Looking for some advice. Going camping in winter in vic. Got my eye on the 23Zero swag https://www.snowys.com.au/dual-swag-1100mm Or maybe the Coleman swagger darkroom https://www.snowys.com.au/instant-swagger-3p-darkroom Wondering if anyone’s got any experience or opinions? I’ve got a decent self inflating mat so I wouldn’t need to purchase that. I prefer the idea of the swag for longevity, but the tent for when the little fellas old enough to join me.
I’m more a tent person myself, but a lot of people I know own both and use the swag more often.
The main benefit to a swag is you can toss it in the back of the ute, drive to your campsite, roll it out, and drink a beer while watching your friends setup their tent, pump up their mattress, etc. Which is quite entertaining, because if there’s one thing I’ve learned in years of camping it’s that I seem to always be the only person in the whole group who actually knows how to setup a tent properly.
If it’s windy, or raining, most people are going to be comfortable in a swag and have a horrible night in a tent. The tent is more comfortable if you set it up properly, but apparently that’s too much to ask…
And when it’s time to go home the next morning, you’ll be done packing up your swag when the tent people have finished rolling up their sleeping bag.
Personally I don’t mind the extra time to setup my tent and appreciate the extra room (we usually take a ten man tent for three people… though we also have a four man tent). The setup/pack-up time is just part of camping.
The other advantage of a thick canvas swag they last forever. I consider myself lucky if a brand new tent lasts even two or three camping trips without a hole somewhere. You can buy canvas tents but holy batman those are heavy!
The tent is cheaper and future proof for the kid.
The swag is more convenient if you are travelling solo as it is self contained, with all bedding etc.I’ve got a tent, a swag and a camper trailer.
If I could only have one, it’d be the tent.There’s no situations where you chose the swag over the tent? Only reason I’m considering the swag is I was told the tent is 2-3 seasons. So it might be a bit ill-equipped for winter.
There’s lots of situations where I use my swag, such as when I need to carry my camping gear on my motorbike.
But if it was a purchase choice of tent OR swag, I’d be getting the tent.
I regularly use my swag IN my tent.
Does it change your answer if I say ive still got the hiking tent? Nothing wrong with it. It’s just not cut out for winter/early spring.
Yes and no.
Canvas like that swag is warmer and tougher, so it’ll survive more abuse and keep you warmer, and if you look after it, you’ll still be using it in 20 years.
I love my swag.So, where are you getting changed? Where are you putting your boots when you climb in at night? Are they joining you in the swag?
I carry a thick shopping bag so that I can wrap up my clothes and boots etc and keep them out of the weather yet outside the swag.
This involves me clambering into my swag in just by underwear, more than once whilst it was starting to rain. 🤷♂️
A tent on the other hand, you can get changed, in the dry, out of the wind, bundle everything up in the corner…There’s trade off’s here.
But it sounds like you already want a swag, and I’m not going to try to talk you out of a good life choice.Ooooh fair points…. Yeah maybe the tents better just with a couple of extra blankets!
I’m assuming you aren’t hiking too far into the bush and then setting camp? so weight isn’t a consideration.
You generally want a larger shelter for snow/cold weather conditions due to storage of additional clothing required for the climate.
If you are indeed camping in true snow conditions then a more rugged rating and steeper “roof” are required against snow and wind.
also have something to piss in during the night because it sucks getting out of your bag at night haha.
Haha yeah I’ll bring an empty bottle! Nah we’re just car camping. And I’ll have my trust gazebo with me.
After a couple of decades camping I still can’t see the benefit of a swag. A tent and mat often weighs less, provides a dry place to change/cook/have a cuppa in bad weather and can keep everything else dry too. Swags are tougher and a bit more convenient if you’re regularly parking and hitting the hay in a rush but that’s the only scenario that makes sense.
Normally I’d agree. But I’m new to winter camping and after freezing my ass of last October in the high country in a hiking tent in keep to avoid the same mistake again haha
I wouldn’t blame the tent for being freezing.
First they need to be setup properly to keep out the wind and rain. Did you do that?
Second, they’re only going to keep out the wind and rain. You need your blankets and clothes to keep you warm if the air is just really cold.
Blankets between you and the ground are more valuable than between you and the air too.
If you have the same fabric and mattress, then a swag is going to be significantly lighter and smaller than any tent.
Sure - most swags have thick canvas but they don’t have to. Some are just 750 grams and roll up so small you could almost fit them in your pocket (obviously no mattress in those ultralight ones).