Qualities of a good rain PONCHO

C

coote

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Apr 3, 2006
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Ponchos are made in various sizes from a range of fabrics. They are simple, versatile and effective.

I have found two significant problems with a full sized poncho:

1. It is easy to tread on the front flap when climbing a steep trail

2. They can blow open and flap around in a big wind.

But apart from those two things I still love them. I really feel cosy in mine, and they are great when you want to keep your gun dry or out of sight. They can cover your pack as well as your body. And they can double as a small shelter or groundsheet. I think that they may also hide your body shape and thus act as a form of camouflage.

So if I am trying to design the ultimate poncho.......

What should it be made of? (For durability? Ease of carrying?)
What are the best dimensions (As a raincoat and maybe a tarp)
Should it have side fastenings (velcro, snap studs etc)?
Should it have eyelets for making a tarp? What sort?

Any other ideas?

Any links to good info on rain ponchos?

Thanks in advance..... Coote
 
I have a Campmor coated ripstop nylon model that has an additional flap of about 12-15" at the bottom of the back. Velcros out of the way when you have no pack but can be released when you are wearing a pack and require extra coverage. I've used the feature several times and like it.

I have a couple surplus Swiss ponchos in Alpenflage camo. Pretty nice for hunting or nature photography because the pattern breaks up your outline significantly.

I also have a Campmor Silnylon poncho without the flap. It is significantly lighter and packs smaller. However, it is not as durable and blows around in a lighter breeze. I take it on 10 day backpacks in the Sierra where weight is more of an issue than daily rain protection.

DancesWithKnives
 
I'm somewhat puzzled about weight.

On one hand, weight is weight: always have to drag it around.

On the over hand heavier ponchos feel more comfortable, it is really nice to have a sturdy poncho that falls straight, you can sit on etc... rather than some utra-light stuff that flaps around in the wind, gets stuck by electrostatics...

The BW is pretty nice, but it almost a kilo (about 2lbs).
 
An eccentric old geezer friend of mine sewed lead split shot fishing weights into the seams at the bottom of his raingear. The small weights hold the bottom of the garment down better in wind. If you used weights that you would already be carrying in an emergency fishing kit, you'd be getting an additional use out of weight you'd be carrying anyway.

DancesWithKnives
 
DWK2 said:
An eccentric old geezer friend of mine sewed lead split shot fishing weights into the seams at the bottom of his raingear. The small weights hold the bottom of the garment down better in wind. If you used weights that you would already be carrying in an emergency fishing kit, you'd be getting an additional use out of weight you'd be carrying anyway.

DancesWithKnives
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Along that same line of thinking- how about small pockets at the corners? They could be left empty for packing and when not needed, but filled with stones or bits of gear when needed for weight or as tying points when the poncho was used as shelter?
 
I like the pebble pockets idea. If it were a warm rain with no wind, I'd just as soon allow the poncho to hang a little more loosely and perhaps a bit farther from my body. Being able to use the poncho with no bottom weights (empty pockets) would facilitate that.

You should patent that: The new "Wonder Poncho 3P" with "Patented Pebble Pockets"!!!

DancesWithKnives
 
MacHete said:
Along that same line of thinking- how about small pockets at the corners? They could be left empty for packing and when not needed, but filled with stones or bits of gear when needed for weight or as tying points when the poncho was used as shelter?
Click to expand...

That is a great idea.

You might want to sew in paracord tie-downs, instead of eyelets, to minimize tear outs.
 
That's another good idea. I believe that rather than eyelets, MacHete was thinking that you could put medium-size stones in the pockets and tie around them with something like paracord---to create a relatively tear-resistant anchor point.

DancesWithKnives
 
How about a rope attachment so as to tie it around your waist if the wind too strong and the poncho flapping aroundthe rope can also be use in setting it up as a shelter?
 
DWK2 said:
That's another good idea. I believe that rather than eyelets, MacHete was thinking that you could put medium-size stones in the pockets and tie around them with something like paracord---to create a relatively tear-resistant anchor point.

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...

Sorry, I haven't had my coffee yet. I agree that idea would be the best for the corners. In the middle tie-downs, you could have a 1 foot piece of paracord sewn into, and stored, in the pocket. That would allow you some more staking options while maintaining the great pocket idea.
 
DWK2 said:
That's another good idea. I believe that rather than eyelets, MacHete was thinking that you could put medium-size stones in the pockets and tie around them with something like paracord---to create a relatively tear-resistant anchor point.

DancesWithKnives
Click to expand...

Exactly. :)

darkhawk424 said:
How about a rope attachment so as to tie it around your waist if the wind too strong and the poncho flapping aroundthe rope can also be use in setting it up as a shelter?
Click to expand...

This is another design improvement opportunity. I've had a couple milsurp ponchos that had waist ties in them that were always tangling up. I think shorter, integral ties anchored along the hem would be easier to use when wearing the poncho, and more useful when using as a shelter. :thumbup:
 
I think if I were making one I'd hunt down some rubberized nylon. Easy to work, durable, and repairable. There's going to be some weight penalty with that but if you get a good compromise on the ounce per yard I don't think it wouldn't be too horrific. I've a bergan cover made from that and for it's size and versatility the weight isn't bad.

Obviously silnylon is going to be the lightest. I love that fabric. It's what I make all my roofing from and now wouldn't consider anything else. However I'd reject it for a poncho. I seldom use a poncho as a poncho, but when I do it needs to be good at three things 1] roof, 2] clothing, 3] flooring. I think silnylon fails on two of those aspects. Worst, I think it would make a useless floor. Great on a lawn or kids camping on carpet but not in the real word with dirt, debris, twigs, thorns, and whatnot to poke through. Then there's the care you'd need to take not to attack it your side with stones in the tread of your boots, cooking spills, and whatever else you can think of. Nah, too weedy. Then there's the wearing it. I've never tried but it strikes me as having all the disadvantages of one of those lightweight disposable things that get issued to grannies and tourists – all flapping around and no structure – and you'll still feel the rain beating down on you even if it doesn't get through. Not much fun. Still, if you do go this route, and you need anchorage, I think you'd do better to use water as ballast rather than medium-size rocks.

At the opposite end of the spectrum I have a couple of British issue ponchos. Great zot are they lumps. I think they're made from something like 4oz PU coated. They are a packing nightmare. They are stiff and heavy. I've used a bunch of other ponchos; the old US issue woodland ripstop, and a bunch of other European ones, and nothing compares to it. Beyond that weight and packing space penalty though actually as a poncho for use I think they are the best. I have no qualms about using one as a groundsheet. It's built for wrapping yourself up in some in some rocky sump as well as roofing and clothing. Lay a lot of apparently waterproof materials on a puddle and lay on the top and water pressure will force through. Not so with these. The stiffness comes into its own when you wear it too. Not only is there a lot less wind flap but also the stiffness means you really do get the feeling of being under a shell compared to the others. That can be further improved my modifying the hood. I used the wire you get off the roll to make beachcasting grip leads to wire the hood on one for someone. That increased the shell aspect considerably. In short, if I wanted a poncho for a job end-to-end I'd use one of these. If I wanted a casual use poncho to stow in my kit the penalties are too great.

For me it would boil down to how much use I was going to get from it. If it was to spend decent length of time in a bag I'd go for a pack-a-mac weight flimsy one, silnylon or whatever. If I was going to strike out from the start in it as one might do waterproofs then I'd go for bombproof like that British issue job. Somewhere between the two you've the 2oz per yard PU type materials. In fact, if it was the first one I'd made I'd probably do it in something cheap like this , and then have a go in it and see what I liked and hated. I am drawn to that rubberized stuff like my bergan cover though if it was me building one for me. Nylon eyelets, tapes, and small diameter shock cord should bring it all together nicely.
 
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I use a GoLite poncho that can be used for a lean-to shelter in a pinch.

Qualities to look for?

Light weight

Good hood design

Long back length to cover your pack. This should have snaps or velcro to tuck it up when not needed.

Snaps or velcro on the sides.

Grommets or loops on sides and corners for pitching as a shelter

The wind issues can be cured with a paracord belt.

Add one of Adventure Medical bivys for a good emergency shelter combo. With a good clothing insulation layer, some boughs or leaf litter for ground insulation and a nice fire you can handle some pretty tough weather.
 
Some brands already come with corner pockets sewn in to hold the tieout lines on the poncho. One of the things that irks folks with ponchos is how big the neck hole is, no kidding. Try a few on and you'll see how different feeling they can be when worn.
 
Now if you could saw small pouches at the edge of each corner you can use your walking sticks or any stick you find. Install then in an X into each corner to make a shelter that you can move around... I got some old tent poles that i been thinking of using...

Sasha
 
Can anybody tell us how the hood seam is sealed on Ponchos like the Go Lite? Is the joint sewn with thread and painted with a sealant? Or is the joint heat-welded? Any ideas? Thanks.... Coote.
 
LIKE DANCES, i HAVE THE (whoops) Campmor nylon version. It works ok when hiking tho it does sometimes catch on brush, so I prefer a rain suit. I often use the poncho with a set of "rain chaps" as well. Allows you to kneel in wet grass etc. This solves the issue of blow in and when not in use they make great stuff sacs! In short, known heavy weather-suit:light inexpected stuff-poncho: in between-poncho with chaps.YMMV
 
I have no experience making one but I have some Silnet and what I believe to be urethane coated ripstop nylon that I plan on making a tarp and poncho out of some day. I got it out of the dollar bin at Wally World!

Here are some links I have saved for ideas when I get around to it.

http://www.questoutfitters.com/patterns-jackets.htm

http://http://royrobinson.homestead.com/PonchoPlans.html

http://http://www.owfinc.com/Hardware/Patternslist/sew-go.asp

http://http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/00167.html
 
I'd like to see a WWII German Army Zeltbahn poncho made of modern fabrics, with snaps instead of buttons.

I've seen old ones used in re-enactments. They look pretty functional.

As an aside, there is a British clothing manufacturer who makes waterproof-water resistant outer garments of very dense cotton material. I gather it breathes very well but yet retains water resistance. High priced stuff. Unfortunately, I can't remember the name of the company.
 
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