Tent Mallets

What a tent mallet is for

A tent mallet drives pegs into the ground and, with a puller on the end, gets them out again. Pushing pegs in by hand or with a boot works on soft grass, but on firm or stony ground a mallet saves bent pegs and sore hands, and it gets each peg in deep enough to hold. Most of the hammers here have a hook or slot on the head that lifts pegs out without pulling on the guy line or the tent.

Steel hammer, rubber mallet or peg kit: which tent mallet

• Steel camping hammers in high-carbon steel, carbon steel or stainless steel have a solid head and a claw or slot that pulls pegs out. One is 30cm long with a lanyard to hang it up. See tent pegs.
• Light plastic hammers in PE, from about 100g, have a peg puller and suit a small tent or a walking trip.
• Rubber mallets give a soft blow that does not mark or crack what it hits, with head weights of 12, 16 and 24oz. One has a white head that is easy to find in the grass.
• Peg kits bring 30cm forged steel pegs, a hammer with a hooked end and a canvas bag together. See tent bags.

Rubber or steel

Match the mallet to the pegs and the ground. A rubber mallet is the gentle choice for aluminium and plastic pegs, and for a tent pitched on ordinary grass: it drives them in without flattening their heads. A heavier rubber head drives harder than a light one. A steel hammer is for forged or galvanised steel pegs on hard, stony or dry ground, where you need to hit firmly and often. Used on light aluminium pegs it can bend them, so go gently or use the rubber mallet. Whichever you choose, hit the peg's head squarely, and stop if it meets a stone: pull it out and move it a little rather than forcing it.

Getting pegs back out

Pulling a peg out by its guy line tears the line or the tent, so use the puller on the hammer. Hook it under the peg's head or through its hole and lift along the line the peg went in. Pegs with a cord or reflective loop are easier to lift and to find. Count the pegs back into their bag before you leave the pitch.

Questions people ask about tent mallets

Do I need a mallet for a pop-up tent?

Yes, if you peg it down, and every tent should be pegged. The pop-up part is the frame, not the pegs.

Which weight of rubber mallet should I choose?

A lighter head is easier to carry; a heavier head drives pegs into firm ground with fewer blows.

How long does delivery take?

Delivery is included in every price and tracked to your door. Each product page says when it usually arrives, so check it before ordering for a set date.

More to look at

• Tent pegs
• Guy lines
• Tent bags
• Groundsheets and footprints
• Tent repair kits
• Family tents
• Guide: How to pitch a tent, and pitching in wind and rain
• Guide: Fishing and ice-fishing tents