How to season a camping swag.

Like any purchase, investing money into camping equipment is all about extending the life of that product. Ideally if you’re looking to purchase a swag, doing your research on how to take care of it is highly recommended as this reduces waste and saves you a pretty penny in the long run. In this blog we run through the do’s and don’ts of taking care of your swags. We walk you through how to ‘season’ a swag, so that it doesn’t leak and cause headaches down the track. You might be wondering, are swags waterproof? How often do I need to clean a swag? We’re happy to answer all these questions and more right here.  

There are a few well know tips and tricks, but the main one people forget about is how to season a camping swag. During its manufacturing process the canvas material of a camping swag is seamed and is therefore left with tiny holes along the edges which may leak if left in the rain for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there are very few camping swags that come seasoned due to the high cost of this procedure so it’s good practice to assume that seasoning your brand-new camping swag is the first thing you should do before taking it out for a trip. Seasoning a new canvas camping swag seals these seamed edges and prevents leaking caused by heavy rainfall. Seasoning your new camping swag takes a few days so make sure you plan ahead and start prepping your gear well before the trip.  

How to season your camping swag step by step: 

1. Set up your tent (near a water source) completely as if you were you going to sleep in it. Ensure that all sides are set up evenly and there is no slouching in the roof. Completely stretch out the corners with pegs if they have been included to prevent the camping swag from permanently taking on that shape. 

2. Grab your garden hose and set it to the shower setting or the sprinkle setting. Try not to go with a setting that is too powerful as you may cause damage to the existing waterproofing of your camping swag.  Thoroughly soak the swag over its entire length including the sides. When the beading of water stops, and you can see that the canvas material has started to take in water. You will notice the canvas material becoming darker. When the entire camping swag looks like it has evenly absorbed enough water, continue to soak for about 5 minutes.  

3. Allow the camping swag to completely dry out in the sun over a day.  

4. For best results, complete this process another 2-3 times to ensure the expanding and contracting of the material has sealed the pin holes in the seam.  

5. After you are satisfied with how many times you’ve dried out your canvas swag, test it by hosing it off and seeing if there are any leaks. If there are still affected areas, you may need to use seam seal on those areas. There is also waterproofing spray that will assist in prolonging the life of your swag.  

Always store your camping swag in a cool dry area whilst not in use and be sure to clean it out from your trip if the inside has become wet with feet tracking in mud and grass. To thoroughly clean the inside of your swag it is suggested that you first vacuum any debris and grit. Mix a small amount of soap and water, then gently clean the affected areas. Leave this to naturally dry out in the sun or if it looks like poor weather for a while, hit it with a hair dryer and leave inside to air dry for a week. There are many options to choose from when looking to buy your first or even second camping swag. To see latest range head to our product page for the best camping swags Australia has to offer.