The Helikon-tex Swagman Roll Advanced Poncho Liner is one of my favourite pieces of gear. But, is the Swagman Poll Basic a good deal at half the price? Let's compare the Advanced poncho liner to the Basic version so you can decide if either is right for you. We'll look at the specifications, compare the differences, my conclusions and a wish list if Helikon-Tex ever does a second version.
Left the Swagman Roll Poncho, right the Swagman Roll Basic. All images are the author's own.
Usage
I have owned the Swagman Advanced Poncho for around 18 months, and it is my main sleeping quilt, whether indoors or out. The Advanced has accompanied me to hotels, AirBnBs, tents, tarps, bivvies and backcountry huts. It's an understatement to say just how flexible this has been for me. I also use the Advanced as a watch coat - an improvised jacket - during the colder months in my home or during chilly evenings at camp. However, I have not tried the Swagman as a hammock under-quilt, and I'm too large (fat) to use the Swagman as a sleeping bag fully zipped.
For the first winter, when the temperature was too cold for the Swagman alone, I used a woobie (US Milsurp poncho liner) inside the Swagman with one end tied up to create a foot box. I added a lightweight blanket on the rare nights when that setup was too cold. The Swagman made an excellent watch coat to add over whatever I was wearing.
I purchased the Swagman Roll Basic around nine months ago. My first impression was disappointment when compared to the Advanced Liner. However, I was being a bit unfair.
In the second winter, after the Basic arrived, I combined the two Swagmen into a quilt set up for easy conversion to and from the watch coat configuration. Two Swagmen Liners together was much warmer than the Advanced Liner and a woobie. I was only cold enough to use an additional blanket once or twice when the temperatures dipped well below freezing.
Specifications
The labels for the Swagmen: Advanced on the left, basic on the right.
| Advanced | Basic | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 782g / 27.6oz | 979g / 34.5oz |
| Size | 145 x 200cm / 57.04 x 78.74in | 140 x 205cm / 55.1 x 80.7in |
| Shell | 100% Nylon | 100% Polyester |
| Insulation | Climashield Apex 67gsm | 100% Polyester |
| Lining | 100% Nylon | 100% Polyester |
| Quilting | Through liner only | Through liner and shell |
| USGI Poncho Compatible | Yes | No |
The Basic is noticeably heavier and bulkier than the Advanced.
Differences
The hood on the Advanced is smaller and does not fit my large head well. I can barely fit a wool beanie underneath the Advanced hood. The hood on the Basic is more expansive and fits much better. Both hoods have shock cord cinching lines with cable keepers. The cable keeper on the Advanced is broader and easier to operate with cold hands or gloves. Both hoods are insulated.
The Advanced chest zip pocket can hold gear and doubles up as a stuff sack for the Liner. When stuffed, the poncho can be used as a cushion. There is also a handy hanging loop inside the chest pocket to attach gear when worn or hang the Advanced Liner. The Basic Liner does not have a chest pocket.
The Advanced Liner also has a hook and loop secured hood pocket for tucking the hood and thus closing the head hole. Tucking into the hood pocket is more comfortable than cinching the hood closed. The Basic does not have a hood pocket.
Both liners have shock cords along the top and bottom ends with cable keepers on both sides to tighten up the Liner when used as a hammock under-quilt. The shock cord can also help form a tighter foot-box when using the Liner as a top-quilt or summer sleeping bag. In addition, the Advanced Liner has a toggle for putting through the grommets of a USGI style poncho. The Swagman and poncho together can create a Ranger Roll style sleep system.
When worn as a watch coat and walking, I sometimes found the toggle and cable keeper clang together, but the sound isn't loud or annoying. I'm wondering if the boffins at Helikon-Tex could find a way to combine the function of the toggle and the cable keeper into a single unit.
The Basic Liner has more rounded corners than the advanced. The more rounded corner, and stiffer fabric, makes zipping easier, but I never really had much of a problem with the zipper on the Advanced. The zippers have a stop at the end, so it's impossible to zip two liners together.
Both liners have a pair of elasticated straps with plastic buckles along the long edge. These are primarily for securing the Liner in watch coat mode.
The buckles on the advanced are stiffer and of a beefier construction. The clips are similarly sized and clip together - but with a caveat.
Both liners' buckles have a tongue, and the female side has tongue guides. If attaching the Basic to the Advanced, take care to insert or remove the buckle straight, or the tongue from the Advanced will catch on the Guides of the basic. I solved this by cutting and filing the guides on the basic buckle, and the clips still hold plenty well enough. In the photo, you can see the amount of abuse I gave the Basic buckle trying to extract the stuck Advanced buckle, and you can also see my modification. The basic buckle withstood all this abuse without breaking.
When the zipped bags of overlaid with the spines aligned, you can see that the Basic Liner is tapered top and bottom. The tapering helps keep down weight and probably makes for less loose material when using the Basic Liner as a hammock under quilt. Apart from USGI poncho compatibility or using the Advanced as a small insulated tarp, I can't see any downside to the tapering on the Basic model. Both shapes give great coverage when in watch coat mode.
I have owned the Advanced for over a year. The stitches are worn from use, but none have come loose. I have owned the basic for over six months. The stitches are in good order, but the insulation has begun to come through in places.
Weather tests
The Advanced model has a continuous windproof shell with the insulation quilted to the Liner. The Basic is quilted where the stitches go all the way through the shell, the insulation and the Liner. Single quilting means that the Basic model is less windproof. I once took an outdoor nap with the Advanced on quite a windy day and was surprised that none of the wind came through the shell. In the Basic's defence, when the weather is too windy or wet, you would use a weatherproof shelter such as a poncho, bivvy, tarp, or tent.
Time for a splash test. Both liners were hung vertically and splashed with about 300ml of water.
Water will bead off an Advanced Liner when new, and plenty of videos online show this. My Advanced is over 18 months old, and the water did not bead, though most did runoff. A tech wash and DWR coating should reproof it. The Basic Liner soaked up most of the splash of water.
View of the Liner: Most of the splash soaked through the Basic - especially around the quilting stitches.
View of the Liner: The splash did not soak through the Advanced.
I cup the Liner in my hand in this test and fill it with water. Unfortunately, I only have a photo of the Advanced because the water drained quickly from the Basic.
Cup test: again, the water quickly soaks through the Basic model, especially along the quilting stitches.
Cup test: water soaks through slowly on the Advanced and once past the outer shell, preferred to run along the quilting stitches. Also, the water drained much slower through the shell.
Conclusion
The Advanced Poncho Liner is an excellent bit of gear that accompanies me almost everywhere. The size and weight are perfect for the features it gives me. The Advanced means I can carry a lighter sleep system and go without a puffy jacket. The Advanced is also windproof and long enough to pull over the head when sleeping, perfect for a quick outdoor nap.
The best features of the Basic are a better fitting hood pattern and lighter buckles. In addition, hammock campers might appreciate the more tapered shape - with the proviso that the Basic is not very windproof.
Recommendation
Is the Advanced worth twice the price of the Basic? Yes, I think so. The Advanced model is lighter and more versatile. In the right circumstances, the Basic is warmer, but it requires a waterproof and windproof shelter. As a watch coat, the Advanced cuts out wind and handles a passing shower much better.
For serious use, consider saving for the Advanced instead of dealing with the downsides of the Basic Liner.
The Basic will do just fine for car camping and watching the game if you're careful to have a weatherproof layer to go over it.
Wishlist
After using the Swagmen for some time, there is little that I change if Helikon-Tex updated the Advanced model, but here are a few things:
- Larger hood. The Basic pattern hood in Advanced materials would be worth the extra weight.
- Use the lighter buckles from the Basic
- Integrate the grommet toggles and cord locks.
If I'm pushing my luck:
- an XL version of the Swagman with a matching poncho. It'd be great to zip the Swagman around my fat frame. Unfortunately, I've had to go to a custom outfitter to get something similar.
- A way to zip two liners together to form a double bag.
I hope you found this review helpful. In an upcoming article, I will detail how I use an Advanced and Basic Swagman to form a thick top quilt and watch coat.
Until next time.