Poncho functionality

The old military ponchos like I was first familiar with were heavily coated and didn't leak if sat on. My experience with the later, lighter nylon ones is that they will wick through. Early one is OD, not camo "PONCHO, COATED NYLON TWILL, FSN-8405-290-0550 ,APPAREL CORPORATION 3-4-68". Obviously not made any more. But these tended to delaminate over time and the coating flaked off or cracked with age. But sparks didn't zip through them like the newer ones.
 
Yeah, that's the one I'm eyeing now. Dual purpose for other couple activities perhaps... :D

Seriously though, you've got me considering dropping the poncho and bivy for the bothy, and umbrellas is not a totally merit-less idea...very Jardine anyway haha. Once it gets windy enough to be annoying either just get wet if you're ok or bothy if you're not.
 
Yeah, the newer ones aren't as robust I'm sure. It's PU so the stuff is waterproof while it lasts :thumbup:

The only thing holding me back from bothy bags is the tarp functionality for no-rain weather where I just want shade or wind protection but be in the open air and have views. I use my poncho-tarp way more often in those tasks.

Good food for thought :thumbup:
 
Wearing your poncho you finally make it to the summit, promontory or windy high ridge and your beloved garment whips violently up and around your head like the aluminum foil on a Hershey kiss you will instantly become aware of the contrary argument for ponchos, a fair weather friend. I've been to the summit of many of the mountains in my neck of the woods. Only wore a poncho once.
 
No need for sarcasm. The wind limitation was already acknowledged, and we know the poncho isn't the answer to everything. But it is another tool in the tool box.

And FWIW, I've never had a poncho fly off like that. Built-in shock cords or a simple cord belt are simple ways to keep that from happening.
 
ThriftyJoe said:
[...]This is the bothy I was thinking of: http://www.campsaver.com/terra-nova-bothy-bag-2 $39.95 and 14 oz.[...]
Click to expand...

They make a lighter version too, at 9oz, but more than double the price. I don't think I'd want to go that route for day-hike use (5oz isn't going to make enough of a difference at those loads) for the price and most likely durability, but it's an option. I think it'd make an excellent backup shelter if you were backpacking way out in the boonies in nasty weather and your primary shelter failed.

ETA:

The Brooks Range one Codger listed also looks good. There are these things called Blizzard Bags as well which seem a bit more geared for winter or alpine use. I don't know, it just sort of looks like a more robust bivy. If youre willing to carry it though, i could see it being a good year round carry in any environment I suppose. I'm going to have to figure out reasonable temp ranges for these things and what would best suit the majority of my trip environments. I mean the Blizzard Bag is supposedly tested to 8 togs...

I'm going to play around with my poncho this weekend, see if I can effectively turn it into a bothy bag (sit on my pack, legs and arms in, cinch things up while leaving a breathing hole, etc).

Lastly in any case, perhaps a little candle is worth adding back into the kit. Like beeswax or something with a longer burn time than your standard tea light candle.

Ok, no more thread drift from me.
 
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Right, those have always been my reservations about candle use. I wouldn't use it in a bothy/bivy, but as Codger did with an easily vented poncho or space blanket, I'd give it a go, with care of course.

Lantern candle would be a great, but yeah, I wouldn't want to carry it.

Anyway, I'm going to check out the BrooksRange and Terra Nova bothies, as well as the Blizzard Bag. If if change, to bring it back to OP, I'd drop poncho. Rain suit if I knew it would be raining and I want to move, otherwise bring a tarp if I know I'll want portable shade and wind block or overhead protection from rain without wind (non-emergency use to be able to sit and chill but still enjoy open air and scenery). In either case a lightweight but functional bothy (better for me and the GF and will work solo) or blizzard bag (solo) will be along in the pack.

ETA: Just picked up a Terra Nova Superlite Bothy 2, after selling off some stuff. Will make another thread later specifically about it when I get to play with it. I'll probably pick up a regular Bothy 2 later for more regular day use, I opted to go with the Superlite for the lighter weight, which would make it more feasible for base camp type backpacking trips where I'm carrying stuff away for a day.
 
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The UCO candle lantern comes in several flavors from the standard in brass or aluminum to the micro:

•Compacts down to 2.5 in. height for easy storage during backpacking trips; weighs just 4.2 oz. with 2 tea light candles (included)
•1 tea light candle sits in the holder ready to be lit; a second tea light candle hides in the base of the lantern
•Each tea light candle provides 3 - 4 hrs. of burn time
•Includes a glass chimney that stores in the base when not in use
•Carry handle and hanging bail let you hang the Uco Micro candle lantern from a tree branch
REI has them for about $14.

I have the old standard which sells for $25.

•Lantern is super easy to use—just slide the glass down, light the exposed candle and you're good to go
•Clip the included reflector to the top edge of the lantern to direct the light to where you need it most; reflector weighs only 0.3 oz.
•Compact lantern is ideal for backpacking and home emergency kits; it collapses down to 4.25 in. in height for compact storage
•Includes a single candle that provides up to 9 hrs. of warm light
•Viewing slot on the side of the lantern lets you monitor the slow-burning candle to see how much is left
•Spring-loaded system keeps the candle at a consistent height
•Pack the lantern in the included impact-resistant neoprene Cocoon™ case; it helps prevent scratches, dents and broken glass while you're transporting the lantern
•Hang the Uco Original Candle lantern up or carry it around camp with the metal handle

The standard weighs 6.4 ounces. I don't have a carrying case for mine but in years of use I have never broken it. I even use it here at home when the power goes out, in addition to my oil lamps.
 
While they do have their cons, they're easy to carry around and much better than getting soaked.
 
ThriftyJoe said:
I would be interested to know how it works out. Also if it can be used solo? I've never seen a pic of a solo hiker in a bothy bag by himself.
Click to expand...

I've seen a video and a mention here and there; I'm pretty certain it can. I think if I need to, I can use my pack on the other end or use poles. Or I can just close it up close around myself so I don't have too much air to heat with my body. I'll take pics and make a thread later. I think it's easier with the regular version because it has dedicated holes for trekking pole support.

I'll pick up the regular one next month or something, and that one will see more day-hike use because I'd be more inclined to just use it whenever.
 
Bothy bags???

In the British Hills, standard emergency equipment in every walkers rucksac is a "bivi bag"

Which is a very big orange plastic bag that goes over you and you sit on your pack when you are benighted
And is cheap and cheerful, and costs only a couple of pounds, a few dollars
It sits in your pack unused until you need it
then fold it up for the next time

No big deal of over engineering at a high price
 
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Candle lanterns

I have an old spring loaded French aluminum lantern of some 35 years use
It is excellent
But the major drawback is getting the big fat candle to get it to work optimally

I 'recently' went to the UCO Mini
It takes a Tea Candles, which I can buy in any supermarket
It is windproof also and I purchased a spare glass globe
And has an easy carrying/hanging bail
Cheap and cheerful
 
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ThriftyJoe said:
This? http://www.lasoutdoors.com/partnumber.asp?cid=30901&pnid=312335

Some yanks here carry a space blanket version like this: http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/product.php?product=144
Click to expand...

Exactly
But the picture shows the person lying down

I have only seen them used sitting up
Feet in your rucksac with the extention collar round your waist
And arms pulled out your sleeves to cross your arms for extra warmth
And of course all this in a sleeping bag if you have one

This and a couple of bars of chocolate
And you pass a cold wet uncomfortable night in safety!
 
neeman said:
Bothy bags???

In the British Hills, standard emergency equipment in every walkers rucksac is a "bivi bag"

Which is a very big orange plastic bag that goes over you and you sit on your pack when you are benighted
And is cheap and cheerful, and costs only a couple of pounds, a few dollars
It sits in your pack unused until you need it
then fold it up for the next time

No big deal of over engineering at a high price
Click to expand...


That's what I'm using now (the yank version Joe linked, the thermal bivy version).

Odd you say that about British use, it seems bothy is the thing for UK walkers these days... It's only now catching on in the States apparently. The name itself, "bothy", comes from the public use cabin shelters that are spread around the UK in remote areas for walker use.... Example in this video, @ 0:40:

[video=youtube;EHmfxOBB3Ug]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHmfxOBB3Ug[/video]

There really isn't much of a difference between the bivy and the bothy. It really boils down to where the hole is and how you enter it. I think the bothy design accomplishes maximal protection with minimal set-up (the hole is under you, not in front of your face); I prefer it conceptually to the bivy I have. I have a bothy on the way though, so I'll hopefully confirm that for myself soon enough. I also would think a silnylon bothy is much more durable than a polyethylene bivy, especially once you have two people getting settled in the thing.

If I wanted a strictly solo emergency shelter in a bivy design, I think the Blizzard Bag is the way to go. I think it essentially claims to basically be as warm as a spring/autumn weight duvet. I mean, the thermal comfort is going to depend on your own metabolic rate, but at 8 togs/5.2 clo, that's got to be a good bit of insulation for the average joe if the claim is true. Given resources I've seen elsewhere, a clo of 5.2 may keep the average person resting prone thermally comfortable down to about 30*F. Which means the lower survival limit may be what, 20*F maybe...

[video=youtube;K_xZlQSOP5U]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xZlQSOP5U[/video]
 
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