Swags have been providing campers with restful sleep for years. They are simple, versatile, and can be used just about anywhere. With the introduction of dome swags and even swags with air poles, we thought we had seen about all the technological advances to swags there could be. I mean, it’s a pretty simple concept, right?
Just when sliced bread was looking like it was still the greatest invention, along came the stretcher tent! The biggest flaw with the swag is that you have to get down on the ground, which isn’t always possible, or comfortable. Many campers started putting their swag on top of a stretcher for extra height but this limits the ability to pitch the swag tight, which is vital for staying dry and warm. It also means you have to set up two sleeping apparatus rather than one. So, the stretcher tent was born.
With sales of stretcher tents almost equaling swags, what are the key differences and which is the best option for you?
The Swag
Accommodation in its simplest form, a mattress protected by a canvas exterior.
Dome swags are the most popular style of swag nowadays. Some traditionalists will argue that they’re not swags at all, but they’re swaggy enough for us to keep calling ’em swags.
Pros:
- Very warm
- Includes a mattress
- Completely waterproof
- Can leave all your bedding in it when packed
- Quick and easy to use without the poles
- Can be used inside a tent or house
Cons:
- Bulky to carry
- Can take as long as a small tent to set up all the poles
- No storage
- Needs to be placed on the ground
- Difficult to set up when placed on a stretcher
- Not much room to get changed in or use in wet weather
- Needs to be used on a flat surface
Conclusion:
The swag is a fantastic sleeping option as it houses your entire bed, just roll it out and get in. If it’s hot or raining you’ll want to set up all the poles which will compromise its speed and ease of use.
If you don’t want to get up and down from the ground you can lay it on a stretcher, but then you may want extra shelter, like a 4WD awning or gazebo.
The swag will suit someone touring the outback in dry, fine weather conditions. Whether on the ground or on top of a stretcher, you know you’re going to get a good night’s sleep in a swag!
The stretcher tent
Add a one person tent to a standard stretcher, and you have yourself a stretcher tent.
Look like you imagined? It looks like a swag on top of a stretcher, right? This is the popular Oztent Jet Tent Bunker Stretcher.
Pros:
- Quicker to set up than a dome swag
- Keeps you off the ground
- Provides more headroom
- Allows you to sit at the edge to take shoes off
- Has a large storage vestibule and shelter below for gear
- Can be used as a mozzie shelter without the canvas fly
- Comfortable on uneven ground
Cons:
- Is quite heavy
- Can’t be packed up with bedding inside
- Needs a mattress for extra comfort and insulation
- Is not easily available in a double (The Kamp-Rite tent cot is the exception)
Conclusion:
The camp stretcher, bunker, or tent cot share benefits and provide solutions to the shortcomings presented by the swag, in particular, the extra height.
The one downfall, in my opinion, is that it really does need a mattress of some sort (most people choose a self-inflating mattress), and you need to pack your sleeping bag away each time you fold it up.
A parting thought
At the end of the day both products do the same thing, but if you want to define the 2 options simply there is one major comparison to think about.
- Do you want a product that works fantastically and has loads of features, but takes a little while to add your bedding too?
OR
- Do you want the no fuss – roll out canvas bedroll that may not be so comfortable in the wet, the heat, or rocky ground?
Tell us what you think! What is your ultimate camp bed?
G’day! My name is Dave and there is nothing I enjoy more than getting out in the bush and enjoying the challenge and serenity of travelling around this beautiful country of ours.
After 6 years working as an Outdoor Ed Instructor, I’ve joined the team down at Snowys to help others get geared up and head to the outback!
As an enthusiastic photographer and freelance writer for 4WD Action magazine, I love to get out and capture God’s stunning creation and share it with the world.
After getting married at the end of 2010 and having our first child January 2012, I’m looking forward to seeing more of this beautiful country with my family.
Thanks Dave. Just wondering what you would recommend as the best, simple and cheap/good value mattress is for the stretcher tents?
cheers,
Alicia
G’day Alicia, Dave wrote that article for us in 2015 so I’ll jump in here on his behalf. Unfortunately, there’s no straight-up recommendation as it depends on a number of factors. The type of stretcher tent you have, base dimensions and mat measurements, your budget, your personal comfort requirements, the conditions in which you’ll be camping i.e. needing an insulated mat for cold weather. etc – these will all influence which mat is best for you. To gain more insight into your specific requirements it might be best to give our Customer Support team a call on 1300 914 007. Sorry I couldn’t be of more help. Cheers
I USE A FLAT SWAG WITH A MATTRESS AND SLEEPING BAG INSIDE AND ONCE MY STRETCHER TENT IS QUICKLY SET UP IT SLIDES PERFECTLY INSIDE FROM THE OPEN END TO MAKE A PERFECT OVERNIGHT SLEEPING QUARTERS THAT IS DRY AND OFF THE GROUND. TAKES LESS THEN FIVE MINS TO SET UP AND IS WATERPROOF AND COMFY. IF ITS A WARM NIGHT I JUST REMOVE THE FLY TENT AND SLEEP IN THE MOSSIE PROOF ENCLOSURE. WILL NEVER SLEEP ON THE GROUND AGAIN.
With that combo, we can see why you wouldn’t want to sleep near the cold and wet ground ever again, Dave. Cheers!
If you could leave your mattress and sleeping bag in the stretcher then they would be perfect, I have a traditional swag with 1 full flap and 2/3 flap, press studs and all. A short pull over head flap for rain and mozzi’s roll out and jump in, I do carry a solid verticon plastic sheet under the mattress when the rain gets very heavy. Despite its size I can usually squeeze (JAM) it in or between 2 hard objects don’t know about the stretchers fabric between the steel posts packed, with to much weight on top of it
I still got my swagger but it is close
Thanks for your feedback here Doc. The fabrics on the stretcher tent are by no means as durable as the thick canvas found on a swag, it’s certainly not as conducive to being wedged between hard objects. Unfortunately, these won’t fold up if you were to leave a mattress and bedding inside, you would likely cause damage to both the stretcher and it’s contents if you were to try this.
I have had 58 years of using swags and have had 3 in that time which have all worn thin. The big problem that you don’t mention is the condensation internally after a few days which is so hard to dry out ( this is in a wet area of our state ).
I bought a Kamprite large single about 3 years ago and it is absolutely great, put an expanding mattress in it and you have the ultimate sleep shelter. Plenty of ventilation with 4 sides folded up in the heat and really weather proof with the fly over it when it is pouring rain. It is so much lighter than the Aussie ones too so it dries out quickly. I will never go back to a swag again.
What about the Tentsile tents? How would you rate these? (they look pretty awesome).
Hi Flash, I don’t know anything about the Testsile Tents other than what can be found online. I agree, they look pretty cool, kind of like a technically advanced hammock. I would be interested in hearing from any other readers who can provide some insight on these.