With its vast, dramatic landscapes and truly unique wildlife, camping in Australia is an experience like no other.
Wherever you decide to venture to, particularly if it’s into the bush, one essential item you should take with you is a high-quality swag.
Providing a comfortable and convenient sleeping option anywhere in the great outdoors, swags have been a part of the Australian way of camping since the early 1800s. Back then, seasonal and roaming agricultural workers used it as they sought odd jobs from farm to farm, such as sheep shearing and fence repairs.
While they were pretty rustic at that time, the swags of today have become a lot more sophisticated. Subsequently, there are plenty of options on the market to choose from that vary in terms of price, quality, durability and ease of set-up.
With so many brands and styles available it can be overwhelming, which is why we have put together this list of the best swag for camping in Australia in 2023.
Whether you are just planning a night away under the stars or want to channel your inner Burke and Wills on a much longer adventure, the swags showcased below should be well suited to your needs.
What is a Swag?
Not sure what a swag is? Then we had better explain.
A swag is a type of portable shelter commonly used in Australia for camping and outdoor activities. It is essentially a compact and lightweight tent that can be easily carried and set up in different locations.
Typically, a swag consists of a waterproof and durable canvas material that provides protection from the elements and keeps the occupants dry and comfortable. The traditional swag design consists of a single or double bed with an attached canvas cover that can be rolled up or down to provide privacy and shelter.
Swags often have mesh panels for ventilation and built-in insect screens to keep mozzies and other bugs out. They also sometimes come with a foam mattress for added comfort and can be easily rolled up and packed away when not in use.
Difference Between Swag and a Tent
You may be wondering what the main difference between a swag and a tent is. Well, essentially, it boils down to the level of portability and simplicity.
Overall, swags are designed to be more compact and lightweight than tents, making them easier to carry and set up whenever and wherever you want to. By contrast, tents are larger and come in a range of sizes and designs, from small single-person tents to large family-sized tents with multiple
rooms.
Tents provide a lot more space and comfort than swags and can be used for longer camping trips where more gear and supplies are required. Swags, on the other hand, are more suitable for shorter camping trips or for backpackers who need to carry their gear long distances.
Best Swag Options
If you are looking to buy swag for your next adventure, there are several swag options you can choose from.
Here is a selection of 5 of the best of them.
Darche Kozi Swag Outback Range
While some Darche swags can be a bit pricey, the Darche Kozi Swag Outback Range is one that is a bit more affordable to most campers.
Available in a range of sizes including single, king single and double, one of the most notable features of this swag is that it is constructed with a much less robust fabric than some of the other products in its family. It is also a little smaller in terms of space. However, despite this, the model is still pretty durable and comfortable.
Granted, the mattress is only at the 5 cm mark, as opposed to the 7 cm that comes with other brands in their range. But that just means it is extra lightweight. Subsequently, it is a terrific choice for those who want to carry a little bulk with them as possible.
One of the best aspects of this swag is that it has virtually vertical walls, which provide lots of usable space and headroom inside. They are also very well ventilated too with huge mesh 140 gsm screens enabling excellent airflow and protection from mozzies. All of the windows also have a convenient storm flap, which you can simply roll down during periods of cool or rainy weather.
Ingeniously, as both sides of the swag have entry sides, it is also very easy to get inside them too.
Available Sizes: Single, King Single & Double
Material: 320 gsm polycotton ripstop canvas
Mattress: 50 mm thick
Flooring: PVC 550 gsm
Weight: Between 12.3 kgs – 14.5 kgs
Wanderer Contour Swag Range
If you are looking for something top-of-the-range that will last for many years, it is hard to go past the BCF Wanderer Contour.
Made with exceptional quality fabrics this swag is available as a single or double. They are also
extremely lightweight as well which makes them a terrific option for those who don’t want to lug around anything too heavy.
Comprising a PVC 500 gsm base and a ripstop 450 gsm polycotton canvas, the good thing about this swag is that you don’t need to put down any tarp. It also has alloy poles for both sides of it that again are very lightweight, as well as a very sturdy and stable spreader bar.
Inside there is also plenty of space and headroom, as well as big mesh screens on both of its sides to provide you with plenty of ventilation on those hot Aussie nights.
It also has a 70 mm mattress which should enable you to have a very good sleep. While its easy roll-up design means you do not have to put away your pillow or sleeping bag when packing it away in its carry bag.
Available Sizes: Single & Double
Material: Ripstop 450 gsm polycotton canvas
Mattress: 70 mm thick
Flooring: PVC 450 gsm
AOS Bushman Deluxe Apex Swag Range
If you won’t settle for anything less than the absolute best then the AOS Bushman Deluxe Apex Swag Range is the best choice for you.
By far the lightest of all swags showcased in this review, they come in several sizes that start off at single and go up to the queen. However, as they are one of the dearest on the market, they might be out of some people’s budget.
Proudly Aussie, this product is 100% made and designed in Western Australia and has been produced to fit the needs of the regular camper. It has also been created to be a lifetime purchase, as its rot-proof and 14 oz heavy duty water canvas last for decades.
One of the key features of this tent is that it has zips that are a full length on both sides, thus enabling you to gain easy access to the swag. There is also plenty of ventilation in the form of a sturdy mesh that also offers excellent protection from sandflies and mozzies.
Inside, the swag there are no poles, which is one of the main reasons why it is so lightweight. So to set it up all you need to do is tie it to something strong and sturdy.
It also has a solid cut 70 mm foam mattress that is comfortable to sleep on and also has a washable cover that you can easily zip on and offer. Thus making it very easy to keep clean and hygienic.
Innovatively, the swag bed also has a pocket underneath it, which is very handy for storing your pegs, ropes and other bits and bobs.
Available Sizes: Single, King Single Double & Queen
Material: Cotton ripstop 14 oz canvas
Mattress: 70 mm thick
Flooring: Canvas 450 gsm
Weight: Between 8.7 kgs – 16.15 kgs
Oztrail Lawson Discovery Swag Range
Oztrail is a trusted name in the camping world and when it comes to swag, their Lawson Discovery make sits quite near the top of the range.
As compared to others on this list the Lawson is made with heavier fabrics and also features more space and a mattress that is thicker than most.
Incorporating a ripstop 420 gsm canvas, a vinyl 560 gsm floor and a 2000 mm waterproof rating, it also has a very comfy 70 mm mattress made of foam that is high density. Like the AOS Bushman Deluxe Apex Swag Range, it also has a removable cover that is easy to wash.
On its inside, there are also several internal pockets for you to store what you need, as well as a really cool zippered storage compartment inside the swag which is big enough to put your boots in. This means they will be nice and dry (or at least much dryer than they would have been if you left them out) in the morning.
A free-standing swag, the Lawson has three poles that are made from alloy that is both flexible and durable. The swag also has a very strong sturdy pole that is made of steel, so it is built to withstand testing weather conditions.
Available Sizes: Single & Double
Material: Polycotton 420 gsm ripstop canvas
Mattress: 70 mm thick
Flooring: Vinyl reinforced 560 gsm
Weight: Between 12 kgs – 18 kgs
XTM 4X4 Swag Range
At the cheaper end of the price scale, the XTM 4X4 Swag Range is an excellent option for you to consider.
Don’t be fooled by its price point, the swag stands up to most of the rest of the brands on this list when it comes to being robust yet lightweight.
Made with polycotton, ripstop 400 gsm canvas, the swag is protected by a PVC 450 gsm floor. It also possesses a reinforced, double-stitched seam and poles that are lightweight, yet thick alloy, which keeps it durable and stable out in the wild.
At 50 mm, the mattress is a little thinner than most, so it does not offer as comfortable a space to sleep on as other makes. However, that doesn’t mean you won’t get a good night’s slumber on it.
To compensate for it, the XTM has some cool features including internal pockets for the storage of valuables and small items, as well as a big mesh panel that allows you to look at the stars whilst also offering protection from bugs.
Available Sizes: Single & Double
Material: Polycotton 400 gsm canvas ripstop
Mattress: 50 mm thick
Flooring: PVC 450 gsm