Sleeping in a swag

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Sleeping in a swag

Post by mobo » 02 Dec 2013, 10:00 am

G'day,

I've got a tent and sleeping bags and the usual 'family camping trip' type set up by looking for a lightweight kit for going out solo.

Who here uses a swag?

The lightweight/size is obviously a plus, but how's the comfort space?

I like a bit of standing room in the tent and it gives a bit more room for a little mattress in there and all that.

Do you guys find the swag is good once you get used to it? Or are the above just sacrifices you make to carry less?
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by jeener » 02 Dec 2013, 1:43 pm

mobo wrote:The lightweight/size is obviously a plus, but how's the comfort space?

I like a bit of standing room in the tent and it gives a bit more room for a little mattress in there and all that.

Do you guys find the swag is good once you get used to it? Or are the above just sacrifices you make to carry less?


Depends on what you need to be comfortable IMO.

I have a mate who sleeps like a log in his, but I couldn't do it.

Sleeping in the confined space didn't work for me on the few times I tried it. I felt my arms and legs were restricted a little from stretching out.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by reddog » 02 Dec 2013, 3:40 pm

I've had the same one for since I was 20 and I love sleeping in it not just camping but staying at somones house ,bedding down
in a shed , shack or where ever . Mine is just the old traditional roll out canvas , zip down the side and around the foot end . I've
definately got softer as i got older , the first thing I did with mine was put a wider matress in , about 900 mm . But it did start
getting hard on the hip so i got a self inflating matress from Anaconda and chucked that in as well as the foam matress and It
is fantastic now. Undo the plugs on the self inflater roll it up bedding and all , I use sheet s and blankets not a sleeping bag .
Get where your going undo the buckles give it a kick to unroll it wait 5 mins for the matress , great time for a beer while everyone
else is trying to work out thier tent , do up the plugs and its done . Used to love the rain on it as long as it was'nt torrential , but
I do put up a tarp now if im staying more than a night now .Nothing wrong with a swag inside a tent either.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Tonit » 02 Dec 2013, 5:10 pm

reddog wrote:But it did start getting hard on the hip so I got a self inflating mattress from Anaconda and chucked that in as well as the foam mattress and it is fantastic now.


Yep, sleeping on the floor is for suckers.

A little mattress is a must.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Zilla » 03 Dec 2013, 8:47 am

Tonit wrote:Yep, sleeping on the floor is for suckers.


Or for the young at least.

Not for these old bones though.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Vati » 03 Dec 2013, 9:49 am

reddog wrote:I got a self inflating matress from Anaconda


That's next on my list.

One of those Black Wolf self inflating mattresses looks like the one for me.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Igoe » 10 Dec 2013, 3:53 pm

Love my swag, but I wouldn't call it a lightweight solution.
I have no problems sleeping in it, and have a fair bit of room in there. Mine is dome style 2500 x 900 internally, so pretty roomy.
My son has a bivvy. About the same size as a swag, but lightweight.

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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Rocker » 10 Dec 2013, 4:48 pm

Igoe wrote:Love my swag, but I wouldn't call it a lightweight solution.


Probably better that way anyway.

I've had a look at a few of the ultra lightweight ones and the material is soooo thing.

Wouldn't protect you for s**t against any wind or cold.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Jessie » 11 Dec 2013, 8:31 am

Rocker wrote:I've had a look at a few of the ultra lightweight ones and the material is soooo thing.

Wouldn't protect you for s**t against any wind or cold.


I learnt that one the hard way.

Waking up with frozen condensation on your face is pretty great I can tell you...
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Varmtr » 13 Dec 2013, 8:26 pm

I use a Roman self inflating mattress in my swag and just use woollen blanks. This way if you get cold you can use more blankets, if hot chuck a few off.

I have had my swag for over 16 years so if looking at buying a swag don't skimp on quality. Now most top quality swags aren't light when you compare them to a 2 man tent.

Also, when you have blankets, foam mattress extra or even sleeping bag they can be quite bulky.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by VICHunter » 15 Dec 2013, 10:04 am

Varmtr wrote:Now most top quality swags aren't light when you compare them to a 2 man tent.

Also, when you have blankets, foam mattress extra or even sleeping bag they can be quite bulky.


Yep.

I've got a newer 3-man Roman tent, blow up mattress, and black-wolf sleeping bag. That's nearly a full pack in itself.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Sloth » 02 Jan 2014, 10:41 pm

Had my swag foam replaced with six inch stuff and have a sleeping bag in it that goes down to -5C.
Does me fine. Basic type, roll it out and there you go
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Bourt » 03 Jan 2014, 6:56 am

Sloth wrote:Had my swag foam replaced with six inch stuff and have a sleeping bag in it that goes down to -5C.


Those few extra degrees seems to really make a difference.

I've slept in a 0 degree rated one, and also a -3 rated one on a similar night and was much warmer.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by tom604 » 04 Jan 2014, 7:34 pm

swag on a stretcher comfy as, you don't need a new mattress and as you are off the ground its warmer
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Monty » 04 Jan 2014, 8:31 pm

Being on the ground is the killer.

That cold just seeps up into you and you can't escape it.

A mattress, stretcher, hammock... Anything to stay off the cold ground IMO.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Oldbloke » 04 Jan 2014, 8:32 pm

I made mine. A piece of used canvas, folded over and roughly stitched bottom and 3/4 of the way up the side. Added 3 inch piece of foam for a mattress and a sleeping bag, I always take a good pillow. Its fine unless it is raining, if it looks like rain I put up a 3 man igloo tent.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Hatter » 04 Jan 2014, 8:42 pm

I've gone soft.

Picked up an inflatable mattress and battery air pump last week :lol:
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by yoshie » 04 Jan 2014, 9:39 pm

I usually go the dome swag, but if I have weight or size issues ( jumping in with a few mates in one car) or if I'm going some where I know will be wet and rainy I'll take a hiking tent and a roll out camp mat. Sucks getting dressed in the rain.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by mobo » 23 Jan 2014, 12:23 pm

Ended up finding a good one at BCF half price for $150.

In built self inflating mattress, water proof but the top comes off to just have a flyscreen top if it's good weather.

Just needs a tent peg on each end to setup. Feels good, hopefully break it in next weekend :D
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Combat_Wombat » 10 Mar 2014, 10:36 pm

I've slept swags my whole life (all 21 years of it) and never had problem. The best design to go for is where either end has a rope tied to a ute, tree etc. to get rid of that claustrophobic feeling
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Elek » 11 Mar 2014, 7:43 am

I'm definitely keen for a swag.

Getting a tent up is fine, but it's such a pain in the ass packing it all up at the end of a trip when you're knackered.
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by benny » 11 Mar 2014, 9:07 am

tom604 wrote:swag on a stretcher comfy as, you don't need a new mattress and as you are off the ground its warmer


couldn't agree more, went form tent, to swag on the floor now to swag on a stretcher and just as comfy as my bed at home. and i just setup under my awning on the side of the 4bie.

easy as to setup too, as said earlier fold out the stretcher and unroll the swag and sit back and have a beer while mucks around with their tents!
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Re: Sleeping in a swag

Post by Hugh » 04 Nov 2017, 7:31 pm

Combat_Wombat wrote:I've slept swags my whole life (all 21 years of it) and never had problem. The best design to go for is where either end has a rope tied to a ute, tree etc. to get rid of that claustrophobic feeling

AAhhhh to be 21 again,back then I didn't even worry about a matress or swag just a 1945 canvas 10 x 8 ft folded in half,and a couple of blankets and if it was really cold in the snow the dog got to join me,nowadays they would have to call the air ambulance in the morning.
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