Sand pegs can be a lifesaver when it is a windy day at the beach. There are many things to consider when you lay down the shelter on the ground. One point to remember when choosing what to use to hold down your tent is, where will you be camping?
If you will be at a site with normal grass and sheltered from the wind and solid ground, then the pegs that come with your tent will probably be sufficient. Your standard tent peg should be at least 25 cm long and should be sufficient for most tents.
The next thing to consider is, what shape is your shelter? For dome shapes, shorter lengths will be sufficient. However, for larger square shapes, you should consider longer lengths of at least 40 cm and made of titanium. If you are holding down a tarp or canvas over the top of your tent, then a minimum length should be 60 cm or 2 feet. Ones made from plastic should be avoided. It is worth carrying the extra weight for the piece of mind. These will be more expensive, but will be worth it when the strong wind comes along. This is especially applicable on beach sites where the wind can be very strong in the evening.
If you are setting up on sand, then you will definitely need a sand peg. These are shaped like a shovel, rather than a pole, and can be more firm in softer grounds. The minimum length should be at least 40 cm, for moderate wind, and 60 cm for strong winds. Check that your beach shelter itself is of sufficient quality to withstand the forces of nature, otherwise even with the best buys on the market, the fixture itself will stay in the ground, while the anchor points and structural rods of your tent will break.
To further hold down the peg, you should consider using screw pegs, which are typically screwed into the ground rather than just inserted and hammered in. These are strong and can withstand any wind. However, the drawback is that they are harder to remove. A good idea is to bring a shovel and dig the sand around the peg, to lever out. Do not try to use the end of a hammer and pull it out, as this will be unnecessary strain on your back.
For those on a budget, and cannot afford pegs, you can try buying cheap steel angles from the hardware store. Drill a hole in one end and attach a key ring to it. You then have a cheap but useful sand peg to carry around. Best of all, you can make a large number of them to bring along to the beach. From experience, some larger tarps have required about 16 to 20 pegs just to secure it to the ground. If you are on an even smaller budget, then instead of going to the camping store, try your local gardening shop and get some garden pickets. As long as there is a place to tie onto, these will work just as good, and are very cheap to buy.
Always remember that you have sand that you can use to further keep the structure down. If you have room, place a heavy sandbag in each corner of the shelter together with the sand pegs.