Interest in a Poncho Tarp?

[mcseal2]

I'm curious if there is any interest in an improved poncho tarp?

I have had and used military ponchos often over the years. I still take one to the river with me, but use it as a ground sheet more than anything else. They are handy because they are cheap and durable, but the hoods are pretty small and they are pretty narrow when used as a shelter.

I carried and used a MyTrailCo poncho tarp on several hunts over the years. Especially on earlier season hunts in dry climates it made more sense to me than rain gear. I used it more as a wind break glassing than as a shelter or rain gear. It did ok as a simple lean to for wind but was pretty narrow to use any other way. I also packed it on my caribou hunt. I used it to block a cold wind one day while glassing, set up with trekking poles. I figured if I was waiting out a hard windy rain I could put it over my breathable rain gear to protect it from wetting out. My rain gear has treated me well, but I have heard the horror stories of when it does fail. I always thought the Mytrailco version was a little smaller and less durable than I wanted, but liked the idea.

I have a Seek DST tarp that I really like for use as a tarp. That said it can be on the big side for a glassing tarp at 10'x10' and is not a poncho. On the caribou hunt I ended up carrying both the DST and the MyTrailCo poncho tarp in my pack some days. I used both at different times on the trip.

Thinking about a more multi-use version on that trip made me remember a Pathfinder poncho tarp I'd bought several years ago. It is a 7'x7'sturdy silnylon tarp with a velcro section that holds a large hood. I tracked it down from a tote of gear and used it again this winter. It's larger size and square shape make it just big enough to be a good plow point shelter for one guy. I spent some time in it one day when it couldn't decide if it wanted to snow, ice, or rain. As a test I left my Thermarest Z lite pad in it when I left at dark, and came back the next morning to find everything still in good shape and my pad dry. I also used it as a poncho and waited out a cold rain for a half hour or so. I need to use it more, but thinking back on some earlier fishing trips plus this winter it has never failed me.

It is on the heavy side. I don't have it here now, but I think it was around 18oz the way I packed it. I carried it in a fashionable and protective Crown Royal bag with some guylines.

It is no longer offered by the Pathfinder store and they have no plans to bring it back. When I called the people who made it for them they said they won't make another run without 20 orders. I'm curious if anyone else would be interested in one, or what changes you'd like to see? Also I'd be curious if any custom makers are making a similar but better product? I'd like to have another one or two.

Features I want:
-Oversize hood. I want to be able to tuck back in it while watching an animal I've already spotted, keep the rain off my face
-Square shape. I like square tarps for the quick easy plow point shelters I often use
-Stout guyline loops
-Off center hood opening. I want to have the hood flap able to be set to open downhill when using it as a tarp

Any features others would want?

Also how would cuben fiber be for one of these? I've never been around a shelter made from it. I would definitely like a lighter version than what I have.

Thanks

 

[KChunter71]

Sounds interesting

 

[Desk Jockey]

Mountain Laurel designs had one that was pretty good. I don’t see it on their site right now but maybe it will come back.

I run one called a gatewood cape by six moon designs.

 

[robertchutch]

following up, did you ever try to make one?

 

[mcseal2]

I never did, I’m still carrying the Pathfinder one.

 

[robertchutch]

i ended up grabbing a $30 amazon silnylon one. Its been doing a decent job so far

 

[Read1t48]

How about the Gatewood Cape by Six Moons Designs?

 

[Desk Jockey]

I ended up buying the MLD version. It has less shape than the gate wood cape. The gate wood is a small floorless tent with a zipper. The mld is more of a rectangle tarp with a hood. As expected, one works better as a shelter and one works better as a poncho.

I have been carrying the MLD version more based on weight. TBD, by The time you add a bug net / floor interrior, you are getting close to the wait of a small tent. Ponchos still hold a place in my heart but if I think I am gonna need a tent, I would prefer to bring a tent.

 

[robertchutch]

I ended up buying the MLD version. It has less shape than the gate wood cape. The gate wood is a small floorless tent with a zipper. The mld is more of a rectangle tarp with a hood. As expected, one works better as a shelter and one works better as a poncho.

I have been carrying the MLD version more based on weight. TBD, by The time you add a bug net / floor interrior, you are getting close to the wait of a small tent. Ponchos still hold a place in my heart but if I think I am gonna need a tent, I would prefer to bring a tent.

I suppose the real weight savings in that setup are in not packing rain gear

 

[Desk Jockey]

I suppose the real weight savings in that setup are in not packing rain gear

True. However, you will eventually find yourself in a position where you might want shelter and rain gear at the same time. I am intrigued by a zpacks version that is a 50x90 frond cloth.

 

[robertchutch]

My setup will likely move to where I have a pertex wind shirt with the poncho being main rain gear

 

[BBob]

Way back when I was young and poor I carried a mil-surp poncho. I had forgotten how useful that thing was down here during the monsoon early archery hunts. I could sit by a tree, drape it over me and cover all my gear. Something I can’t do with regular rain gear.

 

[Desk Jockey]

My setup will likely move to where I have a pertex wind shirt with the poncho being main rain gear

Agree. I actually tend to carry mine as backup to A wind shirt or soft shell. Light rain I don’t Bother, but for heavy rain I will break out the poncho. great as a glassing shelter too.

 

[Ferrulewax]

Yes, I commented about this in the “gear you wish existed thread”:

Around 9x6ft, silnylon/silpily tarp in Camo for use as a tarp, blind and rain gear. Hole and hood, back longer than the front. Because it is oversized it would probably also need kam snaps or velcro or a clip system to manage the extra fabric. If someone made an extra wide camo fabric 70” like the xenon sil or rbtr I would give it a shot myself. I’ve got a blue golite poncho that is about right size wise but could stand to be a bit bigger.

 

[mcseal2]

For me at 5’11” I like the square 7’8” tarp I use for size. Being square its really easy to set up in a quick plow point and just big enough for full coverage. It’s not ideal to have it that long when moving, but not bad either. I’m never wearing it when traveling much anyway.

I’m hunting from a base camp more than a backpack these days. I’ll always still carry rain gear if conditions justify it, and a tarp or poncho is an additional option. One of the main places I want both is Alaska. The tarp or poncho can keep rain from reaching my breathable rain gear, ensure it does not wet out while stationary glassing.