AOS Swag Protection Bag Review – The Ultimate Swag Bag and Ground Sheet Combo
When you’re travelling through the Aussie outback, your gear cops a beating. That’s why we upgraded from the standard bag that came with our AOS Tracker Swag to the AOS Swag Protection Bag, and we haven’t looked back. This isn’t just a swag bag; it’s a rugged, multi-functional piece of gear that protects your swag during storage, transport, and when rolled out at camp it works as a ground sheet.
After 3 ½ years of real-world use, dusty tracks, wet campsites, and countless roof rack tosses, we’re ready to share our thoughts on why this bag is worth every cent and should be considered if you are looking at upgrading your current swag bag.
Built Tough for Aussie Conditions
The first thing that stands out is the build quality. The AOS Swag Protection Bag is made from 640gsm laminated ripstop PVC, which is both waterproof and incredibly durable. We’ve thrown our swag and bag off the roof rack more times than we can count, and it’s never shown a single sign of wear or damage. No tears, no busted zips, no issues. Although Aussie Outback Supplies did advise us not to throw the bag off the roof rack without unzipping the main zip just a little to allow air to escape from the bag when it impacts the ground (just something to think about).
- Throwing Swags Off the Roof Rack
- Throwing Swags Off the Roof Rack
- AOS Tracker Swag (King Single) vs Standard Single Swag
- AOS Swag Protection Bag with Bedding
The bush-proof zippers are protected by overlapping PVC flaps that roll over to shield them from rain and red dust. While the zips themselves aren’t technically waterproof, the design does a great job of keeping water and dust ingress out, especially when the bag is positioned with the flaps facing away from the wind and weather.
More Than Just a Swag Bag
What really sets this bag apart is its clever, multi-purpose design. It’s not just a swag bag; it’s also a ground sheet. The bag unzips and rolls out into a ¾ length ground sheet, giving you a clean, dry surface to roll out your swag on. This is a game-changer in wet or dusty conditions, especially when you’re setting up camp in the middle of nowhere.
Even better, the sides of the bag fold out to create shoe storage or extra gear space, keeping your boots and other items off the dirt and within easy reach. It’s a smart, practical design that adds real value at camp.
- Bag Unzips as Ground Sheet
- Sides of Bag Provide Shoe & Other Storage
- Very Easy to Get In and Out of Swag
We did notice that the ground sheet didn’t cover the full length of our swag, leaving the foot end exposed. But AOS were more than happy to help, they made us a custom extension that attaches with hook-and-loop fasteners, giving us a full-length ground sheet. That kind of customer service and flexibility is rare these days. We do really hope though that the extension is available to others as there are some downsides to the 3/4 length especially in wet conditions.
- Custom Extension
- Now a Full Length Ground Sheet
- Tracker Swag Fits Perfectly
A fantastic design meaning we don’t need to carry an additional ground sheet, one less thing to pack and carry.
Storage and Portability
The AOS Swag Protection Bag includes a large external end pocket, which is accessible whether the bag is zipped up or laid out flat. It’s perfect for stashing small items like pegs, straps, or even a headlamp. There’s also a removable padded shoulder strap, which we have removed as we don’t need this, we find the small grab handles are sufficient for picking up and moving around.
Other great features include:
- End grab handles for easy lifting.
- Identification pocket for quick gear ID.
- D-ring bottle opener (because why not?).
- Oversized design to fit your swag with all bedding included.
Sizing and Fit
We’re using the king single size, which fits our AOS Tracker Swag with bedding rolled inside. There are other size options to cater for larger swags (double and queen).
Here are the dimensions:
- Internal Pocket: 90cm (L) x 50cm (D)
- External End Pocket: 10cm (L) x 50cm (D)
- Overall Size: 100cm (L) x 50cm (D)
It’s roomy enough to make packing easy, but not so bulky that it’s a hassle to handle.
Final Verdict – Highly Recommended
The AOS Swag Protection Bag is more than just a tough storage solution, it’s a versatile, well-designed swag bag and ground sheet combo that performs in every stage of your trip: storage, transit, and setup. It keeps your swag clean, dry, and protected from the elements, and adds real functionality at camp.
If you’re serious about looking after your gear and want something that’ll go the distance, this bag is a no-brainer. Highly recommended for anyone who travels with a swag and wants a smarter, tougher way to carry and protect it with the added benefit of a ground sheet (one less thing to pack).
The only downside is the 3/4 length of the ground sheet. This issue was solved for us as we were able to get AOS to make us a custom extension to convert this bag into a full length ground sheet. If this extension is available to purchase with the AOS Swag Protection Bag, then I would change the below rating to 5 stars.
Overall Rating
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Thanks for reading.
The thoughts of Peter.
