Swags - home made and shoddy commercial ones

Mike, can't comment on making a swag, but I can comment on the mattress side of things.

Both Tracy & I bought the big Jumbo Self Inflating mattresses, about 100 thick. They are good, but strangely, my 60 mm. mattress in my Sar Major Swag beats it hands down.

It has compressed a little with use, but it's my bed, and its comfortable. I am not a youngster, I am 46, and feel it next morning if I've had a rough night, but my swag has NEVER let me down.

If I had my time over again, I would consider looking at a Burke & Wills swag, with the full length insect screen for summer use.

Cheers

Wolfie

Mike,

Have been using a swag for 40 years, and have only ever used a tarp, with number of blankets, depending on season. It's only the last 8-10 years that I had a mattress in it, mainly needed the extra comfort aas got to the 50 mark.

Only have a 25mm matress in it, and it is enough to keep the worst of the "lumpy" bits at bay. If you're going to take a super thick mattress, then might as well take the innerspring from home.

Can't beat a couple of RM's bush rugs, to make a comfortable, and warm swag. Have 2 now, and wished I'd bought some years ago. Would have saved a lot of cold nights on the Barkly.

In the end, it's your comfort, Mike, you can't beat a good swag, for a good nights sleep. must be the atmosphere???

Hooroo...

Hey Wolfie, I dont know what you were thinking(lol lol lol)but I lent my 2 self inflating mattresses to a friend and he complained that they were as hard as a rock.Never having used them before he didnt know that you had to do up the valve before you went to bed.Then he couldnt roll them up so when he got home here was 2 mattresses handed to me to be rolled up.
Seeya Locallaw

I bought one Ray's cheap bug proof swags & was surprised that the mattress was Dunlop foam.
You can't test foam with 2 fingers, the best way to test it's density is between the flats of both hands.

Mike,

A different idea.

I use a little two man dome tent with a decent foam mattress in it. Cheaper than a swag, more room and only takes a few minutes to set up.

Cheers

Mike my other half is an X seamstress and we looked into making our own swags, depending on the quality and thickness of the canvas you wish too use will determine wheather it is worth it, that is of cause if you don't know someone in the rag trade, if you don't it will be cheaper to buy one.

Baz.

Why not buy a quality swag, and put your own matteress in it?

I agree with the Burke & Wills swags I reckon they are pretty good, but I wouldn't mind trying Kandy Canvas for swags. I lost my old Burke & Wills & got a Jolly swag - wish I didn't. Insect mesh is exposed when rolled causing it to wear in the back of the vehicle, it also is not very water proof compared to the Burke & Wills.

Can't go past a Darche swag. Made in Aus (just out of Shepparton) and probably the best around. Prices aren't bad either. Alternate entry point is a good idea.

Unless you can sew canvas and are prepared to make a few to get it right - which is more than it'll cost to buy a decent one in the first place - you might as well buy a good one and be done with it.

Link to Darche Superdome

Dave.

I'd seriously urge you to look at a good quality canvas locally made centre pole tent. There are several to choose from but you won't find them at the originally mentioned dealer who doesn't really cater for the serious off road tourer/camper. The vast majority of true off road travellers use centre pole tents (check out the tents in any remote location - not the beach at Christmas - they are quicker to erect than a swag and you can stand up and put gear in them. Just 4 pegs and one pole. Less than a minute for my 9X9!