with my swag.
Lastly for the tieouts on my hammock (and my "welcome mat" I use some square pegs I got from MEC. they are aluminum with a hook cut in the top. They don't sell them anymore, but I've seen them on the bay from generic chinesse companies.

for general purpose the DAC J's are really good. I'd very likely buy more of them.

[Bubbalouie]

For me the titanium nail stakes are pretty good, no need to get the Vargo kind. Chinese equivalents can be bought from China fairly cheaply (I'm pretty sure they come from the same factory). 165mm Pegs run about $4 each (actually a bit less).

I've found in the flinders nail stakes are about the only thing that stands up to some of the ground there, although sometimes they fail at that too. The main structural pegs I use (two end pegs for a tunnel tent) are home made from some 8mm grade 5 titanium rod I bought on eBay, these are basically unbreakable, but weigh almost 30g each.

Pictures below (sorry about the low quality):



I've used the Vargo Titanium stakes that are the same basic design as the J-Stakes you linked to. To be honest I found they performed a bit poorly in rocky ground, but otherwise were OK. Since I do a lot of my hiking in places like the Flinders I just decided it was easier to have the most unbreakable pegs I could get that didn't weigh a ton.

EDIT: If you're looking to buy some stakes send a PM, I still have quite a few old titanium V stakes left (un-bent). That is if you're not planning to go to rocky places, if you're going to places with really hard ground I would not recommend V-Stakes over nail takes.

[Moondog55]

Although not suitable for hard / rocky ground the last lot of pegs I bought were the cheap ones from Bunnings but I am intrigued by those titanium nails

[stry]

Ditto. I've got a few of the Easton hollow alloy, like them and have had no problems, BUT if the head pulled off one, I think it would probably have to be driven flush and left there. Perhaps one of the few situations in which the weight of a leatherman could be justified

[sthughes]

I like the Y shaped pegs like the MSR Ground Hog pegs (cheap ebay equivalents are just as good). For me any nail type peg rarely has the holding strength, but that could just be that I'm generally talking highlands Tassie where soft ground is more an issue than hard ground.

[Aidan]

Hi everyone,
thanks for all the responses.
Plenty of food for thought there.
I'll go through them all to get some inspiration.
I'll let you all know what direction I go in.

[aden94]

I am keen on getting Easton full metal jacket 6 inch stakes. Anyone would happen to know how to get them in Australia without paying 40$ for shipping?
You should look them up Aidan.

[undercling-mike]

I've been keen to try these: https://www.x3anchorstake.com/

Yes, their video comparison is BS but their pegs do appear to be very tough (there is also a video of them driving the stakes into road base) and look like they would have good holding power. Just a matter of getting some here for a decent price.