Darche Dirty Dee Swag Review (900/1100/1400) – Worth It?

Thinking about buying the Darche Dirty Dee swag but aren’t sure if it’s the right swag for you?

Our goal is to give you all the info you need to make an informed decision about this swag based on the experiences of real users.

In this Darche Dirty Dee swag review, we will look deeply into all the key factors of this product ranging from size to quality to the ease of setup. We will also look at common issues with the Darche Dirty Dee.

Pros & Cons

Size

Compared to other swags, the Darche Dirty Dee is on the upper end in terms of spaciousness.

The Dirty Dee comes in different sizes. As you would expect from the names, the Dirty Dee 900 and 1100 mattresses are 0.9 and 1.1m wide, respectively. Plenty of space for a single person with broad shoulders. The Dirty Dee 1400 is a double swag at 1.4m wide, wide enough for a couple to sleep comfortably.

All sizes are 2.15m long which is plenty of space for a tall person to extend their legs.

In terms of head height, the Darche Dirty Dee is pretty regular. 85cm of head height gives you plenty of breathing space but not enough room to sit.

Weatherproofing

The Darche Dirty Dee swag is made with 420GSM poly-cotton canvas which is thicker and stronger than most swags.

Ultimately, this means that the Dirty Dee swag is capable of withstanding most camping conditions.

Some people complained about the pooling of water on the roof of the swag. Despite that, the thickness and quality of the material were effective at preventing the water from getting inside the swag.

Darche recommends seasoning your swag a few times even if it comes pre-seasoned to ensure it’s completely weatherproof.

Bedding

The Darche Dirty Dee comes with a 70mm thick mattress which is thicker than the Kings swags, which just have 50mm mattresses.

Out of the box, the mattress is rolled up separately. It’s ideal to roll it out as soon as you get it and let the foam expand for a few days.

For most people, sleeping on a 70mm mattress with a sleeping bag on top is comfortable enough. If, however, comfort is one of your primary concerns, all Darche Dirty Dee sizes are roomy enough to fit an additional swag mattress.

For hot seasons, you can toss in a swag stretcher to boost breathability.

Setup

Setting up the Darche Dirty Dee is pretty straightforward.

First, take it out of the bag and roll it out. Then, attach all the segments of the support poles and insert them in the canvas sleeves. All the poles are labelled so it should be easy to identify which pole goes where.

Next, use the ridgepoles that go perpendicular to the support poles. This will spread the swag and give it its freestanding design.

Lastly, attach the clips to the support poles. You can also peg out the guy ropes to keep the storm flaps taut.

The whole process of setting up the Darche Dirty Dee swag takes less than 5 minutes. This is assuming that you’ve set it up a few times before and have a good idea of how to set it up.

The most complicated part of the whole process is inserting the support poles in the sleeve since the canvas is very thick.

One way to speed up the whole process is by leaving the support poles inserted in their respective sleeves as you roll the swag for the next use. This will drastically cut the setup time of the swag.

Known Issues

In general, the Darche Dirty Dee is considered to be a high-quality swag in terms of durability and weatherproofing.

However, as mentioned earlier, several customer reviews pointed out the pooling of water in the roof of the swag. While this is very annoying, I would point out that this shouldn’t be a huge problem because the thick canvas prevents the pooled water from leaking into the swag.

Some people also reported that the support poles are flimsy and could break easily. As long as you take care when setting up the swag, this shouldn’t be a problem.

Despite these issues, most customers are generally happy with the Darche Dirty Dee.

Warranty

Darche offers a 2 year warranty for the Dirty Dee. If you experience any issues with the product, you can contact Darche and they will replace or repair any Darche product that is subject to manufacturing defects at their discretion.

In claiming the warranty, you need to fill up a form and provide a photo that illustrates the issue. Keep in mind that you need to ensure that you have a copy of the receipt. You can also view their warranty policy here.

Price

The Darche Dirty Dee is on the same pricing point as some comparable premium options like the 23Zero Bandit. Definitely more expensive than different brands of the same swag size.

However, because of the design and quality of the product, the Darche Dirty Dee represents good value for the money.

Darche Dirty Dee Swag FAQ

Can you sit up inside the Darche Dirty Dee?

At 85cm, most people will have a hard time sitting upright inside the swag.

What’s the difference between the Dirty Dee 900, 1100, 1400?

All sizes are identical in length and head height. Where they differ is in the width of the sleeping area.

Does the swag fit in the bag with the mattress?

Yes, you can roll the swag with the mattress and put it inside the bag.

Is the swag bag waterproof?

Yes, the swag carry bag is made with the same 420GSM poly-cotton canvas that is used for the swag. They are as waterproof as the swag itself.

Final Thoughts - Darche Dirty Dee Swag Review

In general, the Darche Dirty Dee is a fantastic choice for those who want to experience more of the outdoors.

As previously mentioned, the Dirty Dee is made with high-quality materials and has excellent weatherproofing capabilities. Furthermore, it has plenty of ventilation making it perfect for both hot and rainy weather.

It’s certainly more expensive compared to other swags of the same size, but you can be confident that the Dirty Dee will get the job done for you.