Redbacks (even more deadly black widows) will make you very crook (ill). Funnel webs will kill you. Also snakes might seek out some warmth. Handy to have 2 entrances so if you see something deadly on one side you get out on the other. If you only have one way of getting out keep a knife in the swag so you can cut your way out, if need be. In Australia your boots stay inside the swag at night. One other thing, the quality of canvas is most important. Most swags sold in Australia are made overseas to a very low standard. There are a few local manufacturers in Australia making good stuff and that is what I use. They are expensive but worth it. One last thing with the local manufacturers you can often customise for a bit longer or wider or one or two entrances.🇦🇺
Love to see our American mates enjoying Aussie cultural icons. The swag is important to us and not a coffin @Uncle Fjester “I’m looking at you mate, lol”. But seriously, the swag isn’t just for camping, it’s also for crashing out the back of your best mate’s house after the footie and for rolling out under the stars when your in the doghouse with your wife after a night on the turps (beer) and she’s gone “pack your swag coz you’re not sleeping here tonight ya p!sshead!” OzzieOzzieOzzieOiOiOi
Swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who view the task of inflating a sleeping mat as some Herculean challenge. These relics hark back to an age before we cracked the code on lightweight, inflatable sleeping mats - a time when a slab of foam was your only ticket to a decent night's sleep on the unforgiving ground. It's a total mystery why they're still around, given the leaps and bounds we've made in sleeping tech. But hey, there's always someone keen on baking in a canvas sarcophagus, which, mind you, is about as portable and lightweight as a 6-person luxury tent. To cut a long story short, in today's world of camping innovation, swags are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They're the epitome of discomfort, impracticality, and a burden to lug around.
@Funkteon I have no idea if you’re right or not, but I’m upvoting you because the bundle he pulled out of the back of his truck didn’t look like anything I’d want to carry around for any length of time.
Thanks for sharing the Aussie history about the sway mate. To expand on the history - the swagman (Swaggie) would tie a string or bit of leather around his swag and travel between cattle stations, railway gangs or shearing sheds while looking for work. As he walked from one place to another, the swag would swing across his back with the rhythm of his walk. It was the only (she) he slept with most of the time and the the rhythm was a waltz. Hence the term ‘Waltzing Matilda’. Our most noted national anthem. Thanks for the video. Onya
Swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who view the task of inflating a sleeping mat as some Herculean challenge. These relics hark back to an age before we cracked the code on lightweight, inflatable sleeping mats - a time when a slab of foam was your only ticket to a decent night's sleep on the unforgiving ground. It's a total mystery why they're still around, given the leaps and bounds we've made in sleeping tech. But hey, there's always someone keen on baking in a canvas sarcophagus, which, mind you, is about as portable and lightweight as a 6-person luxury bell tent. To cut a long story short, in today's world of camping innovation, swags are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They're the epitome of discomfort, impracticality, and a burden to lug around.
@Funkteon I cant sleep a wink on an inflatable mattress. Just because its great for you doesn't mean its right for everyone. I was actually thinking about picking one of these up years ago. I live in Montana and it can go from sunny 85° F to 20° and raining in two minutes. Having something this sturdy and easy to set up is super appealing, as long as im by my Jeep. If im backpacking, this obviously isnt going to work.
Love our swags…almost a right of passage for a young man to get one of these and keep it for life. As you get older, they are handy for camping out the back of country pubs!! Nice video mate.
@@1RednBlue Swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who view the task of inflating a sleeping mat as some Herculean challenge. These relics hark back to an age before we cracked the code on lightweight, inflatable sleeping mats - a time when a slab of foam was your only ticket to a decent night's sleep on the unforgiving ground. It's a total mystery why they're still around, given the leaps and bounds we've made in sleeping tech. But hey, there's always someone keen on baking in a canvas sarcophagus, which, mind you, is about as portable and lightweight as a 6-person luxury tent. To cut a long story short, in today's world of camping innovation, swags are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They're the epitome of discomfort, impracticality, and a burden to lug around.
Australian here, I own five swags. You nailed it. Good summary mate. We love our swags for ease and comfort. Once you get into using them they become your favourite. Good brands to check out: Murchison River Swags (traditional bedroll style), Southern Cross Swags (dome swags). Both of these are Australian made with Australian Canvas and will last a lifetime e.g 40 years
Swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who view the task of inflating a sleeping mat as some Herculean challenge. These relics hark back to an age before we cracked the code on lightweight, inflatable sleeping mats - a time when a slab of foam was your only ticket to a decent night's sleep on the unforgiving ground. It's a total mystery why they're still around, given the leaps and bounds we've made in sleeping tech. But hey, there's always someone keen on baking in a canvas sarcophagus, which, mind you, is about as portable and lightweight as a 6-person luxury tent. To cut a long story short, in today's world of camping innovation, swags are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They're the epitome of discomfort, impracticality, and a burden to lug around.
LOL, they don’t flap like tents in the wind, they are warm in winter and you end up having the best night sleep ever. Sure they are bulky but they are super quick to setup and they don’t go flat like inflatable sleeping pads.
Stay home bro. Keep practising english comprehension with essays connecting the content of the English dictionary just to say you are so bright you are blinded from just being out there@@Funkteon
So I’m from Massachusetts and living in NE I’ve enjoyed camping in all types of weather - I’ve had lots of tents since I began really camping a bunch on weekends and longer excursions; the one thing I’ve found is that a swag is like nothing anyone else here in the States has used before. I still have a backpacking tent for short trips, but I have a 23Zero double swag that I use primarily and it’s the absolute best. The thick canvas and pvc bottom offer far greater protection from the elements and, obviously, greater insulation. With near vertical walls due to the external pole structure, I have loads of room to change clothings and lounge out on the harsher days. Glad to see you’re into them and I highly recommend one to everyone who asks 👌🏼
@@CrypticCocktails the weather here is just nuts 😂 could be freezing rain in the AM then damn near 60° in the afternoon lmao I swear there’s nothing like it anywhere else!
23zero is now making them in the US for the US market. I have 2. I got the Bandit 1400 for my wife and I and I liked it so much that I got the Dual 900 for myself when I go out alone. I absolutely love them! Oh, and they have an almost 3 inch high density foam mattress that's super comfortable. The Aussies know how to camp!!
In Australia you can go to a place called clark rubber and get memory foam cut to size, place a fitted sheet over and now you have an even better mattress to sleep on. Also if the single swags are to small for you, they come in many varieties. You could try an xl single or double sized swag.
Aussie here - we have Darche Nebula and it’s a hybrid tent/swag. Plenty room for my husband and I and we are big people. We use to take to friends place if we caught overnight and they don’t have extra beds. Roll it up with your bedding still inside and Throw on the roof of car or in the back. Because of the canvas it stays dark in the morning so you don’t wake up with the sun if you like a sleep in, keeps you dry and insulates really well. (Note you have to season the canvas of a swag to lock in the waterproofing properties). We’ve slept in all weather even really strong winds. We will actually set up in the backyard and watch the stars!! Some other brands to look at are Crashpad, Darche, 23Zero - they are the brands we looked at before deciding on the Darche. We did also get a self inflating mat and have that under the mattress that comes with it - feels like a pillow top!! Keep persisting they are great.
Crashpad also ships to the US for about $30. I started out with the Kodiak Canvas but switched to a Crashpad. It has a thicker mattress, more interior space, easier to set up.
I have a little paperback book my mom brought me back from her trip to Australia in the mid 1980’s. The name of the book is “Four Wheel Drive Swagman”. It is a compilation of stories from an Australian journalist/photographer who traveled the Outback in his Toyota FJ. I’ve read it so many times it’s falling apart. Love your channel, thanks for the review.
@@Info-qw8vi I will find the book next time I’m at my storage unit. I live in a little travel trailer and move around quite a bit… kinda like a Swagman, but not as cool. 😎 I’ll post what I can. ✌🏼
This is 8th swag video I've watched in a row, and the first from the US. I just had several second shock/adjustment back to the American dialect. 😄 Thank you for the explanation and history. I had assumed the swag was the OZ version of the American cowboy bedroll (I have one), but couldn't understand why modern day Aussies were using such confining shelters. In my search for quick setups and tear-downs, I've largely settled on the Kwik Kamp tent cot for solo camping. It's very similar the swag/cot (stretcher) combo in the video but all in one unit that folds up very quickly. It's not as abuse resistant as a canvas shelter, so I treat it with respect. I'm not trying to hijack the video, but in searching for the Grail of quick truck camping shelters. I've settled on the canvas cowboy teepee. They're very fast to setup, allow room for several sleepers, and room to stand up. The white canvas keeps the interior cooler during summer months, and a lantern hanging from the peak really lights up the interior nicely. It's a design that's survived the test of time for good reason, and on of my favorite gear purchases, and a go-to for car camping.
You clearly have never worked in remote areas. As a surveyor, all over central Oz and the NT, in all seasons,, I have spent more than 300nights in a swag. 100k kms pa, on mostly crap back roads and private property tracks. All my bedding is contained in the swag. We drive to the next job site, Often late at night, then throw the swag out. 2mins total, that is it, everything done, swag, all bedding, and mat inflated in 2mins. Way quicker and easier than setting up tents + bedding + mats. Packing up is just as fast - as fast as the air is released from the mat, eg 2 mins max. That is it. No separate rolling of mats or other bedding. More time to sink beers. And swags are dark inside, sleep in if you want to. Everyone who works in remote areas uses a swag, no tents are to be seen. And no roof top tents either - we need that space on the roof, and that unecessary extra weight up top is a bad idea. The way to build an effective remote work 4x4 is to build lightness. When you are traversing blacksoil plains in the top end, and the dark afternoon storm is building, you want the lightest vehicle possible. Every one working in remote areas uses a swag. The exceptions are road gangs who tow massive caravans behind trucks. Every one working out bush else uses a swag. It has been that way for the 25yrs I have been doing it, way before social media. You must be soft mate.
You said a bivvy is more of a minimalistic tent. While that is true for some uses of the word bivvy, Here in Germany/Austria/Switzerland, where the term is from, a "Biwack" is more A really thin and waterproof "Sleeping Bag", where your sleep system can sit in. For examples, you can look up the German Military "Biwacksack". The Netherlands use them, too. In the End, there are strong overlaps between a Biwacksack, a bed roll, a ranger roll and a swag.
Also common in America, I think he's just never come across them. I've always called them a bivouac sack or bag, mine rolls up smaller than my synthetic sleeping bag and is my backup for my hammock in case the weather takes a severe turn
In the uk we have bivvy bags goretex type military type that go over a sleeping bag, and fishing bivys which is basically a modified tent, I think bivouac is just a French word for tent/shelter.
> bivvy is more of a minimalistic tent. Yeah, that seems to be an American misconception. The European concept of "bivouac sack" bivvy and American concept of a bivvy as a small minimalistic tent is quite different. The later seems to be a marketing term used by hiking tent companies, and for some reason they seem to distinguish this from "bivvy bags" which ironically is the origin of the term "bivvy" from Bivouac sack. It's just a weird consumeristic Americanism and I think Americans look down on or talk down on "small" things due to supersize culture, insecurities, and lusting over large, mega, ostentatious mansions, gigantic "cabins", etc, as if bigger must be better (it is not), but also it's the "land of opportunity" so why not go as big as possible? And vice versa in Europe, smaller is often preferred, to have small but well designed apartments, small compact cars that are easier to park, etc, but that's also due to a congested and overpopulated society, whereas in America and Australia there is soo much space in comparison that it seems out of place, inappropriate, even senseless, to not carry as much tent or bedding as possible, and for someone to be minimalistic can even seem small-minded or frugal.
I hope you guys in the States discover the joys of swag camping. Hard to find anyone down in Oz who doesn't love them or own one. Brilliant sleeping system. So quick, durable, and comfortable.
routine solo camper here from US. I have 3 setups that I use for sleep depending on upcoming weather. 1. my hippie hammock is first choice. There is no more comfortable sleep. 2. my storm tent with mesh top and rainfly, for rainy days. 3. my popup camper when the grand kids come out to camp. All serve different environments. Stay flexible.
I live in northwest Montana and pack into the wilderness with my horses and mules. We still use bedrolls and I actually own a Canvas Cutter. IMO, they are not worth the price. They are too heavy and bulky for the horses and not warm at all. I used to bring a canvas wall tent. Again, too heavy. Now I have a Luxe teepee with titanium stove that I can also cook on. Thanks for the great videos.
Aussie here, swags have their place but no one mentions that (apart from the restrictive weight of a swag) you have nowhere to do administrative tasks. You must put a tarp over your swag in inclement weather because if it's raining, when you get out, the rain pours in!! Nowhere to cook, no room to stow/access your gear & having to sit it out when your busting to answer the call of nature
100%... if you live in the SouthWest. The Australians have figured this out; no need to reinvent the wheel. If you live in the humid SouthEast (like me), a swag is sweatbox that grows mold in the offseason.
Australians in Far North Queensland still use swags and it's a tropical climate up there. Make sure you get one that has mesh ends and top so that it can breathe.
Fantastic video mate, very comprehensive. Your swag looks fairly good quality but is quite small in comparison to what most Aussies are using these days. I'd say 95% of Aussies now use the larger dome style swags with hoop poles at each end and a single pole across the top. They are far roomier and don't give the claustrophobic feeling and many are big enough for an average size person to sit up inside. There are even three pole designs such the ARB Skydome swag which is an even more modern take on the swag idea and may be available in the USA as I believe ARB have distributors over there. If you get the chance try one of those or even one from 23Zero and try to get the king single size which is 1100mm wide.
Yep I second this. I have the Darche disk till dawn 1100 king single with a sundowner titan stretcher. My knees suck. Love the ability to see the stars at night. Plus the airflow. Quite often it is great for a short camp or when I am heading to a campsite near a beach or lake. I set up for a few days and this includes a gazebo type cover if it rains or for sun protection throughout the day. I will go 4wding on the beach with my stand up paddle board or if it’s a lake my kayak. I have a awning which doubles for days out and at camp. Setup is simple. Which gives me more time to hang out with friends, 4wding, water activities or bushwalking.
23Zero looked a bit dodgy to me. I was in the market for a new swag recently, and looked at the 23-0. In the showroom, but the seam sealing tape was already pealing of. WTF? Others say the stitching also doesnt last. Pay a few bucks more and buy a DARCHE, I just did, a Nebula Plus - works great , spacious, the Misso loves it. Darche are a material manufacturer and they make their own canvas - the quality improvement over the 23 Zero is obvious.
The 1400mm wide swags are more than enough room for two normal size people. I have the Darche Dirty Dee. The mattress is great. Best night sleeps ever. Plus the black out is so good when you need a sleep in.
G’day. Great review of our Aussie swag. I have been using swags camping for many years in the bush here in Australia. All weathers, hot, cold etc and never felt uncomfortable. Swags are a tradition here in Oz, nothing like sleeping under the stars in a good Aussie swag. Manufacturers here have streamlined them in recent years for extreme comfort. Could be a great market opening up in the States. Again, great job on the . Cheers 🇦🇺👍
Definitely season it. Can just wet it down with a hose and let it dry out a couple of times OR submerge the whole thing in a bucket of water. It closes up all the fibres especially around the stitching. It’s really important if it’s not seam sealed. Most do it regardless.
We also have larger queen sized swags here which are great for couples (or couples with a small child) and larger folks. They all have expanding foam or self inflating mattress. The swags are high enough you can sit up in them or lie down and watch th stars. They all roll up with your bedding in them just the same. Setup is a minute or two and your bed is ready made. Swags are perfect for touring and way better, warmer in cooler months and cooler in warmer months than a tent with lots of pegs and setup and condensation. They are also extremely waterproof and offer far more protection than a tent in bad weather too. The cost for the two person is also just a frugal USD$100 and can easily last 10-15 years of use, far outlasting most tents many times over if you put a ground sheet under the swag. Add a 270 degree swing out awning to your vehicle and you also have more cover and shelter than even a tent with setup less than 2 minutes. This takes the effort out of camping, and with this approach your camp is set up with bed made, chair unfolded and beer in hand in under 5 minutes.
Good on you for being open to something from outside America, because...NEWSFLASH!!! ...other countries and other people have good ideas too. I sleep in my swag on the back of my ute, and love it.
When you take out the foam pad, it packs down decently small. I brought this on some military training with a regular inflatable sleeping pad and it worked well. Much more waterproof than a nylon tent for a high humidity climate where it rains weeks at a time. Much more durable as well. Takes about the same amount of time to set up as a tent though. Only advantage is you can leave the sleeping bag inside and it will be protected from the elements. I recommend the tension bar, they're out of stock right now and I wish I had one.
What I love about a swag is no flappy thin @ss nylon. A swag feels like your own little cave and you won’t be up at 5am when the sun rises (unless you have it all unzipped or course). 23zero have really good quality swags so you’re lucky if you can get them in the States. I’ve got the Outbreak 1550 and it’s so damn cosy & could hang in there all day if need be due to weather. Love it!!! Note: beware, NOT all swag (brands) are good...a lot of the cheapies WILL leak & have design flaws.
Hi from Australia. I really liked your video. I've been using swags now for years. I'm in my 60's now and I've gone from tents to campers to caravans and back to swags. I've had my swag in the snow (Woke up with an inch of snow on top) and I was as warm as toast. I've been in the hot and humid summer where I used a portable fan to make it comfortable. I've used it when out 4WD ing, Kayaking, Quad biking and boating. I can role it up with my sleeping bag and pillow inside and it has a built in matress which is very comfortable. If I have the room I also use a stretcher bed to get it all off the ground. As you mentioned it is for sleeping only but if you're out in the wild why would you want to be in your tent? One of the best things is this... In winter, when the bugs are few, you can open it up and unzip the fly screens and just gaze at the stars as you fall asleep! I also have a double swag for when I think I'll need more room....
Never used it, but, I have known about it ever since I read To Fight The Wild (about an Aussie cowboy who got stranded in an oasis after his boat got capsized and he had to paddle up a tidal river. With one oar. He was stuck for 3 months) Also Bushcraft by Richard Graves. He used a bag attached to one of the straps. One strap went over one shoulder and the bag went over the other. He called it a "dilly bag". The dilly bag was for things like lunch and a boiling pot. And Mr. Graves was going on foot.He noted that the load was better balanced and if he had to shuck the swag it was fairly easy.
Mate, you absolutely nailed it. You know the history of swags better than most Aussies. As someone who grew up eity bedroll style swags it took me a long time to come around to the tent style swags. No good for rucking but for car camping they're hard to beat.
I had the same reaction to canvas, never really cared for tents. My summer camp had us sleep out in the open on group tarps, which is cooler than it sounds (we sometimes had mosquitoes, but mostly not, and that was the only real nuisance aside from the dew that most days dried up by the time we climbed out of bed). When you're solo around other people, it feels like you're on display, though. So cool to see something like this.
First, I really like the wide variety of tents, bivvies, - and now swags too - that we have available today. I’ve camped in many places in pup tents to 3-4 person tents in the last 70 years. I camp as a 1 person set up now from a canoe, motorcycle, or my Toyota Rav4. So I’ve used a 1 person tent the last 15-20 years. I quit taking along a cooler 20 years ago, and carry dehydrated or freeze dried foods. That makes the load lighter & smaller, and much less time spent cooking. I like that; others like to carry fresh foods and cooking. It’s options for each of us. I like having a rain fly to be under to sit and prep meals, eat, read, whittle, etc. An A frame set up with a tent entry snugged up to one end (the higher end so water isn’t dripping on me or in the tent). That configuration gives me options that are usable and pleasant. A couple of camp mates use cots and like them. Too bulky for me. Before I set up my tent, I scrape the ground to clear away debris. There’s lots of junk out there, both natural and man made. A shallow hip-hole makes it comfortable for me. My current tent is a Durston X-Mid 1 person that is working very well. I place it on a “high spot” of a couple of inches to avoid a puddled tent. AND, I put in a plastic bathtub for when I goof, and water does puddle up. Measure the tent floor, cut the plastic 1 foot longer and 1 foot wider. Fold up 6” on all edges, miter each corner, and secure each corner with duct tape. This has saved me several times from puddles and little rivulets. Place the sleeping pad & bag inside of the bathtub. Thanks for showing this. I learned some new things. Courtesy of Half Vast Flying
I have the Kodiak swag, and I use it on my adv bike. Pulled out the mattress and put in 3 wool blankets. When it's all zippered up I'm good below freezing. Also it rolls up really small. Quick setup. Your comment about toughness is spot on. I used to use a backpacking tent until it got destroyed in a thunderstorm in the badlands 😂
Swags are very very common in Australia. Pretty much most people that have a 4wd will also have a Swag. I have recently switched to the ARB Skydome and its fantastic!
Watching your videos has helped tremendously! I was thinking about a RTT. Not now. Being prior service; a bivouac tents are in my DNA. I’m definitely going with this system. Never heard of “swag” tents. I’m definitely a fan.
Less than two minutes in and I've gotta say: I genuinely love how cultured you present yourself, right from the start. You clearly have a lot of cross cultural knowledge and you carry yourself in a way that's humble enough to belistle your skill. Definitely a rare trait among the prep/camp people on RU-vid.
So sorry about your dad. But your creativity is a tribute to him. Hang in there and I love the idea of a swag. It would have to be off the ground, 71 and 81 year olds are not in love with sleeping on the ground.
Great to see this video. I spent a few years in the Northern Territories some 20 years ago, and brought my flat swag home to New England. Still going strong! I use it under a tarp in winter, in a mozzie dome, under a tarp in summer. Wish more Aussie swags were available in the US. The 23Zero looks decent (though the canvas seems half a thick as my Sar Major), and I might just pick one up. WIngman of the Road (UK) offers dome swags and ships to US. They look a bit beefier.
23Zero looked a bit dodgy to me. I was in the market for a new swag recently, and looked at the 23-0. In the showroom, but the seam sealing tape was already pealing of. WTF? Others say the stitching also doesnt last. Pay a few bucks more and buy a DARCHE, I just did, a Nebula Plus - works great , spacious, the Misso loves it. Darche are a material manufacturer and they make their own canvas - the quality improvement over the 23 Zero is obvious.
I like the old style swag with the big flap you can pull over your face. When you're not sleeping, you can lay about on top of it, and use it as a seat when rolled up. They're very utilitarian and durable.
I'm an Aussie. I have a double swag for camping with my missus and a single with a swag platform. Best sleep ever. The double swag is heaps big enough for two adults.
We use our swags in Aus while surf fishing on the beach. When the sea breeze kicks in it can be absolutely howling,but if you point the foot end into the breeze you won't even notice it when you're tucked up inside.
About a year and 1/2 ago I bought a Wingman of the Road Toucan motorcycle Swagman Roll. I absolutely love it! Completely awesome bedroll for motorcycle camping. It also works great for overlanding.
It ain't a swag. It's modern swag. A real swag was carried by a swagman. It was simply a blanket in a piece of canvas. A real swag had other uses too. A man had work clothes he lived in maybe 1 change. Plus a suit. If you lay your suit carefully under your blanket it will be pressed/ironed. Tbh bedroll swag, the closest thing to that now is soldiers. Giving bag (gortex / synthetics ) and a sleeping bag. I'd lay money there are more living bags than swags worldwide. I got a old swag no hoop and 2 division. Swag 1970, bivi 1980s and a newer lighter one 15 yr old
Going to go with a double swag over roof top tent after watching your videos. Thank you for your reviews! We’re looking for something for an overland vacation late spring. We’re tent campers but we’re looking for something quicker to set up/tear down daily.
A little tip us aussies use.. Set up your swag closer to your vehicle, less chance of being run over and if you are attacked in the night you've got something to climb under if needed.
No shoes outside and not laid on the floor/ ground. The higher up, the better. In America where bears and rattle snakes abound, you wouldn't catch me out in the open there.
Millenials aren't using an unusual or particularly recent definition of swag: the bag your classic cartoon burglar in the stripey vest carries has the word 'Swag' on it - it means loot, stuff, ill gotten gains. First emerged in 1800s used this way. I've no idea of the etymology of the australian swag though.
My go to single swag is the Burke & Wills - Simpson. Had it for 15 years and still in good condition. I’ve added a layer of closed cell foam under the mattress. Stops losing heat to the ground completely. In my double swag I use an Exped MegaMat instead of foam mattress. As comfortable as an innerspring mattress. Happy camping.
I live in Germany, and started to look at Swags about 5 years ago. There was no way to get one of these here at that time. By now, a very few importers have started to make Swags available here. I am mainly interested in these for motorcycle camping. The intention to put it onto a camping cot (called a stretcher in Australia) to get off the ground. I will not use the foam mattress as it adds in my opinion unnecessary bulk. Instead I will put my hope on an inflatable mat. We will see how all of that goes. Weight is an issue with a motorcycle, so everything but the tent part will be as lightweight as possible.
No no no. Stretcher cots are heavy and bulky and unnecessary, and are no where near as comfortable as a good mat. Buy an Exped Megamat 15cm, it rolls up to next to nothing, and is light, and supremely comfortable, and R rating of 10. I use one.
@@nordic5490 Don't worry, it is not your usual stretcher cot. It packs down small, as the legs are separable (Klymit Cedar Mesa). To me, it is sadly not unnecessary, as I need to be off the ground by now. As I do not need to carry an entire editing studio with me, it will be fine.
Thanks for this, @exploresouthwest ! I’m hoping to go on my first long ride on my Ural sidecar rig this spring: 4500 miles over 3 weeks or so. I’ve been riding motorcycles for 61 years, and have gone on rides for months at a time in 22 countries, but I don’t have a young guy’s body anymore. At 77, I’m not nearly as flexible as I once was, and frankly, the idea of getting a tent set up and getting down on the ground to crawl into my sleeping bag after 8 hours of riding was not as appealing as it used to be either. The swag on a folding cot seems workable, though, and traveling alone, I have enough space to haul that much gear. I just ordered a 23Zero double and a Teton cot based on your clear and useful discussion.
?? As a surveyor all over central Oz and the NT, spent >300 night in a swag. Im all electric now, 260AH Lithium batts, 2000w inverter, induction cooking, ordinary 240v kettle and toaster. The batterys have hever run out. All too easy. Time to modernise.
Been using swags 40 years here in Australia and theyre the best way to sleep in the bush especially in stormy weather, quick to set up and take down and there are so many designs and sizes to choose from . The more modern swags are great for keeping out sand flies and mozzies as well as snakes, scorpions ants ,centipedes and spiders etc.
I have the Oztent Easy-fold swag with an integrated stretcher. I set it up under an Ironman 2m awning. In a public campground or in inclement weather, I will add the room-extension to the awing and set up the swag inside without the rain-proof flysheet. For changing and showering, there is a privacy extension on the other side of the vehicle. A major benefit of the swag is that it can be set up without the outer fly-sheet but with the integrated bug-screen leaving a mosquito and bug free sleeping arrangement. Since I frequently use camping grounds where I need a physical tent to reserve my camping space, I use a small dome tent exclusively for storing swag, fold-up tables and chairs while I'm exploring so that I will still have my same camping spot upon my return..
My swag is a Darche Dirty Dee 1.4 and I’m 6’3”. Loads of space for me. Heavy as hell, but three hoops in and the top bars on and all you need to do is peg it to the ground. Guy lines optional if inclement. Thick canvas is so much quieter in the wind and rain. Don’t forget to season a new swag - soak it and dry it in the sun three times if you can, but once is better than none. My lightweight is a Marmot Limelight, which is great, but the swag is like having my own portable cave 👍
Also there are some bedroll companies in the U.S. You alluded to the Canvas Cutter Dominator. I bought the 2.0 latest version with the full pole system. They claim it's breathable but I found it extremely hot in warm temps. Built really well, and likely very comfortable in cold air. Ended up selling it. Another bedroll choice is the Ellis cowboy bedroll. Haven't tried it but it looks like quality. Interesting ventilation system. There's a good recent RU-vid video on it from them.
I think it’s poignant that you’ve done the vid next to your truck. That’s the crowd they still speak to not backpackers or anyone else. Maybe horse riders and drovers but otherwise they are dying off in favour of ultralight tents and hammocks.
I think the reason swags are not as popular in the US is that we have far more acreage where a hot tent with a stove is better. I camp I the spring and fall more than summer or winter. Being in washington state, I need a waterproof tent that stays warm in sub freezing temps, doesn't blow over in a steady 30mph wind with 60mph gusts, and can handle all the conditions in a 24hr period. Sleeping on the ground is never a good idea, it's just a good way to get wet.
I love my swag, I've got 4 of them 2x single n 2x double N I'd never go back to a tent, nothing like waking up n seeing the river or scenic view straight away
Got a Haven Safari model and I'm like 235lbs - on the ground it's basically a swag; it's designed to be usable with or without trees and it's got capacity to hold me and my stuff just fine when there are trees.
We use these in the Army when not operating by foot. Any conditions, anywhere. Super versatile. Different tools for different jobs. I guess. But yes. More of a solo type use when all your mates have their own 4wd. RTT are good but it’s a permanent fixture and Australians tend to like their utes to be versatile vehicles that can be used so I can leave my swag at home when not camping for 95% of my vehicles daily use.
Everyone who works in remote areas uses a swag, no tents are to be seen. And no roof top tents either - we need that space on the roof, and that unecessary extra weight up top is a bad idea. The way to build an effective remote work 4x4 is to build lightness. When you are traversing blacksoil plains in the top end, and the dark afternoon storm is building, you want the lightest vehicle possible. You really are talking rubbish mate. Every one working in remote areas uses a swag. The exceptions are road gangs who tow massive caravans behind trucks. Every one working out bush else uses a swag. It has been that way for the 25yrs I have been doing it
Hey mate, good vid. Ive got an original Australian made Burke and Wills Double swag. Heaps of room. I used to sleep in there with my son when he was young and he loved it. They are pretty big when rolled up but super comfortable to sleep in. Dont forget to season it before it rains.
A nice big swag is awesome. Comfy and safe from the creepy crawlies. I just got two queen sized swags and these things are pure swag luxury. Can't wait to use them 😊
Don't know where my other comment went but, another thing a mesh ground sheet is nice and a tarp of some kind can save you in weather and less dew on the canvas makes pack up better as it is not wet/damp of a morning, and the tarp can aid in more shade when warm outside.
as an Aussie i love our swag - small volume of air handy in cold climates. have a king single but for couples and small families they do offer bigger 1.5-2m wide double units with the same principal. its a bed not a place to hang out
Thank you for the detailed review!I love the canvas cuz under the hot sun it stays cool inside... I've got the Toucan from wingman of the road. They made it for motorcycles but you might like it.
nice one mate, brilliant review and covered it all perfectly. They are awesome bits of gear. I have been using a 23 Zero 1100 for a couple of years now it is brilliant. I have had swags since I was a kid and prefer them every time. Great stuff, hope ya'll get into them. Good luck wi9th the channel, subscribed ✌🏻🇺🇸🇦🇺
My partner and I have a queen sized swag, perfect for us, but they are the number 1 camping item in Oz. If you go camping and don't own one over here... You're definitely unaustralian
I am going to subscribe just because I saw an Ilford product sitting on the shelf in your house. You are bound to be an awesome person even if you know what Ilford was or is. I got a degree in photography in'76. It's been a great but challenging life to be a photographer all these years but looking back the camera took me places I would have never imagined. I expect if we ever shared a campfire, the conversation would be fantastic. Carry on. I enjoyed your review but moreover the effort you put into it. Excellent.
I watch some Aussie 4x4 shows and have been intrigued about them. I wasn't able to find one, so I ended up building a bunk in the back of my truck instead. Something about low-tech fabric and the continuation of a long history appeals to me. Yeah, I cook in camp ovens too. 🙂
As an Aussie, let me enlighten you: swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who view the task of inflating a sleeping mat as some Herculean challenge. These relics hark back to an age before we cracked the code on lightweight, inflatable sleeping mats - a time when a slab of foam was your only ticket to a decent night's sleep on the unforgiving ground. It's a total mystery why they're still around, given the leaps and bounds we've made in sleeping tech. But hey, there's always someone keen on baking in a canvas sarcophagus, which, mind you, is about as portable and lightweight as a 6-person luxury bell tent. To cut a long story short, in today's world of camping innovation, swags are about as useful as a chocolate teapot. They're the epitome of discomfort, impracticality, and a burden to lug around.
As an Aussie, I’ll fix this for you: swags are the exclusive territory of car campers who prefer the darkness, comfort and sleep quality of a swag. If you hike, by all means, not for you. I’ve spent many nights in tents and swags. Swag every single time for me. I don’t hike overnight.
@@BlownMacTruck Exactly - Swags are for people don't mind having to get out of their shelter to eat and change clothes... Folded/rolled up, they literally take up more space than an absolutely massive tent designed for 6+ people... They're also not as quick to set up as people think they are. You save maybe 1-2 minutes of setup time, but completely sacrifice an enormous amount of cubic feet of living space...
@@BlownMacTruck nah theres a reason why people use em better than a tent if you can get it to where you're going (provided its average quality) and better than a car too but i guess it depends on what you actually are doing.
I wish they would make a lighter swag for backpacking. Swags are so heavy you need some type of vehicle to haul them, and hooped backpacking bivi-bags are so small and flimsy you have to baby them. What's missing is a middle of the road product that is light enough for a short day-hike but solid enough to take a beating. So far I have not found anythingh like that? Cheers from Sweden!
Im 38. Got my first swag at 14. My second at 24, which i still have, its big enough for 2 people. Have recently got a new one for myself and will be keeping the other. Have spent more than a year of nights across my years in them. Light a fire unroll an awning on the car. Roll out the swag and have a few beers.
I have a Southern Cross single dome swag and love it. But my favourite is an old Saul Swag that I keep on my ute. It is a bed roll type swag, no zips, a real swag. Can roll it out on the tray of the ute and sleep off the ground. Keeps the rain off and the cold out. Not so good on keeping out the creepy crawlies though. 🕷️🪱🇦🇺
G'day mate, and welcome to the swag life! I have two a single and a double which is if ya takin ya missus with ya or just want extra room. A swag and a fly if it's pissin down, is the only way to camp!
Nice. I just put the money down for a Canvas Cutter. I used to be a hammock guy when I was out solo. Way faster and lighter than any RRT out them and so many options and where and how to hang it. But the years have caught up to me and just can't do the Hammocks anymore. Last few years when out by myself it was either the Oztent I use for family trips or a Tarp and Sleep on the ground. The Canvas Cutter looks to me like it is a Bed Role that will give you some of the comforts of a swag. But we will see. Thanks for the review and the start of the conversation may well see you out there in the southwest and you can take a look at the American hybrid swag. P.S. Been in Rock and Roll for over 30 years. We were using the word SWAG for T-shirts long before the Millennials came along with their quaint cultural slang. Cheers
The swag does share some characteristics with the military sleep systems. This teamed up with a tarp would work. I do dislike the use of the cot. Cots are hard to get out of.
I have been using a 1920s US made military bed roll for years. Most of the people I know have them. The term Bushcraft came from Australian sheep and cattle drovers long before it became popular in Europe and the United States. Before I got my bed roll I would just throw a tarp over me and I would just prop it up with a stick to keep it off my face. Good video.
I have been using swags for 25yrs herein Oz. I have spent at least 300 nights in a swag in that time, mostly during severql years a a surveyorin central and nothern Oz. I allways used a tarp under my swag - every single time. That is why my canvas bottomed swags still look brand new. And.. as others have said... dont leave your boots out side. Thongs are fine outside, no where for ol mate critter to hide.
Try a new one with a camp stretcher under it> its wonderful not to have to get up off the ground. I unzip the swag and just swing my legs over the edge and Im standing up. its great😀
Little or no condensation issues, but I'm in a dry area and I do keep good ventilation open at the head and foot of the swag. There have been some dewy cold mornings in the mountains where the canvas felt a little damp but it was hard to tell if it was outside dew or inside condensation. But I did wait till the sun came up to shine on it and get it bone dry while making breakfast.
