Our stainless steel pegs compared
A trend we have noticed in 2021 is the continuing growth of the stainless steel pegs market in Australia. Like coffee cups, straws and water bottles before them, they're starting to become a mainstream product being sold by major department stores. They're certainly not all created equal. In this blog post, we simplify understanding what the difference is in various pegs on the market.
We're starting off with a rather obscure peg that baffles people and you won't see this one in many places. The jumbo peg from Wire Pegs can wrap itself around 16 layers of towel (we took a photo). Each time we have posted it on social media, people think they're cool but wonder what on earth they would use the peg for. Their main use is to hold blankets and quilts on a clothes line. Anything that's thicker than a towel will be hard to hold on with a regular peg. The jumbo pegs are only made in a 201 grade stainless steel and should not be left outside in between uses.
These pegs wound with a single piece of stainless steel were introduced in Australia by the brand Wire Pegs who we still stock today. This is the most popular style of peg on the market and while they all look the same they are not. The first thing to look out for is what grade of stainless steel they are made from.
- 201 grade are the cheapest available and do need some care taken with them. Bring them inside in between uses and as long as you don't leave near the ocean, they will serve you well
- 304 grade are the same quality that your insulated water bottle would be made from. We label these as able to handle salty conditions. If you live near the beach, they should last just fine being left out most of the time, but we still like the idea of not permanently leaving them hanging on the line
- 316 grade is marine grade. They come at a significantly higher cost than their 201 grade or 304 grade counterparts, but are safe to leave out wherever you like.
We sell the most of the 201 grade pegs as they are less than half the price of the 316 and they do exactly the same job. The difference is how you will care for them in between uses.
These pegs are also available in a variety of wire thicknesses which give them a firmer hold, but in turn, make them harder to open and close. We only stock regular hold pegs because we feel they are strong enough while still being easy to open.
They also come in a physically larger size to help hold more, and we do stock the larger pegs.
You will also see our bamboo pegs in the main photo at the top of the page. They are sitting next to the Wire Pegs both here and at the top of the page. They represent the 'average sized' plastic peg you would find at the supermarket, although we feel these bamboo pegs are just a little bit smaller, but only a fraction. If you don't have the budget for a full set of stainless steel, bamboo are a great option, and preferable over timber pegs because there are no tannins to stain your clothes when they get wet.
On the very right in the picture at the top of the page are our Pincinox Pegs. They are like no other stainless steel peg on the market for the following reasons.
- Pincinox Pegs are made in France. Most other pegs in this space are made in China.
- They look and feel like a traditional peg and are easier to handle.
- They are rust tested by putting them in salty water for 3 months straight. You can leave these pegs out and they just will not rust.
- They are oven safe and can be used in baking to hold chickens closed and various other tasks without using single use items.
They do have a price tag to match and are very much a premium product in this category. They really will last you a lifetime and the lifetime of your kids, your grandkids and their children as well. Pincinox will be the last pegs you will ever buy.
