Holawild PolTek Swag 2.0 Review: Great Idea or Overpriced Mistake?

Swags have been a big deal in Australia for decades. They’re simple canvas shelters that roll up with a mattress inside, designed for the outback. For many UK campers, though, they’re still something of a novelty. This was actually the first time we’d properly tried one ourselves.

When we spotted the Holawild PolTek Swag 2.0 at the Caravan, Camping & Motorhome Show (you can see a quick clip on our TikTok), we were genuinely impressed. The idea of having a tough all-in-one bed and shelter that sets up in minutes sounded perfect for quick getaways, UKSN Social Camps or as a 'lightweight' car camping setup.

Holawild is still a new name so we didn’t mind the three-month wait for delivery. When it finally turned up, we were excited to see if this Aussie classic would live up to the hype for UK adventures.

Holawild PolTek Swag 2.0 Pros & Cons

✅ Pros

• Spacious inside with a proper 1m head height

• Sized for 2+, making it the perfect couples tent

• Quick and easy to pitch, even indoors

• Comfortable foam mattress included

• Built-in door mat helps keep mud out

• Good panoramic mesh for airflow and views

• Practical design for almost any camping scenario

• 2+1 year warranty

❌ Cons

• Arrived in a rebranded box with big Holawild stickers covering the original Dune Titan King Deluxe label

• Some loose stitching, thin loops and tiny pinholes around seams

• Mattress surface delaminated badly after just one night

• 'Iron-on' logo patches cheapen the whole aesthetic

• Needs weathering before first use

• Generic Dune Titan instructions included

• No proper storage bag (swags generally dont include one, but would be handy)

• Should be stored unrolled

UKSN Rating: ★★ (2/4)

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Build Quality & First Impressions

While the core design is solid it’s the finishing touches that need work. Pulling the swag out of the box was confusing. Huge Holawild stickers covered up the original Dune Titan King Deluxe branding underneath. We understand smaller brands sometimes rebrand factory models but for £300 it should really come in its own box to match the premium feel.

Up close, a few things let it down. We noticed loose threads, tiny pinholes along some seams, and attachment loops that feel too thin to last. But what really annoyed us were the large black Holawild patches on each end - they’re just cheaply ironed on, not printed or stitched, and weren’t even in the original marketing images. We absolutely hate these patches; they cheapen the swag and ruin the overall look.

Weathering & First Use

One important thing to note is that the swag needs weathering (or seasoning) before you take it out on a proper trip. The PolTek Swag 2.0 is no exception the instructions clearly explain that the canvas and stitching need to be soaked and dried a few times to seal everything up and make it fully waterproof.

This is fairly standard for heavy canvas tents and swags. The process is simple but takes a bit of time:

• Pitch the swag fully set up with all doors and windows closed

• Soak it completely using a hose or wait for rain to do the job

• Let it dry out fully, then repeat the soak-and-dry cycle 2 or 3 times

The drying causes the canvas fibres and stitching holes to swell and tighten up, which is what actually makes the fabric shed water properly. If you ever see a bit of seepage later on, rubbing a wax stick over the seams can help reseal them.

Because of this, we haven’t yet taken the PolTek Swag 2.0 on a proper camping trip but we did pitch it at home and left it up in mixed weather for a full seven days to start the weathering process.

Space & Setup

Pitching a swag was new for us but the PolTek Swag 2.0 really is simple. Two lightweight Duralumin alloy poles clip into place at each end and the spreader bar slots through the middle for extra rigidity. There’s no messing about with guy lines unless you want them. It’s all self-supporting.

Inside, the space is what sold us at the show. A full 1-meter head height means you can sit up comfortably, pull on boots, change clothes or just read without feeling cramped. There’s room for one person to really stretch out or two people plus the family dog if you pack light. The panoramic mesh doors and windows keep things breathable and bug-free and give you a clear view of the stars.

Mattress & Storage

The swag concept is that you unroll it, sleep in it then roll it back up with your bedding inside which sounds great in theory. The included foam mattress helps make the tent super comfy but the quality needs work. After just one night the top layer started to peel and delaminate.

Sadly this is a common problem with cheaper swag mattresses. The thin flocking or bonded fabric layer just doesn’t cope well with heat, sweat and constant rolling. Holawild really needs to look at a tougher topper for future production runs.

One practical point. The instructions say you should store the swag unrolled to keep the mattress aired and the canvas crease-free. Nice idea, but in the UK most people don’t have space to keep a 2-meter swag permanently laid out. Its certainly something to consider before purchase!

Final Thoughts

This was our first proper go with a swag and there’s plenty to like. The PolTek Swag 2.0 is genuinely roomy, comfortable and quick to pitch which ticks a lot of boxes for spontaneous camping trips or garden adventures. The panoramic design, door mat and smart mesh panels show there’s real thought behind the concept.

But for the price some rough edges are hard to ignore. The rebranded packaging, weak loops and disappointing mattress hold it back. Right now we can’t fully recommend it in its current form, but Holawild isn’t far off. Small changes like a properly branded box, stronger stitching, a better mattress and a simple storage bag would make a huge difference.

At £300, the team all agree it’s not worth it. For the £150 we paid, maybe - and now that it’s dropped to just under £100, it’s absolutely worth a punt if you use a mattress protector or swap in your own inflatable. Even with the issues, the tent itself is easily worth £100, especially with the 3-year warranty. In fact, at this price, we could even be tempted to get another.

We genuinely hope Holawild take our feedback on board because with a bit more polish, this could be a brilliant UK-friendly take on an Aussie camping classic. We’ve shared all of this directly with the Holawild team, who told us they haven’t had any other complaints so far - so it’s possible ours was just an early batch.

With everything said and done, we’re genuinely looking forward to the next generation and can’t wait to see what Holawild come up with next.

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