Thread: Swag or Tent????

Originally Posted by Bushie

I
The swag I have is a Saul (double) brand but I suspect this may be too hot in the tropics/summer as it was designed for the Vic high country it was however, great in the desert in winter.

Maybe not a lot of help.


Martyn

We also have a Saul double swag and are very happy with it - had it for years. It's excellent quality all around. It is quite warm to use in the tropics -but OK with just a sheet over us and an insect net if the weather is fine.
In the cooler weather it's fantastic.
Cheers

Thanks for the input guys.

If BCF has the biggest shop display, then I guess a trip to see them is on the cards, as too NT General store.

I will be taking/bringing a good sleeping bag with me. Its seen hot and cold African nights so Im presuming it'll be OK for Darwin down to Alice.

Derek, I looked at (on the web) the Turbo 210 tent earlier today. Very interested to hear your thoughts after youve used it - how appropriate do you think it would be for the UK weather - typically 5-20^C and often wet! Also, does it go up and down as quick as the video on the black wolf website would have you believe? Will it keep the sandflies out?

Regards,
Jon

The trial set up in the back yard proved the tent to be as simple as the video.

As to the rain etc we shall see. The mesh on the screens is sandfly level, so I hope it does, will know the result by tomorrow night

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Thanks for the input guys.

If BCF has the biggest shop display, then I guess a trip to see them is on the cards, as too NT General store.

I will be taking/bringing a good sleeping bag with me. Its seen hot and cold African nights so Im presuming it'll be OK for Darwin down to Alice.

Will it keep the sandflies out?

Regards,
Jon

Check out in the following order:

1. NT General Store - Mitchell St in the city
2. BCF - McMillan's Rd, Millner
3. Mitchell's Camping - Stuart Hwy, Berrimah

If you are going to camping anywhere north of Mataranka for more than one or two nights then you will need the swag plus the tent.

Sleeping bag will be OK. Darwin nights 25 or so, Alice between 12 and 18 at night.

Tents will keep the sandflies out but mozzie nets will not. Few sandflies south of Katherine.

Originally Posted by Stuuu

If you are going to camping anywhere north of Mataranka for more than one or two nights then you will need the swag plus the tent.

Sleeping bag will be OK. Darwin nights 25 or so, Alice between 12 and 18 at night.

Tents will keep the sandflies out but mozzie nets will not. Few sandflies south of Katherine.

Is the idea to use the Swag for the higher night temps or cooler ones? Im assuming swag=hot dry night, tent=cooler nights & wet??

Tell me if Im stupid or wrong, but I had planned to only buy one good tent/swag for the whole trip. Or should I plan to buy cheaper examples of each?

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Is the idea to use the Swag for the higher night temps or cooler ones? Im assuming swag=hot dry night, tent=cooler nights & wet??

Tell me if Im stupid or wrong, but I had planned to only buy one good tent/swag for the whole trip. Or should I plan to buy cheaper examples of each?

The swag will be too hot in the tropic North IF it is raining and this time of year and for the next few months it will be, raining that is. A dome tent for around $150 with standing room height only takes 5 minutes or so to put up and will be much more comfortable up North. A swag will be more convenient if you are only staying overnight, the swag is more suited to cooler climes and in the dry season, Regards Frank.

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

Is the idea to use the Swag for the higher night temps or cooler ones? Im assuming swag=hot dry night, tent=cooler nights & wet??

Tell me if Im stupid or wrong, but I had planned to only buy one good tent/swag for the whole trip. Or should I plan to buy cheaper examples of each?

mate swags are used in all kinds of conditions, just like tents - but the material weight of the one you buy will vary its usefulness a lot. I've slept in the snow in a swag and been completely warm, but the same swag would be horrible in the tropics as you would sweat like a pig and there was no insect mesh to keep you "unmolested" by the insect life.

Minor rant: "Swags" are also not necessarily "swags" anymore, they are often tents with matresses built in and more poles and guy ropes than a typical small tent. How these things have anything to do with what used to be a folded sheet of canvas with your bedding inside that you tied up to your bullbar or a tree at one end and climbed into is beyond me...

Lastly, you are visiting two completely different climatic zones - tropical in the start of the wet season where it is hot and humid all the time and desert country where it can be below freezing at night and mid 40's (even 50's and higher) in the day (probably not in November though), basically there is no perfect tool for the job - either you can handle the scenario where everything is dripping wet and the only dry spot is in bed and in a swag, that means lying down with a bit of room to read a book, in a tent you can at least sit up and hang up your wet clothes to dry

I've got an A.O.S swag that's been great. It's a double with a full length sandfly mesh. I've used it extensively in the Kimberley, mostly during the dry. It's great with just the mesh when it's hot. I'd often roll it on the roof rack and catch the breeze if there was any. Exposed skin up against the mesh can result in mozzie bights though. The few times I camped in the build up were not so pleasant, but I doubt anything but airconditioning or a ceiling fan would've made it better. Camping with this swag in the cold weather is excellent, warm and dry. If it was closed up in the tropics to stay out of the rain, I'd get into the car and keep going.

I'm looking at a tent now. The swag's great for overnighting etc, but a tent is good if you need more shelter to live in as the swag's only for sleeping in and in the wet, you're kind of trapped in it. I've just bought a shade shelter and will make do with sleeping under that if it's wet for now. As far as tents go, I'm pretty convinced by the single pole tents, like the Southern Cross or Freedom, or the cheaper Oztrail, which seem to be just as good. They pack up to be relatively small, are a very simple design and easy to erect/pack away.