Hello! Nice review, thanks for doing it in the winter even! I really appreciate that effort. I have been making my own gear for a very long time, so 4 years ago I bought a Llama wool poncho, and it's 49"x38". I myself am a small man, 5ft. So it fits me well! I added some modifications: I added 4 buttons, at the pocket height, and the two front ones have a long string. the two back ones are bare. I made it a Woobie by tying the front ties at my back, and then twirling a string on the two back buttons, at my front. There's a heavy stone bead at the front twirling string, so that it doesn't ride up. It works so well, and it's comfortable, as a woobie. I would say, over the years: the front has stretched out because I bike in the rain and the rain catches most at the front, and then it stretched the woven wool. The back is barely enough to cover my buttocks if I were to sit with it on. If I am biking and it's windy, I will have the back tied down at my front, and let the front of the poncho flap, blocking the wind. if it is very cold, I will tie the front of the poncho to my back, but this really constricts my arms: I suppose it would also constrict the swagman role, if you tied the front flap of the poncho on the outside of the woobie, and at your back: otherwise the front kind of rides up in the woobie. I am thinking of buying one, but after an incident with a fireball at a campfire, I really appreciate that llama wool is fire resistant, and I do not feel safe with the synthetics for that reason.
I have a swagman roll and love it. I've used it on the ground and in a hammock. As a sleeping bag I wish it was a bit bigger, but it's a great summer warm weather system especially with the poncho connected as an outter layer bivy.
just out of the Australian winter, & used mine a fair bit over the winter. Just getting to the stage where i can use it for a sleeping bag with the temperature. Love mine, Especially with the poncho adding waterproof and extra warmth. All the best Clive
Love the product.... And i love the idea for multiuse, what a feeling a warm poncho at daytime and a sleeping bag cover at night 🤩🧔 i think i sleep realy good with the swagman roll and my carinthia 1 🤩
Forgot to mention my use for it. After testing it extensively around camp I decided to pack it into my day/survival pack. I think it would be a margin of survival in cold weather and great for summer nights in the mountains of Montana and Idaho. Here it might be 85 F in the daytime but still hit the high 30's or low 40's at night even in the hottest months of the summer.
Good review, I've been using a Swagman and poncho for about a year - great combination and multiple uses! Just be advised that Military 1st is out of England (I didn't know that), that is where I got mine from and it took just over a week to arrive. Try Amazon if you want it sooner!
LOL! I hope your poncho is more than simply "water resistant". I, too, have a Swagman Roll. It is amongst my most versatile and often used piece of kit. No mention of... a) the fact that the pocket on the front also serves as a storage bag into which you can stuff the woobie b) the velcro at the nape of the hood, which permits rolling, stuffing and streamlined storage when used as a hammock/bag liner or blanket All Mil-Spec ponchos have the reversible snaps along the edges of the poncho. There is some ambiguity in the video as to whether the Swagman Roll has comparable snaps; it does not. It does have the toggles to connect it to a proper Mil-Spec poncho.
I have yet to be able to use the integral pocket to store it. I have tried many times, but to no avail. It just doesn't want to fit. Any tips? I might be doing it wrong.
as a southamerican used to wear ponchos since my childhood I have to say that this poncho is too narrow, over your arms you should have way more cloth, the hood is also not sufficiently generously tailored
Cool setup Tim! I don't own this personally, but it looks like you could use the poncho as a sleeping bag cover to add to the versatility of the system. Great review!
Thanks for this review. Just ordered one on Amazon in "Alpha Green". I didn't see this color on Helikon's Site and was wondering if it's a new addition or am I getting some bootleg version?
@@adamfruchey2723 Would it replace a green patrol bag sleeping bag for 3-season hammock camping? I love the idea of the swagman roll, but if I can't leave my sleeping bag behind I don't know if I can justify packing it. I'm in Florida, so unless some freak weather system rolls in, I'm thinking a swagman and a pullover fleece ought to be enough for stormy nights that drop down into the the 50s.
@@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760 That's a really personal thing based on how well you sleep. The snugpak jungle also has a sleeping bag that it looks like is made from the same materials and rated to around 40 deg I think. I would not hesitate to use my jungle XL to 40 deg, and limit the swagman to 50. In a hammock though, the swagman can be used as an underquilt due to it's design to I say take both on a short trip and try it.
Only fault I see with mine is the sack doesn’t have compression straps other than that perfect so maybe get a compression sack off a old sleeping back and it’s spot on then
You can also pull the sides of the poncho around and use the snaps to wear it in a “woobie” configuration. I did that all the time in the army to keep it from flapping around in my way when I wasn’t wearing my ruck.
Hey, Tim. Your Amazon link doesn't seem to be working, btw. Definitely will be adding both items to my Amazon shopping cart. Thanks for the heads up in review. Keep up the good work.
They really messed up not making that a stuff sack with Sinch straps idk why they would make the perfect product and skimp on the bag now I have to buy a separate stuff sack just bc of that
There is a problem here and it is quite simple. I have had the Swagman Roll since last October and and worn it quite a bit. It is not a bad piece of kit. The problem, however, is this: Your arms. Yes, your arms are exposed to the elements. Now you can keep your arms in. The trouble is, if you are like me, you carry a rucksack. So 'arms in' is not really an option. For rucksack carriers, this thing is a disaster. So, truth be told, for my needs, despite being a quality item, it is something of a white elephant. Sad, but true,.
Hello! Nice review, thanks for doing it in the winter even! I really appreciate that effort.
I have been making my own gear for a very long time, so 4 years ago I bought a Llama wool poncho, and it's 49"x38". I myself am a small man, 5ft. So it fits me well!
I added some modifications: I added 4 buttons, at the pocket height, and the two front ones have a long string. the two back ones are bare. I made it a Woobie by tying the front ties at my back, and then twirling a string on the two back buttons, at my front. There's a heavy stone bead at the front twirling string, so that it doesn't ride up. It works so well, and it's comfortable, as a woobie. I would say, over the years: the front has stretched out because I bike in the rain and the rain catches most at the front, and then it stretched the woven wool. The back is barely enough to cover my buttocks if I were to sit with it on.
If I am biking and it's windy, I will have the back tied down at my front, and let the front of the poncho flap, blocking the wind. if it is very cold, I will tie the front of the poncho to my back, but this really constricts my arms: I suppose it would also constrict the swagman role, if you tied the front flap of the poncho on the outside of the woobie, and at your back: otherwise the front kind of rides up in the woobie.
I am thinking of buying one, but after an incident with a fireball at a campfire, I really appreciate that llama wool is fire resistant, and I do not feel safe with the synthetics for that reason.
Thanks for sharing this. Wool is also really hard to beat.
Your the first one I’ve seen with a good explanation on how they both work together . That was my guess but thanks for the video.
I have a swagman roll and love it. I've used it on the ground and in a hammock. As a sleeping bag I wish it was a bit bigger, but it's a great summer warm weather system especially with the poncho connected as an outter layer bivy.
just out of the Australian winter, & used mine a fair bit over the winter.
Just getting to the stage where i can use it for a sleeping bag with the temperature.
Love mine,
Especially with the poncho adding waterproof and extra warmth.
All the best
Clive
hope they get these in stock again. wish I would have gotten one in multicam when I found out about them
Looks like an excellent piece of kit for my bushcraft bag. It looks much more functional than the old woobie
This looks like a good versatile piece of kit. Thanks Tim for your reviews.
Thanks for watching
Hi Tim I have a swagmanand poncho it’s a great peace off kit and very multi functional
Good review! I love mine (in Flecktarn pattern). Now I see they have it in Black so I'll probably get a second one.
Got mine in Flecktarn as well....
Love the product....
And i love the idea for multiuse, what a feeling a warm poncho at daytime and a sleeping bag cover at night 🤩🧔 i think i sleep realy good with the swagman roll and my carinthia 1 🤩
Good idea!
Forgot to mention my use for it. After testing it extensively around camp I decided to pack it into my day/survival pack. I think it would be a margin of survival in cold weather and great for summer nights in the mountains of Montana and Idaho. Here it might be 85 F in the daytime but still hit the high 30's or low 40's at night even in the hottest months of the summer.
Adding this to my next order.
Be sure to do it! ;)
That was a great product review! Thanks!
Great review on this product! You answered the questions I had on this product very well.
Glad I could help out
I live in the UK and I got rid of my summer and fall sleeping bags and just use the swag man roll with the British army artic thermals
Good review, I've been using a Swagman and poncho for about a year - great combination and multiple uses!
Just be advised that Military 1st is out of England (I didn't know that), that is where I got mine from and it took just over a week to arrive. Try Amazon if you want it sooner!
better to buy it on official site.helikon good polish company i had a lot of stuff from the for my airsoft games and camping
Is the pattern IR compliant?
LOL! I hope your poncho is more than simply "water resistant".
I, too, have a Swagman Roll. It is amongst my most versatile and often used piece of kit.
No mention of...
a) the fact that the pocket on the front also serves as a storage bag into which you can stuff the woobie
b) the velcro at the nape of the hood, which permits rolling, stuffing and streamlined storage when used as a hammock/bag liner or blanket
All Mil-Spec ponchos have the reversible snaps along the edges of the poncho. There is some ambiguity in the video as to whether the Swagman Roll has comparable snaps; it does not. It does have the toggles to connect it to a proper Mil-Spec poncho.
I have yet to be able to use the integral pocket to store it. I have tried many times, but to no avail. It just doesn't want to fit. Any tips? I might be doing it wrong.
Great review....thank you
as a southamerican used to wear ponchos since my childhood I have to say that this poncho is too narrow, over your arms you should have way more cloth, the hood is also not sufficiently generously tailored
Cool setup Tim! I don't own this personally, but it looks like you could use the poncho as a sleeping bag cover to add to the versatility of the system. Great review!
Very nice combo.
Thanks for this review. Just ordered one on Amazon in "Alpha Green". I didn't see this color on Helikon's Site and was wondering if it's a new addition or am I getting some bootleg version?
what size is in the video and what are your stats. I want to make sure I get the right size.
Hi Tim, just wondered how does the swagman roll compare to a Snugpak Jungle blanket in terms of warmth/insulation R value?
I have a snugpack jungle XL and it's warmer, but not by a whole lot.
@@adamfruchey2723 Would it replace a green patrol bag sleeping bag for 3-season hammock camping? I love the idea of the swagman roll, but if I can't leave my sleeping bag behind I don't know if I can justify packing it. I'm in Florida, so unless some freak weather system rolls in, I'm thinking a swagman and a pullover fleece ought to be enough for stormy nights that drop down into the the 50s.
@@jwilsonhandmadeknives2760 That's a really personal thing based on how well you sleep. The snugpak jungle also has a sleeping bag that it looks like is made from the same materials and rated to around 40 deg I think. I would not hesitate to use my jungle XL to 40 deg, and limit the swagman to 50. In a hammock though, the swagman can be used as an underquilt due to it's design to I say take both on a short trip and try it.
@@adamfruchey2723 i really appreciate the detailed response. thank you.
I have this kit too. A lot more useful than the Swagman Roll. I would not be without it. Quality kit, especially the XL version.
Only thing I would change is to buckle it in the back, or at least make it an option. I feel like it would keep out the wind better.
Do you know why they stopped making it in camogram? They've done an excellent job of removing all existence of it.
I love mine!
Only fault I see with mine is the sack doesn’t have compression straps other than that perfect so maybe get a compression sack off a old sleeping back and it’s spot on then
Genius had to get one...
Sucks that you can't find the Camogrom/Multicam version anywhere. Always sold out.
You can also pull the sides of the poncho around and use the snaps to wear it in a “woobie” configuration. I did that all the time in the army to keep it from flapping around in my way when I wasn’t wearing my ruck.
Have to get that need a new poncho liner.
If you get one let me know what you think of it.
How well does it work with a medium to large backpack?
Hey, Tim. Your Amazon link doesn't seem to be working, btw. Definitely will be adding both items to my Amazon shopping cart. Thanks for the heads up in review. Keep up the good work.
PewPrepTrek that link is to generic Amazon to support ETV. I linked to Military 1st since they sent it to me for review. That make sense?
@@EverydayTacticalVids Makes sense. Just wanted to make sure you were getting credit for your referral link. 😉👍
PewPrepTrek Thanks man. I appreciate that.
Since you were concerned about getting it wet in the snow, how well do you think it will do in the rain?
I haven't had a big enough storm to really put it through the paces yet.a
Is the swag man roll water proof/resistant by itself or do you NEED the poncho too?
I would say it's resistant without the poncho - but the poncho is definite need in wet weather IMHO.
They really messed up not making that a stuff sack with Sinch straps idk why they would make the perfect product and skimp on the bag now I have to buy a separate stuff sack just bc of that
There is a problem here and it is quite simple. I have had the Swagman Roll since last October and and worn it quite a bit. It is not a bad piece of kit.
The problem, however, is this: Your arms. Yes, your arms are exposed to the elements. Now you can keep your arms in. The trouble is, if you are like me, you carry a rucksack. So 'arms in' is not really an option. For rucksack carriers, this thing is a disaster.
So, truth be told, for my needs, despite being a quality item, it is something of a white elephant. Sad, but true,.
Get the perseverance survival woobie hoodie instead its meant to be a jacket!
Wear poncho over rucksack. Problem solved
Can you clip it around your back instead of the front of you....anyone ?
yes
If you don't wanna look like your in a cult like like the poncho liner look go with a perseverance survival woobie hoodie checkout my reviews!