Good luck.I'll be heading to a sidecar rally in 2 weeks where temperatures will be in the -c's and may take the swag.If so I'll let you know how it goes.

A2

To me it looks not practical -- it packs huge and the tent itself is tiny coffin. What you gain is 5 minutes of setup time in return for twice as big pack size plus 3 times smaller tent.

I fit 2-person tent, biggest size Thermarest Comfort mattress plus huge syntetic sleeping bag into L size of Ortlieb rack pack (you had XL in the video and seems the tent does not fit there). Yes, these must be compressed down but it makes nice tight bag.

Hope you packed your



Be interesting to hear the outcome. And out of interest, are you buying all this stuff or are they kindly sending you it?

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Matt,

Sorry mate I just don't get it.

If you need to get in from the top, what do you you when it's slashing it down ?

Ok, so you set up a tarp / basha / poncho arrangement to cover it up. Why not just get a tent ?

I've got a tent that will sleep four, in two rooms and has a central area for cooking that you can park a bike in that packs smaller than your swag bag.

The set-up I intend to use is a two man back-packer tent with a lightweight hoochie to use as an awning / cooking / workshop area if needed. All packs down to 500x150 roll that weighs bugger-all. I've got a spare fibreglass pole that will allow me to set up the hoochie to standing height without the need for trees.

Regards

Hey guys!

Right well it's pee'd it down this weekend - set up the Swag using a simple ground sheet and Basha - got it up in less time than it takes me to set up my 2 man dome tent - in fact 3 mins from start to finish.



The combination of poles and basha gives me a clear dry space to get in and out - and if I move the poles to the left it gives me a clear dry space in which to sit and cook etc.

The swag is dry to the touch, despite 24 hours out in the rain. So my theory goes that 95% of the time the swag just goes up on it's own - but if it's really hideous then I'll use this set up.

Advantages for me are simple - exceptionally fast set up without using a pop-up (1 min when not talking to the camera!). Warm, and simple. Very hard wearing material.

Disadvantages. Large pack size. Additional kit required if it's raining heavily.

Tents are an incredibly personal thing - I'd never expect everyone to chose the same system - but I thought that it would be useful to show a European audience something which is used extensively in Australia. The biggest thing that got on my tits when I last went away was the 5mins each night it took to put my tent up and down - I believe this will solve it for me - not for everyone though I'm sure!

Alex - they have kindly lent me the tent (as mentioned on my blog and the video description) in order to test it - they also rent them out so you can try them - but I am now buying the tent I'm so impressed with it. They're certainly not having it back!

This is an important point about reviews actually - and as I do quite a few I'd like to set out what I do....

Most stuff I test is kit I've bought myself (like the Exped) after research etc - I've paid my own money for. There is the occasional piece of kit where I will review if it's sent to me - but there's no positive review promised - the rule is if I don't like it they have to put up with my posting it! But so far there's only been two of those - the swag and Nickwax - and both in all honesty have been great. I will always say in the video description and on my blog if I've been lent or have been given the kit for free - if it's my own kit I generally don't mention it. Hope that's clear!

m

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Thinking along similar lines but for my ex-army bivi bag or a cheapo single skin tent. Also got a Hennessy hammock - can't recommend this enough. Cost me £80, but it's comfortable and well made. Throw my 3/4 sleep mat and sleeping bag into any of the above and I'm hopefully sorted. Should all weigh less than 8 kilos. Well smug!

Sorry to butt in.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

I was thinking of replacing my tired, patched (isn't gaffer tape great) '58 pattern poncho with their Hex Fly but I haven't seen one in the flesh so haven't made a decision yet. I struggle to justify the fifty quid price tag. I think my ponch was a couple of quid. That was way back when pounds were made of paper and you got a gallon of 4* for that money

You rate their stuff then ?

Best place to buy ?

Now ponchos :-)

Further testing in the rain



£9.99 from an army an navy store online - not terribly good though - proper plastic - not breathable - but TOTALLY waterproof!

Army Issue Poncho from Surplus and Outdoors / Waterproof Clothing

However..... more 'in the wet' testing from the coolabah




Canvas really really soaked. Inside totally dry - even pushing quite hard on the canvas nothing at all coming through.

However.... the next test was rolling it up totally wet and seeing if it staid that way.

Got home - it's been rolled for about 6 hours now - canvas is still wet when unrolled and the moisture has started seeping through some of the seams - nothing massive and I'd still be able to sleep in it - but enough to cause me some concern.

Lesson.... don't let it get as wet as this... don't leave it rolled up when it's as wet as this!

So as we've been saying through-out this thread...

Advantages - quick, warm, easy, sturdy

Disadvantages - not the best wet-weather gear out there, bulky pack size.

(still taking it to Russia though!)

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In my view, their stuff is well designed and well made. There's a stack of reviews and most people rave about them. There is a hex fly here for £39 that I'd been looking at - I should have got one in place of the standard fly when I first bought my hammock - the bigger fly would've given me two options.

I've been told about another tarp here for £19.95, but no online selling it seems. They have a branch a few miles down the road from this years Ripley meeting. I'm thinking of having a look when the time comes.

I 'gaffered' a couple of tears in an ex-army bivi bag I got for £10. I love the stuff.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Decathalon are really good at the moment - went for the first time last week - very impressed with the prices - and the kit doesn't seem half bad at all.

Basha wise - I got this one - Rip Stop Nylon - impressive bit of kit for £29.99

Lightweight Ripstop Basha in bag from Surplus and Outdoors / Waterproof Clothing

Certainly much much better than the hard plastic poncho.

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Matt. If the 'swag' thing shouldn't be rolled up when wet, it means hanging around till it dries off a bit - defeats the 'quickness' of it all.

Come on mate - take it back. You know you ought to.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

I totally agree with you dude - quite defeats the quickness of it.

But still - even after todays test in the worst weather - I'm sticking with it - call me crazy if you like!

For me - and this is a totally personal thing - the advantages out-weight the disadvantages.

I just have to be careful to ensure that my basha works (i.e I actually tie it down so it doesn't fly away in the night and leave the swag exposed).

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I'd have to agree - and who am I to stand in the way?

I might even see you, and the now famous 'swag bag', in Russia later on.

It might not be waterproof, but I reckon it'll keep the bears out. Now THAT'S a selling point!

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

LOL

Yeah would be great to meet up on the road - we leave last weekend in August.

Now... bears....

m

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Where are you going to find a veranda to tie the Basha to in the middle of nowhere

John

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