Hard ground tent pegs for RSI wrists
I'll be tenting for a few nights in Central Otago later this summer. I have RSI in my wrists so banging in tent pegs isn't an option. (I am going to test out a rubber mallet this weekend but will be very surprised if that's any less painful)
Anyone here with arthritic wrists or RSI? What do you use for very hard ground? I've seen a number of screw-in models online but most of them assume a portable drill -- and weight is an absolute premium for me this trip, so that's completely out of the question. Some of them have manual handles but they're mostly pretty small, I'm finding it hard to imagine screwing them in with just that. I'm also thinking that the extra diameter will make them harder, not easier, to get into hard ground, despite the manufacturers' claims.
My list of possibles:
https://www.camperite.co.uk/kampa-screw-fix-peg-midi/
https://peggypeg.com.au/
http://www.outbacktravelaustralia.com.au/camping-camping-gear/easy-screw-in-tent-pegs-march-2015
http://www.orangescrew.com/
http://www.trailspace.com/gear/tentsile/x3-giant-pegs/
My feeling at this point is to go with one of the two Aussie companies, but the review in the final link is very persuasive!
Just wondering what other folks in similar predicaments have found.
Not much use to you on short notice, but a free-standing tent would be a god send for your situation.
Not sure exactly where you're going Skiaddict, or how big your tent is, but I carry 4 light nylon slings, about the size of a large handkerchief, when I'm going minimalist.
You can buy them commercially but I made mine from old tent cloth and got a reinforced tape edge loop sewn around them.
The idea is that you put a large heavy stone in them (or bury them in packed snow) and tie the main tent guy lines to them.
Hopefully you will have access to some small boulders ;)
Could try pushing them in with your foot, provided you are wearing boots that is. This is how I do it 95% of the time. I have peripheral neuropathy and lost all the muscle between thumb and forefinger plus arthritis in thumb joints at wrist I have difficulty holding a hammer let alone hitting anything with it as I lose the grip. Lost count of the number of times I have whacked the foot or shin. So with boots on stepping on the tent pegs is the easiest way for me. Pretty much got it down to a fine art. But of course pulling the buggers out is the greater problem these days. Bit of a kick here and there loosens it enough to get it out.
Similar to @strider, saw a tent pitched inside Bivouac using what looked like sandbags, but can't see such on their website. Might be worth getting in touch with them ?.
This YouTube clip shows a "big rock/little rock" technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THlyW-CwEq8
Similar to, but better than this ?.
https://i.stack.imgur.com/uFmsw.jpg
ps - apparently, supermarket plastic bags filled with ballast would work :)
Thanks for the info guys. Unfortunately I won't have boots and all but one of the sites won't have rocks available. And with the ground so hard even filling bags with sand/earth will be a hard ask, I reckon (pun not intended). I can't carry ballast with me since weight needs to be real low.
However, Craigo: a free-standing tent sounds like an interesting idea. I'm either going to rent or borrow the tent, the former will be one of these:
http://www.adventurecapital.co.nz/product/auckland-tent-hire-overnight-rental-24hrs/
(it has a waterproof fly which isn't shown here)
The borrowed one is one of those "shake and it's up" types.
Both of these will stand up without any guy ropes but I would imagine the noise of the tent flapping in any breeze would keep me awake all night!!
Is a free-standing tent something else again from either of these?
Thanks again guys, much appreciated :-)
I like those milites as they can also be used as a standard peg. A problem you have in a lot of central otago is the stoney nature of the ground. Ive camped many places there and destroyed many pegs. Dont be suprised if you get the peg in an inch or so then no further. An inch wont hold the tent.
The bags at Bivouac are purely to put tents up in the shop. I have seen nappy pins used the same way in carpeted shops
I see two drawbacks to the milites. Firstly they must be pretty heavy (metal and look pretty solid and large) and since I have to carry the day's worth of water with me I'm very concerned about weight. Secondly with the screw thead not coming out very far from the shaft they must have to be put in at an angle...which would surely be difficult by hand. No problem if you have electricity working for you but...
Thanks for the warning about only getting pegs in an inch. Forewarned is forearmed, even if I can't do anything to prepare for it! My feeling is 2 of the 4 sites will be OK, 1 will be impossible but there are loose rocks, the 4th site is quite possibly going to be rocky under the surface but there are no loose rocks that I know of.
that video of the 2 rock anchoring technique was educational for me. I've always grabbed a big rock and stuck that in the fly loop but of course it is hard work wrestling a big rock. Then I've put a small flatter rock wedged in front as the "chock stone". Using a little rock in the guy rope makes sense! Must try it out sometime.
You can also use tussocks as anchors, or small shrubs. You wind the guy rope around the tussock then tie it off. I've also grabbed fallen branches.
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| Forum | Gear talk |
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| Started by | skiaddict |
| On | 13 January 2017 |
| Replies | 8 |
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