Thread: Tentcots & Swags

i thought they were for locking up the kids when camping... hehehehehe

i could be right afterall!

saw em at anaconda, not a bad idea..

Hey outlaw when are you flying down. I've been tossing up whether to drive down or not. And hiring a car for me is quite expensive as i'm under 25. I'd love to take the Disco down but like you said i just dont have the time. Are you flying into canberra?

Originally Posted by Outlaw

Okay so i'm planning on flying into Cooma as don't have the time to drive so just realised a swag would be a handy thing to have... and i don't really have anything that could be used instead.

So after reading a few threads on Swags i'm not overly convinced on them as a good all purpose shelter with the heat thing and being a queenslander even winter can be warm at times...

So anyone have any experience with the Tentcots? Going to choose between a dome swag or one of those i think...


cheers in advance.

Outlaw

I had a look at one of these also, the Pro's and Cons over a good Swag are:
Pro's are that they are off the ground and easier to get in and out of.
Con's are the size when folded up and the weight, they are too bulky and heavy.
Have you seen one folded or felt the weight, I suppose you might get a lightweight alloy framed one, but I doubt the strength of an alloy framed one, if you can buy one.
I ended up with a OZ Tent dome type swag, light and compact, I've just been camping in hot humid weather and with the top rolled back it was very comfortable under the insect mesh, and during winter at minus five with my sleeping bag was comfortable as well, hope my experience helps, Regards Frank.

they're a good thing the ADF uses something similar now in place of a hootchie and a mozzie net when not doing "hard" field.

If you want as I'll be taking my time heading down and should have some space you can chuck your swag/mozzie thing on the trailer, my anticipated ETA is mid to late on the friday.

Originally Posted by Outlaw

Okay so i'm planning on flying into Cooma as don't have the time to drive so just realised a swag would be a handy thing to have... and i don't really have anything that could be used instead.

So after reading a few threads on Swags i'm not overly convinced on them as a good all purpose shelter with the heat thing and being a queenslander even winter can be warm at times...

So anyone have any experience with the Tentcots? Going to choose between a dome swag or one of those i think...


cheers in advance.

Outlaw

Hate to say it but i would be rolling my swag out it the tentcot.
We have a double swag and roll it out into a three man tent.
The best thing about swags is a pre-made bed.

Looks like a good idea. Great for those that have a big problem with sleeping on the ground ( and it's amazing the number of people that do --- can't understand why myself )

couple of thoughts ;

-- I'd be looking at how well it can be secured to the ground. It would need good long pegs otherwise it'll be away in a good wind when nobody is in it.( perhaps worse than dome tents becuse it's got a higher centre of gravity, and the wind can get underneath it.)

--- Looks like it would take longer to set up than a swag. The great advantage of a swag is that all your bedding is already there - you just roll it out maybe put up a couple of hoops and you can crawl in.

--- It doesn't seem to have a fly - most dome tents using that nylon type material use a fly over top ( ie a double skin). I'd therefore be concerned about condensation, and how waterproof it would be in a storm. If it DOES have a fly and its just not shown in the photo, then it would take longer to set up. (like a dome tent ). Swags are canvas so only need one skin ( although I often set up a tarp over top of mine if it looks like rain.)

--- Construction : swags are made of heavy duty canvas and maybe a couple of fibreglass or alloy hoops, and that's all - will last a lifetime if looked after. The Cot Tent thing looks like it could suffer from tears and structural failure in the tubing hinges and joins ( possibly ) - maybe live for 5-10 years of reasonable use.

if it was evens on money I reckon I'd be staying with a swag.

We have (as well as the RTT) a double swag which we use in the big tent if staying for a reasonable amount of time or in a small 3 man tent if we go somewhere without the RTT on.

It is a normal standard type swag without the poles etc like these modern type ones which I would be quite happy to sleep in under a tarp.

The swags like Gav and (sounds like) you have Wayne I thought were called swag cots but that might have been when they werent the norm and the standard piece of canvas with a bit of foam and a sleeping bag in it was a swag.

I think it looks a little too complicated to be taking on a plane, I'd roll up a tarp and some 4 tent polls (the type that come in half) and some guy ropes as well as pegs and a hammer in a swag and go from there, you will have wind protection as well as be able to keep most of the weather off you if it were to rain but the swag (as long as you swell it) is water proof anyway and they are also nice and warm.

Gee, that thing looks as flash as Michael Jackson

For a plane trip - ex-Army hoochie, two of those two-piece poles - six guy ropes and pegs - and a swag (like a Hal Sual Swag) and bob's-your-uncle.

Comfortable, dry, warm (or cool - sleep on top of the swag) - and best of all- compact.

Or even better - just take your swag and a slab. Plenty of members here will let you unroll the swag under their tarps/awnings.