Saul Swags is proudly owned and operated by Craig Vine from his home in Tawonga, Victoria - a small town at the base of Mount Bogong in North East Victoria.

Saul Swags was originally started in Tawonga in 1975 by the business’ namesake, Hal Saul. Hal got his start in the textile industry as a leather glove cutter in East Brunswick, before making cattle rugs for his father-in-law, ‘Old Walla’ in Terang. After moving his family to Tawonga in 1975, Hal began crafting his famous swags - and so Saul Swags was born.

In 2020, Hal decided it was time to hang up the needle and thread, and hand the sewing machine over to the new generation of Saul Swags, and that’s when Craig stepped in. A born and bred local, Craig’s family moved from nearby Mount Beauty out to Mountain Creek Road in Tawonga in 1979 when he was nine-years-old to a property only two blocks up from Hal’s.

Craig purchased his first Saul Swag from Hal in 1986 - and still uses it today. He’s camped and lived in his swag for continuous periods whilst working and travelling around Australia. He first approached Hal about taking over the business back in 2003, and Hal kept him in mind for well over a decade.

Hal always thought he would keep sewing until his final days, but having undergone two operations on his eyes and with his eyesight failing, he knew it was time to let someone else step in and take over. In 2018, he began teaching Craig the art of sewing his traditional Australian swag, and the business finally changed hands in July 2020.

Despite the change of hands, the swag design has remained the same, using the same materials and quality of sewing using the exact machines passed down from Hal’s father-in-law.

Saul Swags have always been proudly made in Tawonga, and will continue to be proudly made in Tawonga for years to come.

Our canvas

We use Australian made canvas that weighs 505g (14.9oz) per square metre and is woven with 2-ply yarn in both the warp and weft directions. The hydrostatic head is 1,000mm (40”) or 10kpa (kilopascal). This allows the canvas to withstand a column of water that high before it begins to penetrate.

Through the Australian Standards AS 3567-1988, the Department of Defence calls for a minimum hydrostatic head of 500mm or 5kpa. Imagine, apart from being uncomfortable, having one metre of water sitting on top of your swag and you still would not have water leaking through - that’s the quality we provide at Saul Swags.

If water can still be forced through the fabric, it means it’s not impervious to air. In other words, the canvas will still breathe. It will not condensate, and is rot-proof and mildew resistant.

Although cheaper, an all-cotton canvas is not a good choice for swags for this very reason. In fact, our 14.9oz cotton/polyester canvas is stronger than a 16oz all-cotton canvas, and is far less bulky.

Our sewing thread

We use polyester/cotton core spun which expands when absorbing moisture, thereby preventing water from leaking through the seam. Joints are double-sewn using a shorter stitch on the second run. This is important, as it prevents the needle from following its own track. The joints are constructed so that water runs over them (like on roofing tiles) and not into them, meaning it’s not necessary to soak the seams before use in order to make them leak proof.

Our mattresses

Our mattress rebound deluxe; a medium density foam mattress made in Australia. The density range is 26-30kg/m3, and the hardness range is 80-350N. They come with ticking, which means there is a cotton cover sewn onto the foam for protection. Like all foam mattresses, they will usually lose some height due to compression. When the swag is not in use for any length of time, storing the mattress in a flat state will help it to bounce back.

Canvas Care Instructions

• Clean only with cold water and a soft brush - don’t use soap or detergent

• Ensure Canvas is completely dry prior to storing

• Do not expose to petrol, oil or solvents

• Restore well-worn products with DYNAPROOF

Wool blanket/liner care

The Wool blanket can be spot cleaned as required, dry cleaned or use a gentle Wool wash and dried over a clothes horse in the shade.

The Wool liner on a Bum Wrap and Picnic Rug can be spot cleaned as required.

Swag Care

When damp, the Swag should not be left rolled up for longer than two days as it may develop mildew. Thorough air-drying is essential. Only your Wool blanket or linen need to be cleaned periodically as required.

The best way to roll up your swag is starting from the toe part, pushing your knees down on the roll while you compress the Swag ahead with your hands as you go along. The head cover is rolled up last - this will prevent the Swag from springing apart while you buckle up the straps.

Foam Mattress

Is Australian Made from Polyurethane Foam with a Cotton ticking cover.

• Do not wash nor Dry clean

• If wet avoid direct heat or sunlight to dry.

Ideally store Mattress (Swag) unrolled. Compressed Foam will return to its original state when left unrolled for a period of time.