mike w (WA) replied:

Hi PGK
What to look for in a swag? For me it should be brunette, about 5'9.... LOLOL

Seriously, a good question. Personally, I apply the KISS principle. We use a basic swag- canvas floor, canvas throw over top, YKK zips. We have two swags- one with Left and one right hand zips, that allow wife and I to join them together, giving us a double bed to sleep in. This may not suit your application.

A mesh section would be a positive. We have velcro in mesh for the opening. To be honest, I have never used it as I like to look at the stars. It would allow you to keep those pesky bugs out

My key advice- dont scrimp on the mattress! IMHO, the better the mattress, the better the sleep, the more you will love your swag. (ohh, and roll it up when you get up in the morning- you never know what will crawl in for a cuddle!

Cheers

Mike and Erin

Mike Harding replied:

Mine is a hoop type swag

www.grangerscampingworld.com.au/
Tents
Swags
Mitchell

and the following are important for me:

A mozzie screen for fine weather.

Good ventilation at the head and foot end so you can get good airflow through the swag when the weather is bad and you're all zipped up - very important.

Good quality zips.

Heavy canvas.

Ensure you "season" it with the garden hose before first use.

Mike Harding

trolute replied:

My first few swags were just the simple canvas types, like a sock with a zip down the side, but I have to point out a few negatives of the simple swag, namely:

1) Mozzies and midgees tend to eat you in Northern Australia, and simple swags don't always offer protection

2) lack of ventilation - on hot nights it is very hot inside your swag, and if you open it up, then the above mentioned bugs eat you.

3) canvas touching you - when it rains, the more the canvas is upon you, the more likely it is to leak through the cloth.

I have just gone to a Burke and Wills dome style, and whilst it is rather bulky, it is very pleasant to sleep in, and the canvas/netting is kept off you by the hoops. Avoid cheap swags with fibreglass poles, IMHO they dont last well.

I tend to use my swags quite a lot, and am very rough on them, but still get 5 or more years out of them, so i think spending more is better than less in this case.

brian replied:

In the illawarra you can get a hand made swag with the best canvas and best foam mattress available to various designs and sizes from Bob Burrage,you will find him on google if interested,these will last a lifetime.Cost around $400 you will pay that for an imported burke and wills etc.Buy australian its better.

xplot replied:

i have a AOS swag and i think they are great i search lot for a good swag and found AOS is very well made, usecd it couple of times now and glad i got it and i don't look back. www.aosswags.com i got the tracker double for me and the misses which cost me only $489 with a 75mm matress

Outnabout David (SA) replied:

You say kids plural so you need multiple swags and therefore a tent may be the most economical.

My swag is a hoop style top and bottom. Zips down both sides leaving a full size mozzie net which also stops you cooking in summer. Has a full size mesh window at the head as well so plenty of ventilation and no condensation. If you don't like weight on you then hoop style is the best and also if caming in the heat they tend to be coolest. With the zips at the bottom you can climb into bed when it is pouring and not get your bedding wet.

If you want the name send me an mm and I will have a look tonite.

Gramps (NSW) replied:

PGK,

Check Post 34437 for some info I got from Forumites several months ago. Have'nt done the deed yet but pretty certain it will end up being an Oztrail Mitchell.

Holding out to see if Santa remembers what a good boy I've been all year hahahahaha

ps Tried to post it as a link but system did'nt like it :(((((((((((((((((((((

silkwood replied:

The popularity of swags has always stumped me.I've used them in the desert areas, and can kinda see the appeal (easy and quick to rollout, ...er.. thats it) but anywhere else, why do you guys stick with em? Not having a go, simply curious. A small, quality tent and thermarest (or similar) is only a few minutes more to put up, roomier, better ventilated and three hundred percent more comfortable in bad weather. Or am I missing something? (I come from an outdoor ed background, lightweight, high quality, so I am probably as biased as you lot!)

Cheers,

Mark

silkwood replied:

Good point about the moving around. I did some work in the Pit-Lands, and we were searching out appropriate sites for outdoor activities. I admit, when you're buggered after driving round all day it's nice to just throw it on the ground.

Cheers,

Mark

Sand Man (SA) replied:

PGK,

If you invest in a quality hoop style, top entry Swag, you (or the kids) will get years of value and comfort out of them.

The top entry will stop any crawlies from entering the swag when unattended, providing the zips are done up. A quality swag will also come complete with a high density foam mattress which is very comfortable.

With these type of swags, you have the flexibility of a "stand-alone" sleeping zone, regardless of the weather. You can have just the insect mesh, just the canvas top, or both covering you depending on weather conditions.

If (for whatever reason) a tent is introduced to the equation, then the swag still becomes a very comfortable mattress.

But the need for a tent is unlikely. You can have a side "awning" out from the vehicle if you wish, to give some cover while cooking, etc.

The wife and I have slept comfortably in our swags, out in the open and during a downpour, without any drama.

In cooler weather you can include an opened out sleeping bag to act as a doona and when the swag is rolled up, the bag is left inside ready for the next use.

That is my experience anyway. Check out "True Blue" and "Down Under" swags.
Two of the quality, Aussie made brands, although there maybe others.

PaulnLou replied:

G'day, Mozzie nets ! Gotta keep the bugs out. Also the mozzie nets help with the ventilation when its warmer. She who I mustn't be caught disobeying and I bought a queen sized AOS tent swag for our last big trip. It's fantastic, but for one thing - its bloody big. The upside of that though, is that when it's hot at night, we can move apart and both stay cool. I found a standard double sway too hot in that regard. We also put our 25mm self inflating matteresses in the QS it for extra comfort and insulation when its cold. I reckon buying aussie made is important too. The indian or pakistani canvas is pretty shocking light weight rubbish. Seeya

Muzzgit [WA] replied:

PGK. the one thing you may not realise until it's too late, swags take up a heap of room in a 4WD. Pack 3 of em into your car and see how little room you have left for everything else.

PGK replied:

Thanks all,

Appreciate the feedback.

Agree with the comment re tents making more sense when there are more than one or two people involved and we have a perfectly good Freedom tent that worked well for the four of us on the recent trip.

...but 11yo is feeling he would like to be a bit more independent & he's seen some of the kewl kids at Motorcycle Trials events camping in swags, so that's the way he wants to go. And if _he's_ got one, then 9yo sister doesn't want to be left out!

So purely on logic, stick with the tent and avoid adding bulk to the load on the roof rack by replacing a pair of sleeping bags & mattresses with a pair of swags (and still retaining the tent!). But family life is not ruled by logic alone!

I'm interested in the popularity of the hoop swags, as my inexperienced and uneducated guess was that once you add the setting up time of the hoops, you might have lost the major swag advantage of minimal set-up time - appreciate some more comments on this pls.

Also I am pleased to see that self-inflating mattresses inside swags work and perhaps reduce the bulk when rolled - although may also add to set-up time! (I’m a Thermarest fan)

Thanks again

PGK