Crashpad swag
Unboxing and Setting Up the Crash Pad King Single Swag
A few weeks ago, I ventured into the High Country and came across some wild dogs. I reached out for advice on how to handle this, and following your recommendations, I got myself a new swag. Here’s a look at the Crash Pad King Single Swag, which arrived just yesterday.
Let’s unbox it, set it up, and season the canvas. I've noticed some common mistakes in seasoning videos that I’ll address, so stay tuned for that.
Unboxing
First off, we have some manuals, marketing materials, and a vinyl sticker. The swag comes with a bag that looks spacious enough to fit it without any trouble. There’s also a bag for the pegs, guide ropes, and poles.
Opening the swag, we see the mattress is in its own vacuum-packed bag, making it much smaller than my previous swag. The canvas feels heavy-duty, which is promising.
Documentation
The swag came with some paperwork. It includes:
Crash Pad Top Tips: Congratulations on your new gear! It includes tips on setting it up and maintaining it.
Mattress Tips: Allow 24 hours for the mattress to air up as it’s vacuum-packed.
Zipper Maintenance: Keep zippers clean using a toothbrush or compressed air. You can also use soap as a lubricant for zippers.
Initial Impressions
The swag appears to be well-made with high-quality canvas, comparable to my previous swag. However, I have an issue: the swag's length isn't adequate for my usual setup on a stretcher, which is necessary for avoiding wild dogs. The supplied poles are short, but that’s manageable since I have longer ones for other setups.
I’m curious about the mattress’s comfort once it’s fully decompressed. It has an eggshell topper and should be more comfortable after airing out.
Setup
The swag can be fully closed for bad weather or opened up for better ventilation. In hot weather, you can roll up the canvas and use the mesh to keep insects out. It has pockets at the head end for convenience.
The mattress, though not fully expanded yet, seems comfortable and should be fine with a stretcher.
Seasoning the Canvas
To ensure the canvas is waterproof, we need to season it properly. Many people skip treating the inside of the swag, which is crucial. Here’s how:
Inside Treatment: Use a garden hose with a shower setting and a water bottle to lightly soak the seams and stitching inside the swag. This helps expand the threads and makes the swag more waterproof.
Outside Treatment: Use a hose with a flat spray nozzle to wet the entire outside canvas. Avoid using a strong jet. Focus on thoroughly wetting the seams and stitching.
Drying: Do this on a sunny day to ensure the swag dries completely. This helps the cotton or thread expand and seal any gaps, enhancing waterproofing.
Final Thoughts
I was initially uncertain about this swag compared to my previous ones. However, it seems to be of high quality and should meet my needs. I’m eager to see how it performs after a few uses. If you have this model, I’d love to hear about your experience. Have you been happy with it over time?
Overall, I’m quite impressed so far, and I’m optimistic it will serve me well.