Car Camping Tent and gear

[photohiker]

I also have a couple of swags (semi-traditional and traditional), and they're super comfy but frustrating for long trips.

It would be good to hear your reasons for frustration

What type of swags do you have?

[paul_gee]

For touring, the Black Wolf Turbo and Oztent RV tents are the leaders in terms of quick set-up and ruggedness. They are built to be erected and taken down day in, day out, and set up in rugged conditions. As others have said, the RV range (anything above the RV1) are big units when packed down, so won't suit your little car. Actually, the Turbo 240, at 121cm long when packed, might be too big for a Mazda 3 or I-30 too - unless you lay it across the back seat. Bit of a wildcard: the Coleman Instant Up Gold range.

@McGinnis mentions the Explore Planet Earth Speedy pop-up tent. Might be a bit more of a manageable choice in such a small car, despite the awkward - rather than large - packed dimensions. I would imagine it would stand behind the front seats comfortable, as to not impede the rest of the car space too much. And if you went this way you wouldn't have to bother with a hiking tent or swag.

If you do opt for a pop up tent, make sure the mattress you choose fits. Here at Snowys recently, we set up the entire range of EPE Speedys and Oztent Malamoos and tested a range of sleeping mats for size (link to our findings). We were quite surprised by the limited space in some of them, despite the manufacturer's 'capacity' indications. For one person, a comfortable mat (e.g. Exped Megamat) and a bit of gear, I'd recommend the Oztent Malamoo 3 Xtra.

I'd be taking a small fridge with me for sure. On a long trip like this there are certain things I would want to have on hand so I felt a sense of normality. It's amazing how much food plays to our emotions. A block of cheese, milk, and a couple of beers. Re-icing an esky constantly would drive me bonkers after a while.

Back on mats. Do yourself a favour: buy an Exped Megamat 10.

[simonm]

If you don't go a swag the Australian made centre pole touring tents are a good way to go as others have said. Definitely a step up in terms of quality, and durability when compared to the Oztents in my opinion, and just as quick to set up and perhaps even more simple - no extra flys or guylines to attach. We had a Southern Cross tent but Freedom and also Outback Campers and Canvas also make a version.

[photohiker]

We have the Black Wolf 240. It's quick to get the inner up and the fly is not a lot of hassle.

Packing it down and squeezing it back into the carrybag can be an issue when conditions aren't perfect. I rate it for a two or more night stay, but on a touring trip when a quick overnight stop is what you want and to get going quick in the morning, nope. Swags kill it. Our swags take about 3 minutes to setup and at most 5 minutes to pack away. One of the benefits is that the swag is complete with the included bedding, a couple of hoop poles and pegs. No separate mattresses, sleeping bags, tent inner, fly, 6-8 pegs, 2 patio poles and ropes. Just roll it up, stow it, and drive off.

[lorrainey100]

Perhaps the quickest set up would be to place a really good mattress in the back of your car and sleep inside your car. No tent set ups or take down. No need to dry the tent afterwards if it is raining. The car is somewhat soundproof if your neighbours in the campground are noisy and you can turn on the car heater in the mornings to warm yourself up if cold. I did this in a SUV for 6 weeks in the USA going from one national park to another at the beginning of the winter season. On a long trip like you are planning, with this set up, you can also take advantage of the rest stops or truck stops along the way which do not seem to allow tent set ups. BTW I brought all my ultralight equipment (thermarest mattress, sleeping bag, alcohol stove, a few changes of clothes etc) in one small backpack through the airport. I had heaps of room in my car.

[photohiker]

Unfortunately a really good mattress is not going to fit in a Hyundai I-30 or Mazda 3...

[McGinnis]

I also have a couple of swags (semi-traditional and traditional), and they're super comfy but frustrating for long trips.

It would be good to hear your reasons for frustration

What type of swags do you have?

There are a couple of things about them that bug me. In the middle of the night, having to get up and go to the bathroom really sucks because you have to squirm to zip them down (losing warmth), then struggle to dress and put shoes on. This is also made worse by trying to do so without waking my partner when using the double (I think she likes swags more than I do). The second big one is when the sun rises and beats down on the canvas; because they're fairly confining, the heat from the canvas just radiates and bakes the inside of the swag. They're also not great in poor weather due to the shape. The AOS canvas is amazing, and water will pool without seeping through - until you unzip it and cop a face full of water.

It's also a pain having nowhere to store excess clothing, shoes, smelly socks etc. other than a drybag outside the swag.

Don't get me wrong, they're super comfortable, and incredibly warm even when it's freezing outside, but on trips longer than a night or two I take a tent. It's a love/hate relationship I suppose.

I've got three different swags (I have a shelter addiction):

1. An el cheapo Wild Country single dome swag (my first), that to this day is still comfortable, albeit useful only in fair weather unless a tarp is set up over it.
2. An AOS Adventurer double. Much, much hardier (14 oz Bradmill canvas which is tough as nails), and still very comfortable.
3. A Burke & Wills Ironbark (with full fly).

1 and 2 are dome swags, though the AOS is pretty close to traditional - nice and low, two poles; nothing like an Oztrail Mitchell or those hideous Darche swags. The Ironbark is a flat swag that I just tie off to a tree or the bull bar.

All three are comfortable, and great for a night or two, and I find myself using all three, but... caveat emptor.

[Onestepmore]

We have a canvas OzTent RV5 which I can easily set up by myself. We use the side panels etc if staying longer than a day or so.
Two drawbacks - one is the length. We have a specific long narrow roof basket as it's too long to go inside the car (Toyota Kluger), or it goes into our beefed up trailer.
The other downside is that in heavy prolonged rain over several days it does leak through the roof zips in the annexe (not the main sleeping compartment)

Just last week this was delivered - the Outback Logic Siesta4. I bought it mid last year via Kickstarter. It's a 4P tent with reflective skin, and has two fans that run via a battery pack and USB ports (the fans are still to arrive so I can't comment on them yet) There is also the option to run the fans off a solar panel (I've got a couple so I'll experiment a bit in the summer to see if this works wel enough)
First setup in the backyard and I'm impressed, it erects a bit like a Hilleberg in that groundsheet, tent inner and fly are all incorporated (ie integrated pitch). You stake the ground corners out first (comes with good pegs) and slide the four poles into their sleeves.
The inner has options via double zips of either solid or mesh doors. Dual vestibules and doors, ventilation openings. Four mesh pockets, plenty of loops inside for a gear loft, to hang a light or string a drying line. I'll be bringing some extra poles and guys to open the door flaps out as an awning.

Anyway, just a thought. As I mentioned, it's only just arrived and not used yet. Weighs about 10 kg in its shiny silver duffle bag and packs well into the car.
I'd do a full review in the forum on it (once the fans arrive) except for the fact it's not exactly a bushwalking tent!
http://outbacklogic.com/