Are super expensive titanium tent pegs worth it?

As part of my hot tent setup I purchased titanium alloy tent pegs from an Amazon vendor named Wanyifa. They sell all kinds of titanium products like bolts, spacers, clips and even combs. Each peg was $3.20 CND, so not cheap. They look like Vargo nails, but without the markup. I'll be using these year-round with all my tents.
www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B019...
Titanium pegs have twice the strength-to-weight ration of aluminum, so they won't bend easily when I pound them into frozen ground. The also go in easily because of their small profile.
Specifications:
Material: 6AL/4V(TC4)Titanium Alloy,Grade 5
Length: 165mm ;Diameter: 5mm
Total Weight: 15g/Piece (Including red rope); Nail Only Weight:14g

[@Martyupnorth]

I'm going to put my whole system to the test this weekend. I'm going on a hike Sunday and Monday in Jasper. I'm bringing my new teepee, my homemade stove, my new titanium stakes and my pulk. Chef Evan is joining me. We're having a seafood for dinner, and good wine. I'm excited. We're off to a good start. The plan is to get out every month in 2020.

[@hughmongus211]

Wow, I just watched a video on tent pegs and I learned a lot.

[@whiteflower5603]

Excellent comparison video on a something we all use but never really talk about! I appreciated it! Thanks, Marty.

[@eaglessj]

Excellent test. Thank you for taking the time to do this. I was actually looking at the Wanyifa brand pegs but couldn’t find any reviews or info on them. I just got in from a trip last night where we camped near a creek bed, the soil was compacted gravel and I bent several stakes and completely broke 2. I was using the typical aluminum Y style. I decided I wanted to upgrade to something tougher when I returned home. Looks like these Titanium pegs are the ticket.

[@Martyupnorth]

They're the only pegs I use these days.

[@victorvasquez2788]

Thank you for sharing your experience from out in the bush. Learn something new. These video segments are very helpful for us rookie hikers. I use the MSR pegs, now I know specifics why REI recommended them. Take care bud..

[@lizardleg8276]

very very very good video, this is the best stake video ive seen man, and ive seen a lot believe it or not, thank you for taking the time to do this, Im about to order those titanium nail ones off amazon for my backpacking kit

[@Martyupnorth]

I use them year-round. Cheers

[@martingoodwin56]

Really enjoy your channel, greetings from Kansas, USA. For tough conditions I like the steel stakes sold at Wal-Mart.

[@oldredcoonhound2182]

I always used 12" common nails with a washer tacked to the side of the head. Not light but bullet prove

[@Martyupnorth]

I once came across an old demolished bridge of the trail and I spent an hour pulling out old 12" nails. More like spikes. Probably had 10 lbs worth that I packed out.

[@Kambiztahan]

Great video and I liked the point that you added some engineering material comparison in it. There are high strength aluminum nail shaped pegs that are very durable and light. Other than material, cross section shape plays an important role. The type of soil is something to be considered too. The red peg you show with the triangle cross section is way better than titanium for clay type of soil as it’s higher surface area increases friction and resistance to pulling force of the tent rope.

[@VandrefalkTV]

This was great, been looking at these titanium nails myself lately, real great like I said. Also! Deffo using that baked potato trick! I have some spare alum. pegs that came with my DD Hammocks tarp that I don't like or use, so that's great. :D Thank you. :)

[@menoahgunzel8146]

Thanks man for this video!

[@Martyupnorth]

Happy to help!

[@banshee107]

This is the first year I struggled with this as I moved to ON from NS. Just bought 8 x 8” steel spikes lol.

[@backpackingrannie5088]

I like this content. It's the kind of thing. I troll KZbin looking for. Thank you!

[@janicsuhran]

thx man for your video, soo usefull!!!

[@Martyupnorth]

Glad it helped!

[@ThingThatWeCanSee]

Thank you

[@oldredcoonhound2182]

The issue with the titanium one is that they are round and it is hard to twist it to break the bond to pull it out. There is also the metal to frozen ground bonding.

[@PuskwaskaOutdoors]

When I stake out my Snowtrekker on bare frozen ground I use the steel “big nail” type pegs... when it’s time to leave and pull them out I drive them into the ground about a 1/2” to free them up then say a little prayer, sacrifice a live chicken, shake a bag of fish bones... and start pulling.... Haven’t had to abandon any “yet”.

[@justme-uw1yq]

Well Marty, thanks I just bought the titanium stakes, now to put them to my tests

[@Martyupnorth]

Have fun

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

Cool video. ✌️

[@worldcup88]

Interesting video, I think most of them would bend if you're hammering them on gravel grounds. A lot of the campsites in banff/jasper are gravel and the titanium pegs would be a great choice. I have the red aluminum pegs and for most part don't have much issues with them. Thanks for the comparison and information!

[@darkshaman7087]

The titanium spikes are great for ground were is a lot of stone the soil as they are thin and will find their way in the to the soil as the other shaped pegs will hit the stony ground and will be difficult to hammer them home

[@baze3SC]

I've had similar experience, there's not much to separate the "high end" ones in terms of strength but titanium ones don't bent so easily.

[@unsilencedman1070]

Hack to cook a baked potato as well as good tips for tent pegs, amazing! Hey I wonder if they can make a titanium carbide or tungsten carbide peg. Those are supposed to be some of the strongest materials. My next wedding band will most definite be made from something of that sort.

[@unsilencedman1070]

I know the titanium rocket stove asembly becomes bent after it is heated and reheated. It really only effects the squareness of it though.

[@Martyupnorth]

I've seen some cool wedding bands made from Titanium and also from Tungsten. My gold band won't come off ever since I broke my finger. Too much scar and bone growth at the knuckle.

[@wcndguy5302]

You should try plastic grocery bags as snow stakes for the deep snow. Don’t litter of course. Incredible how well they hold when you fill them and burry them.

[@wanderingpanda6556]

Been using the Vargo ti stakes since last winter. Although yours look slightly longer, it’s the same profile and all. First time I used them I had to leave one as I think I drove it into a big root in the frozen ground. I’ll go back and retrieve it hopefully some day...that’s $3.50 out in the woods! 😂 Since then, I’ve always carried an old pair pliers to yank them out...perhaps one of those will aid you this weekend? Nice comparison video and, as per usual, a lot of useful info. Would like to see how they fare if you drove them in, left them freezing overnight or two, and pull them in the morning to simulate when you’d leave camp generally.

[@Martyupnorth]

We all hate leaving gear behind, especially expensive gear. I once re-walked a half day's worth of trail to find my GPS. I found it. I've also found a lot of good gear over the years (bear spray, walking sticks, sunglasses, jackets, water bottles). One of the reasons I have a "collection" of tent pegs is because I find some in campgrounds almost every trip. People pull up camp, and leave one or two stakes in the ground. Yes, for whatever reason, I also heard that the titanium pegs can become quite hard to remove. I'm glad these have a hole and a cord at the end. I'll let everyone know how they performed after this weekend's trip. I leave tomorrow morning. Cheers,

[@wanderingpanda6556]

Martyupnorth awesome...don’t know whether I’m more jealous of the hike or the food to be consumed

[@petespencer-smith5059]

One key characteristic remained untested, how securely the peg remains in the ground. In gale fore conditions this is the most important property.

[@saoirse5308]

I just did an overnight a few weeks ago in Glade Park Co. the Ground was FROZEN! I broke 2 of the yellow "plastic" tent stakes. . . .ended up using my fix for frozen ground, I bring one 60d nail as a hole starter. 😏

[@Martyupnorth]

That works. Being able to improvise is a good skill to have. Cheers.

[@saoirse5308]

@@Martyupnorth I've found that big nail to be a worth the weight item more than once. I often use it to make a hanger, it seems like if it's raining and there is one side of a tree that is blocking the rain, it is a sure thing there is nothing to hang your pack from. (if it's a pine I always try to stuff a little sap in the hole when I pull the nail. ) It's also long enough to hammer the ends of 3 green sticks together, making a tripod (of sorts) to hang a small pot over the fire.

[@ThomasJeffersonWolfcall-kn3bx]

How'd that stake "restoration" go after bending it? 😉

[@Ramon-du7jv]

Great review! I appreciate your efforts! Where did you buy the titanium pegs?

[@Martyupnorth]

Amazon. Link in the description. This is an old video, so you might have to search for a different seller.

[@robthompson1399]

All that money on fancy tent pegs and can't afford a peg mallet ! 🤣. Very informative video, thank you.

[@PuskwaskaOutdoors]

......silly question Marty but ummm... what happens if you want to camp on top of a layer of snow? Say about 12” deep when compressed.... you’ll either be shoveling out holes to stake out your tent or shovelling out the whole footprint of the tent....?

[@Martyupnorth]

If I think I'll encounter deep snow I bring snow stakes. I can also use 1" branches cut a foot long. That's a whole different scenario.

[@Martyupnorth]

There are quite a few options for deep snow. Maybe I'll do a video just on that.

[@PuskwaskaOutdoors]

Glad you have a plan I was kinda thinking you were counting on just using the titanium pegs... I was out last weekend camping in my Lavvu on 12” of compressed snow and was thinking of how much of a pain short stakes would of been 😂 Video is on my channel if you haven’t watched it yet 👍

[@joetexas1546]

I like the red MSR ones-what I use.

[@Martyupnorth]

If MSR made a titanium version of their Groundhog it would be a nearly perfect peg. I just don't think titanium can be extruded like aluminum, so that's why they haven't made one.

[@modygonzales8255]

Tnx,I appreciate your common laymans approach,as a beginner.I purchase a one person tent wenzel starlight with the rather steel stakes.! I plan to buy online boundless and voyage ti alloy stakes,20cm long..Is it a good choice?Mody from the Philippines

[@Martyupnorth]

Glad to help

[@modygonzales8255]

@@Martyupnorth tnx Marty

[@oshben]

My question is which I can drive in with the heel of my boot hahah

[@mezmerya5130]

main problem with ice is not pounding pegs in, but removing them. ice binds to aluminium, making it impossible to remove in the morning, so you have to use all kinds of tricks to loosen it. ice doesnt bind to titan.

[@Martyupnorth]

I have a little trick for removing them. I tap them in slightly, then I pull them out. The tapping breaks that ice hold. It's counterintuitive, but it works every time.

[@mezmerya5130]

@@Martyupnorth exactly, still i "beheaded" many groundhogs that were in use for some time doing that, i think their "neck" weakens over time. winter stake tax.

[@donmartin9567]

Weight to Strength isn't much more than anecdotal. What you really care about is: 1) Does it hold in the conditions you camp in? 2) Does it stay straight when you use it? 3) Does it break? 4) Then weight! And, all pegs are a compromise somewhere. Aluminum bends easier, Steel weighs too much, Carbon Fibre breaks too easily, Titanium is usually round and pulls out too easily in anything other than really hard ground (like frozen). Now, having said all that, perhaps part of what needs to be done is to pick your stakes based upon the weather you are camping in. Oh and I like the guys suggestion of using a "wooden Mallet"! Personally I like the MSR Groundhog and mini-groundhog! Groundhog for "major" stake out points and minor for, well, "minor" stake out points. Oh, and GREAT Video, thanks!

[@Martyupnorth]

I agree Don. I think you and I are on the same page. I have the ability to choose different pegs for different tents and different conditions. As I said in the video, the MSR Groundhog and the Titanium pegs each score high. If the titanium could be machined into the Groundhog shape we'd probably have a nearly perfect peg. I think Titanium is just a hard substance to shape into anything complicated.

[@donmartin9567]

@@Martyupnorth And, don't forget, your trowel can be used as a stake, especially in snow or sand. And, I just read where someone is taking nails (I think about 1 1/2" to 2" long) to use when your tent sites are those wooden decks!

[@sbgroen]

If they made MSR Groundhogs (Y stakes) in titanium, they'd be sold out in a day.

[@earlrussell1026]

You must love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. You must love your neighbor as yourself. Jesus the anointed is Lord! Repent and be baptized and believe the Gospel.

[@ThomasJeffersonWolfcall-kn3bx]

Blow it out your ass, Earl.