Camping in the elements is among the most invigorating experiences – if you are well prepared. If you are not ready for the onslaught of rain, wind and even snow, it can be overwhelming and even frightening. Many newer campers do not realize that just because the 6 man tent they purchased came with outdoor plastic or titanium tent pegs, it does not mean that those pegs are suitable for every occasion. In fact, they may not be meant for any specific location at all.
Where you camp will determine what sort of tent pegs you will need. All throughout the Midwest, folks refer to a weekend in the woods as a camping trip: and it is. However, if you are taking weekend trips for plains camping, it will not matter much what you stake your tent to the ground with. An old piece of drift wood or a heavy stone will almost always suffice. In contrast if you take a late Fall or early Spring trip to the same location you will need more. Wind and snow, that are common during the transition of seasons, necessitate a more prepared approach. Then you will need a tent peg in the ground.
Plastic tent pegs work well for almost every camping scenario. They are sturdy, easy to clean and maintain and keep your tent anchored to the ground. In rain and heavy wind, they will keep your tent where you put it and you do not have to worry about it ripping or tearing the fragile seamed anchor points. If the elements pick up too much and you do not have an extreme mountaineering tent, the advantage to plastic pegs is that they do know when to give way. But if your whole trip is going to be in the extreme, you might need a stronger tent and sturdier pegs.
For adventure camping, high altitude camping, and off season adventures, you definitely need titanium tent pegs. They are designed to be longer and of course the material is almost unbreakable. If you are taking a trip up Longs Peak in the gorgeous Colorado Rocky Mountains and setting up camp in the boulder field, you certainly want titanium pegs. If you plan on facing off with an ice camping adventure, the last thing you need to worry about is whether your tent will stay in the ground. For a set of four titanium pegs you should expect to pay over fifty dollars, and that is a small price for the peace of mind they bring.
