Hill People Gear Mountain Serape or Helikon Tex Swagman Roll? 

I have to say , you ROCK!!!! I have not heard ANY other reviewer mention that us ladies might be interested in or participate in survival/ bushcrafting. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I have a swagman roll but did not know about the hill people gear. Showing made in the USA gear is awesome thing. Keep up the great work.

HPG. Hands down. Had one for nearly 10 years and I couldn't be happier.

Osni cloak from wilderness innervations is my favorite poncho liner it can be used as a under quilt or a top quilt with the poncho

For Survival/military use: Hill People Gear Mountain Serape, for Hiking/Camping: Swagman Roll Also, I would choose Hill People Gear Mountain Serape for hard winter climates, and the Swagman Roll for hotter climate countries

Love love how you keep sharing good stuffs. Thanks!

Thanks for this product review Paul, I've always wondered about these liner products, so seeing you actually demo them was very helpful for me!

I have the swagman roll and love it. Keep up the great videos

Another good review. You hit all the important points. It really helps when choosing a product. The more support for American workers the better. Bravo.

Thank You for the review. I have been getting out to go bags ready and I’m at the point of picking one of these. Thanks. Also thanks to all the people that have committed on this review. Your comments are also very helpful.

Muchas gracias por tus explicaciones 👌. Sin duda por la climatología donde vivo mi opinión es el Swagman roll. De nuevo te doy las gracias. Un gran abrazo desde España 👍

Sir, luv'n the vids please keep them coming!

Great comparison. I've just started working with the Swagman. Will consider the Hill People gear for sure. Probably doesn't hurt to have both. As always, thanks for your work on those items.

Great Video man. I loved it. It had everything I wanted to see.

Thanks for the comparison! And for acknowledging that different people are different sizes and temperatures. And the props to made in USA. All the detail makes it easy for your diverse users to make educated guesses about where and how my mileage may vary. Thanks!

Nice review. Good info. Thank you!

Great review, thank you 🤙

Thought about getting a swag man but like you I am not the smallest guy so now as soon as I can will buy a hill people gear. Awesome video my friend

Thanks for the video!

The review I didn't know I needed! I have a Swagman Roll and love the versatility. But, like you, I find it doesn't keep me warm at lower temps, especially in my hammock. But, on the ground, paired with a escape bivy, it's toasty. I'm a smaller framed guy so the size works well for me. The Serape was what first caught my eye and the Swagman Roll was a budget alternative, but I still would like both. Thanks for the great overview!

Good stuff! Thankee!

Great review , thanks for sharing ,God bless !

Excellent review. I have both as well, and have noted the same things. I prefer my Serape to the Swagman (still like the Swagman, though). My main gripes with the Swagman were the hood and the size. At 6', 225lbs with fairly wide shoulders and chest, there is no way on Earth I could zip that thing up over my arms and shoulders without feeling like I'm being tied up with pallet wrap. The hood is also small for my big ol' head, and looks moderately goofy on me due to the David the Gnome cut. Love the features on it, though. I kinda wish there were a hybrid design of the two personally.

This video really inspired me buy an HPG Mountain Serape. I recently bought Helikon Tex Swagman Roll as well. I want to say from the month April 2022 I have recieved an updated design to the Helikon Tex Swagman roll. The hood is now flat and wider allow a fatter head to fit in more in line with Mountain Serape’s design. I’m a smaller man 5’8/140lbs I bought HPG’s Medium/Backpackers Mountain Serape in Ranger Green running around $230 with shipping. Helikon Tex’s Coyote Brown Swagman Roll ran me around $165-170. Mountain Serape’s shell feels more durable than the Swagman Rolls as it’s a ripstop nylon fabric, but I question it’s water resistance. The Swagman Roll’s outer shell is paper so you have to be more careful with it. The insulation from Mountain Serape is also noticeably warmer, but my issue the quality, price and practicality of the design. The stitching on the Mountain Serape is sticking out on every single seam and the practicality of the design in sleeping bag mode is just plane out just plain out bad on the Medium size because the zipper does not go all the up and in terms of sizing it’s 2 inches bigger on both ends. Which brings me to my point, if you are a big and tall man the Large Original Mountain Serape will be better fitted for you. If you are a smaller thinner man like me you will appreciate the quality, construction and design of the Helikon-Tex Swagman more. I am not entirely sold on the Mountain Serape costing considerably more while having an inferior design and construction. Even in terms of size it’s just not worth it because you can leave the Helikon tex unzipped and it would be the same. It’s not even compatible attachable to the poncho like a woobie. I like the a primaloft insulation and ripstop nylon fabric, but I am not sold, I would be if HPG updated their design with a full sleeping bag zipper, toggles to be attachable for a military poncho and if they had better quality control.

Thanks for this. I've had the HPG Serape for years and I like it very well. Have been curious about the Swagman, and it seems like a quality product, but I don't see any obvious reason to get it having the Serape already. Really enjoyed the overview & comparison!

Thanks Paul, I am waiting for HPG to come back into stock. BTW looks like the classes are filling out this year. I was hoping to do Bushcraft, knotts and the advanced course this year. Hopefully I see you again at the gathering!

GREAT VIDEO. THANKS FOR INFO

Good video fair and honest. What more can I ask for

Great video. Thanks!

Swagman hood would be looser if you got a haircut🤪 Cool vid. I’ll try em out. Keep n digging dude.

Good luck getting the mtn serape. I live a few miles from their grand junction store and they are never in stock.

Awesome review. I was about to make the jump on he swagman but wasn’t set on it. The fit just didn’t seem to work. All the reviews are of smaller dome people. I need that hood opening just bigger. The fact the overall size is bigger is a plus so I’ll be gettin this one now.

I've been looking for a new Swag Man woobie! They make great for great sleeping, as well as keep us warm! Now all I need is the outer poncho! OUCH at the Price!! I'm going to keep hunting the Army Navy stores!

Thank you for this info. I too would prefer American made even if it cost a little more.

Great review Paul, thanks for sharing your input on these products. I also have both pieces of gear and personally prefer the serape. Nothing wrong with the swagman, it's just too small for me. My head barely fits into the hood and zipping it up fully over me as a sleeping bag is impossible. I can bring it up to my chest, but no way my arms and shoulders will fit into it. My girlfriend has found use for it though, as both a camp blanket and sleeping bag liner. She fits in it just fine with plenty of wiggle room. Her only complaint is that both products come in ugly colors lol.

Good video Paul. I like my Swagman roll, but I agree that it's a bit small. I wish they would come out with a "Swagman XL" that would be 6-10" wider and have a slightly larger head hole. MIght be just about perfect then.

I have one of the HPG Recon chest pouches, I wear it hiking and hunting, they rock. Might need to take a closer look at the mountain serape but I do use a poncho in the bush so I do like that integration. I suppose if you are pushing those lower temps you could always just bring another poncho liner or a wool blanket too. I've had good success using a wool blanket inside my USMC issued poncho liner which has the zipper, I'm a little taller and a bit more lean than you so I reckon it wouldn't be a bad system for me.

Great review! It would be awesome if you reviewed some kifaru items

0.47 Helikon-Tex is from Poland. Swagman Roll is designed in Poland and crafted in China.

Good video and helps me make a decision I have been think about a long time. I have a very old poncho liner that has 3M Thinsulate in it and it is amazingly warm - not sure if it is genuine surplus. I have hunted high and low for a backup for this and have failed to find one. The Mountain Serape looks the closest to it.

I had the serape. Ended up selling it because of the 40% zipper and lacking any tie / clip points. I kept my Swagman roll because it is more multifunctional.

I need a mountain serape now...thanks...

I have the swagman i did a review on it it’s absolutely amazing I’ll never go anywhere without it

Love the video. About time someone did the comparison. Question: is the swagman roll waterproof?

Made in America gives the Hill People Serape the win in my book. Nice review.

Iam in uk. I have and likke milltech poncho, whitch is german flectairn dpm , with poncho liner. With sometimes a milltech single man tent. All pertty light with uk military smocks and trousers either dpm or mtp.

What do you think of the Onewind Quilt Paul?? I was thinking about getting one of those, wasn't sure about them though..

Doing great mate just make the tech spec on a cheat sheet in front of the camera

Been looking at the Swagman for a while. Seen several reviews by many including a counterpart of yours at Pathfinder. Most of the the customer reviews mention the size of the opening for the head and overall size for body height. Is the other as waterproof as the Swagman ? Thanks for the review. Have a great evening

Hey Paul thanks for the vid do you know if the serape is acceptable substitute for swagman roll for the basic class the swagman roll is just to tight for sleeping bag option for me thanks again for all the great information you share with us each and every video

Hello, thanks. What about a Carinthia Tactical-Poncho comparison ?

I have the Swagman Roll in MC it's a great product. My build is nearly identical to yours( I have a few more Lbs. 260 at 63 years old). I also do find it to be a bit snug around my wide shoulders. Thanks for the video and for sharing your thoughts on the products.

Corporal sent me

A slight correction-the Swagman Roll still comes in a stuff sack. The zip bag is the integral stuff sack on the poncho itself (the chest pocket turned inside-out).

Hill People Gear make good gear, but they are ridiculously expensive.

Use the poncho roll as a liner for the serape .

Nice review, this problem with the Mt Serape, is that it is never in stock. It seems like it's constantly sold out. Maybe because of it's quality? I've been trying the last 2 1/2 years to get one and no dice.

Thanks for comparison! I´ve got a Swagman, it´s not worth the money in my opinion. Too small overall for adult men.

Does the Serape match up with a rain poncho like the swagman roll?

Can you turn the sound down in the Intro?

What’s the weight comparison?

I think the swagman is going to be way to small for me. I think I will go with the Trifecta XL and a Army rain poncho.

So the hill people doesnt zip up all the way? That sucks

which one seems more durable?

I recently found out how annoyingly tight the swagman was as a sleeping bag

Disappointed there was no link to the Serape, but understandable due to SRO connection.

I used the swag roll at negative 6 F and it kept me survivably warm

Ps cpl sent me

Jerven Fjellduken

Both are too expensive for what they are.

If you lose some weight get in shape it’s a lot easier to stay warm in all conditions.

Are you a skin, you look like a skin to me. Swagman is roughly half the price as well?