Tent Peg Hammer?

Yup. It's a rock.

I was thinking of cutting down one of these that my son has. it is less than 8 oz if I remember right, so with some judicial cutting I could probably get it down to 3-4 oz and still be functional as a mallet and a puller, it could also be used to help split wood. i would never carry it, but my son loves that thing (Of course he like to pretend he is Thor too).

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A shoe works pretty well too and is my preferred method. But a rock works equally well if you're dealing with tough ground.

As for stake pullers, a rock (or pocket knife, or spork, or extra guyline, etc.) works well for the first one, then stake number 1 performs double-duty as a stake puller (assuming the stake has enough "hook" to it).

Adam

I use a rock as well… then nicely put it back where I found it.

I use a 12-18" length of downed wood which is around wrist diameter. I'm less likely to mangle stakes with wood than with a rock. :)

You may know the advice of hitting the nail square on the head..same with a peg.
No matter if you use a rock/log or foot.
To test the theory I have bent several stakes by pushing the peg in having the heal on the ground and then leaning forward.
Works every time (that is I end up with a bent peg that way…)
Franco

I exclusively use Easton tubular tent pegs, pretty much always the 8". In something like 15 years of bashing on them with rocks and logs (found objects harder than my hand) I've never bent or broken one. My buddy broke one by stomping on it. In terms of pulling out, the Eastons have cord loops. Easy. Though I usually just use the loop the stake is through.

Rock.

Cheers

Tent peg + tent peg hammer + tree root = All bad.

I look at it this way -if you think you need a hammer for that unruly tent peg that won't sink easily, resist the urge to beat the day lights out of the peg with a hammer, rock, or anything else for that matter because there is probably a good reason the peg isn't going down easy. The end result when power bashing a peg will likely be a damaged peg, damaged peg user, or peg that is impossible to extract. Just say no to hammering pegs kids. Where is Nancy Regan when you really need her anyways?

comments here and in the stake thread about difficulty of pulling stakes back out.

I don't ever pull the stake head. Instead, I use the cord loop the stake is in as a noose/lasso kinda deal and pull on the cord. Never hurt my hands, never hurt my tents or tarps, never had a problem.

I use msr groundhawgs, some titanium V stakes, and occasionally, some hilleburg V stakes.

to place a stake, I step on it. You can bend 'em, but if you do, you are not applying the force at the correct vector. Rock as plan b.

"I don't ever pull the stake head. Instead, I use the cord loop the stake is in as a noose/lasso kinda deal and pull on the cord."

Which on an Easton aluminum tubular stake, is a cemented head that can pull off, especially after the bond has been shattered by hammering.

But I still use a rock, and hammer 'till it don't go in no more.'

I've only pulled off two heads in many, many years.

"Just say no to hammering pegs kids."

I'd rather hammer and have a tent when I come back, than have pretty looking stakes.

As others have said… rock. I will second Greg's experience. Hammer with rock and then later pull on the top of the easton shakes can put the cap off. I also have had to dig two of these stakes out over the last 4 years or so.

Most of the time I don't need to hammer. I bring a small plastic plumbing tee. Lets me push much harder on the stake with my hand and is also put over the pointy end of my treking poles so I don't drive a hole through my shelter.

–Mark