I could tell the moment I opened the Saul Swag I was looking at something designed by a bushman.

One of the first things you notice about the swag is the simplicity of its design, two main flaps, plus one which comes out from the head, and that’s it.

At first, you may be skeptical about the way the swag is fastened – similar to plaited belts with double rings with no zippers, velcros or press studs.

Get in the swag, do it up and you know these rings are the most sensible way to secure the flaps of the swag. The variable nature of the ties and rings means you can have it all done up tight to keep the rain out but can loosen off in the warmer weather.

The mattress, which comes with the swag, was thick enough to stop you feeling any stones on the ground and wide-enough to suit the most restless sleepers.

Yet there was plenty of swag material so if you really wanted to get  super comfortable, you could slip in a wider mattress relatively easily.

One fault with a lot of swags is the flap at the bottom which keeps the mattress in – this restricts the size of mattress you can use and means the end of the blanket can come out and be exposed to the weather because they can’t really be tucked into the pocket.

Enter the Saul swag with the most ingenious design. One of the flaps is sewn for about 20cm along the length of the swag, forming a type of loose pocket, which the mattress sits in. But there’s also plenty of room in this pocket for your doona and your feet as well without feeling you are being strapped in like an Egyptian mummy.

The head flap is also a good idea. Anyone who has attended a bush party and enjoyed sleeping in a swag under the stars knows how awful it is to be woken up for the 5am sunrise with the sun burning in your eyes.

The flap on the end of the Saul swag is plenty long enough to be strung up on two sticks, one on either side of the head of the swag to provide a mini-tent but with ventilation. This can also be handy in the rain where this system would allow you to get a good rest in a swag even if it were pouring.

There’s only one problem with this swag when I compared it to the many versions my friends have. All of them want the swap theirs for mine and I’m not sure I can maintain the 24-hour watch I’ve got on it now.

The swags are available through mail orders, with further information from Saul, Mountain Creek Road, Tawonga, Victoria 3697.Phone: 0428 578579 

Product Test - HAL SAUL SWAGS

A Bushy’s User Appraisal

Lovers of the great outdoors have now rediscovered the joys of the swag, but before you plunge in and buy, take a moment and read about this beauty.

At first glance it’s no show pony-simple, no fancy logos or add ons, but it’s got it where it counts.

The canvas is heavy duty and there is heaps of it, (a common failure with a lot of other swags), with lots to spare at the head to cover you and you bag. The envelope is spacious, having plenty of room for larger users, plus their sleeping bag, tomorrow’s clothes, pillow and teddy bear if required. The stitching is excellent – heavy thread, well finished off and doubled up for added strength along the edges and inner cover hinge. A reinforcing rivet is also fitted at the inner cover envelope junction (a point most likely to fail first if not strengthened).

General waterproofing is very good. If care is taken when setting up (don’t camp in a hole and fold the canvas against the wind blown rain) a comfortable dry night will be your’s. As a matter of interest, mine is coloured blue, which makes it easy to find among a load of green ones!

I found the mattress to be of a good size, thickness (70mm) and density. I did not require an additional lilo, even on rougher ground (and I’m no lightweight at 12 stone 7 pounds or 90kg). If you pick your spot and scratch out a hip scrape, all the better.

Other features worthy of notice include the complete lack of press studs, velcro or zips. Internal straps are nylon, with double ‘D’ buckles. So what? Well, in my view the chance of fastener failure has been absolutely minimized, ensuring long lasting user comfort.

The carry straps are also synthetic, a tough pliable reinforced vinyl with brass buckles (just about strong enough to use as ‘snatch um’ straps).

Like it? I love it! It’s been with me to the Kimberley, it goes on driving and hunting trips and it’s my preferred bed when staying overnight with friends (beats a creaky fold up).

Bad points? I couldn’t find any (the girl tucked in mine doesn’t come with it). Anyway, have a look around and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s good value for money.

Steve Pearman - Swifts Creek

TEST REPORT - SAUL SWAGS  

These products are ideal for shooters and bush enthusiasts who require comfortable bedding and shelter without the fuss of pitching a tent.

Before we had Gore-tex dome tents and hi-tech bivi bags, bushmen survived with their wits, a little Aussie ingenuity and, of  course, the ever reliable swag.

Today, just as oilskin coats have stood the test of time, so has the swag. Over the past 12 months or so, we’ve received a number of different offerings from several manufacturers, and although it would be unfair to say we’ve saved the best for last, the Saul Swag manufactured in north-east Victoria, certainly comes close.

For the uninitiated, swags are fast becoming an essential piece of equipment for the bush and are basically a self-contained domicile. You simply unroll the bundle, lay your sleeping bag inside and crawl in safe from the elements.

Saul’s product is very versatile and can be set up to suit the requirements of each new camp site. The sleeping compartment is a generous 2.1 metres in length and 1 metre wide and provides plenty of leg room.

The floor of the swag extends another 1.5 metres to provide a handy head cover which can be strung from a sapling to provide shade from the morning sun or a wind break.

A further two-metre length of canvas is attached to the side and doubles over the sleeping compartment for added protection. This flap can also be suspended with a rope depending on what is required. Illustrations showing several useful alternatives for setting up the swag are included with the instructions.

The canvas used is manufactured from 52% cotton and 48% polyester and is rot proof and mildew resistant, while still remaining breathable. It is ultra rain proofed and a true 13 ounce, 2-ply yarn warp and weft canvas featuring a two-way tear stop design – a vast improvement over single weft canvas used by some other swag manufacturers.

The simple, yet effective design also eliminates the need for laces, press studs, zippers or velcro, which all suffer from their inherent problems. There are also no plastic components either, which minimises breakages and maximises durability.

The test swag provided was of standard size (a king size is also available) and included an optional soft cotton foam mattress. In this configuration, the overall weight of the swag is 7kg (5kg without the mattress).

For transporting, the swag rolls up into a neat package a metre in length with a diameter of just over 20cm. Durable straps with large brass buckles hold the package together and an additional strap connects the two to form a handy carry handle.

- Joseph Allbeury