I've got an old mil-spec rain poncho that's rubberized cloth, OD green, kinda' bulky, and weighs a ton so I hate to pack it. It does have one nice feature in that it has grommets in the corners so it can be used as a tarp.

I'm looking to replace it with something lighter and brighter (more visible) and easier to pack, maybe something in a ripstop nylon, but I'd really like to have the grommets.

Any ideas? I see that Sierra Designs makes one they call the Hurricane poncho . Anyone have any good experiences with these things to relate?

When I tramp out into the woods here in Vt I carry the nylon GI camo poncho. It's not the color you may be looking for but it's pretty light weight. I like the one you highlighted except for the 10 inch neck zipper. I really carry the my poncho as a multi use item, tarp and rain gear. I do know that the nylon one is lighter than the one I think you are carrying.

Having spent a little bit of my life wandering around hot and humid garden spots of the world wearing a GI poncho, I just want to remind you of one thing...you will sweat so much under a poncho that you are just about as wet as you would be if you were not wearing it. That said, you can check such places as Campmor.com, they usually have a variety of ponchos, some with a hump in the back to cover a pack and not have the poncho ride up too high in the back...

Very definately hot and sweaty to wear, I carry mine in the Green Mtns of Vt, I usually don't bother with rain gear if it's a light rain. And if it starts to get heavy I just pull it out, sit on the back half and hold it over me until the worst passes.

I was asking the same question on another forum, and was given a link to Cheaper Than Dirt. (Search using the term "poncho" when you get there to see others)

I have not ordered one yet, but they claim to be "Mil-Spec", seem to have the features, come with a stuff sack, have a number of color choices, and run about half the price you'd pay for similar. Of course these ponchos are imported, but so are a heck of a lot of the other pieces of equipment I have, sooooo... <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I did see those, but it looks like you've got a Henry Ford selection of colors to choose from: Black. Did I miss something?

Yep, sounds like you've used the one I've got. I consider it to be a tarp that can be worn as a poncho if necessary.

Hmmmm...
I could have sworn they used to list other colors there besides Black and the various camouflages. It looks a though I may have my sites confused. I'll go back through my links and see if there was another.