Swag

[Watertank]

Not ultralight, not even light but after spending a night in a swag with a round pole at either end I am wondering whether one might be a good camp when car camping for day walks. What are the good Australian swag brands? I want one with a pole at either end and side entry. What should I be looking at when assessing swags?

[Gadgetgeek]

The advice given to me was, vinyl bottom swags get hotter and don't breath as well. the waterproofing on the canvas varies widely with brands. In heavy rain you will likely want some level of extra coverage, such as a vehicle awning or extra tarp. Bug netting is essential as the benefit of the swag is ventilation in hot weather. I have a burke and wills ironbark (no poles) that is very nice. It came with a good foam mat, but I've since replaced it with a thermarest basecamp. another option to look at would be a 'stretcher" swag, to keep you up off the ground. but mine is nice and fast.
The burke and wills canvas is very thick and sturdy, there are others that are lighter and more compact, like swagman. the waterproofing on mine is quite good, not perfect by any means, but no loose canvas will stop a queensland rain, But for cold weather I can camp nearer to the fire, and in hot weather its almost as good as my hammock, and far faster.

[photohiker]

A dome swag is my go to overnight accommodation when car camping. The advantages over tents are really good. They are comfortable, warm, and way faster to setup. Just roll it out, put in the hoops and a couple of pegs. 2 minutes should do it and your bedding is immediately ready. Takedown is just as fast.

I use an Oztrail Mitchell swag. Only used in winter/spring, so cannot confirm re heat in summer. The whole top of the swag can be rolled back and it has insect mesh and openings at each end. Probably OK in summer, yet to try.

[Travis22]

Buy Australian made if you can afford the slight premium in price.

Burke and Wills would be one of the most well known brands, sadly they arent 100% Australian made they are partly made in China and then finished here in Australia.

Their RRP is always a lot more then the 'street price'. Anaconda have them on special often and online stores like Wild Earth are the same, they have the best prices ive seen when on sale.

There are hundreds of other Australian manufacturers, every state and territory has local canvas shops etc who make swags. Most 'local' canvas shops tend to make more 'traditional' swags as opposed to the 'swents' (swag crossed tents) with lots of hoops, fly mesh etc.

My favorite brand is Candy Canvas in SA. IMO they make the nicest 100% aussie made swags with nothing but the best materials.

I have 2 CC swags and 1 Burke and Wills (Redgum).

Only brand id say to avoid is Darchie. They were a small local maker manufacturing really nice canvas products for decades but they have sold out and now have everything you can imagine made for them in China and it is nothing like the quality gear they used to make.

Travis.

[nitro]

I use a swag for most car camping. Got a Downunder Swag that has hoops at each end and side opening. Great swag that is super comfy. Instead of using it on the ground, I have an Oztent stretcher bed that gets it off the ground.

[McGinnis]

I've got two swags - a cheapo Wild Country dome swag (that's been abused and lasted brilliantly), and a much more expensive AOS Adventurer double swag (bought on sale for 60% off).

Both are extremely comfortable; the primary difference is in canvas quality. The AOS uses heavy (14 oz) Bradmill canvas which actually keeps the rain out. I've been in relatively heavy rain in the AOS and stayed dry. I've yet to go through a serious storm in it without a tarp overhead though.

The Wild Country uses typical cheap canvas that is definitely not waterproof - it does okay though considering the price, but expect to need a tarp over the swag if you go cheapl

As has previously been said, canvas bases breathe better, so you don't get moisture trapped between the mattress and the base.

If I was to buy another swag, it'd probably be a Burke and Wills Ironbark with the full fly. I'm admittedly not one of those people that can sleep without a mesh - I get devoured by mosquitoes. The Ironbark is great because it's fast to pitch, rolls up nice and small and still has a full fly option.

Candy Canvas, AOS, Burke and Wills, and Saul Swags would probably be my picks based on what I've seen.

By the way, don't underestimate the size of some of the largest swags. My AOS double is huge packed up, and the Oztrail Mitchell double is even bigger. On the back seat of a hatchback, you won't have much more room for anything other than the swag.

[simonm]

I got my swag from a canvas mob in Carlton, Sydney, around a decade or more ago and its still going strong. It has top, and side entrance with full mesh.

Apart from the others already mentioned Mr Swagman is another worth checking out, pretty sure his swags are Australian made.

This thread makes me want to get out in the swag again.

[simonm]

Actually one thing the old fella who made mine said was there's no point using the really heavy canvas that some do as most people will want a tarp over them anyway when its bucketing down. This was certainly the case for me. I had an awning off the side of my 4wd on most instances anyway.

[Moondog55]

I happily sold my old swag [ Candy Canvas and the very best quality] when I bought from a member here a US Army goretex bivvy
Big, heavy and bulky and the swag took up far too much room in the back of the ute.
The main advantage of a swag is the viewpoint that using one you are not technically "camping" so they can often be used in places where you would be fined if you put up a tent
Personally IF I was to get another one it would be with a heavy duty vinyl floor and the lightest weight most breathable canvas top and lots of mossie net

[Gadgetgeek]

There are lots of variations in swags, and lots of swag users are more casual, in that they are not going for max performance or specialization, just sort of hitting the middle of the road. I'm sure you could narrow down more and more what you want. For example, my ironbark can be used without tying up the ends. however if that is done, the canvas can feel very heavy on your legs, and some would not like that. Even halving its rolled diameter with the better mat, its massive, and the ironbark is relatively small. thinner canvas would get you a smaller packed size and weight. I also don't use my swag where I'm planning on getting soaked. That's what hammocks are for. But from that standpoint, it all depends on the sort of conditions you are likely to find where you are. Here is south east queensland, some of the really solid rains can cause problems for any ground dwellers if they are not careful.

[photohiker]

Agree with most comments here. The main thing is to not obsess over the swag, just choose one and get out there.

Most swags will leak somewhere in heavy downpours if the rain holds up for long enough. The original non-hoop swags are the worst, because the canvas wets out even if it doesn't leak, and it transfers the water to your bedding via capillary action, that's the same reason you should never touch the inside of a canvas tent when it's raining. I have slept in quite a few swags when visiting customers in the outback in my previous life, that's what got me hooked on swags for car camping. There is no such thing as a quick to setup, comfortable, warm, dry swag that is not also bulky.

Like simonm, I have an awning on the side of the 4x4 which can shelter the swag in a downpour. I have to say that so far, it has never happened. The biggest water threat in our areas is condensation, and the best cure for that is a domed swag which keeps the canvas off your bedding and allows a passage of mossie free air to keep it under control.

In the NT, the locals can tell how long people have been in the Territory based on the thickness of their swag mattress

There are different sizes of swags, but in the end the differences are not large. Swags are just bulky. Most doubles will fill the rear seat of a car, 20cm of width isn't going to make a big difference. They're better on the back of a ute or on a pack rack. When we're heading out with family, we take a double and a single Mitchell. Single goes in the back and double on the roof. They can be packed tighter if the bedding is removed, but then you have to pack that as well. Usually a zero sum game and more time setting and packing...

The worst thing about a swag? Packing it up, tying it onto the vehicle and then looking everywhere for the car keys. They're in the flippin swag!

[+dj_hansen+]

I have a Jolly Swag, never had a problem and always warm and comfortable. Few friends have Burke and Wills and they seem to have a few better design ideas. After a few years most of us have added the 100mm thick 4wd mattresses for extra comfort and a little extra bulk.

The ultimate swag experience is on a camp stretcher under the 4wd awning... absolute comfort! or on remote sands in the Simpson desert. .. 1 million star hotel.

[Watertank]

Thanks for the replies, Candy Canvas seems to have a good deal of support as does AOS. I would like to buy Australian made. I liked the dome structure on the swag I have used and I see that the Candy swags don't use a dome/pole system rather relying on tieing up to a tree or bull bar - does that work effectively for people that have used that system?

[McGinnis]

It works, and it's really quick to set up, but water is more likely to pool. Not an issue if you're using a tarp over the top. You'd probably want one that can be tied at both ends so the canvas isn't resting on you.

Take a look at one of these as a hybrid alternative:

https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/j ... tcher-tent

I've never used one, but they look interesting.