Wishlist

BETTER THAN A TENT!

Ever wondered why swagmen were so jolly? It’s because swags rule.

1 OZTRAIL BIKER EXPEDITION

BEST BUDGET OPTION

Built primarily for two-wheeled explorers, OzTrail’s cost-effective product still delivers the main advantages a swag has over a tent. Meaning it’s quick to erect, and durable and comfortable (albeit with just a 50mm mattress), but is especially compact when packed down, and lightweight at just 6.9kg. There’s not a lot of head room, despite its domed end poles, but it’s a swag, not St Paul’s Cathedral; claustrophobics are generally not big swag buyers. Easy zip-top access gets you in speedily, and built-in mesh keeps bugs out.

RRP: $250 oztrail.com.au

2 NEBULA 1550 SWAG

BEST OPULENCE

Even with its metre of headroom, access from all four sides, and a luxurious 70mm mattress, this two-person couples swag only takes a couple of minutes to set up. Described as a ‘one-of-a-kind freestanding hybrid’ fancy talk for a combo of tent and swag—it’s super durable, with 360-degree views and a storm-mocking PU800mm waterhead rating. Built from 420gsm ripstop polycotton canvas and with a heavy-duty 600gsm PVC bucket floor, it’s the only place you’ll want to be in a deluge. Besides the local pub. Or possibly back home. Or in the MU-X.

RRP: $799 darche.com.au

3 AOS BUSHMAN DELUXE

BEST AUSTRALIAN-MADE TRADITIONAL SWAG

Available in four sizes from single to queen, this locally built swag is lightweight and spacious, with a robust 70mm mattress and the ability to be set up in multiple configurations. There are twin zips running the full length of the swag and a fine mesh window built into the head panel to deter assorted sand flies, mozzies and midges. Its 10-year warranty provides confidence and it comes with a carry bag big enough to cram in extra stuff, such as sleeping bags, pillows, and that child’s soft toy you didn’t see on pack-up, which you’ll now repeatedly scour the campsite for while they scream blue murder

RRP: from $429 aussieoutbacksupplies.com

4 DUNE 4WD KING TITAN

BEST VALUE BIG SPACE

Perhaps you want a swag that’ll see you right for sleeping in the irradiated wastelands of a post-apocalyptic future. Or maybe you just want something for your weekend away at a festival every year or two. Dune’s 16kg double swag is a worthy compromise, with a high-density 70mm foam mattress and good internal space, height and ventilation, spacious windows for ventilation and reasonable durability. It’s perhaps not the easiest to roll up at first, but that’s a minor quibble particularly with some sites we’ve spotted offering occasionally large discounts.

RRP: $499 anacondastores.com