Mallet?

[Riverman]

The simple solution - take Timmy Mallet touring with you.

 

[hubbike]

If it is really hard with rocks underneath then it probably means there are rocks around on the surface so I use the nearest available.

If the ground is hard it's probably because it's stony so there must be stones to bash the pegs with.

 

[andym]

I've got one like numbnuts. Weighs very little, and makes quick work of whacking in the pegs in hard ground.

 

[GrahamG]

This must be my longest running thread ever. Think I'm going for the plastic jobbie after again abandoning the mallet as being too heavy for this weekends backpacking.

 

[samid]

I can't imagine carrying a mallet on a cycle tour. As if all the other junk that needs carrying didn't weigh more than enough already.

I did bend a few of the pegs that came with my Akto tent on my first trip (but none so bad as for it to become unusable). For my 2nd trip, I replaced the bent pegs with titanium ones, and also improved my technique I guess (meaning, just became more careful and aware that they may be bent), so during the 2nd trip didn't bend a single one. Unless the ground is unusually hard, I just push the pegs in with the palms of my gloved hand (i'm using old style leather mitts). Sometimes a foot or a stone come in handy. Never really had any problems.