SWAGS

Good quality canvas and double stitching with a good fine mesh to keep out the little bugs and also good quality zips.
Also a good quality mattress inside.
My son has an Ultimate swag and it hasnt been treated with care and is well used he has had it since he was about 10 yrs old and is now 19 and it is in as new condition still.

Regards
Kimbo

I have got a Burke & Wills (Redgum Model) and are very happy with it.
It has got full fly mesh right down to your feet which is graet for summer just like sleeping under the star without the mozzies getting you. It has a good matress and is easy to set up.

I got mine of ebay and saved about $70

Macca we have 3 swags a southern cross double and single and a down under single
They have there good and bad points when the weather is fine there great and when its raining there not so good.

All the best
Eric

agree with all the above,if you have the money and space, buy yourself a double swag, so much more room, so when its cold ya have your sleeping bag around you , you can roll round easily.also need the mesh over you, like said earlier.
good luck, let us know what you decide,

We have a 1 X Double and 2 X kingsize Burke and wills redgum. They are brilliant...but a bit exy on cost. The double is ok for 2 people...but condensation is a bit of a bummer if need to close up shop due to rain....we have beaten the problem by erecting a tarp over the lot.....this also helps a great deal getting in and out when the weather is bad.

Oh...these swags...esp the double, are not as small as the cheaper swags when rolled up and sleeping bags inside.....I put them on the roofrack....and love the comfort of a great night sleep they give.

Cheers,
Mick.

Hi,
Also, make sure it has a screened opening at the end near your head that you can open during wet weather to let some air in if the top is closed. Even better if it has another flap at the foot end as well as this allows some airflow through the swag.
Gerry

Got a Burke n Wills redgum myself, love it.

One of the other things that all of the swags recomennded have, that hasn't be explicitely stated, is flex-poles or ropes to lift the top layer of canvas off you (like a small tent). Makes it a lot more comfortable to sleep.

Some of the cheaper swags are the more traditional styles which are like giant sleeping bags. Check out some of the camping store websites and you'll see the difference.

I'd also reccomend getting one with a good quality matteress. At least 65mm foam, or ideally a self inflatting matteress. Great insulation from the cold of the ground, and a comfortable nights sleep.

Hope it helps .......

John

Macca

As some above have stated, the Ultima are very good, albeit a bit exxy.
We have a double which we used for our high country trip. Very comfortable, but we went for 70mm foam + we use a mat of those clip together foam mats under.

Very happy with it overall.

Cheers

Rosco

don't get one with zips and make sure the foam mattress is high density.

Macca

Dont know where you are located, but I bought an excellent large double swag from a small manufacturer in Upper Ferntree Gully here in Melbourne called J&J Canvas. They custom made is for us. It is made of heavy duty canvas, has double stitching, a rubber bottom, a separate canvas top and fly screen (so you can watch the stars) and is self supporting. And more importantly it was cheap as compared to alot of the other 'big' swag makers in town.

We have taken it back a couple of times to get modifications done. We added side windows after the first time we used it (cause I discovered I get a bit claustophobic), storage pockets for torch, keys, glasses etc and also got a large rear window added. All windows have fly wire.

We use a 3 inch self inflatable mattress in it already set up with everything in it and store it folded in half on the roof rack in a rack sack. We have taken it on the Simpsons Deserst, Flinders ranges and tons of high country trips and have been comfortable, toasty warm and the first ones setup everytime! Get yourself a good canopy to go over it for really wet weather and there is nothing better.

Cheers

Angus

I have a down under. It has hoops either end with fly screen and canzas if raining.Best thing I ever did was turf the mattress and replace it with a self inflating mattress. makes it really bulky but it is just me and gives ultimate comfort

I have found the Mitchell Swag to be very good. Currently shown at $269 but I paid $200 for mine in a sale last year. Heavy canvas, good quality zips, complete mozzie nets, zipped openings and mozzie nets at head and feet. I have used mine in everything from minus 4C nights through days of heavy rain and up to 42C days and I have no complaints at all.

Swags can be a little claustrophobic for some (me included) but I've found that as long as I can see out it's OK, so in bad weather I usually leave the zip of the top flap open a few inches at face level - doesn't seem to let any rain in.

I keep a small tarp by the side of the swag so I can get out onto that in the morning - it may be wet but at least it isn't muddy. As I almost always camp in remote places getting out of the swag nude to dress is not an issue (and when it’s –4 it encourages you to dress quite quickly :) but if you were in a public campsite it might be - I reckon getting dressed in the swag would be next to impossible but some say they do?

http://www.grangerscampingworld.com.au/
Click "Tents" then "Swags"

Mike Harding

its just so damn easy to make your own, from quality canvass, no sewing or buckless or studs, just flaps that fold over each other, you can add your favourite pillow, sheets and blankets or sleeping bag that you already own and a mattress that you prefer that you probably already own as well....so there you have it...custom made to perfection, and at a fraction of the cost.

Try a Darche from Shepparton. They are sold all over but you can get them direct too.

Fantastic swags. A few variations.

Don't get one that has lots of poles and stuff. One or maybe two hoops is all.

Peg out the head end and leave the other. Or tie it to the bull bar.

The darche top zips completely open too so you can climb in from the head end if it's wet - bit awkward but at least your bed's dry. Though I usually have the awning off the side of the ute if it comes to that.

I lived in mine for 5 weeks on the last trip, & it was great.

One thing though. In both my swag and my daughters I replaced the mattress with a Thermarest. Packs heaps smaller and far more comfortable.

Dave

Macca,

The ability for the swag to be "self supporting" is important.
One hoop at the head end and a single pole at the feet end is all that is required.
A top entry IMO is best and a high density mattress will give all but the fussiest sleepers a comfortable sleep. I still regard mine better than my bed at home and never suffer from a stiff, or sore back.

This type of swag enables you to fold back the canvas section on a warm night and gaze at the stars above. At the same time, the mesh insect screen protects you from the bities. The canvas is waterproof and you can sleep inside this type of swag in the rain without getting wet.

Having said that, no one wants to put away a wet swag if you are using it every night and therefore, a lean-to off the side of the vehicle is a good idea.

This swag can also be used just as a bed inside of a tent. just leave it laying flat, lay on top of it and cover yourself with a dooner or sleeping bag opened out.

For what it is worth, I have a pair of Down Under Jumbuck XL (extra large).
They are not cheap (about $340 each) when we bought them 5 years ago, but they are worth every dollar of their investment.

Sar Major king size discovery with hoop poles to keep canvas off of your face.

Barnesy

Sar Major king size discovery with hoop poles to keep the canvas off of your face.

Barnesy

All,
Thank you for your informative information about Swags. Armed with a wealth of information I will now do the rounds of camping stores and ring a few canvas product manufacturers. Once again thank you all for your assistance.

Macca.....ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!

Not wishing to hijack this thread but has anyone here ever used or personally seen a Viking Swag?

http://www.vikingswags.com/

He writes a good ad. I was tempted but not ready yet to buy.....he seems to have good deals with freebies included...