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As the resident tight arse here at Unsealed4x4 (hey, I got mouths to feed), I like to review the budget options as well as the top shelf stuff – which brings me to the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag, which I’ve had in my camping kit for going on 2.5 years now.
According to Kings, their Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag is Australia’s #1 selling swag. Its low cost and massive size are certainly appealing, but is this a case of getting what you pay for? Or is it a surprisingly good piece of gear to keep in your camping kit? Keep reading to find out.
FAQ about the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag
Before we get into the review, here are a few FAQ on the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag.
How much does the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag cost?
- $179 + P&H
- 4WD SupaCentre like to bundle their products, so you will most likely be able to get the swag as well as a storage bag and/or something else for not much more.
How big is a Kings Big Daddy Deluxe swag?
- 2.15m long x 1.55m wide x 0.96m high
What size mattress fits in a Big Daddy Deluxe swag?
- Queen sized
- It comes standard with a 70mm thick high-density mattress
How much does it weigh?
- 14kg
Are Kings Big Daddy Deluxe swags waterproof?
- Yes and no. Keep reading the review for my experience with this. But keep in mind that all canvas products (regardless of the brand), need to be seasoned before use.
How many people can fit in a Big Daddy swag?
- Two adults, or one adults and two small kids, or two adults and one very small kid.
Features
The Big Daddy Deluxe is massive for a swag and boasts a 70mm queen-sized mattress. It features a freestanding design made possible by arched end poles and a telescopic centre pole.
A 450 GSM PVC bucket floor ensures groundwater doesn’t get it, and the shell feels quality, made from 400 GSM Ripstop poly cotton canvas. The canvas rolls back on both sides to reveal a fly for airflow, and large storm flaps can be found at each end.
For those looking for a place to store their glasses and mobile phone, there are a couple of handy pockets on the inside.
Who is it for?
The Big Daddy Deluxe Swag is suitable for singles and couples that like a bit of space. It’s also suitable for those sharing with younger kids or a dog. Kings state that the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag sleeps two and I can easily fit in there with my two kids. You could fit two adults and two young kids in a squeeze, but you won’t get much sleep.
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How did the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag perform?
Set up and pack up
Set up is easy and quick for one person. Pack-up is easier with two as it’s hard to get the mattress to roll down to a compact size on your own. There is not much to setting it up, consisting of two foldable end poles that create a semi-circle and a telescopic pole that runs the length of the swag. You can also peg out the storm flaps if you like, which is as simple as hammering in two pegs and attaching the rope.
Space and comfort
The space is great, as you would expect from a swag of this size. As an average-height woman of 162cm, I can even change clothes fairly comfortably in there, thanks to its 96cm height. Those taller will have the usual struggles of attempting to dress lying down. Of course, if you have a remote campsite, this is no problem, as kangaroos won’t call the police if they spot you naked outside your tent.
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Rain and leakage – is the Big Daddy Deluxe swag waterproof?
Reviews indicate that the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag may have a problem with leakage. However, it’s important to note that as per the instructions provided with the swag, it must be ‘seasoned’ before use. This is the case for all canvas products, regardless of the brand or price.
This means setting it up, soaking it with water and sponging the water into the canvas. Once it’s dry, you will need to repeat the process two more times. This causes the canvas to contract and expand multiple times, thus removing any holes caused by the stitching process.
Knowing that rain was coming the day after receiving mine, I set it up in the backyard, removed the mattress and let the rain do its thing. 30mm dumped down on it in a short space of time, and typical of Queensland weather, the sun came out and dried it all up by late afternoon.
The photo below shows how much leakage occurred in one corner prior to seasoning the tent. It wasn’t that much, but if you don’t season it, this would, of course, seep into the mattress and ruin your night.
I then hosed it twice and sponged the water in, letting it dry in between with no leakage.
Are extra reinforcements required?
Given the online reviews, I was still a little paranoid about water leakage. So I took it a step further and sprayed the canvas with DryGuy waterproofing. Why? Because testing it with the hose it nothing like hours of solid rain. I like the DryGuy brand as it doesn’t leave a residue or change the texture of the fabric.
Also of note. One of the corners had a very small hole from the stitching when I pegged the corners out too tight. I just smeared a small amount of flexible silicone on it because it was close at hand.
Were these extra steps necessary? We’ll never know, but it’s better to be safe than sorry with a wet mattress.
Temperature
Like most swags, if you lay in the sun with it all zipped up, you will create your very own sauna. Fortunately, the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag has great airflow options. Both sides of the tent roll up, allowing you to sleep with just the fly tent on one or both sides. The two ends also have a window under the storm flaps that you can open.
I’ve also camped in 2 degrees Celsius in this swag with the kids for a two-week stretch. With thermals, track pants and a thick sleeping bag (funnily enough, a Kings one), we were all comfortably cosy once our body heat heated up the swag.
Wind
I’ve camped in this swag in gusts of around 60km at the showgrounds in Winton in Outback Queensland. I knew it was coming, so I pegged the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag down with some heavy-duty pegs. What can I say? It didn’t break, and it didn’t blow away, but it wasn’t a very pleasant night.
Swag sag – the downside
Due to the generous length of the swag, there is quite a bit of sag on the sides. Now, this isn’t an issue in great weather, but if it’s raining and there are two of you in the swag, it is harder to avoid accidentally touching the sides. It almost needs a third set of semi-circle poles fitted to the middle. But this would, of course, increase the weight and set-up time of the tent.
Pros vs Cons of the Big Daddy Deluxe Swag
Pros
- Large size
- Fits two sleeping bags easily
- Great airflow
- Quick set up
- Low price
- Self-standing
- Thick mattress
Cons
- Carry bag needs to be purchased separately
- It’s impossible to roll it up as tight as it first arrived
- Quite a bulky swag to carry
- Needs a bit of work before it’s waterproof
- Swag sag
How has it held up after 2.5 years?
First, let’s talk about how often I use it. This Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag gets used on average, around four weeks out of every year and I’ve had it for 2.5 years. So all up, I’ve slept in it for around ten weeks, broken up into 1-2 week stretches. To the nay sayers who say it wouldn’t hold up to full-time use – well, I don’t live full-time in my swag and neither does the average camper.
When I’m using it, it’s strapped to the racks in a carry bag and at home, it’s stored undercover in a storage bag in the shed.
Thus far, it’s lasted very well with no problems, other than feeling the need to reinforce its waterproofing abilities when I first got it.
The verdict
Does it live up to the hype? Well, yes and no. The Kings Daddy Deluxe Swag hits that sweet spot between affordability and value, and for that reason, it certainly lives up to the hype. The price makes it affordable for many, but it would be unreasonable to expect perfection straight out of the box as you would expect from a much higher-priced swag.
Once you have seasoned the canvas and/or potentially given it an extra spray of canvas sealer, it’s a top swag that is sturdy enough to handle most situations. The generous size and thick mattress are a massive bonus, and I can see this swag being an essential part of my camping set-up for years to come.
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We have had our Deluxe Double Swag for over 4 years. We seasoned it as soon as we got it and have never had a leak. We have a 70mm mattress and although it is a tight fit, we fit it into the bag without too many issues. Even though you have given it a “ho hum” review it is a great swag and ranks with the best of them!
ROF LOL — so at what stage does a swag become a tent ? ( I was going to stop here)
In fact , I have always LOL at words like the “original Australian swag” which was actually a Bed Roll ; just a wool blanket or a blanket rolled in canvas that that could be pulled over when it rained . Us modern big softies need at a least a foam mattress though .
“with my swag on shoulder back billy in my hand……..” (from the 1960s , google it) .
Waltzing Matilda — ”Matilda” was another word for “swag” . America called it a bed roll which does make more sense .
Generally Australia takes on American words to stuff up our history , but in the case of the real original Australian swag it would seem the marketers have done a really **** job of it IMO . Google “original Australian swag” will prove that point .
Another sight I LOL at — The BIG so called swag on the 4be’s roof stuffing up the ‘so important’ aerodynamics design to “save fuel” when an original Australian swag can be broken down to small items easily packed amongst all the **** we — they/you seemly have to have these days.
If you really want to mention “comforts” I have an IMO answer for that also that will likely start with ”kids can sleep anywhere …………..
Waterproofed my sons repeatedly and it still leaks. Sags horribly. I’m the kind of person that wouldn’t buy such a brand or a cheap version of something and I am regretting it now. They may seem like minor issues to some but to us they’re a real let down.
bought this swag as a gift for my 12 year old son. spent first three days seasoning as required for a canvas product. garden hose, lots of water, big yellow sponge. made sure all the outer was thoroughly wet and set to dry in the sun. did this repeatedly over three days. boxing day camping trip for a week. first night’s sleep was marred by lots of water in the swag. my kid woke me up with wet sleeping bag and book. we dried all his gear out the next day in readiness for a good night’s sleep. i assumed it might’ve been not seasoned correctly. Unfortunately same thing happened. by the third night he wasn’t prepared to sleep in it again. i double, triple checked the setup and let it sit empty overnight. the next morning i opened the swag up to discover about 400ml of water inside.
the water is making it’s way in through the zip linings. The canvas seems to be holding water as required but the outer of the unit sags in the middle allowing water to seep through the zip on both sides. I recommend another brand – of which there are many.
Adventure Kings are refusing refund. they claim a leak is a minor fault !
My son and I both bought one of these swags to go on a family camping trip. Each swag were well seasoned before use. My son was able to go on a quick weekend away to test his setup. There was a torrential downpour. The king’s swag leaked like a sieve and the mattress became extremely mouldy. When he tried to return it under warranty it became a Kafkaesque nightmare so he ended up putting the thing out with the next council cleanup
I also,have the big daddy swag. I purchased a queen size inflatable mattress and a 12 volt air pump and I am really comfortable. With this mattress deflated the swag when rolled up takes up a lot less space. Just wish they don’t have a stretcher to suit.
Have been using the double for years in some
questionable weather. Perhaps I was lucky but for $130 it’s given me great camping adventures.