Last year, we saw a melting pot of versatile sleeping setups tick every swag-specific box – and while they all had enough swagger to make the top ten rank, some models even prompted us to ask:
‘Is that really a swag?’
The debate continues, where some still argue that the swag/tent design trend – AKA, the ‘swent’ – isn’t a genuine swag! Is the jury still out? Are our sales still favouring one over the other – or both in one?! When it comes to buying a swag, there are 3 factors in hot demand:
- Ventilation
- Versatility, and
- Durability!
So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the roundup of our best-selling swags, based on the last 12 months of sales…
10. Darche Ranger Solo+ Swag
Snug in its number 10 spot for the second year running is the Ranger Solo+, a conveniently compact and lightweight shelter for bike tourers and overnighters.
Its polycotton ripstop canvas with welded PVC bucket floor and zip closure storm cover has you protected from the elements, while a unique Hutch™ compartment is convenient for stashing your helmet, boots, and more – accessible from the inside too. Boasting a simple, quick-sticks setup thanks to its anodised aluminium-alloy head and foot poles, zip open the entry to a superfine mesh that provides both ventilation and insect protection. Stow in heavy-duty PVC ‘dry’ roll bag, and strap your pannier for effortless transport.
9. Darche AD 1100, Air-Volution AD 900, and Air-Volution AD 1400 Swags
Making an appearance in our list for the third year in a row are the Air-Volution AD Swags from Darche. With countless 5-star reviews, it’s no wonder they’ve scored a ranking yet again!
This design comes in the 900, 1100, and 1400, and instead of using traditional poles for structure and stability, it’s got a puncture resistant inflatable system. ‘Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it’, they say! With none of the usual poles to assemble, you can have this swag set up in under 20 seconds using the high capacity hand pump. It’s super quick to deflate, fully seam sealed, has two-way entry, full zip head and foot windows, and all the quality you expect from Darche.
The Air-Volution AD is a stellar choice for the tourer, or someone who wants a swag that’ll last (which is, uh, everyone?)!
8. Darche Dirty Dee 900, 1100, and 1400 CP Swags
The Darche Dirty Dee is no stranger to this list. This swag has a really simple set up, is a slightly lighter weight, and comes in three sizes: 900, 1100 and 1400.
Two ridge poles and three hooped cross-poles allow for a freestanding design that offers a multitude of full mesh doors and windows. It’s made with 420gsm poly-cotton canvas with a tough PVC base, and a comfortable 7cm high-density foam mattress. In 2020, Darche released their Hutch accessory, which has a universal fit with most swags, but is a perfect match for the Dirty Dee 1100.
Like an old faded pair of jeans that just keeps on giving, the Dirty Dee has been around for years. It’s durable, and suitable for all-season camping.
7. 23ZERO Duke 1400 and 1600 Swags
The Duke is the perfect sundown setup.
A convenient four-way entry, extensive internal space, and freestanding design has the 1400 and 1600 models the mightiest mobile homes! Seek relief from insects and soak in serenity thanks to a super-fine mesh and cross flow ventilation, while climate control features include a zip-down canvas, all-weather gusseted canopies, and a fully seam-sealed construction. With four all-weather awnings too, these swags throws serious shade (without the attitude)!
Battling the beaten track by your side for years to come thanks to self-repairing spiral zips for ultimate security too – rough it in rustic royalty, with the Duke 1400 and 1600 swags by 23ZERO.
6. Darche Nebula 1550 and Nebula + 1550 (with 70mm Mattress)
The incredibly roomy Darche’s Nebula and Nebula + has been a favourite for years.
Both have all 3 of those ‘in demand’ factors – ventilation, versatility, and durability. Plus, they can be fully opened up to offer 360-degree views! The Nebula + 1550’s hybrid design allows room for two wrigglers, with storm covers that couple as an awning so you can draw out your outback hangout. Darche has always maintained gold standard after-sales support, and some might argue that their exceptional reputation over a longer period of time gives it the slight edge over other brands. Feedback from our Warranties team is that the Nebula model is one of their favourites in regards to very few issues, top-notch quality, and after sales service.
For campsite comradery on every adventure, the Nebula 1550 and Nebula+ 1550 are swag baggage built for blissful outback slumbers. Watch our YouTube videos on the features here, then have a read of the reviews and Q&A’s. Nothing beats feedback from fellow swaggies!
5. 23ZERO Woof-Den Dog Swag
This kennel’s a little more… well, ruff around the edges. Yep, the 23ZERO Woof-Den Dog Swag is the most paw-sible option for your camping comrade!
Its simple set-up and pack-down are owed to 19-millimetre coated segment poles and an easy-use aluminum adjustable ridge rod, holding taut the panels of 320gsm proofed plain weave poly-cotton canvas to withstand the rough and tumble. Avoid the hotdogs with PVC-coated poly, super-fine, zippered insect mesh, and appreciate adequate ventilation in claggy climates. When it’s raining cats and dogs, heavy-duty PVC bucket flooring and seam-sealed construction keeps your doggy dry, while number-ten heavy core-spiral, self-repairing poly zips beat the outback brutality.
From the rustic huskies to the terriers that tear up the terrain – the Woof-Den Dog Swag is for ruff-ing it rural!
4. Darche Dusk to Dawn 900, 1100, and 1400 CP Swags
Shuffling back from its spot in second place is Darche’s Dusk to Dawn – a swag that will, nonetheless, never lose favour.
This is the kind of swag you buy for an 18th birthday gift, knowing that in another 50 years it’ll have a whole lot of stories to tell! Available in 900, 1100 or the double size 1400, it has two huge full-length doors that roll completely open. This swag is perfect for campers who like to feel the cool breeze across their face at night. If not rolled up or zipped down, the storm flaps can be extended as awnings with a couple of optional poles. This leaves the large superfine mesh doors on each side offering virtually unimpeded views of the night sky. It has an easy pitch two-hoop design with a ridgepole that has it freestanding, and is made with Darche’s tough 420gsm canvas and a PVC floor.
The Dusk to Dawn has long been a favourite and consistent best-seller ever since it was released. Darche knows how to do swags – and this one will last a lifetime!
3. 23ZERO Bandit 900, 1100, and 1400 Swags
Creeping up to Number 3, the Bandit swag from 23Zero continues to receive rave reviews. Last year saw thirty-six 5-star ratings across all three sizes – the 900, 1100 and 1400.
Made to last, the Bandit is a sturdy and versatile three-hoop design that offers a flexible 4-way entry. The two ridge poles give it that freestanding ability which is in such hot demand, and it’s made from 400gsm poly-cotton canvas with a durable urethane coating on the underside. The base is a heavy-duty PVC welded floor and it comes with a really comfortable 7cm high-density foam mattress.
The Bandit is up there with the best and is ideal for campers needing a reliable swag throughout the year.
2. 23ZERO Outbreak Double Swag 1550
Spacious, freestanding, and comfortable – the Outbreak is designed for off-track touring on those two-wheeled expeditions!
With a tightly-woven and proofed canvas construction, this swag has enough room for two and enough leftover for gear, too! Fully seam-sealed, its heavy-duty PVC bucket floor protects from the ground up, while a super-fine mesh window either end provides ventilation and zip-down canvas walls bode better for wet conditions. A 4-way entry makes for easy coming and going, with scenic 360-degree views and plenty of room for the essentials.
1. 23ZERO Dual 900, 1100, and 1400 Swags
From Number 6 in 2021, to a solid third place in 2022, to finally taking the crown last year, and proudly standing its ground in 2024 – it’s clear that the Dual Swag from 23Zero has become more popular than ever!
It’s another freestanding design, with two-way entry and a hassle-free setup. All three sizes – 900, 1100, and 1400 – are made from 400gsm poly-cotton canvas with a polyurethane coating. The HF welded PVC bucket floor delivers protection from the ground up, and the oversized storage bag allows you to keep your bedding inside while it’s rolled up.
The Dual Swag receives loads of great reviews and, having outranked the Dusk to Dawn, many customers deliberate between the two.
OZtrail are rolling onwards and upwards in the swag game with the Sundowner range. Image: OZtrail
What to Watch: OZtrail Sundowner Swags (900 and 1550)
Well, well, well, look what just swaggered it’s way on into the Snowys store! Straight out of their Overlander range, OZtrail are rolling onwards and upwards in the swag game with their Sundowner range, available in 900 and 1550 models with an optional awning too.
The compact and all-too-secure bedroom in a bag – the robust, seam-sealed, 420gsm ripstop polycotton canvas construction and 600gsm PVC bucket floor bear the rough and tumble of outback brutality and withstand wet weather. Climatech technology and gusseted end windows allow adequate airflow, while SkyMesh roof panels provide both superior ventilation and an unparalleled, magical view of the outback night. Boasting a wide body and freestanding design, vertical walls also provide plenty of space for the bigger dreamers, or just your baggage. Light up the night with flexible internal LED lighting, featuring OZtrail’s renouned Lumos technology, and keep your camp kit together in a 6-panel flexi storage system for ultimate organisation. A high-density mattress with added protection also features a removable luxe flannel cover for plush, supple comfort.
The OZtrail Sundowner Swag truly is your humble, outback abode away from home – and we reckon next year’s numbers will see it break into the top 10 ranking!
Want more on the ‘swag, tent, or “swent”‘ debate? Check out this episode of the Snowys Camping Show:
What do you think is the best camping swag?
When it comes to camping, hiking, travel and adventure – the Snowys team have all the expert advice, guides, and tips on everything outdoors.
There seems to be a new trend with the freestanding type swags, which i think is great. Have you guys looked at the Pro’s and Cons of swags either on the ground, or on a stretcher, and also the ability to put a Self Inflating Mattress in a swag?
I camp more often in the much colder weather, and debating the pros and cons of a swag off the ground or on.
In a story about the best swags, you don’t have any swags. You have 10 small tents. There’s nothing wrong with small tents. But just don’t call them swags. Swags don’t have poles and ropes. How about a story about actual proper swags, because they are getting hard to find these days.
Hi there Swaggie, thanks for your insight. You’re right, a traditional swag does not use poles or ropes – that’s why we tend to date our ‘Best Of’ blogs (i.e. ‘for 2023’) – to reflect their relevance at the time of release. These blogs are a selection of our best-sellers over the space of 12 months, not a broader piece or story about swags in general – so it just goes to show how much the humble swag has evolved over time!
Happy adventuring 🙂
Curious – did you look at the Kodiak Canvas swag in your reviews? I wonder where that one ranks – I’ve heard good things about it, but don’t have personal experience with it.
Hey there Ben….I reckon the heading is pretty misleading in that “best” doesnt mean best….it just means sales volume, features etc but has nothing to do with practical durability and real world use. No waterproof testing….really….come on. Change the heading or change the review process I say.
Hi Jeff, thanks for your input. We chose to base this data on the products we sell the most of, and for it to be free of personal opinion or any form of commercial intent. We invite and publish all reviews, good and bad, on all the products we sell. The products that become popular are largely influenced by the real users’ in-field experience, reflected in these reviews.
If a product doesn’t perform, leaks, or falls apart, it’s reflected in the reviews and it quickly drops off in sales.
Hope that helps? 🙂
I’m with Ben on his choice for no.1. My mate has a three person Coleman Swagger and it is a very nice bit of equipment. I have a Oztent RS-1 , which is fine, but it is very bulky and does have condensation issues. The Swagger is sturdy, roomy, easy to put up and does not take up much space when packed up – and importantly- less than half the price of an RS-1.
Yep Chris, the Swagger has proven itself to be incredibly popular. It’s not manufactured with quite the same level of durability as the RS-1 but it’s much lighter and more affordable. Cheers mate
Where coming into the back end of 2021 now, so when will we see the new stuff you teased above. The cat amongst the pigeons?
G’day Chris, really sorry for the delayed response but thanks for the reminder to update this blog! We were hinting at some new releases from Darche that are now in action…
Their KOZI Series swags – the Alpine 1100 and the Outback 1100. Also, Darche has released a limited-edition design in their 3 sizes of Dusk to Dawn swags – the Limited Edition Dusk to Dawn +. This design celebrates their 30th birthday and incorporates the Hutch which we mentioned at the end of the blog.
What do you reckon mate? Any of those got you interested? 😉
G’day Ben – these are all tents with built in mattresses, where are all the traditional swags – flat with maybe a tie up head flap/ mozzie net, comfortable, easy to roll out/up, and quick? Murchison River Swags fit this category perfectly but you have to sell one of your testicles and wait a year to get one.
Cheers
It the way things are heading nowadays, Jason. I agree with you that a true swag is the old envelope style with a flap for your head… there’s nothing that can break. The dome-style swags are by far the most popular though.
AOS makes one called the Bushman which is more in line with the traditional swag, not cheap, but Aussie made. – https://www.snowys.com.au/bushman-swag-king-single.
As the unfortunate owner of 2 Darche Dusk to Dawn swags I find it frustrating that retailers and reviewers fail to mention the failure rate of the end poles.
It’s no secret in any camping store that they are unbelievably weak. Nor is it mentioned that you may be without swag for months at a time due to Darche have intermittent supply of replacement poles, which has been the case for the last 2 years.
5 sets of poles for a single swag in 18 months is beyond belief! Read about them on http://www.productreview.com.au/listings/darche-dusk-til-dawn and you’ll find 6 of the 12 reviewers rate the swag 1 star another 2 rate them 2 stars. Another rated the swag 3 stars, though snapped both poles within 36 hours!
Your headline says “Best Camping Swags for 2021” and it is not until the last sentence of the intro that you mention that the measurement is based on units sold. How is units sold a measurement of quality?
G’day J North, it sounds like you’ve had a rough run with your Darche swags – sorry to hear it, and thanks for your feedback.
I think that quality goes hand-in-hand with price, and each of these swags offers good quality for their price tag. Using our sales figures allows us to determine what is in most demand and give a well-rounded list while under performers are usually removed from our range before they become a headache for our customers and our warranty team.
The Dusk To Dawn swags on our site currently have an average rating of above 4 stars from about 60 reviews. We publish all reviews and the negative feedback we do have is predominantly related to the poles… this is something our warranty team relay back to Darche.
It may be worth noting that in many cases broken poles come down to user error in that the poles are not clipped in a way to maintain even stress across the whole pole, not saying that this is what you are doing, but worth noting for others reading this.
I really don’t get it, before doing a list of any best swags you need to check out Murchison river swags in WA, they make real traditional style swags and after 40 years of sleeping in swags I think I know what I’m talking about when I say they are the best.
G’day Billy, Murchison River swags are fantastic. However, the information for this article was purely based on sales volumes both online and instore at Snowys. Cheers
I have a buddy of mine that lives in big sky country in the US and was over in Oz on assignment with the military, he has fallen in love with our swags.
What is the best swag for cold snowy US conditions, decent mattress thickness and weather proof?
G’day Ian. The perfect swag for US snowy conditions… mmm! There really isn’t a straight forward answer on that one mate, but I’d advise going with a high-density foam that will offer some insulation or to even swap out the foam mat in favour of an insulated mat with a high R-value. Something like a Zempire Monstamat, Exped Megamat or Black Wolf Mega Deluxe – these all effectively insulate against the ground chill but you would need to double-check dimensions against width and length of swag to make sure the fit is suitable. A decent sleeping bag is also important as keeping warm in cold conditions really is about a whole sleep system rather than one particular product. Focusing on swags though, any poly-cotton canvas above 400gsm is going to provide decent protection against the elements although when it comes to the poles, I recommend going with DAC aluminium or a high-end alloy which are used in expedition tents as others may not hold up so well in freezing temps. Hopefully, that helps a bit but please don’t hesitate to give our Customer Support team a buzz on 1300 914 007 if you want to chat further. Cheers 🙂
Thanks for your advice I’ll look at those options.
Cheers
Can you recommend the best and longest double swag for the Top End. i.e maximum ventilation and London enough to fit a 6 foot 4 inches man.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Cheers
Nicola
G’day Nicola, have a look at the AOS Tracker Swag – it’s 214cm long and offers terrific ventilation. Alternatively, there’s Darche’s Dirty Dee which has been super popular for quality at an affordable price. This has a generous length at 215cm and although it doesn’t provide quite as much airflow as the Tracker, you’ve still got 6 points of ventilation where you need it most. Hope that helps, don’t hesitate to give our Customer Support team a buzz on 1300 914 007 if you’d like to chat about it further. Cheers 🙂
https://www.snowys.com.au/tracker-swag-double
https://www.snowys.com.au/dirty-dee-1400-swag
I say the wanderer double heavy duty swag is the strongest and toughest swag against all 4 seasons and elements.its very stable against very windy rain I seen these swag in action and it’s got the highest quality material out of all the swags and tents but a bit short in height but perfect for one man.the second would be the nebula 1550 it has thick high quality structure poles and 3rd would be the oztrail 3 dome discovery sl
i would be interested in what you guys think of the kulkyne brand of swags, have they been in your list before??
Cheers
We’re not familiar with those swags as we’ve not stocked them before Graham, but from checking them out online they seem to have a unique range that differs a lot from what we offer at Snowys. Apologies we couldn’t be more specific Graham.
Hi Graham i have a Kulkyne stretcher swag and i would say it is the best money i have ever spent,i have other swags in which make me closter phobic but this thing has heaps of room and very comfy,only down side is it takes up a bit of room in your car when travelling.
Hi Ben i am looking for a swag that is very simple to put up and down as we are doing the red centre all of august this year and if i carnt pull it down fast the buggers will leave me behind Ha!Ha!
Also want one that i can put up on a camp strecher and must have good mattress to cater for my 65 yo bones and wont cost the earth?
Thank you in advance
Lynnett
I
Sounds like a great trip Lynnett! A good option for you here might be the Dual Swag from 23ZERO – it’s freestanding so you could use it with a stretcher, has a simple design so is fairly easy to set up and comes standard 70mm mattress which you can check out here. I’d also point you in the direction of the Dusk to Dawn from Darche which has a similar design, which comes in a package deal where you can build you own swag, so you can opt for the thickest mattress possible which you can view here. Hope that gave you some options to consider!
If you cannot leave your bedding in then it is NOT a swag..
G’day Ben,
Ive noticed that virtually all of the swags have the poles or hoops attached with some sort of a half moon shaped clip. Over the years i have seen far too many of those break due to age or misfortune. are there any swags that have the poles go through old school canvas or metal rings?
Cheers
Alex
They almost all have some form of a plastic clip, Alex, but I’ve not seen any with metal ones. The better quality swags tend to have a combination of a canvas sleeve at the top and plastic clips on the side. Jolly Swag swags are probably the only exception I can think of which use a combination of canvas sleeves and velcro tabs. The jury is out on whether this is a better solution than plastic clips though.
OES use a zip-in sleeve system for their poles.
Hi Ben, of the swags you have reviewed, which swag blocks out light the best?
Hmmm, this isn’t something we have specifically tested sorry, Justin.
Most canvas will cut out just about all the light so I can’t see any swag being different from others once completely zipped up, the only exception is the lighter weight 230 gsm canvas on the Oztrail swags which tends to let a little bit of light through.
I hope this helps.
Hello From South Africa,
I see that this is a best seller list and not the list of best swags. Could you please list your top 5 swags, irrespective of price? I am looking for a really top quality swag with excellent mossy nets and a great view, low condensation and long life. Please can we have the benefit of your wisdom in this regard?
Hi Tony. It’s would be too subjective to come up with a list of our top five swags without some sort of determining factor, what works for one person may not work for the next. For this reason, we use customer feedback, reviews and sales volume to determine which swags may be the best purchase for our customers. Price inevitably does drive sales, so there is always a mix of high and low priced swags in the list. For your purpose, I’d consider the type of swag configuration you want, type of entrance, materials (I’m not sure what you mean by mossy nets) etc, then pick one of the higher end swags from Darche, any of the swags from Burke & Wills and Jolly Swag which I’m also a fan of but didn’t make it to this list… that’s just my personal opinion though.
Ben.
I suspect that mossy net is actually Mossie net or mossie mesh. Probably midgie proof.
B
Best selling doesn’t mean best quality swag, it looks like it is more price driven? Oztrail swags only have 1 year warranty whereas Darche, True Blue/Jolly Swagman and Burke & Wills have longer. I’d rather pay a little extra for the longer warranty.
You’re right. Carol, it is price driven, most likely because not everyone can afford the best quality. The occasional users that make up a large percentage of our customer base don’t necessarily need to invest in a tough, top quality swag. In this instance, we have found the offering from OZtrail to be the best value for money. I’m of your opinion though, I’d rather save a little longer and spend the extra for the quality of a higher end swag.
Is it true you can’t fit a sleeping bag in the oztrail Cooper expedition swag and roll it up??
You can roll a sleeping bag up inside the Cooper Swag Chris, but depending on the thickness of the bag – you might have trouble fitting the straps around it. You may need to put some extra muscle into it, or look into longer straps if you’re using a bulky sleeping bag. I hope this helped, Chris – cheers!
What about the arb skydome swag?
G’day Jack,
That model is ARB’s home brand swag that we don’t range so, unfortunately, we don’t know a whole lot about it. Sorry, we couldn’t be of more help Jack – cheers!
Which swag is best for a tall guy? 6 foot 3?
I want to buy my son a swag but I am concerned about his height
In terms of the longest (and widest) single swags that we have, Burke & Wills seem to be the frontrunner. Their Simpson XL, Coolabah XL, and Redgum XL are all 215cm in length which should give your 6″3 son plenty of room to stretch out and a few styles to consider depending on the features you’re after. I hope this helps, Trudi!
Yeh the oztrail double 3dome sl Is 280cm long I’d say is the second best on the market or 3rd best the nebula 1550 is the second toughest coz of its structure and heavy duty poles high in strong wind proof the first would be the wanderer double heavy duty swag but the dome pole seems a little fragile you just got to be careful setting it up but its tough as hell a against windy rain and high winds very stable and the mitireal is the best quality and the highest compared to any other swags on the market the but a bit short in height