UNDERSTANDING TENT PEGS

Understanding tent pegs is important so we will buy the correct pegs for camping.

Tent pegs are like a mother. We take them for granted and don’t realize that the house will collapse without them. We don’t always appreciate their role in the success of our camp set-up.

One such misunderstanding is the design of tent pegs. Tent pegs are designed so they won’t pull out of the ground and let the tent collapse.

Tent peg designs mostly centre around designs that will stop the tent peg from pulling out of the ground. That is a misconception. Tent pegs only pull straight out of the ground if you stand over them and pull them out. The only reason tent pegs will pull out of the ground is if the soil is so soft that the peg can pull out sideways.

So why do we use pegs made from ribbed iron or from steel that is much stronger than what we need for the job?

Let’s look at how tent pegs are used and what their “responsibility” is.

In the image, you can see how a tent peg should stand in the ground. It should be at an angle of around 45° to the top of the pole that it anchors. (The peg in the image is a bit less than 45° but you get the idea)

The anchoring provided by a tent peg arises from the pull on the peg. Looking at the image, you actually want the peg not to break ground by moving in the direction of the tent, and then pulling out. That will only happen if the soil is too soft to resist the sideways movement of the peg.

We don’t expect the peg to lift itself vertically out of the peg hole and then tumble over, do we?

Do your own thinking about your tent pegs

If you think about how you use your tent pegs you may think about:

• Do I camp only in certain seasons? Some people only camp in Spring and Summer while others camp in Winter in warmer parts of the country.
• What are the weather conditions when I usually camp? August is windy and July is cold but only windy in the Cape. December to February can be extremely hot with thunderstorms and gusty winds.
• Where do I usually camp? Camping at the coast calls for specific preparations to cope with high winds.
• Are my camping gear of such a quality that it will serve me well anywhere I camp?

The increase in the influence of earth warming means that we will experience unusual weather at times of the year when we are not used to having such weather.

Campers will need to invest in reliable camping accessories because cheap and sub-standard gear will increase the risk of ruined camping trips or financial loss.

What will you need to consider when camping?

• Your caravan or tent should be well maintained, inspected and prepared for your camping trip.
• You will have to plan for the expected weather conditions and the area where you will camp.
• You will need to be prepared for any eventuality.
• You will have to consider the smallest accessory in your camping equipment because even the smallest part can play an important role in your camping experience.

Tent pegs are the orphan of camping gear and people expect to pay the least for their pegs.

Many campers can vouch for the stupidity of ignoring the importance of high-quality tent pegs. Just because the manufacturer includes a certain type of peg with their product, does not mean that it will be up to the task.

Tent pegs that are sold as a package with a tent are usually made for the tent, not the weather. A flimsy nylon tent may withstand strong winds. But that does not mean that the 150mm flat aluminium tent pegs that came with it will stay fixed in the soft soil where you camp.

The 350mm Max-Peg, for instance, is adequate for hard soil in the interior but you may need to get 450mm storm pegs if you camp on the beachfront.

The right tent peg saves you money

The right tent peg actually saves you money and pain. Using tent pegs that allow you to camp without storm nets or bands your camping gear will cost you much less. The same applies when you buy what you need and do not buy “in case”. Three sets of torch batteries “in case the others fail” is not necessarily better planning. It is mostly a waste of money.

It isn’t easy to camp without nets and bands. We have been conditioned to believe that the more accessories we buy the safer we are. In the case of camping equipment, it is not the case if you know your camping equipment well enough to trust it.

Tent pegs are the foundations of a well-thought-through camping setup. Good quality camping equipment builds on that.