Thread: Swags

the missus and i bought a double "downunder" swag about 6 yrs ago. her first time in it was a bit traumatic but since then the only time we take a normal tent is when the dogs are with us. we have never been cold in it and always had a good nights sleep.
we shopped around a fair bit and did loads of research and comparisons before we made a decision. it cost us about $500 back then, but we were looking for manufacturing quality and functionality. it has one pole at the head, three pegs at the head and one at the base. it's all canvas, the ones with a plastic floor tend to sweat a bit more inside, and don't dry as well when rolled up.(sometimes you have to roll them with moisture still on them if your on a driving holiday). the newer mods have done away with the straight pole at the head and put a fibreglass one in. this gives you a bit more room over your head.

I happen to work at a camping store...

The Matilda is mande by an Australian Company The Jolly Swag.
They are top quality, with the new models all coming with a 12 - 14oz minimum canvas weight, with the bases being ripstop etc...

They are so worth the money...i love mine (not jolly, but i got it CHEAP)

Otherwise look at the Drover, and the Sundowner (dome)

Dave [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

Originally posted by DaveS3
The Matilda is mande by an Australian Company The Jolly Swag.
They are top quality, with the new models all coming with a 12 - 14oz minimum canvas weight, with the bases being ripstop etc...

Found it...
http://jollyswags.swag.com.au/products.html#matilda

Could one of you Aussies explain to me what a Swag really is? What are the advantages over a tent? I am only used to the latter. Outside Australia, no swags, you see...

from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'>swag

Swag, n. [Australia] (a) A tramping bushman's luggage, rolled up either in canvas or in a blanket so as to form a long bundle, and carried on the back or over the shoulder; -- called also a bluey, or a drum. ([img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif[/img] Any bundle of luggage similarly rolled up; hence, luggage in general.

He tramped for years till the swag he bore seemed part of himself. --Lawson.
[/b][/quote]

In modern camping terms it is a canvas bed-roll consisting of waterproof shell with a built-in mattress and some mesh windows to keep the friendly Aussie bugs at bay. To sleep you remove it from your Land Rover, unroll, prop up one end (so you can breathe), crawl in, wake up the next morning, roll it up reversing the unrolling procedure, chuck it in the back of the (Land Rover) ute and keep going. Pros: quick bed for the night, Cons: couldn't swing a cat in it.
You could call them one-man tents (although they do come in double-bed size), but they are not. Tents you need to pitch, get a mattress, sleeping bag, all in separete pieces. Can take you a while to set up a campsite (especially if not too sure about the new modern tents and a whining noise from somewhere in the dark: "are you done yet??"). Swag, follow the instructions above (sleeping bag can stay rolled up in the swag).
There are bushwalking swags called Bivvy bags (I think) available made from Gortex. They are lightweight with a Thermorest mat built-in. Friend of mine had one and went walkabouts in Tassie - loved it!

Anyone else :?:

Mrs Vlad won't have one coz there's nowhere to get changed in one. Wouldn't be a drama if we had a wagon, but there's nowhere to get changed in a ute either. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

There was a review of a swag in a recent (Australian 4WD Monthly?) magazine. It was for I think the "Aussie Swag" which had a flap next to the 'door' for removing boots so as not to drag dirt etc into the swag with you.... I'll put up the details if I can find it.... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]

that green thing on the ground next to my ute is a swag

and rolled up, it looks like this;-

(that big round green thing behind the cab)

Australian Country Outfitters make a bunch of different swags and outdoor clothing. I've got one of the more basic swags with a PVC floor, mesh screen at your head, a flap at your head to keep your boots etc dry and good eyelets etc to tie off to things. The mattress is pretty good too and I think they retail for about $180. For a bit extra they guys will even make extra long ones for those verticlly enhaced people out there.