Ground Grabba tent peg screw: product test

I WILL WAGER that most folk who have hammered tent pegs into hard ground have missed their fair share of strikes, perhaps suffered a few skinned knuckles in the process. This will never happen (well, it shouldn’t) with a screw-in tent peg.

Ground Grabba has all bases covered, with its range of screw-in pegs – three uniquely designed types – incorporating two different-sized steel pegs and one glass-reinforced nylon peg, all of which use a hexagonal head driven by supplied 19mm sockets.

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The 400mm-long glass-reinforced unit is classed as a ‘recreational grade’ tent peg for use on beach and sand dunes, and it features large-diameter flutes along the shaft and a moulded, open rope hook.

The two steel units measure 300mm and 600mm long, respectively, both with large-diameter flutes on the lower section of the shaft. A regular drill is fine for inserting and removing the pegs, but a shifter, spanner or ratchet can be used to twist each peg home.

The two steel units require a HexHook Pro hook plate to attach guy ropes, plus each plate incorporates a 19mm hex opening that can be used to tighten or loosen the peg; but it can’t offer the same leverage as a spanner or ratchet handle. The open hook points down to prevent trip hazards, and the plate can be used to open your beer tops – provided the plate isn’t attached to a peg in the ground.

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If you are attempting to insert a peg into extremely hard ground, a supplied masonry drill bit can help overcome that situation by pre-drilling the hole. If you strike like lightening (never in the same place twice) perhaps these tent pegs could well save you some time and trouble.

Would I buy ’em? My only gripe with these pegs is the cost compared to a standard hammer-in peg. You could buy a fist-full of old-fashioned steel pegs for the price of one Ground Grabba.

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Value for money therefore lies in whether of not you can hammer in a peg or whether you need to rely on a (perhaps) simpler means. Then again, if you need maximum ground-grabbing force, then it’s a no-brainer: Ground Grabbas win by a country mile.

A secondary problem: no drill generally means no drilling. While you can insert the screw-in pegs with a spanner or ratchet, it’ll take time; but if you have a decent torque battery drill with spare batteries, you won’t have a problem. They also take up more space; so if space is a premium, plain old pegs are more compact.

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RATED
Available from: www.groundgrabba.com.au
RRP: Varies, depending on peg style end length.
Pros: Fast and easy insertion and removal of pegs.
Cons: Relies on high-torque drill (or other means).
We Say: Great concept but expensive compared to a standard peg.