Burke & Wills Coolabah

Best swag I've owned – I've owned this swag for close to 10 years. Have dragged it on every 4wd trip I've done and carried it half way around Australia. It was always reliable and a great nights sleep. Tough as nails and simple and quick to setup.

Solid Performer – I’ve had this swag for over 8 years. At the time the dome shaped swags didn’t really exist. Unless your are super large, this swag is more than big enough for most people that want a swag that doesn’t sit on your face. When travelling and packing, you don’t want anything that is too heavy and cumbersome. I would say the Coolabah sizing is about as good as you are going to get. I have a larger king single swag but it is an effort to pack up and heavier to lift. If I am doing anything less than 3 night’s sleep I always use the Burk and Wills.

The zips are better than anything on the market I’ve seen. The fly-mesh is superior to cheaper brands. The canvas is top notch without being to heavy. If it is going to rain I always set up the car awning or throw a tarp over as you don’t want to have to pack up a wet swag in the morning!

It doesn’t have a pvc floor but I set this up on a stretcher so the water runs straight off plus it increases the comfort so I don’t have to worry about sleeping on twigs/rocks etc on the ground. I would not get a PVC floor unless you are absolutely going to sleep on the ground. It will add more weight and over time will crack and have to be replaced. This is certainly not the Rolls Royce of swags but is definitely in the higher end and fairly priced for the quality. Simple quality is best way to describe it.

Pros

Light weight

Small

Has quality buckle system for packing

Simple to set up (does need pegs, but a bar system could be adapted)

Excellent fly mesh and Zips

Egg shell matress (but I have added some closed cell foam under the torso area)

Tough swag that you can throw around

Cons

It uses velcro to close and open the canvas top

The zippered sides are high, so when set onto a stretcher it is a bit more difficult to get into

Not a Dome, so the area inside is not massive for stretching etc

Best Swag Ever – I've owned mine now for near on 10 years. Its been used and abused from day one. It has never let me down. Its been in torrential rain, dirt, dust, mud, snow and nearly any other substance you can think of. I own one with a PVC floor as it helps as a moisture barrier. Followed the guidelines when i purchased it originally by soaking it to waterproof the canvas. Only thing that has given me trouble is that the straps that hold it all together when rolled up, have started to fray and become brittle (but i would put that down to me mistreating it sometimes)

Will be upgrading soon to a double sized and won't look past another Burke & Wills

Love it – Had the swag for a month and a bit now, used it many times in this period with the better half. We both love it, we'll made, easy to put up. Big (we have the double) and roomy. The convoluted mat is good though we have a 4WD mat in it too for added comfort. Easy to see why these guys are renowned for good swags. We also have a negative 12 sleeping bag in it as a doona though even when outside has been 2 degrees I have been comfortable without the bag, warms well. Roomy, warm, good canvas, excellent build quality Doesn't set itself up

Not a good swag – Hi the I have owned this swag for just under a year from the first time I took it out the PVC floor has torn it has three patches in it and I have to do three more when it drys out again. One of the holes is from where the pin that holds the polls went through. I rake the area before I lay it down as I'm not a fan of sleeping on rocks and sticks. I contacted the company after I noticed the first two holes to work out why it was tearing so easily and where to get patches they where not very helpfull, so I spoke to the place I purchased it as I get a bit of stuff of them they gave me some PVC and glue and I patched it. I have only used it six times, twice at pineapple flat, once at wonangatta, once at eskdale, once at Dartmouth and once at lake eildon. I am going to give them one last chance to fix this problem if they don't fix it this time it's going to the tip as I'm sick of it tearing and letting in moisture.

I have had my other swag for 18 years and steped up to a duble swag so my partner and son could come out with me also. If I'm out with the boys I can store some clothing and bits and peaces in it so I don't have do go in and out of the 4x4 when I want to get some thing.

I got this swag as they say its for Australian conditions well I'm not shore what part of Australia there talking about as my other swag has been around Australia twice it has seen every thing our grate county could throw at it and it dose not have one patch or tear as I like to look after my gear. It has plenty of room, comfortable, easy set up PVC tears, not easy to seal in cold wether so you can get a cold head, but good in warmer weather