Topic

Do you peg ground peg points on your tent?

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Stuart Murphy BPL Member
PostedMay 25, 2014 at 12:31 am

What is the collective wisdom regarding the necessity or otherwise of guying all available points on a tent in strong wind assuming the following:

* "traditional" 2 wall shelter, i.e. either tunnel or dome
* all guy lines used and pegged well (no likelihood of pegs pulling out)
* tent fly is well tensioned via previous point
* necessary stake points at ground level are used i.e. typically 2xfront; 2xback for a tunnel

Maybe if we talk about tunnels to keep it simpler?

Is it necessary/desirable to peg the points at the base of poles? Wouldn't appear to be in my experience… discuss

Cheers
Stuart

PostedMay 25, 2014 at 5:52 am

Yes.

If/when it gets windy, you are at risk of having your tent deformed when things get pushed sideways.

Even with the "top" guys staked, the wind can loft and compress the tent. Once it settles, it won't "spring back" if the pole ends stuck in the dirt.

If is windy when you break camp corner pegs will keep the tent where it needs to be, rather than thrashing against the ground.

Necessary? No.

Potential for wind? Yes.

Stephen M BPL Member
PostedMay 25, 2014 at 2:57 pm

I always use the full amount of lines even if the weather is good.
For me its just good habit to be in.

PostedMay 25, 2014 at 3:22 pm

It always use to seem that when I was lazy and didn't fully tie my shelter down would be the night that the winds would kick up.

I now always assume strong winds could happen.

One extreme case was when I was camping with a group. We went off to do a side trip after pitching camp and when we came back almost everyone's tent and gear was blown away. Many tents and sleeping bags were in the river.

Only mine and one other tent was still standing.
Everyone else thought their gear and sleeping bags would hold the tents in place if the wind picked up.

PostedMay 25, 2014 at 5:28 pm

I never stake (peg) out all my points unless I know it will blow or snow hard.

EX. My TT Scarp 2 has 3 end stakes that must be used on each end.
And in case of a big storm->
…4 fly hem stake loops
…and 2 end and 2 side guyline tie-out points

If I stake out all of them every time I'd use 14 stakes! Not happening in mild weather.

Of course we can always use rocks and trees in place of stakes (pegs). Always a good choice (when available) if we expect a force 5 gale.

PostedMay 26, 2014 at 3:12 am

Yes, but also for another reason: with my tent it improves the ventilation and lessens the condensation.

kevperro . BPL Member
PostedMay 26, 2014 at 9:04 am

I'd say it depends on the tent design. Most of my hiking experience has been with a tent that required four stakes to stand. Most so-called free standing tents I don't bother. I just use the minimum amount of stake-out points.

PostedMay 26, 2014 at 9:38 pm

I always do. In the wind I want the tightest pitch I can get, and staking the floor out is part of that.

K C BPL Member
PostedMay 26, 2014 at 9:54 pm

I exclusively use Mids and Flat tarps. I only use the the minimal staking required; 4-5 for mids or 6 for flat tarps in A frame mode. If I sense a breeze, want more space inside, more stability or want ventilation I will deploy extra stakes/guy line and spend the extra 5-10 minutes to get a tighter pitch. I always carry extra guy line so sometimes I will use sticks and rocks.

Matt Dirksen BPL Member
PostedMay 27, 2014 at 4:33 am

Putting stakes in at the base of the poles can help resist uplift as well as lateral deformity.

It would certainly reduce the amount of "work" the other stakes are doing.

If I'm in a high wind situation, there's no reason not to consider it.

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