Camping Gear
Choosing a Tent
Budget travel fits well with camping in Australia, and tents come in many varieties such as hybrid style
and dome style.
Look for a tent that incorporates high levels of fabric waterproofing, fully taped seams, water
repellent threads, webbing, heavy-duty zippers, double-stitched stress points, strategically placed
guy eyes and inverted seams.
Sleeping Bags
The most important piece of camping gear to find is a sleeping bag that is comfortable, and after
that try to suit the rest of your budget travel needs.
The things you need to consider are weight and shape if you are going to carry it - waterproof synthetic
if you will use it in wet conditions (down is very nice when dry but not so good once it gets damp) -
warm "mummy" style if you will go to southern Australia - lighter rectangular type that unzips to act as
a doona for northern Queensland.
And don't forget some sort of sleeping mat or mattress to go between the bag and the ground.
The Swag
In Australia, the traditional bedding for outdoor sleeping is the swag, and in the demanding conditions
of the outback the swag's durability comes into its own.
Historically this was a sausage shaped bed roll used by itinerant workers - and so they were called
"swagmen", which was a term sort of similar to the Engish "tramp" or the American "hobo".
The swag consists of a heavy canvas waterproof ground-sheet which forms the outer skin when rolled like
the brown one at the right.
When unrolled the outer covering goes on the ground to keep the bed dry. There is an inner, usually lighter
canvas sheet which goes over the sleeper and bedding
in case of rain during the night. In some swags such as the green one above the inner canvas can
form a tent and may also incorporate a mosquito net.
Inside you can put whatever bedding you prefer - traditionally blue blankets (hence the term "humping
your bluey" to mean carrying your swag), but a sleeping bag probably works better. And these days usually
there is also some sort of mattress in there.
At the top (head end of the swag) there is uaually a large pocket for storing spare clothes, and this
doubles as a pillow.
The modern swag is not really meant to be carried backpacking style any more, as usually it lives in
the back of a ute or other country work vehicle. This has meant it has become a little heavier by way of
additions such as mosquito nets and tent like roofs, and sometimes incorporates small tent poles to
support the structure.
An economy swag will cost between $150 and $200 while an elaborate one can cost more than $500.
The Esky
Coolers are ice boxes manufactured from hightech plastics that are lightweight and sturdy, and will
keep things cool for many hours until the ice melts.
Probably short for "Eskimo", the word "esky" has slipped into the vernacular in Australia as the
generic word for portable coolers or ice-boxes.
"Esky" is the trademark of the most successful icebox in the country, and a 50 litre model is shown
at the right.
Personal coolers and drink jugs also extend your backpacking options - a Stanley cooler lunch box
and a drink cooler and are also shown at the right.
It is also possible to use freezer blocks instead of ice, but you need to be able to freeze them. So
in practise it is probably better to just use ice.
Cooler boxes come in a range of sizes, and some cooler box lids are hinged for easy one handed opening
and closing. Yet other lids lift off and on the underside provide moulded in drink holders.
Look for coolers that are UV treated and made of textured poly-lite material to resist scuffs and
scratches. Extra thick urethane insulation adds strength to the cooler and stays cool for longer. For
large coolers check that it has room for two litre bottes to stand upright.
A good quality medium size polystyrene cooler box suitable for backpacking should cost around $50.
The Car Fridge
The other big budget travel option is the car fridge, and there are a range of these to choose from.
Engel has had a reputation for reliable portable fridges for a long time, but other brands made in
Australia include Reefer, Evakool, Explorer and Trailblazer.
Portable fridges are a popular item of backpacking camping gear, and there are models with capacity
ranging from 30ltr to 200ltr, with around 40ltr being sufficient for 2 adults and costing around $1,000.
Hire of portable fridges is also a possibility, with the popular brands available for around $35/day.
Most car fridge/freezers work as either a fridge or a freezer, depending on how you set the thermostat.
There are only a few that come with separate compartments and thermostats to enable you to operate both
a fridge (4°C) and a freezer (-18°C).
Tips for Esky Use
Never put warm cans into a portable fridge - always put them in cold. Try to reduce the number of times
the esky lid is opened during the heat of the day.
Models with a basket enable you to pull the lot out and quickly close the lid whilst you search through
or pack the basket. Pack meats at the bottom of the fridge and fragile items like salad at the top.