Darche Nebula 1550+ Plus Swag / Tent Review after 8 month

In this video, I give you my impressions of the Darche Nebula 1550+ mega swag. It's more of a hybrid between a small tent and a swag but with the swag convenience of having everything rolled up and in one bag. The Darche Nebula 1550+ has been used as a family swag for the kids now for over 8 months, and I will tell you the pros and cons as I found them.
A24/7 is not a sponsor of this video. However, they sell a lot of the gear I use and have excellent customer service. They offered my subscribers a $20 Discount Code for any order over $100, and if you decide to purchase, you will also help the Channel with a small commission. Just use CODE: ALLOFFROAD20 during checkout.
a247.com.au/product/nebula-15...

[@stevej.6674]

I ended going for the 23zero outbreak as the nebula has to be all zipped up in bad weather. The 23zero has a smarter gusseted window design so you can still have ventilation in a bad storm. I think on a hot humid summer night here in QLD where it’s not uncommon to get that end of day summer storm, the nebula would be a sauna. That said, I love the overhangs & the overall look of the nebula. It’s a gorgeous looking swag.

[@louiskudlak2241]

Thanks for sharing, plenty of room, great storage room

[@AlloffroadAu]

Thanks for watching!

[@billy-joechesworth5166]

Me and the misso have one love the space and enough room to get changed

[@cyclemoto8744]

Thank you Stefan. Regarding a PVC base I will say that I've never had any water ingress issues with my 100% Australian canvas swag, even when submerged in a pool of water.

[@AlloffroadAu]

that’s good to know tape sealed seems?

[@cyclemoto8744]

@@AlloffroadAu no tape whatsoever and have had it for 10 years, used about 6 weeks per year

[@tonyf7997]

We bought the Nebula 1550 and have used for 10 days straight in winter, heavy wind and dew- 9/10 I would give it as the only issues was condensation even with a fly on … very well made and warm … Going to keep and use as a option when we go remote!

[@AlloffroadAu]

yea there is no way around condensation in winter you expel around 1l of water per night through breathing needs to go somewhere

[@Galvoflysoz]

Yeah well if they allowed ventilation it would be ok. But the end flaps roll the wrong way.

[@tonyf7997]

@@Galvoflysoz the corners have small vents and we are going to modify so we can have one side large canvas door only 1/2 down to allow ventilation in temperate weather

[@Galvoflysoz]

@@tonyf7997 the small vents are exposed to rain when open as well only option is middle of side door with awning out and pegged low to ground .

[@stuartkcalvin]

Good review mate. But I prefer off the ground sleeping. Oz Bunker + 10cm Expedia mattress.

[@AlloffroadAu]

same here I’m sleeping in my stretcher

[@stuartkcalvin]

@@AlloffroadAu Yep. seen it and know it mate

[@OliverHiggins]

Awesome review. at 8:41 you mention the exped megamat fits in. What model exactly are you referring to?

[@AlloffroadAu]

we have the 10cm Double 140cm wide fits great and kids and wife loves it.

[@OliverHiggins]

@@AlloffroadAu thank you!

[@grahamcrowle7664]

I have the Nebula 1550 and I have the same issue with the windows, if it gets hot while your in there is very annoying to open the canvas windows, big design fault. Also if the weather turns bad you can't close them up quickly.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yep, unfortunately not unique to the Nebula I don't know of any swag who has it the other way around

[@gospelofrye6881]

Not a fault at all. It's more waterproof this way, and opening from the bottom allows you to crawl in while minimising "insect ingress" - by which I mean bloody bush flies. I've never owned a tent where the doors open from the top and the fly doesn't zip down to the bottom.

[@nordic5490]

​@@gospelofrye6881All tents have the flyscreen on the outside, rooftop tents have the flyscreen on the outside, why should a swag be any different ?

[@jmyd83]

😍

[@RogerCampillo]

Hi! I’ve just seen a post from you on instagram about this swag. You mention something about improvements. Do you mean they have introduced some of the opening topics to be improved for better air flow under rain? Thanks

[@AlloffroadAu]

not that I know off, still a good swag we still uses it on most family camping trips

[@RogerCampillo]

@AlloffroadAu In your opinion, can the Nebula+ be a good sleeping option for me my wife and my 3yo boy? Think that we’re not big persons, I’m 1,74m and my wife is 1,6m. I was thinking on a rtt but the option of this big swag combined with a good 270 awning looks good for me, as I’m not so convinced about putting 75kg of the rtt on the roof of the ute. I’m considering also the oztent rv 4 or 5 but it’s quite expensive (even more when I’ve already a big ground tent). Somehow I see this swag as more or less the same volume as the rtt but way lighter and versatile to use. Thank you

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes 100% he even could sleep in the front compartment

[@RogerCampillo]

@@AlloffroadAu thanks for your feedback. I already ordered my Nebula+ some weeks ago. I can’t wait to use it…but it will take still long to arrive to Spain. Thanks again

[@christurner68]

Having the fly screen on the outside would equal more susceptible to damage being a so called swag being on the ground to be rolled up.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes fair point but the top of the swag usually never touches the ground when you roll it up.

[@gospelofrye6881]

It's also about it being a swag designed for Aussie conditions which are so often extreme (in both directions). You either want maximum mattress-level airflow because it's stinking hot, or you want to lock it down against the thunderstorm that suddenly came out of nowhere!

[@nordic5490]

​@@gospelofrye6881All tents have the flyscreen on the outside, rooftop tents have the flyscreen on the outside, why should a swag be any different ?

[@gospelofrye6881]

@@nordic5490 Are you confusing the "fly" (a solid membrane that repels water) with the "flyscreen" (a mesh that stops insects getting in)?

[@nordic5490]

@@gospelofrye6881 fly screen should be on the outside, as is the case for all tents.

[@overland_adventure_nz]

Why a 22 kg Sway and not a lightweight Tent? I used a heavy duty 3 person tent in Africa and it was much smaller and a heavy 4 kegs! My adventure Tent is lighter and Two people and is only 0.6 kgs! It’s has a 250 mm deep bathtub floor and the whole tent is very strong.

[@AlloffroadAu]

mate I have many different camping set ups always depends on what trip we do for family camping with trailer the Nebula is perfect as kids have ample space and we stay stationary for a week or so

[@overland_adventure_nz]

@@AlloffroadAu Thanks, it’s just I keep seeing more and more four wheel drivers using Swag and stretches in NZ and feel it’s they are being a copycat? I’m also glad you don’t make a big deal about camp cooking in your videos. Maybe because I had to do this every day for 6 to 8 months a year driving adventure overland trips in North Africa and adventure camping trips in Scandinavia free camping most nights. Ok in Scandinavia we camped on farmland we the owners permission and set up with short drop toilets.

[@AlloffroadAu]

sound like a good job you had, I guess people use what works for them and stretcher and swag are quick and especially stretcher very comfortable.

[@stevej.6674]

Something about a tent feels so flimsy - like you’re sleeping in a plastic bag flapping in the wind. A swag, while much heavier due to the canvas has a cosy feeling and doesn’t feel like it’ll suddenly fly away especially in high winds in a storm.

[@overland_adventure_nz]

@@stevej.6674 well I understand about the feeling of cosyness , but I don’t understand why anyone would go with something so heavy and made from canvas. It must take days to dry out after a heavy rain storm overnight?

[@christurner68]

Not small and light weight does not equal a swag to me, more a tent.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes that’s why I said it’s more of a hybrid

[@arkhamkillzone]

Having the fly screen under the canvas isn't a drawback, it ia a pro. I wouldn't buy a swag with a fly screen on the outside.

[@AlloffroadAu]

Depends on your application and flyscreen, I had the flyscreen on a camper trailer outside for years, and it's great if you can close flaps from inside if it starts raining at night. It worked ideally, but it can't be a flimsy flyscreen.

[@nordic5490]

All tents have the flyscreen on the outside, rooftop tents have the flyscreen on the outside, why should a swag be any different ?

[@nagas-adventure]

23zero outbreak is a much better one than this IMO ...looks like manufactured in same place but a different design addresses your concerns and cheaper

[@AlloffroadAu]

yea looked at them as well but they had Zero stock. I think the 23zero guys worked for Darche previously maybe one day I test one and see the difference.

[@christurner68]

Ex employes of darche started 23zero I believe that is why a lot of similarities and both companies don’t mind copying and making in china.

[@AlloffroadAu]

yes very similar product range

[@Galvoflysoz]

Yes they address the ventilation issue and supply a much better mattress. Although I think the darche ripstop is better. And in hot dry weather the option of stargazing is very tempting

[@stevej.6674]

I really like the look of the Nebula with those overhangs, but ended up buying the 23zero due to the better design aspects where you can have windows open for ventilation in a hot night during a storm.

[@johndiaz7240]

Thanks not very common here in the States

[@AlloffroadAu]

you guys don’t use swags much don’t you?

[@johndiaz7240]

@@AlloffroadAu No rooftops and ground tents . Thanks

[@seanfrost5804]

It’s a tent😂

[@AlloffroadAu]

I’d say it’s a Swent