Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag

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Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag Review – Good Buy?

Thinking of purchasing a Big Daddy double swag but wondering whether it’s worth it? Perhaps you’ve heard some negative reviews and are wondering whether it’s best to steer clear of it?

Well, in this Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Swag review, I run through the pros and cons, the main features, and what people like and don’t like about it. Finally, I’ll let you know whether I think it’s a good buy or not.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

Pros & Cons

Kings Big Daddy Double swag and bag

Pros

  • Quite affordable for a double swag
  • Head height of 100cm - very spacious for a swag
  • Mattress 1.5m wide - wider than regular double bed
  • Mattress 2.1m long - suitable for tall guys
  • 400GSM cotton canvas construction
  • Storm flaps to keep water out
  • Can enter swag from either side
  • Sets up easily
  • 1 year warranty

Cons

  • Waterproofing not so good
  • Some have commented that the poles are bit flimsy
  • Quite bulky when packed - 1.6m long
  • Fairly heavy - 16.9kg

With the pros and cons out of the way, let’s take a look at the Kings double swag in more detail.

Size

Swags often conjure up images of tight, claustrophobic spaces, with little room to move around. The Kings double swag however, is much more spacious than regular swags.

The mattress inside the swag is 1.5m wide, which is plenty of space for a couple. It is also 2.1m long, which means that even very tall people will be able to comfortably lie down.

Kings Double swag open on the beach

Thanks to the dome design, the swag also has a head height of 1 metre, which is much higher than most other swags. This really adds to the roominess and makes it feel more like a squat tent than a swag.

Packed up, the tent is 160cm x 38cm x 38cm. This is quite bulky, especially for a swag. Make sure that it can comfortably fit in your vehicle before locking in a purchase.

Weight

At 16.9kg, this is not a light swag by any means. This hefty weight, combined with the bulky packed dimensions, make it a little difficult for 1 person to carry on their own.

If you have to carry it more than a few metres, make sure that you get your sleeping partner to help you.

Weatherproofing

This Adventure Kings swag is made from thick 400GSM canvas. This is right at the upper end in terms of canvas thicknesses for tents and swags.

Kings Double Swag canvas

Theoretically, this should be enough to keep you dry no matter the weather conditions. Despite this, a number of people have complained that their Kings double swag is not waterproof and readily leaks at the first sign of rain.

This may be an issue with the seam sealing, although I suspect that many of these people have not seasoned their canvas before using it. Adventure Kings highly recommend that you season your swag before you use it for the first time.

This will help the canvas swell and close off any needle holes left when the fabric was sewn together during the manufacturing process.

Bedding

The Big Daddy comes with a 70mm thick foam mattress included. This mattress along with a sleeping bag seems to be comfortable enough for most people. Very few people have complained that the mattress is uncomfortable.

Big Daddy swag bedding

Of course, if the included 70mm mattress isn't comfy enough for you, this unit is definitely roomy enough to fit an extra swag mattress. Alternatively, you could place it on top of a swag stretcher and boost the comfort that way.

The included mattress comes with a removable polycotton cover that you can wash separately to the mattress itself.

Setup

As you would expect from a swag, the setup for this Kings swag is super simple.

Undo the straps on the bag and fully roll it out. Join all of the pole segments together and then attach the poles to the locator pins on each corner. Then attach the clips on the tent to the poles.

Adventure Kings double swag support pole

Finally, attach the central support pole and adjust the length before locking it into position. Attach the tent clips to this support pole too. Optionally, you can peg out the guy ropes to ensure that the storm flaps are taut.

Adventure Kings reckon that it takes just 2 minutes to set up, but I think that 5 minutes is probably more reasonable. Allow 10 minutes or so on your first go.

Known Issues & Warranty

On the whole, the Big Daddy Deluxe swag is highly regarded and considered to be a decent quality unit.

However, as mentioned earlier a number of people have had issues with the waterproofing on this swag. It is not clear whether this is a manufacturing defect or simply a lack of canvas seasoning.

Canvas tents and swags often get poor reviews from people who consider them to not be waterproof, despite many other people having no issues whatsoever. This leads me to believe the seasoning is often the issue when it comes to canvas waterproofing issues.

A few people have also complained that the poles that support either end of this dome swag are quite flimsy and prone to breaking. Even if they don’t break, some have claimed that they aren’t strong enough to properly support the weight of the swag itself.

Deluxe double swag poles

Despite this, most people seem very happy with their swag on the whole.

The Adventure Kings Big Daddy comes with a 1 year warranty, so if you do find that you are having issues with it, you can make a warranty claim directly to Adventure Kings. Find out more about their warranty policy here.

Kings also offer a 30 day Change Of Mind guarantee, should you wish to return the swag before you use it.

Price

You can purchase the Adventure Kings double swag as a standalone unit, with a polyester bag, or with a canvas bag.

Kings double swag polyester bag

Use the buttons below to check the latest prices.

Kings Double Swag FAQ

Do you still have some questions after reading this review? Check out the FAQ below, your questions may have been answered there!

How big is a Big Daddy Deluxe swag?

When set up, the internal sleeping area of the big daddy swag is 210cm long, 155cm wide. It has an internal height of about 100cm.

How long is the Big Daddy swag?

The Big Daddy swag is 210cm long.

Where are the Kings swags made?

All Kings swags are manufactured in China.

How do you season a Kings Big Daddy Swag?

As with all swags, you season the Kings Big Daddy by setting it up, then soaking it with a garden hose, then fully drying it. Repeat this process a few times until the canvas has had a good chance to swell up and become waterproof.

For more detailed instructions, check out this guide on how to season a swag.

Conclusion - Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag Review

The Kings Big Daddy Deluxe double swag is a very solid choice for a 2 person swag. It is fitted with a thick 70mm mattress for comfort and is surprisingly spacious for a swag.

Thick cotton construction, simple setup and a very affordable price all combine to make this one of the most popular double swags in Australia.

The biggest downside is the weight and bulkiness when packed. At 16.9kg and 1.6m packed, it is a bit unwieldy; you’ll probably need a second person to help carry it unless you’re camping right next to your vehicle.

If this doesn’t bother you, then I recommend you check out this swag and see what you think.

Otherwise, check out my list of the best double swags in Australia to see what other options are out there!

Any questions? Leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to help you out!

Interested in the other products that Adventure Kings offer? Check out my Adventure Kings roof top tent review!

Review Summary

Reviewer: Louis
Review Date: 2021-04-08
Reviewed Item: Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag
Author Rating: 4/5
Product Name: Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag
Price: AUD $239
Product Availability: Available in Stock


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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

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Our Testing Process

In creating this article, we have completed a rigorous review process on not just the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag, but we have also compared it to out there. We have also read hundreds of reviews from fellow campers to help form our opinions.

The primary goal of this review is to figure whether this product is right for you, the user. We systematically compare the product to all of the available options on the market, to determine which ones are worthy of our list.

To see which products we compared the Kings Big Daddy Deluxe Double Swag to, check out the list below. Please note that we have never accepted free products from manufacturers.

Full List Of Considered Products


This article may contain affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you choose to purchase a product or service after clicking on my link. This helps pay for the cost of running the website. You will not be disadvantaged in any way by using my links.

Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.

Louis

While Louis does most of his trips near his home in south-east Queensland, he has been camping as far afield as South America and Africa. He loves researching, testing and experimenting with camping gear whenever possible.

  • Hi Louis,

    I’ve had two of these and have seasoned both (properly with a hose in the seams, then sponged with more water). The canvas does not leak, however, both of mine have leaked through the seam between the floor and canvas under the lightest of rains. It is not limited to a small area either – all sides of the mattress are wet.

    Others also mention that that small holes are not uncommon in the flooring corners out of the factory.

    Common work arounds include running a wax stick over the seams, or, silicone via a silicone gun over the seams on both sides.

    I have a working background with a company (not camping related for disclosure) which used polycanvas of similar weights to the 400gsm of the Big Daddy Deluxe. Here’s what I can tell you:

    1.) The canvas is a very durable material.
    2.) I’m not sure of the waterhead rating, but the canvas does repel water very well. I’d expect the canvas to repel all rain in non-exteme events.
    3.) A regular eye shouldn’t be able to see holes in the stitching when a torch is shone through it.

    The issue that I (and I expect others) have encountered is the sealing of the stiching, which is a manufacturing concern as opposed to a material issue.

    I guess the best way to test this would be to set up the swag again for a new rain event after it was inundated (and dried of course). This would establish if it is a seasoning issue or otherwise. Perhaps those with issues could try this out and post their findings?

    • Hi Jack, thanks for your detailed feedback on your experience with the Big Daddy. I’m very interested to hear your theory about the sealing being the culprit rather than the canvas itself! I wonder if anyone else can confirm this?

      • Hi Louis, I can confirm that this is the issue. I’ve just recently returned my Big Daddy swag due to the issue. I carefully seasoned five times over the course of 2 weeks and still had a soaked mattress after a night of rain. Attempted to use silicone to close up any gaps around where the PXV meets the canvas, and the corner holes. Once again, the rain still managed to get in and wet my mattress.

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