What in everyones opinion is the best single swag on the market ??

I have a double but it takes up to much room...............therefore want a single one ??

In my humble opinion (I live in a swag ,most days of the year. under all conditions ) Would have to be The Mitchel (Sar-major) king size.Min is 22yrs old & just starting to look like it's ready for retirement

DOK,

have they got a website ??

I have looked at a couple of the models that "Jolly Swag" offer, but am unsure if a model with poles is the way to go or not ??

Poles may be just an added extra not needed ??

quote:

I have looked at a couple of the models that "Jolly Swag" offer, but am unsure if a model with poles is the way to go or not ??

PC I recon from memory "Jolly Swags are now what I knew as Sarge-Major! I don't go much on the newer style of swag. As to me their just a Singleman tent.I like some thing I can just roll out.Crawl into an pull the flap over my head& try and sleep through the day! (Ah the joys of shooting at night).But I think it's up to the indervigial as to which style you want to use.A lot of younger blokes are goin for the style which has the hoop,or dome apperance these days but once again I cant see the sence in em. I'm just old fashioned I recon!

I am interested in the swag discussion myself. If I can quickly ask, are canvas swags waterproof from rain. If not can you apply/spray something onto them to give them a helping hand. The reason I ask is a mate of mine has the newer hoop type swag and he reckons it leaks in the rain, not sure of the brand.

Doc .there is a very good water proofing agent avalible From most canvisers& hard ware stores that you paint or soak your swag in .It's name escapes me for the moment as I do my swag once a year during summer.The Problem with a lot of the Swags on the market these days is the quality of canvis is some what wanting.To be truley Waterproof.They should be made out of at least 12oz canvas!Also they should be water proofed by your self before use as the Manufactures are sadly lacking in this dept

Doc ,
Swags are supposed to be waterproof .Any good camping store will sell something to make them that way if they aren't .
I like the idea of something bitey proof .Never fancied the idea of sharing a bed with snakes and scorpions .

Yes they are fully waterproof,

in my double I have slept out and woke up to find the outside covered in frost and I am warm, just a doona and a blanket inside. They do seem tokeep you very warm.

Hope more Aussies reply with there brand preferences and why they think one brand is better than the other. I am going to get one which is mozzie proof !!

Why use a swag and not a normal sleeping bag based set up with say a hooped bivvy for shelter? All this talk of canvas makes them sound very heavy?

Regards,

Pete

My 2 cents
http://www.candycanvas.com.au/swag1.htm

My favourite is cc swag. I think mine is 10yrs old and 12 but they list 11.5 oz canvas. Will second the comment on inferior quality canvas and the need to treat all swags for water proofing. I have regularily woken up with a couple of inches of water pooled down by my feet but no water in swag. I treat my canvas though.

My criterea for a swag
Can roll and fall asleep asap. That means not having to rely on poles to keep the canvas of my face. If you take time to set up poles why not use a tent. Especially if you crash in shearing shed. I simply fold the canvas down like a sheet.
With the CC you have the option of tying the front and back up to make a triangle tent. This is handy if you camp in snow of know it is going to bucket all night.

As for bulkiness of swags. Gortex bivys are better but not as tough for the abuse a swag can get. All the bulk in swags is from the mattress. I have the 3 inch high density which is very fat but like a normal bed to sleep on. When camping from boats or on a caneo trip I have inserted a self inflating mattress and it comes to about 20cm in diameter with sleeping bag.

My thoughts. should be equally happy with any other good quality brand that has a simply design.
Cheers

I had mine made by a mate.Its wedge shaped with a large flap and under the flap is a mozzie screen. All you have to do is roll it out and tie it up to the bull bar. If its hot flip back the flap and your still mozzie proof. I have slept in the rain in this swag. Actually I didn't know it was raining till I stuck my head out!

Thanks folks,

my double swag is a cc minus the mozzie nets maybe I will have to get a cc single with mozie nets.

Thanks.

quote:

I like the idea of something bitey proof .Never fancied the idea of sharing a bed with snakes and scorpions .

MATE!!!! with a name like BUSHCOOK!
If your like some of The DOG STIFFENERS(dingo poisners to our non Aussie readers) .That I've had cook for me over the years.I'd personaly stick "Joe Blakes"(snakes to our non Auz readers)& Scorpions.In your swag,for the good of the digestive systems of all Shearers ,Ringers,shooters & roustiees

robe,

Thanks for posting the link.(for the non-Aussies) I was thinking from the post here, that a swag was the same a bedroll. Looks more like a bedroll/puptent combo. Nice piece of camping gear.

Hog Killer

I have one of the SSAA branded ones and it works great

Beefa

My favourite is the Darche Dome swag, I have had mine for about 10 years.

14oz canvas. It has a flyscreen you can zip up and keep the bities out in summer, a small window at the back so you can use it as a hide if need be, and the pole that holds up arch at the head end is fiberglass, so weighs nothing.
You can peg it down or use a tree to support the arch, it has a PVC lining on the outside of the floor so that water won't seep in.

http://www.darche.com.au/page0004.html

I find it to be a great piece of equipment.

PeteE: yes they are heavy, and bulky, so their use is limited to vehicle based and horseback movement.

quote:

Originally posted by Hog Killer:
robe,

Thanks for posting the link.(for the non-Aussies) I was thinking from the post here, that a swag was the same a bedroll. Looks more like a bedroll/puptent combo. Nice piece of camping gear.

Hog Killer

The traditional swag was a folded piece of canvas with a cotton thin mattress in between. At night you just folded ovder the canvas on top. Usually they were wide enough to allow a low open sided A "tent" to be made by running a rope over top.

I am not very impressed with all these "dome" swags. To me , why not just use a dome tent. A swag is meant to be a simple bedroll, easy to put out in a hurry and easy to roll up again. Each to their own however.

Mine is a Fleming and Sandford simple canvas swag. F & S is one of the original Australian makers.

quote:

The traditional swag was a folded piece of canvas with a cotton thin mattress in between. At night you just folded ovder the canvas on top. Usually they were wide enough to allow a low open sided A "tent" to be made by running a rope over top.

I am not very impressed with all these "dome" swags. To me , why not just use a dome tent. A swag is meant to be a simple bedroll, easy to put out in a hurry and easy to roll up again. Each to their own however.

I'm with you on that Nitro I recon I'm to Old & set in my ways to change styles now .If anybody wants a heart attack have a Gander (look) at the R M WILLIAMS.com site at the prices of their swags.Strike me Pink you'd have to sell a kidney to afford one

I'm not so old, but KISS principle works well. Deciple-of-Keith I thought the heart attack you were about to mentioned would be from waking up fully zipped up in the those tent pole canvas coffins?

As a side note someone earlier mentioned the SSAA swag. It was listed for $172 in the latest mag. The CC swags are damn expensive. My guess is the mattress must be of lesser quality but if you are going to put in an inflatable to keep the bulk down they could be good value?

I have to buy another two or three basic swags. Have to get to the factory which is in the South of Adelaide. I want to send one or two over to a mate in South Africa as a very late wedding gift. I think he may have kid no. 1 or 2 already on the way, so it is a bit late.

Have any of you seen the rubbish they use in Southern Africa? Often it is just a really thick foam mattress placed straight on the ground! Never seen a proper swag there yet. As a client you have luxury and often proper beds or at least camp beds (etc) but when the locals hunt they often camp rougher just like we do. Therefore a good swag or two won't go astray.


For the guys using the dome tent swags etc, if it looks like rain or is raining would you put up a tent, or just use the 'special' swag?

I know myself I would rather put up a tent or a cover or awning rather than lie under the rain in a swag. They will keep you dry but I know which is more comfortable. I'm not talking about some light drizzle, mist or morning dew.

In my vehicle I keep a quick pop-up dome tent. It is pretty quick to put up when I remember the tricks. Always a pain to take back down. A simple swag if it is dry is much better.

Some friends of mine us swags in the victorian Alps hunting Sambar (works in snow). They just have a large 20X10m PVC tarp. They lay that on the ground (high ground) then up over a rope between two trees then back down to the vehicles or what ever is handy. They have enough room to cook etc, roll all their swags out to sleep and can put up and take down in seconds.
Not back pack friendly but makes a great camp from utes

quote:

I'm not so old, but KISS principle works well. Deciple-of-Keith I thought the heart attack you were about to mentioned would be from waking up fully zipped up in the those tent pole canvas coffins?

Robe! you are a man after my own heart! R MWilliams is asking $499.00 for a single swag! But I suppose it has got R M Williams marked on it & it is a lovely "Burgandy colour"!(What a shame R M"s is owened by Myers these days)

To answer Nitros question: Definately, yes, I would just roll out the swag.

It will keep the wet canvass off your face, and the shaft only takes a few seconds to set up. Literaly 30 seconds or so. It's pretty simple, though not as simple as a traditional swag I'll admit.

I still reccomend them over many traditionals exactly for the reason that the dome keeps the wet canvas off your face.
The Darchies are very well built too, I've never had one leak and I have slept under heavy rain in it on numerous occasions.
In summer time it protects you from the mozzies and you don't have to uncover youself to avoid getting too hot.

I'd say don't know it till you try in IMHO

NitroX

Although I can see the attraction of a big tarp or tent, have you thought about using a small Australian Army basha?

They are dead easy to put up and will keep the worst of the weather off you..We used similar when using bivvy bags and they make a big difference to your comfort especially in bad weather..

Regards,

Pete

quote:

small Australian Army basha?

Pete ,We know them as "Hoochies" over here I became Aquainted with them during my Stint in the Auz Army.I still use one in extreme Weather conditions .Mind you it's been that long since we've had any decent Rain I'm wondering if I'm ever going to use it again

i belive one of the better swags these days is the one made by TERRY ALLEN a sambar hunter him self he designed and now is making them ...i have heard onley good reports about them ,and yes totally water proof
regards daniel

quote:

Originally posted by Pete E:
NitroX

Although I can see the attraction of a big tarp or tent, have you thought about using a small Australian Army basha?

I had Army Reserve friends using hoochies on a goat hunt once. Mind you we were in a desert mountain range at the time so rain is rare. North of Disciple-of-Keith's home stomping ground. I had a nice comfortable canvas swag and it was much preferable.

But now it seems the Aust mil issues dinky little dome tents instead. At least the RAAFies like our moderator Bakes, use them. Where are the real Aussie men who sleep in the mud and enjoy it!

Where is that fellow Bakes anyway? Is he having fun with his new "Rover the dog" or slaughtering pigs without telling us?

Nitrox,

What I meant was use your swag as normal except in wet weather...then pitch the basha/hoochie over it to keep the rain off your face and give yourself a bit of dry space.

IIRC the Australian hoochie folds away to virtually nothing and probably only weighs 1lb or so..Setting one up and taking one down probably only takes as long as unrolling your swag..Sort of a fly weight alternative to your dome tent...

Regards,

Pete

I can see the attraction of a swag now, especially in a climate like Oz or South Africa...

What do you use for bedding inside them? Just ordinary blankets?

Anybody got any pictures of them in use or a website with more info?

Regards,

Pete

Pete
You can use blankets,sleeping bag,doona. In hot areas just a sheet.

quote:

Originally posted by Pete E:

What do you use for bedding inside them? Just ordinary blankets?

A standard swag has a cotton covered foam mattress. Usually I use a just a normal sleeping bag inside.

I am using an early version of the Jolly 'Bogong' dome swag. It is fully screened, opens from both sides and also at the head end. Uses a single pole and two corner pegs at the head and has an integral fibreglass hoop in the foot end. Both the pole and the hoop are supported by guy ropes. I guess it could be considered a mini tent, but with its double density foam mattress, sleeping bag and satin sheets it is pretty damn nice to sleep in. In fact I often put it up in the back yard (28 acres), just to remind myself what life should be like.

Nothing puts me to sleep better than a few Bundies and the sound of a million mozqueetos beating their heads against the mesh to get in and suck me dry. With the sides down and mesh zipped up it feels the same as sleeping in the open, sealed up but with the head open is still warm with plenty of air.

I like it.

quote:

In fact I often put it up in the back yard (28 acres), just to remind myself what life should be like

Quite oftern do the same thing my self Hiwall.When I've been home for a spell (But normaly it's not by choice My Wife has never gotten used to my snoring )

quote:

Originally posted by HiWall:
.... and satin sheets .....

You bush Romeo.

PC there is a local company here called Irymple Canvas that make some excellent swags these are big I have one with the 3" mattres it is fantastic they do cost a bit and they are big and pretty heavy if your interested I'll get there details

I have the Terry Allen swag and find it excellent. Terry is one of the best sambar hunters in the country and he developed his swag using it himself. It has gone through several models to get it to the current stage. Best materiels used and you can sleep in several inches of water and not get wet. There is mesh to keep insects out in warmer weather or in poor conditions you can close it off.
Mark

In the RAAF we get isssued a mozzie dome that I'm fond of. Its to bloody bulky to put in your pack and takes up to much room and weight that I could use as food and water for myself and my dog but its fantastic to take out camping
Its quick to set up as well, slide two poles in and your done!

quote:

Originally posted by deciple-of-keith:

quote:

I like the idea of something bitey proof .Never fancied the idea of sharing a bed with snakes and scorpions .

MATE!!!! with a name like BUSHCOOK!
If your like some of The DOG STIFFENERS(dingo poisners to our non Aussie readers) .That I've had cook for me over the years.I'd personaly stick "Joe Blakes"(snakes to our non Auz readers)& Scorpions.In your swag,for the good of the digestive systems of all Shearers ,Ringers,shooters & roustiees

Eh , that's Bushchook not bushcook . No claims to fame in the culinary department .

Eh , that's Bushchook not bushcook
My most Sincere Apologies BUSH The Old eyes are'nt what they used to be .