A mate recently asked me which swag he should buy. It got me thinking. I’ve spent a lot of nights under canvas and I reckon I’ve worked out what the most important considerations are when forking out your hard-earned cash. Having a swag that suits you really does make for a great night’s sleep, which can make the difference between a great trip that makes you feel like a million bucks and arriving home feeling like you’ve just gone a few rounds with an MMA champion. So here are seven tips for making sure you’re buying the right swag for your needs.
#1. You get what you pay for
In so many situations, this rings true when you’re travelling. When you’re retiring from a long day on the road, you want to look forward to your sleeping arrangements. Is that $100 swag from the local disposal store going to keep you comfortable when you need it most? Probably not. Make sure you set your budget appropriately when buying a swag. Single swags range from around $100 to more than $600 for a high-quality Australian-made swag, and doubles will go for a little more. A swag is something that, treated right, will last you for decades. It pays to spend a little bit more.
#2. Style
Are you happy to rough it or do you like a bit of space? If it’s the former, you’ll benefit from a quicker set-up time, but you’ll lose out on head and foot room. There has been a big movement towards dome swags of late – with a similar set-up to dome tents, they give you more space inside than a conventional swag. Brands like Darche even do an inflatable swag.
Other options to consider when buying a swag include an ‘apex’ style that uses a single-pole to support the head end. This can be a little claustrophobic for some people. Or there is the traditional style that has a single eyelet at the head end to string the swag to a tree.
#3. Size does matter
Is it going to be just you sleeping in the swag, or are you sharing with a loved one? Double swags (190-230cm long and 110-130cm wide) are great for couples, but remember you have to transport the swag, and starting at 1.9m long, this can be a little difficult. A roof rack is required in most cases. Single swags (180-230cm and 60-90cm wide) are much easier to transport. Then there are King Single Swags (190-230cm long and 90-115cm wide).
The next dimension to consider when buying a swag is the headroom. More is always better, it allows you to get better organised and feel a little less restricted. Somewhere around 70cm head height is quite comfortable.
#4. Construction
It gets very confusing comparing how and with what its made when buying a swag. The most important things to consider are the material (cotton or synthetic), and the weight of the canvas – measured in GSM (grams per square metre) or ounces. The thicker the canvas the more weight you are carrying, but the better the insulation and waterproofing – it’ll likely last longer.
The other consideration around construction is the floor; this becomes a personal preference. The options are PVC (doesn’t last as long, but is completely waterproof) or a heavy canvas (will be waterproof to a point but lasts longer than PVC). If the swag you are looking at uses Australian rip-stop cotton canvas at around 15 ounces, you are good to go. But the choice between canvas and PVC floors is largely a personal one. And then there are the zippers. 10 heavy-duty YKK spiral or coil zips are the best.
#5. Going for that million-star experience?
There is nothing better than going to sleep under a clear, starry sky without getting eaten by bugs of all shapes and sizes. It’s important to consider the layer arrangement when buying a swag. Typically, the outer layer is canvas and the inner layer is a fly screen. How these are brought together is the important part. There is nothing worse than fumbling through a million zippers in the middle of the night when you’re busting for a little relief. If you can, try a few different models and see what works for you. The simpler the better.
#6. Mattress
Swag mattresses typically come in a 50mm or 70mm thickness. This will affect the size the swag rolls up to and, more importantly, the quality of sleep you will have. There are some manufacturer-specific styles of foam, such as eggshell or ripple. For us, the 70mm is a must, but the ripple foam is also quite nice. Another thing to consider when buying is a swag that uses a thinner foam at the foot’s end. This allows for a smaller roll-up and provides almost as much comfort.
#7. Transport and storage
How are you going to move your swag around? Is it going inside or is it going on a roof rack? This is important because you may need to consider a little extra protection from dust and rain if it’s going on the roof. Check to see if the swag you are buying comes with a ‘swag bag’, or if the manufacturer makes a suitable one. This could save you from a wet night’s sleep.
The other big factor to consider is a sealed seam all round, particularly betweeen the walls and the floor. Sealed seams are essential to stop wicking