Poncho Question

I am needing to update some gear. I am looking for a new poncho/shelter setup and I was wondering if any of you have had any experience with the Exped Bivy Ponchos?

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/0/2079F5C83321CBA8C1256F2B0037A182?opendocument

I would be using it mostly as a quick rain shelter while hunting and hiking.

Is there a better option that I may have overlooked?

Thanks in advance.

Other than the draw cord at the waist and the pocket for stuffing it all into, it doesn't look that different from a military poncho. It may be a bit bigger. There are other ponchos out there as well: Equinox Ultralight Poncho

Sea to Summit Ultra-sil Poncho

I have both of these and they are light and pack small, but they aren't cheap.

I'm lucky I still have a heavy military rubber poncho. Which I have used as a lean-to recently. I don't carry in my BOB as the heat here in the SW would rot it out pretty quick over a summer in my trunk.

I am not a big fan of ponchos. waterproof gear and tents are light enough now that I don't find them necessary. I've tried some of the Frog Tog waterproof tops and bottoms and they work great, except they can tear rather easy on the butt and knees, but the stuff is made for duct tape. I went with a size up on the top and I wore my REI Mars pack under the jacket in a rainstorm and it did great. The are very oversized tops

That's the poncho I use. I bought it mostly due to its length (I'm quite tall).

I looked for one on-line for my son - who is even taller, but I couldn't find out. I assumed they were no longer available.

To be honest, though its been used a lot - as a poncho - and it is very well made and has taken the use/abuse well. As with any poncho, on hot days, with exertion, it can be hot, but not so bad as a rain coat would be.

I've never tried out the bivy capability. I can't imagine wrapping myself in non-breathable nylon for very long. I'd come out soaked.

If you're looking for more of a bivy I might suggest something breathable.

I got a very nice light Poncho that I now carry from Integral Design in Calgary. It is very water proof and very light.

I had an Exped poncho for years, until it was recently stolen. They make a great product that you won't go wrong with. They are not cheap, but are quite durable.

Ponchos are ponchos a very basic and versatile item. Looks pretty good.

I mostly stay inside when it is raining, but a few times I have gone out when I did not expect rain and it rained anyway.

I keep a cheap emergency poncho in my fanny pack for such cases. I have only had to use them a few times. I kind of consider them a one time use item, as my experience has been that they are not real sturdy and often fail when used. The last one I got survived being used and went back in the fanny pack. It seems a little better made then the average <$5 poncho.

The problem I would have with something like this is that it takes up more room than I would want to give up. Plus at $100 it eats up my hiking equipment budget pretty quick.

But if I was going farther afield I would likely do so with a bigger pack so I would have more room.

I just want to know, 'is that a real poncho or a Sears poncho'?

I use the Equinox Ultralite Poncho / Shelter as well, in both rain wear and shelter mode. It fits well over a backpack. Mine is sil-nylon and comes in at 10 ounces with the bag. It looks like they've made it even lighter now.

I have a variety of ponchos. The military one is nice because it is wider than most commercial ones and 2 can be snapped together for a nice "A" frame shelter. One makes a great bivi shelter.

I have a few commercial ones and the one I keep in my daypack is light and small, which is nice in a daypack. However, it is less useful as a lean-to because it is not very wide, compared to the military poncho. I recently went on a 3 hour hike and it started raining on the return leg. I had a Marmot PreCip Jacket on for a windbreaker and since it is a waterproof breathable, it was all I needed until the rain increased. I put the poncho on more to protect my pack than for myself. When I did that I noted that the width of the poncho was such that my arms were out below the elbow. If I had not had the rain jacket under the poncho, I would have had some wet, cold arms! So, pay attention to how big the poncho is, if you want to use it as a shelter or a rain jacket, it should cover the arms and be wide enough as a lean-to that it provides good coverage. Also, most "military-type" ponchos are just that, TYPE, they seldom are the size of the genuine military poncho, worth noting.

Could anyone tell me the size of the US army poncho?

True, most ponchos are around 50x90. The US Military poncho is 66x80. It might be better if it was a bit longer, I have never noticed it being too short for any reason. It is the width that I notice, the military poncho will cover your arms and hands when worn and when rigged as a lean-to it is a decent width. Rig 2 together to for an "A" frame shelter and it is very comfortable. Lots of head room.

Thanks widget. I've been looking at ponchos and have been wondering what the snaps were for. I assumed you can snap them in such a way as to make something like a sleeve for the poncho but snapping two together to make a bigger tarp is a great advantage. The ponchos I have both have gromets for lashing together but snaps seem like they'd be more effectient. Less cordage and less fiddling.

Don't underestimate the umbrella while day hiking - I sometimes carry one, a basic little $7 compact model, and even though I wear waterproof breathable tops, the umbrella keeps me dry while walking and when stopped. Works fantastic on hot and sunny hikes too. And don't forget its also a magnet for lightning if you face that where you are. I love the rain, but don't see a need to stand around soaked in it if you can help it otherwise.

On overnight hikes with a destination and a stop, I tend to carry a trusty Kelty 9x9 tarp for a nice wide cooking and standing around area. There are lighter silnylon tarps that might save you some ounces, but I lost 90 lbs 2 years ago and counting ounces in my pack just doesn't matter much anymore.

Hunting is another matter - might be hard to juggle a brolly and a rifle. I don't hunt anymore.

+1

I often carry a small travel umbrella in my day pack, mostly for intense sun, it doesn't rain much here. Mostly for my wife and kids, come to think of it I don't think I have ever used it myself. Its a no space item. The relief one of these can provide in rain (or sun) can not be understated. Good point Lono

While 2 issue ponchos make a good hootch, 3 are better. If you sleep perpendicular and use some line on the hoods to hold the sides out you get an amazing amount of space. 2 above, one under, or 2 above, 1 for the side the wind is coming in.

Never really wore a poncho when it was raining. Wore the issue rain suit under my uniform (quieter and warmer).

Also, one poncho and two liners makes a really warm sleeping bag. The heavier rubber poncho is better than the nylon one, but you do sweat.

Just a heads up,the Marines are no longer issuing the poncho.Gortex has become standard issue.The Marines now supply troops with a 5'x7'tarp.It is used for all the other things a poncho was used for.I do not know what the Army is doing but the U.S. GI poncho may be a relic of the past.....


BOATMAN
John

That is what I sort of thought too. I have not seen any new ponchos, ACU or MARPAT other than the commercial ones. No issue items.

That is too bad. I used my poncho in the army for shelters, for rainwear and with the liner as a sleeping bag. A 5x7 tarp is pretty small to make a shelter that will cover you in a driving rain. A tarp also cannot be used as a rain garment. It also requires you to carry additional gear in the form of Gore-Tex rainwear.

Seems about every decade or so the military has to reinvent the wheel. Sometimes the new gear is an improvement and sometimes it makes you wonder "what were they thinking".

Stock up on genuine ponchos if you can find them. I have not seen any commercial copies that compare, for the money.

Thanks for all the information and input.
Just another reason I love this place, wisdom tempered with experience.