Tent Mallet

[4000'er]

Do you bother to carry a tent Mallet when you go backpacking?
If you do, which one?

Is This one any good?

If you don't what do you do?
Stomp, step, or otherwise use your foot, or do you
whack, beat, or drive it in with a nearby rock.

 

[David Metsky]

Feet work fine. A rock if you have really hard ground. I've never found the remotest need for a mallet while hiking.

-dave-

 

[Halite]

To paraphrase the old song, "This 12 oz. hammer, it's a little too heavy..."

I improvise with feet, rocks, etc.

 

[trailbiscuit]

Never bother. (See threads about backpacking weight.) Never even really considered it.

We have a freestanding tent, so that helps. Still have to stake out the fly, though. If I can't drive a stake in by stepping on it, then I assume I've hit a rock and move it a bit. I also tend to get creative with the guy line to find a better spot. Very rarely have I ever failed to get adequate support with either a stake or tie around some immoveable object.

 

[TDawg]

HA! A tent mallet huh? Kinda looks funny in the picture.

I didn't know they existed...

Feet or a rock here, most of the time I dont even bother with my freestander.

 

[4000'er]

I do tend to over pack...
Never mind

 

[percious]

I too use rocks.

-percious

 

[pilgrim]

I do tend to over pack...

Yeah, me too, but a mallet? No way.

 

[Ridgewalker]

As many say use your foot, its the ultralight way!

 

[4000'er]

I too use rocks.
-percious

Seems like carrying rocks would be a whole lot heavier than carrying the mallet.

 

[--M.]

Speak softly and carry an armored division, right?

I'm a rock man, man.

 

[Lawn Sale]

I don't want to scratch the pegs or the rocks, so I use dead wood already on the ground.

OK, I'm not that bad, I also just use my foot or move the peg over.

 

[Mr. X]

I'd go with the one Pete Hickey has in his avatar. Flipped over of course.