Choosing the tent pegs you need

When pitching a tent or an awning, the kind of pegs you use can have a big impact on the success of your camping trip. If you’re buying a new tent, it should come with some pegs as standard, but these may or may not be suitable for the kind of trip you’re planning. Below, we’ve summed up how to choose the right tent pegs for different scenarios.

Tent pegs securing tent in the forest (Kevin Payan / Unsplash)

Types of tent peg

Wire tent pegs (also known as skewer tent pegs)

These are the most common type of modern tent peg and are usually made of steel, aluminium or titanium. They are generally lightweight (especially if made of aluminium or titanium) and cheap, and can be driven into and removed from the ground fairly easily.

They may bend or even break if driven into stony ground, however, and are prone to twisting once in place, so they are not the best pegs for rough terrain or poor weather conditions.

Wooden tent pegs (or tent stakes)

For a traditional look, you can also buy or make your own wooden tent pegs. These are surprisingly durable if you use high-quality wood. If making your own, you’ll need to start with wood between one and two inches in diameter that is dry and doesn’t sound hollow when knocked on.

These are, however, bulkier and heavier than most other tent pegs; their tops can also be easily damaged if using a mallet to drive them in. Like wire tent pegs, they can be damaged or broken if used in stony ground.

Plastic tent pegs

Plastic tent pegs work well on soft or grassy ground and are cheap, durable and easy to maintain. They come in a wide variety of colours, which is helpful if you’re heading to a family-friendly campsite where kids may be running around, and they also generally hold up well in the wind.

Plastic tent pegs will not perform well if they are forced into the ground or hit rocks or stones.

V-shaped tent pegs (also known as angle pegs or metal stake pegs)

V-shaped tent pegs are good for most ground types. The extra surface area of this shape means that they provide a lot of stability, so many campers use them on the outer corners of their tent. They do not rotate once in the ground, and can withstand high winds with ease.

Rock tent pegs (or nail tent pegs)

Rock pegs are essentially steel nails that have been adapted to be driven into harder rocks and gravel. Once driven into the ground with a mallet, these pegs will not budge. They often have a durable plastic head, with glow-in-the-dark pegs available to make sure that you or other campers won't trip over them at night.

Screw tent pegs (or pile driver pegs)

Screw tent pegs are very similar to rock tent pegs but have a threaded design for extra grip, much like a screw. They are made of durable steel and are very sturdy once in place.

If the ground is very dry and compact, some people use an electric screwdriver to create a hole and secure these pegs. They can be tricky to remove, but generally a few twists anticlockwise is enough to start the process.

Delta pegs (or ground anchors)

Delta pegs are among the best tent pegs for stormy weather, with a clever design that helps them to increase their resistance when force is applied. They are available in sturdy plastic or steel.

Start by driving most of the longer section into the ground before stopping to hook the guy rope over the shorter horizontal section to hold it fast. Once this is done, continue pushing the peg into the ground.

Summary table

As you’ll see from the summary table below, it’s often best to mix and match with tent pegs. No two campsites are the same, and you can not tell what the ground is like below the surface until you start to insert the pegs. High winds or rain can also lead to your original pegs becoming unsuitable, so it’s well worth packing at least one alternative to the pegs that come with your tent.

Peg type	Terrain	Good in high winds?	Weight
Wire pegs	Grass	No	Steel heavier than aluminum or titanium, but generally light
Wooden pegs	Grass	No	Generally heavy and bulky
V-shaped pegs	Grass, stony ground, sand (long pegs only)	Yes	Average
Plastic pegs	Grass, sand (long pegs only)	Yes	Light
Rock pegs	Rock, gravel and frozen ground	Yes	Average to heavy
Screw pegs	Rock, gravel	Yes	Average to heavy
Delta pegs (plastic)	Grass	Yes	Light
Delta pegs (steel)	Stony or rocky ground	Yes	Average

Tent peg FAQs

What tent pegs are best for awnings?

Awnings pitched on hardstanding areas or gravel should be secured with a sturdy rock or screw peg. For other ground types, see our table above.

What tent pegs are best for gravel?

Screw pegs and rock pegs are best for gravel. V-shaped tent pegs may also work well.

What tent pegs are best for sand?

Sand pegs need to be longer, with 10 inches the minimum length for loose sand. Long v-shaped and plastic tent pegs both work well in these kinds of ground.

What tent pegs are best for backpacking?

If you’re backpacking, the smallest and most compact pegs you can bring are aluminium or titanium wire pegs.

Do I need a mallet?

Mallets can be useful, particularly on hard and compact ground, but most of the time they are optional when pitching on grass.

How many tent pegs should I pack?

It is a good idea to pack a variety of types of tent pegs, if you have the space. Different campsites have different types of ground and you cannot guarantee good weather conditions at all times.

How should I look after my tent pegs?

Pegs should be cleaned with hot water and dried before being put into storage. Not cleaning and drying metal pegs may mean that they rust more quickly. Superficial rust can be removed with white wine vinegar, but if this is allowed to grow it can affect the lifespan of your pegs.