Even the best tent won’t stay upright without solid tent pegs. Choosing the right ones can make or break your camping trip—literally. In this guide, we’ll review the best tent pegs for UK camping and explain how to choose the right type for your next adventure, ensuring your shelter stays put, no matter the weather.
Our Top Recommendations in Brief
- Best for Hard Ground: For rocky, compacted pitches, the Blue Diamond Hard Ground Pegs are an essential, frustration-saving upgrade.
- Best for Soft Ground: The Green Haven Screw in Pegs offer incredible holding power in grass, especially when used with a cordless drill.
- Best Heavy Duty: When you need maximum security for a large awning or shelter, the Heavy Duty Steel Pegs are practically indestructible.
Quick Jump to Reviews
Detailed Tent Peg Reviews
🏆 Best for Hard Ground
Blue Diamond Hard Ground Pegs
These are the pegs every UK camper should have in their bag. Many campsites have compacted, stony ground that can bend standard wire pegs with ease. These nail-style stakes are made from tough steel and can be hammered into hard ground without buckling. The plastic head provides a large striking surface and a sturdy hook for guylines. They come in a handy carry case to keep them organised and stop them from ripping your tent bag.
Verdict
The essential upgrade for any UK camper. These pegs will save you from frustration on compacted, stony pitches and ensure your tent stays put.
💸 Best for Soft Ground
Green Haven Screw in Pegs
For grassy fields or softer ground where normal pegs might pull out, these screw-in pegs provide incredible holding power. The wide, threaded design bites into the soil, creating a very secure anchor point. While you can screw them in by hand, they are best used with a cordless drill and the included adapter, which makes setting them up incredibly fast and easy. They are a fantastic choice for securing large family tents and awnings.
Verdict
A game-changer for pitching large tents on grass. If you own a cordless drill, these will make setup faster and far more secure.
💪 Best Heavy Duty
Heavy Duty Galvanised Steel Pegs
When you absolutely do not want your tent to move, these are the pegs you need. Made from thick, galvanised steel, these are essentially giant nails. At 25cm long, they provide a deep and secure hold in almost any ground type. The simple, forged steel head is indestructible. These are the workhorses of the peg world, ideal for securing the main structural points of very large tents or gazebos, especially in high winds.
Verdict
The ultimate solution for securing large shelters in high winds. They provide total peace of mind for large awnings and gazebos.
🌙 Best for Visibility
Blue Diamond Glow in the Dark Pegs
Tripping over guylines in the dark is a classic camping hazard. These clever pegs absorb sunlight during the day and then emit a soft green glow at night, making your tent's guylines much easier to see. They are a V-stake design, which provides good holding power in grass and regular soil. They're a brilliant and affordable safety feature, especially for camping with young children.
Verdict
A simple, cheap, and effective safety upgrade for any family campsite. Perfect for preventing late-night trips over guylines.
👍 Best General Purpose
YGCQFH Plastic Tent Stakes
These heavy-duty plastic stakes are a great, affordable upgrade from the standard wire pegs that come with most tents. Their V-shape and 23cm length provide excellent grip in grass and typical campsite soil. Being made of tough plastic, they won't rust and are lighter than steel alternatives. The bright yellow colour makes them easy to spot in the grass, and the large head features both a hook and an eyelet for securing guylines.
Verdict
A fantastic, budget-friendly replacement for the flimsy wire pegs that come with most tents. An ideal all-rounder for typical grassy campsites.
Buyer's Guide: How to Choose Tent Pegs
Material: Steel vs. Plastic
Steel pegs are the strongest and most durable option. They are essential for hard, rocky, or compacted ground where other materials would bend or break. They are, however, the heaviest option. Plastic pegs are lightweight, rustproof, and often brightly coloured. They are perfect for use in grass and normal soil but will snap if you try to hammer them into hard ground.
Design & Shape
The shape of a peg determines what it's best for. Nail stakes are thin and strong, designed to be hammered into hard ground. V-stakes have a larger surface area, giving them a better grip in regular grass and soil. Screw stakes have a threaded design that provides incredible holding power in soft ground or even sand.
Ground Conditions are Everything
The single most important factor is the ground you'll be camping on. The standard wire pegs that come with most tents are only suitable for perfect, soft grass. For most UK campsites, which can have very hard ground, a set of tough nail stakes is essential. If you know you're heading to a sandy coastal site, screw pegs will be a lifesaver.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of tent peg is best for rocky ground?
For rocky or very hard ground, you need a **nail stake** made from forged or hardened steel. They are designed like a nail and can be hammered forcefully without bending. The Blue Diamond Hard Ground Pegs are a perfect example.
How many tent pegs do I need?
Count the number of pegging points on your tent (both at the base and on the guylines) and add at least 4-6 spares. It's always a good idea to have more than you think you need, as you're bound to lose or bend a few over time.
Do different soils need different tent pegs?
Yes, absolutely. Hard, rocky soil needs strong steel nail pegs. Soft grass or soil needs pegs with a larger surface area, like plastic V-stakes or screw pegs. Sandy or snowy ground requires specialised, extra-long and wide pegs to get a secure grip.
About the Author

Adam Brooks
For the last ten years, I've been enthusiastically getting rained on in fields from the Cornish coast to the Lake District. My passion for finding gear that actually works was born from one too many 'easy-pitch' tents that required an engineering degree and a marriage counsellor to assemble. I created Top Listed Products to provide honest, straightforward reviews for fellow UK campers, so you can spend less time worrying about your kit and more time enjoying that well-earned bacon butty.