The Handy Poncho

C

coote

Joined
Apr 3, 2006
Messages
1,465
When I woke this morning it was raining. I had to go out and check my snares so I grabbed my poncho. (I got one possum from 13 snares, and I have a large portion of it simmering in my slow cooker as I type this).

Ponchos aren't a common "off the shelf" item in my neighbourhood. I have seen the odd decent one for sale, but mostly they are just the cheapo emergency types made out of flimsy plastic...fine for occasional use.

I got a buddy who makes protective clothing to make me a poncho. When stretched out it is a rectangle with a hole and a hood in the middle. It measures about 3'9'' x 7' when opened up.

Ponchos can be a danged nuisance in windy conditions...they blow all around the place. Mine has some velcro at the sides so that I can help prevent some of this, but sometimes I tie a bit of cord around my waist outside the poncho to help anchor everything when it is breezy.

They also get in the road when you have a lot of work to do. You bend over to pick something up, or maybe you try to climb something... and you can end up standing on the front of your poncho. Once again the cord around the waist helps.... but if I have a lot of work to do I prefer to wear a rain jacket and waterproof leggings.

They can also suddenly obscure your view of the ground in front of you when negotiating tricky terrain, particularly when you are climbing a steep bank...or if it is breezy.

But for general walking around they are great. I can hide a small rifle under mine. I can also wear my pack underneath it...and get it on and off without taking off my poncho.

When I fish from a small dinghy, I can spread it around me and cover boat seat as well.

It feels really cosy.... kinda like when I was a kid and got covered up with a blanket.

The poncho can be used to make a quick shelter. I can fasten tie cords to mine by bunching up the fabric and tying a knot around the bunch.

A while back I camped out overnight and I used my poncho for a tarp. It didn't rain fortunately, because it blew like mad and rain would have easily got blown under the poncho. But on a fairly calm night it would be good to keep the dew or drizzle off your sleeping bag. Here's a picture of my poncho shelter:
Poncho.jpg
 
I use my poncho alot for shelter. About the only time I don't is when I'm camping with a hammock and they I use a plastic tarp.

This was a double bunk my daughter and I built under a rock overhang during last rainy season. The area under the rock was dry and the rain was very heavy at times. The one poncho covered us both.
rcoabrigoig1.jpg


We usually snap the two ponchos together and make a tent.
garliccamp0021cz7.jpg


Sometimes you have to get creative if there's nothing to tie to.
bb2leantonc3.jpg


The problem with using your poncho for a shelter is that you can't go back out into the rain once it's set up. I usually use a waterproof bivy in addition to the poncho.

I camped in this spot for two days last week. I never even took the poncho out of the pack as the weather was perfect. Mac
variousandbb30621ev7.jpg
 
What is a good quality poncho going to run today, and where can you get one?

I grew up in a BSA vinyl with vinyl zipper and surplus nylon poncho. Both worked great.

I believe the newer nylon can be had in the new digital now.

Great post. Thanks.
 
I have three Korean-Vietnam vintage US Army ponchos. Heavy rubberized canvas. Waterproof as hell, patchable, snap two together and you have a tent.

For a while I had a recent Army camo poncho, but the thing's coating all came off and it turned into a wet rag.
 
Great photos thanks Mac. Looks like a very interesting spot. Fantastic bed platform you've got there.

Yep... you've got to have lots of cordage to set up a creative shelter like these. Braided nylon is excellent for this and all sorts of other uses, although you can use natural stuff if you have the time and nobody minds you hacking into the vegetation to make it.

Dang, that Alpha tent looks like a nifty idea.
 
Mac that is some good lashing to hold up a raised bed like that . I have tried that criss cross lashing before and could never get it tight .

Coote my poncho consists of a car blanket which somebody cut a hole into and stitched the edge of the hole . After that they actually stitched their name into it . I would have rather they worked harder on the hole stitching and leave the signature for works of art .

I definitely won,t entice the ladies wearing this thing . It is nice around the campfire and will keep a drizzle off me . I have wanted to upgrade it a bit . Like you I see too many drawbacks to it and it would be kinda hard to draw a bow while wearing it .

Maybe one like Stallone fixed up in rambo . Really no sleave/fold to get in the way and always tied at the waist . Stiff canvas like he used to preclude it billowing out . Now if I can only find my big survival knife . L:O:L
 
I haven't owned a poncho for years, but lately have been thinking about getting another one. Sure beats the sweating problems encountered with rain suits, and of course there is the shelter consideration. The problem is finding a good one. Guess I'm going to have to check the army surplus stores.

Thanks for the push, and runningboar, for the link. Looks like an idea to consider.

Doc
 
Yeah, you are right about the sweating problems with rain suits Doc. Who needs special gussets or hi-tech, breathable, expensive, new-age fabrics when you can have a poncho that hangs open at the sides. And speaking about bodily functions like sweat, it is a heck of a lot quicker to answer a call of nature (without making a mess) while wearing a poncho compared to wearing a full rain suit.

If you can't find a good poncho in a store near you, maybe Kevin will sell you his. If the name isn't right, you could always change yours to match it.

I reckon I could still shoot my bow while wearing my poncho Kevin. And furthermore I could keep a short one and some arrows under my poncho to protect it from the weather and the eyes of the anti-hunters. It is possible too that a poncho draped over you might break up your outline enough so that an animal isn't quite so afraid of the shape it sees...although I haven't really tested this idea. But some ponchos make quite a tell-tale noise when a branch scrapes over them, so that is one disadvantage while hunting.

On the shooting thing, you could always do what some of the characters do in western movies... you know, grow some stubble on your face, walk down the main street with your spurs jangling while chewing on a cigar, stare ahead of you with a fixed gaze, then dramatically fling your poncho over one shoulder to free up your holster and gun arm.

Seriously, on the bow shooting thing, I can draw about 27 inches or more with a textbook-type stance when shooting an arrow. But quite a while back I chose to shorten my draw to maybe 23 inches. This allowed me to have shorter bows and arrows, and it gave me more flexibility with my shooting positions. I now keep my bow arm slightly bent and I anchor the bowstring against a prominent upper tooth. The bent arm means that I don't have to wear a protective sleeve on my bow arm which keeps things simpler (even if I don't look quite as cool). If I had a more rigid classic shooting technique, then it is likely that loose clothing like a poncho could get in the road... and I can miss anyway without these added handicaps.

Having decided on using a shorter draw, I made a lot of arrows to suit it. I want to stick with a shorter draw, but I have come to believe that longer arrows are more accurate so I will probably make arrows longer in the future...at least a couple of inches longer than my draw anyway. Shorter natural arrow shoots are more plentiful than long ones, so maybe I will have to compromise sometimes.

Hmmm... maybe its time somebody started a primitive bow and arrow thread.
 
Outdoor survival guide had 5 swiss ponchos for around 2 dollars each. 12 bucks for 5 ponchos? that is a good deal.

I use my poncho in clear weather as a sort of bed roll/sleeping bag to save weight and to add convienence.
 
fixer27 said:
Outdoor survival guide had 5 swiss ponchos for around 2 dollars each. 12 bucks for 5 ponchos? that is a good deal.
Click to expand...

Some kind of pointer to the website, please? :D
 
Coote , Howard hill used to scrunch up like you . It was the only way he could find arrows in his spine .

Because of a shoulder injury I tend to do the opposite . I have a 32 inch drawlength . I usually scrunch to 31 so as to use the cedar arrows I like .
It may be because I am generous in proportions that I tend to hit loose clothing with my string . I don,t bend my bow arm so as to take it easy on the old shoulder .

In truth , when hunting I wear a short jacket that exactly fits me when the bow is drawn . Any tighter and the jacket would split under the arms .
I do that or a long sleeve sweater that is form fitting .

Is not the best way . Its just a way I comprimise to get things done .
I agree a large blob shape/poncho may be less alarming to a deer .
I tend to be a large blob shape all by myself . L:O:L
 
The poncho excells for camoflage. It completely obliterates the human form. I have this long standing project to make a poncho that is camo in one side and stone on the other. That way I could just flip it over and become a rock.

It's intresting (to me anyway) how both of my "homes", PA and Central Brazil, have such similar terrain as far as camo goes. Mac
 
Paddling_man said:
Some kind of pointer to the website, please? :D
Click to expand...

I rode through there last week. You definitely need one with the weather y'all are having. :rolleyes: :D
 
ABTOMAT-47 said:
I have three Korean-Vietnam vintage US Army ponchos. Heavy rubberized canvas. Waterproof as hell, patchable, snap two together and you have a tent.

For a while I had a recent Army camo poncho, but the thing's coating all came off and it turned into a wet rag.
Click to expand...

I have seen the older ones coating come off like you are talking about but the new ones are different I think. I have beat the hell out of them and never had a problem. I have used them for shelter, ground cloth, and improvised stretcher and they have stayed waterproof. Try a new one I think you will be happy with it. Chris
 
Terry Newton said:
I rode through there last week. You definitely need one with the weather y'all are having. :rolleyes: :D
Click to expand...

I thought I was going to have to break out a kayak! :D
 
Pict that is an interesting Idea . Multi terrain camo would be versatile . I myelf have developed a grey color but not specifically to mimic stone . Just to blend/fade in . Do you hunt in Brazil ? What are their game laws like ?
 
I like a poncho as an alternative to a rain jacket oftentimes with the exceptions listed in the original post.

Gives more coverage (mine is down close to the knees) and is great for
the trail or those long walks with the dog in less than favorable weather.
 
I always have a surplus poncho with me. I prefer it to a rain jacket for the versitility of it and the way it keeps me dry. Here in florida you always use rain gear.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top