Table of Contents
swags for camping and sleeping
see also:
- swag reviews:
- I don't sell any of these nor do I receive any remuneration if you buy them, and I have not personally reviewed all of them, they are listed here to give you perspective
- a wet, cold swag will make you cold - if rain or dew is forecast, cover it with a tarp or 4WD awning and consider elevating on a stretcher bed
- most swags need to be seasoned
- some swags will leak at the sewn join of the PVC floor to the canvas - do extra seam sealing here and keep swag off flooded ground
- after a frosty night, the car awning for your swag may not be able to be rolled up and the zippers of swag and awning may not work - you should take ratchet straps as a backup until they are thawed out
- if I was designing them, they would have 3 layers for the entrances - but they only have 2
- the mesh layer is obvious for ventilation, insect protection and potentially ability to see the stars
- the wind/rainproof layer is obvious and this needs to be outside the mesh and zip downwards to optimise rain proofing which is a bit unfortunate as you have to open the mesh and let insects in to adjust this layer
- as a 3rd layer, I would also like to see a privacy internal layer which zips UPWARDS from the bottom to not only give you some privacy whilst you can still see sky above, but it allows you to adjust ventilation at body level without having to unzip the mesh - on cool clear star gazing nights, you may want the breeze off your head and such a layer would help achieve this but still allow star gazing.
- its not as if such a layer would add excessive weight - they are already too heavy for hiking so a bit extra weight is not important
- It is also a pity the mattress is included and not an optional extra - you may wish to go with your own mattress such as a self-inflating mattress
Introduction
- for those driving to a camp site, swags are extremely popular, especially for solo campers
- you can get double swags but these are even more bulky and heavy
- most common are the dome or tunnel types which provide more head room , less claustrophobia and better insect protection than traditional swags but they are more bulky and heavy
- canvas should generally be at least 320gsm with ripstop nylon fabric
- the base should generally be PVC base and not canvas to provide better waterproofing, but if you choose canvas base you can use a tarp groundsheet
- the foam mattress should be 5-7cm thick as a minimum, or add a self-inflating mat
- zippers should be YKK zippers
- poles should be metal or air and not fibreglass
- usual sizes are:
- Single: 60-90cm wide x 180-230cm long
- King Single: 90-115cm wide x 190-230cm long
- Double: 110-130cm wide x 190-230cm long for comparison, a 2P dome hiking tent is usually 130cm wide x 230cm long and much lighter at around 2kg
- styles:
- traditional swag
- no pole support framework and hence mesh/canvas can fall on your face
- dome swag
- these use two or three hoop “dome” poles to create a supporting framework
- three hoop designs are potentially stronger and provide more room, allow more window options but add weight and can make entry and exit from swag more difficult
- those with a ridge pole to connect these are generally freestanding
- they usually have a mesh/canvas ventilation windows at each end - some have the head end window large enough to be used as a door or as a “hunter's window”
- some have the mesh doors only on the sides
- some have mesh on top to allow better sky visibility
- some have a separate fly which makes them more like a tent and with better weatherproofing and sun blockout eg. Oztent DS-1 and DS-2
- air swag
- these are like the dome swags but use air poles instead and require these to be pumped up
- swags are generally best when used OFF the ground on top of a stretcher bed and under a tarp or awning
- this gives better water insurance from flash flood situations in a storm and allows a more comfortable sitting option with legs over the side when putting boots on, etc
- the problem with nearly every swag stretcher is that you cannot adjust the leg heights individually - this means you have to choose your site carefully so your head is not downhill which can be problematic if you are setting up under a 4WD vehicle side awning with limited options
- one of the few stretchers with individual adjustable leg heights is the Wanderer Premium King stretcher BUT this is not really designed for stretchers as it is not flat and has some padding
- nevertheless some 2 hoop 90cm wide swags may be able to be rigged so they sit nicely on it
- I am thinking the Darche AD900 Air Volution might work well - would love to try it but unfortunately I only have the stretcher
- the Darche AD 1100 Air Volution might also work but would overhang the sides by 4“ on each side but the extra width gives greater versatility
Pros
- swags have the advantage over most other tents in that they are warmer in winter or alpine areas as your body has less volume of air to heat up, yet the canvas with mesh windows can still be cool on warmer nights
- tend to be very sturdy and long lasting
- relatively fast set up as most come with a foam mattress in place although you may prefer to replace this with a more comfortable self-inflating foam mat
- generally great in strong winds if the poles are strong, the walls are taut, and it is well pegged down given their low profile but can be very dusty - you still have the danger of flying debris, or worse, falling tree branches
Cons
- bulky and heavy - unless they are hiking swags, they will take up a LOT of room on your vehicle and are way too heavy to hike with
- they start at 5kg for “expedition” models, but the usual swags are 12-19kg - similar to a 4P touring tent which has far more amenity for the packed size and weight!
- need extra gear to make them comfortable in the rain:
- a stretcher bed to get them off the ground is preferred by many, whilst others will just use a ground sheet
- a tarp or vehicle awning to protect from rain or sun
- if you are going to go to the trouble of setting up a tarp and you have to car camp anyway due to weight, a floorless tent may be a better option such as the NatureHike Sand Dune 10.9 hot tent
- there is very limited headroom so you will need to get changed horizontally as you may not be able to sit up in many of them
- can take a long time to dry out once wet
- can be a major risk of being run over by a vehicle at night hence choice of camp site is important
- ground water flooding can enter swag more easily than most tents as their bucket wall of the floor is not as high
- this can be addressed by placing them on an appropriate stretcher bed to raise them off the ground which also keeps them cleaner
- some may find them claustrophobic, especially the traditional swag designs
- many are not freestanding and must be pegged out via guy ropes at each end
- generally need to be seasoned to make them more waterproof
- many are not as waterproof as you may need them to be even with seasoning
- may need to paint sealant on the seams between the PVC floor and canvas as the holes in the PVC from stitches may be too large - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRnKi6uE2Yg
- they can get very muddy on wet ground - some use a ground sheet to protect them.
- if you want to replace the mattress with a better thicker one, it may need to be rolled up separately
- most are too hot to be in during the day unless they are under the shade of an awning or tarp
- some bags are not large enough to roll up your bedding which sort of defeats the purpose of having a roll up swag
- they are too bulky to take a backup one in case of failure - unlike hiking tents
Some swag tips
- most traditional swags take about 5 minutes to set up and 5 minutes to pack up if you already have your bedding inside, this will beat air swags and tents
- find flattish ground if you can, away from ant nests, with some wind protection and not under large branches which may fall - this might take you 30-60 minutes to decide!
- use a budget tarp under the swag to keep the swag cleaner and peg the corners (or, even better, use a stretcher)
- consider a 1100mm wide swag rather than a narrow 900mm one (1400mm tends to sag too much)
- a spacious easy to use bag for the swag makes a big difference
- adding glow in the dark zipper attachments to the zips makes life much easier at night
- take care inserting poles to ensure they are centred to avoid exerting too much flex and breaking them
- to roll up a door, create a triangle then roll up from the bottom point of the triangle - this will be much easier to control
- sleep with a canvas door open (under a tarp or awning if chance of rain or dew - it is easier to dry out a tarp than it is to dry out a wet swag plus you get more amenity) and just have the mesh door closed to keep things out - reduces condensation and provides better visibility of nature and situational awareness - but have the breeze coming the opposite way though to reduce wind chill
- packing up:
- check inside thoroughly for things like keys and phones before you pack up
- leave things in your bag for sleeping - mattress, quilt, a proper pillow, beanie, warm socks, etc
- zip up the mesh door
- zip up the canvas door but leave the bottom open to allow the air to escape and allow rolling it up
- dismantle swag in reverse order to setting up, and be careful with the poles and have them close by for when rolling swag up
- roll up starting at opposite end to the D shackles, and place the poles inside the roll up to protect them and make sure you haven't forgotten them
Bivy
- these are generally ultralight swag-like shelters and some are essentially just waterproof sleeping bag covers
- some have a small frame to get the fabric off your face and also have a dual fabric/mesh head end for ventilation and vision but you can't stop wind chill easily
- unless it is an oversized bivy, unlike a hiking tent, there is no storage option for your backpack
- they tend to be quite narrow so you will need a narrow sleeping mat
- others are ultralight without a frame designed as emergency shelters for hikers
- most are now “breathable” to reduce internal moisture condensation but this can still be problematic, especially around the foot end which has almost no ventilation, and you really need to be breathing out of the bivy and not into it
- an important factor is how do you get into it - a long side zipper is a MUST - otherwise you will struggle and cramp up after a long hike trying to maneuver around
- bivy bags are not great in the rain so you really need a tarp as well in this situation
- setting it up in the rain results in the inside getting wet because you need to blow up a pad and pillow, get out a quilt, get your power bank and phone and etc. next to your head so you can access them, etc. - and no matter how quickly you do that, some water gets in the bivy
- you have no amenity in the rain - you really need a tarp so you can boil some water etc under cover
- you cannot open it up for ventilation so your sleeping bag will get damp from condensation
- once the weight gets above 800g, you would probably be much better off with a more roomy dual wall 1P tent - although it may struggle in the wind!
- NB. you can also get a hammock bivy but hammocks are not recommended in Australia as you should not camp under a tree as the branches tend to fall and kill you
- be aware that some may NOT be designed to be guaranteed to be waterproof
- Alps Mountaineering Stealth 1 Bivy Tent with 2000mm WH rating but seams may not be waterproof - see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gc5klffmlUQ
- OUTBOUND Quick Bivy 1.4kg $US89
- most budget bivy bags will need to be tested for waterproofing!
- sleeping bag cover type bivy without frames:
- SOL Escape Bivvy - 241g 213 x 78cm heat reflective internal layer emergency shelter ~$AU145
- Terra Nova Survival Bivy 340g mummy style; packs to 21x11cm; 10,000mm WH rating;
- Terra Nova Moonlite bivi sleeping bag sack 210g mummy style; packs to 21 x 6cm; 10,000mm WH rating;
- Black Diamond Twilight Bivy 302g
- Sierra Designs Backcountry Bivy 400g; black mesh window to view sky; 30D Nylon Ripstop, DWR/1200mm PeU floor; 20D Nylon Ripstop WPB, DWR/10,400MM PeU upper; 203x91cm; bright blue;
- Robens Mountain Bivvy
- similar to the Sierra Designs but not watersealed; 495g; very generous space, especially at head end for your gear;
- Valhalla Tactical and Outdoor X-Frame Bivi Shelter
- 1.46kg; head has a crossed double hoop; top unzips to half length; 221×92-74x55cm; packs to 35x21cm; built-in mozzie/bug mesh with separate zipper;
- Aqua Quest Hooped Bivy Tent
- 1kg; half-length white mesh skyview + stormproof cover with a clear TPU section so you can still see the sky!
- packs to 40.49 x 18.69 x 11.51 cm; 70D ripstop nylon 10,000 mm;
- North Face Assault Futurelight Bivy
- 785g
- bivy bags with head loop frame:
- Runnzer popup mesh bivy 820g 2.03L x 1.02W x 0.51Hm; works well with a stretcher bed; but will need additional protection from strong wind or rain
- https://www.amazon.com.au/Mosqutio-Mosquito-Sleeping-Outdoor-Travling/dp/B0C2Y7GX7W/ $AU116 for the head and foot popup loop version
- Big Agnes Ultralight Three Wire Mesh Bivy - 369/425g packs to 10 x 36cm; upper is fully mesh so great for star gazing but needs to be under a tarp in rain; 3 stake out loops need pegging but not mandatory; absence of a frame means mesh falls onto you so may not be effective at preventing mosquito bites if it is in contact with skin;
- Outdoor Research Helium Bivy 400/448g nice dual fabric/No-See-Um mesh head end clam shell opening may allow some star gazing but in reality is really annoying and impacts sleep; sleeping mat needs to be tapered to max. 19” wide at toe end; high volume toe end; really hard to get into; very poor in high humidity/rain or wind; see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2yr--6MSLw
- Big Agnes Three Wire Hooped Bivy 539/624g 1200mm PU waterproof version of the above mesh bivy, the head still has dual mesh/fabric section which may allow some star gazing;
- poles are a tight fit and liable to being snapped when setting up, and foot end of sleeping bag is liabe to get damp from condensation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Itg_sBItjiQ
- Big Agnes Three Wire Bivy 737/879g adds ?2/3rds length mesh layer (but only unzips on one side?) to the Hooped Bivy design
- https://bigagnes.nz/products/big-agnes-three-wire-bivy $NZ419 seems this has been discontinued?
- Rab Ridge Raider Bivy 890g packed size of 32 x 15cm; freestanding; micropole at foot end; 240x80x60cm; 15D polyamide 15,000mm main, 40D ripstop nylon 10,000mm lining; dual mesh/fabric head end; room for a backpack inside; almost as big as a 1P hiking tent but lower profile and only single wall!
- insulated bivy / sleeping bag sleeping systems
- Snugpak Special Forces Complete System - polyester sleeping bag + insulated bivy 3.2kg comfort rating down to -15degC; packs to 30cm x 27cm; reinforced toe to allow leaving boots on.
Hiking swags
- these are relatively light basic swags often designed to be rolled up in a weathersealed manner with your sleeping gear and clothes inside and carried on your back instead of a backpack - you will also need a side pack (eg. haversack) and a food pack (“tuckerbag”) to counter the weight of the swag as the early 19thC Australian swagmen wore
- Geertop Plume Bivy 2 Camo Tent
- 1.13kg crossed poles at head end + loop foot pole - all 8.5mm aluminium; needs to have each end guyed out if you want through ventilation; 210T PU5000MM Polyester upper; 240T PU10000MM Polyester floor;
- vents at each end plus 2/3rds of length mesh/fabric dual layered door; 230×75-60x60cm; packs to 44x12cm;
- Geertop 1P Camouflage Bivy tent
- much taller than the above Plume Bivy and inner part is mostly mesh consisting of 2 side mesh doors and a central ceiling fabric but unlike the Plume Bivy, it is dual wall as it also has a fly that can be put over it if rain or cold wind is forecast.
- 210T PU5000mm polyester fabric fly; 210T polyester fabric, PU2500mm floor; 8.5mm aluminium poles; similar to swags, it has rain protected vents at head and foot ends when pegged out.
- internal 213x101x91 (head end max height)cm;
- 1.5kg; packs to 43x11x11cm;
- https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32921809838.html ~$AU190 incl del.
- Mountain Designs Burrow Bivy Tent Treetop
- 1.45kg; crossed poles at head end + foot loop pole; full length upper mesh + fabric; 200x90x58cm; 75D ripstop polyester 3,000mmPU; 8.5mm aluminium poles;
- Alton Walkabout Swag
- 20,000mm waterhead 4gsm Nanopore triple layer windproof but breathable fabric at 20,000g/m2/24hrs breathability and no DWR coatings needed
- NoSeeUm micromesh, YKK zippers;
- ripstop nylon footprint
- 2x 7.9mm aluminium poles - can be used without poles if you tie out these to elevated attachment points such as a ridge line
- 2x 2m Dyneema guy lines
- 10x alumiunium pegs
- NO sleeping mat included
- head end allows space for up to a 60L backpack as well as a large sleeping mat
- 261 X 102 X 53.7cm; allows ~20cm space between face and mesh however when lying on side hips will contact mesh.
- weight: swag only 925g without groundsheet, poles or pegs (poles add 180g); packed weight 1.47kg packs to 35x15x15cm
Compact motorcyclist swags
- Oztent ULS-1 Ultra-Lite Single Swag
- 2.7kg; packs to 43 x 15 x 15 cm; no mat; designed for motorcyclists; ripstop polycotton; 350gsm PVC tub floor; no-see-um mesh;
- 275 cm L x 72 cm x 60 cm (Tapering Height Down to 39 cm); internal size: 212 cm x 70 cm x 55 cm (Tapering Height Down to 32 cm)
- nice sky view mesh; single hoop pole with short vertical foot pole and short foot spreader pole; not freestanding; foot vent; weather protected head end ventilation mesh but not able to be unzipped;
- OZtrail Biker Expedition Single Swag
- 4.3kg; 2 hoop design;
- Darche Ranger Solo+ Biker Swag
- 6.5kg; 2 hoop design; incl. 50mm mat;
Car camping swags
- Remote Projects Adventure Swag
- Darche Dusk to Dawn
- freestanding; heavy duty 420gsm canvas, 600gsm heavy duty PVC bucket floor, a 7cm high density foam mattress, plenty of ventilation; hub at the end is space for storing your gear;
- 2 large doors with mesh and storm flap (these can be used as an awning with optional extra poles); 180° star gazing views;
- dome poles may have a tendency to crack; bag is not big enough for bedding; can't sit up inside;
- 3m long; width and weight depends on size option: 14-19.5kg; $AU334 on special at Tentworld with upgraded poles
- also comes with hutch attached https://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/darche-dusk-to-dawn-900-cp/T050801200P $AU479 on special
- Darche Ridgedome Dome Swag
- freestanding 3 hoop design; 81cm high at head end; 2 side doors and head door; 13.34kg; packs to 110 x 35 x 35cm;
- $AU649 on special https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/darche-ridgedome-dome-swag
- Darche MegaDome
- sky view mesh style; 12.5kg for King Single with 7cm mattress; 600gsm PVC bucket floor;
- Darche Superdome Swag
- skyview mesh; 9.85kg for single; 600gsm PVC bucket floor;
- $AU459 on special https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/darche-single-super-dome-swag
- Darche Kozi Outback
- much shorter, lighter and less expensive than the Dusk to Dawn but not freestanding and doesn't come with a bag
- 320gsm canvas with an 800mm water rating and 550gsm heavy duty PVC floor; 5cm mattress; no hub space; 2.15m long; 12.3 kgs to 14.5 kgs;
- Darche Dirty Dee 900/1100 Dome Swag
- 4 side 125gsm fine mesh windows; 600gsm floor; 420 gsm canvas; 85cm height at head end; 3 hoop design;
- 1100mm wide version: 2150L x 1100W X 850H mm packs to 115L x 35W cm; 7cm foam mat; 14.5kg; $AU499 on special https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/darche-dirty-dee-1100-dome-swag-with-composite-poles
- 900mm wide version: 13.2kg; packs to 95cm x 35cm; $AU499 https://www.tentworld.com.au/buy-sale/darche-dirty-dee-900-dome-swag-with-composite-poles
- BCF Wanderer Contour swag
- good budget swag; 7cm mattress; 450gsm ripstop polycotton canvas; 500gsm PVC floor; large mesh screens at both ends and either side; 2.1m x 85cm x 68cm
- 23Zero Bandit range
- 450gsm canvas 3 hoop design; each side has two doors; mesh is NOT midgie proof but is strong; roll up gussetted awning on each end; 7cm thick foam mattress; 90, 110, 140cm wide models;
- Sahara Explorer
- 2 hoop freestanding design with midge-proof large mesh doors on each side and head end; 9.5kg; packs to 90x35cm; 5.5cm mattress not great and spreader bar poorly made; 210x90x80cm;
- Oztrail Mitchell Expedition
- 230gsm SatProof ripstop canvas 3 hoop design (centre hoop is internal to the mesh) with No-See-Um mesh at top and the top canvas can be rolled down to the feet or can be guyed out at head end to create an awning above the swag; 5cm thick foam mattress; 90cm wide; 8.7kg; packs to 90L x 28W x 28H cm ; also a double swag version 145cm wide and 13.7kg;
- optional extendable Oztrail swag pole - fits between the two ends to stretch them out and make it freestanding without need for the guy ropes
- seems it may be discontinued as of 2024 as the double was in Oztrails clearance sale for $129!
-
- 2022-2023 model; 3 hoop freestanding, ridge pole, 4 side doors; gussetted end windows; near vertical walls; 420gsm ripstop polycotton canvas; 600gsm PVC bucket floor; 7cm mat;
- removable integrated LED lighting; 2.1×0.9×0.95m; 15.5kg; $AU399
- optional 2.25x3m polycotton canvas blockout side awning with 2 poles $AU199;
- 1550 double model has sky mesh as well; 23kg; $AU599
- Oztrail Lawson Discovery
- 3 hoop freestanding; 420gsm 2000mm waterhead ripstop canvas; 7cm mat; 2.1×0.9×0.7m; 12kg; $AU299 on special;
- Oztent DS-1 / DS-2 Pitch Black tent/swag
- 2 hoop design with long 65gsm No-See-Um removable and replaceable mesh upper but no canvas cover to this; 5cm mat; large head end mesh door to access head vestibule;
- single side door, single head door, peggable skirted blockout fly cover weatherproof shelter with vents at each end and an externally accessible 50cm foot vestibule;
- single DS-1: 210L x 90W x 80H cm packs to 91L x 34W x 32H cm; 9.75kg; $AU329 https://www.snowys.com.au/ds-1-pitch-black-single-dome-swag
- double DS-2: 210L x 140W x 120H cm packs to 122L x 38W x 37H cm 11.5kg $AU349 https://www.snowys.com.au/ds2-pitch-black-double-dome-swag
- Carinthia Gortex bivy swags
- Rainger Touring Swag RT1
- high end swag - great for big guys, 420gsm canvas; LED lighting (but Powerbank is no longer included); 2 hoop freestanding design with ridge pole (9.5mm poles);
- better mesh and zips than most swags; 100cm wide and 100mm thick mattress is one of the better ones on the market in swags
- 600GSM PVC floor plus clip on PVC groundsheet is very handy as is the boot bag
- 18.2kg; packs down to 100×40-45cm; can get spare poles;
- Trail-X Big Rig V2 Swag
- standard design with single ridge pole and a 2 hoop circular pole system
- 400gsm ripstop polycotton canvas 100% tape seamed sealed; 450gsm PVC bucket floor; 70mm open cell foam mattress;
- 2 large side doors which extend almost to the centre ridge pole
- King Single: 1100mm wide
- Double: 1550mm wide
- Trail-X O.G V2 Swag
- 400gsm ripstop polycotton canvas 100% tape seamed sealed; 450gsm PVC bucket floor; 70mm open cell foam mattress;
- 3 hoop pole system 10.7mm squared poles plus single spreader bar for each of the two sections
- each section has side window/door and storm flap can be used as awning, plus end windows BUT no ceiling panels;
- King Single - 2150X1100X750mm - 15kg
- Double - 2150X1550X900mm - 17kg
- Trail-X Penthouse V2 King/Double Swag
- designed for versatility and strength
- each of the 6 panels (2 side doors, 2 end doors and 2 long ceiling panels) can be opened or have the No-See-Um mesh or the storm cover PLUS there is a integrated fly for sun or rain protection which can also be used as an awning and allows the panels to be just meshed for ventilation
- 400gsm ripstop polycotton canvas 100% tape seamed sealed; 450gsm PVC bucket floor; 70mm open cell foam mattress;
- 2 hoop system, 16mm poles are 16mm and squared to create more internal space while the 3 top bars create greater stability
- 2300X1550X1000mm - 21kg
air pole swags
- no poles to break or feed through sleeves, may be more storm proof than those with 8.5mm diameter poles
- double versions also available
- Darche Air Volution swags
- 2 hoop design; 2 large side doors; 20sec pump up into single valve; 5cm mat;
- 800mmWH 320gsm Proofed Polycotton Ripstop Canvas; super fine mesh; 600gsm PVC floor;
- AD900 single
- 205x80cm internal sleeping area
- 215x90cm external
- 11.9kg packs to 95x30x30cm; generous bag; includes hand pump
- https://www.snowys.com.au/air-volution-ad-900-swag $AU499 on special RRP $AU749
- this could be the BEST swag to fit on the 85cm wide Wanderer Adjustable Leg Premium King stretcher bed (which is not designed for swags but is one of the few stretchers with adjustable legs)
- I have not tested this concept but I think it should work!
- AD 1100 king single
- if you are not using a stretcher or your stretcher is 110cm wide, then this version may be more versatile for you as you could squeeze a second person in if need be
- it may just fit the 85cm wide Wanderer Adjustable Leg Premium King stretcher bed but with 4“ overhang on each side
- 205x100cm internal sleeping area
- 215x110cm external
- 14kg packs to 115x40x36cm; generous bag; includes hand pump
- https://www.snowys.com.au/air-volution-ad-1100-swag ~$AU679 on special RRP $AU829
- San Hima Air Swag
- double version
- 220x150x100cm high external; 210x140x90cm internal; 245gsm 3000mm PU-coated polyester-cotton with 600gsm PVC floor; TPU air beams covered With 420D Oxford Fabric
- 2 full-length doors and 2 zip-down windows featuring 125gsm mesh
- includes 22cm thick 196x147cm double air mattress but no R rating and has no foam so unlikely to be insulated and will be cold
- 19kg; packs into two bags; swag itself is 11.6kg? and packs to 60.5×53.5x32cm; more compact than traditional double swags;
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmjnxL_8stk - single version internal is 15kg, 9cm thick beams; 200x95cm wide x 69cm high (above 117mm thick air bed); ext. is 100cm high; $AU359?
- air mattress is very comfortable but its a pain to set up separately and you need to use a separate electric pump - not the hand pump
- unlike traditional swags your bed and bedding does not roll up with the swag so you need to pack separately which adds time
- lots of parts and you may forget something - or break the fairly cheap plastic pump
- awning poles not tall enough to stop your back not touching it and getting wet and cold as you get out of the swag
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIzVrpptN-o mod hacks to improve it
- replace the hand pump with a compact lithium pump (but his one didn't manage to inflate it)
- replace the air mattress with a more compact 5cm thick mattress which can roll up inside the swag (but his one was not very comfy)
- glow in dark toggles to attach to zippers
- longer awning poles
- need a swag bag to fit the rolled up swag in - but you do now have a much wider bulky pack size
- Kulkyne Big Boy Swag
- ext: 220x110x75cm; 70mm mattress;
- https://www.kulkyne.com.au/big-boy-air-pole-swag.html ~$399 on special
insulated swags
- see also insulated tents
air inner tents
- Crua Culla Solo 1P swag-like inner
- 180cm long x 56-80cm wide x 40-60cm high; 400g synth. insulation; large side door; NOT waterproof - needs to be inside a shelter!
- 3.39kg; packs to 55x25x17cm;
