mcseal2
WKR
- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 2,715
I've talked about this on various other threads, but thought I'd make one dedicated to the new version. I read we all pack our fears, and I don't disagree. The items I won't compromise on have become a fixed blade knife, metal container (Vargo titanium BOT), and a poncho or tarp. I am always looking to carry less and lighter things that are more multi-purpose. On some trips like my Alaska hunts I carry a good rain jacket and pants plus a tarp. Sometimes even when packing breathable rain gear I'll use the poncho or a tarp to protect the rain gear while holed up waiting out a hard rain. Most other times I can get by with less, especially if I watch the weather forecast. I want something for weather protection but don't need a lot of weight and bulk, especially on a planned day hunt with the possibility of an overnight.
I've used a bunch of ponchos over the years including the old military poncho, Frog Toggs, MyTrailCo, and Onewind. They always worked as ponchos, but I wanted more room to use them as a shelter. I also have tarps I carry when planning to use a tarp for shelter from Kifaru, SeekOutside, Hyperlite, and others. The Kifaru Sheep Tarp used in the cave configuration became my minimum shelter I actually felt like I got good protection from. I like to be able to get fully under cover with my pack as a pillow, and the 6 sections of Thermarest Z lite pad I carry to sit on glassing under my core. By using one trekking pole under the front center of the tarp, staking the back to the ground to protect from wind, and using both the tie out points to elevate the tarp off my head and feet using my glassing tripod and 2nd trekking pole, I could make a decent shelter from just what I was carrying.
For this season I bought a Wilderness Innovations Poncho Survival Shelter SuperUL in XL size. Its 108"x56". For reference the Kifaru Sheep tarp is 112"x60". It makes a very similar shelter to the Sheep Tarp, but with the added benefit of being a poncho. It's a bit long for doing a lot of hiking in poncho form on me at 5'11", but I really like the extra length when using it as a shelter. I can rig it up to ride higher over me and my pack if needed for poncho use also.
I had a local tent shop add a couple extra tie out points like the Sheep Tarp has to elevate the ends for more room in shelter form. I then seam sealed the tabs they added from the top, and put a couple silnylon repair patches on the bottom side for extra protection from drips. I got a couple small carabiners and ranger bands to attach the lines to the extra tie out points to add a bit of stretch and reduce stress.
With my modifications the poncho itself is now 10.8oz, all the lines, carabiners, and ranger bands are 1.9oz, and the stakes with their bag are 4.1oz. This may not even count as ultralight in today's world of super lightweight dyneema shelters, but just over a pound for a combination of emergency shelter and rain gear still works for me.
I've used a bunch of ponchos over the years including the old military poncho, Frog Toggs, MyTrailCo, and Onewind. They always worked as ponchos, but I wanted more room to use them as a shelter. I also have tarps I carry when planning to use a tarp for shelter from Kifaru, SeekOutside, Hyperlite, and others. The Kifaru Sheep Tarp used in the cave configuration became my minimum shelter I actually felt like I got good protection from. I like to be able to get fully under cover with my pack as a pillow, and the 6 sections of Thermarest Z lite pad I carry to sit on glassing under my core. By using one trekking pole under the front center of the tarp, staking the back to the ground to protect from wind, and using both the tie out points to elevate the tarp off my head and feet using my glassing tripod and 2nd trekking pole, I could make a decent shelter from just what I was carrying.
For this season I bought a Wilderness Innovations Poncho Survival Shelter SuperUL in XL size. Its 108"x56". For reference the Kifaru Sheep tarp is 112"x60". It makes a very similar shelter to the Sheep Tarp, but with the added benefit of being a poncho. It's a bit long for doing a lot of hiking in poncho form on me at 5'11", but I really like the extra length when using it as a shelter. I can rig it up to ride higher over me and my pack if needed for poncho use also.
I had a local tent shop add a couple extra tie out points like the Sheep Tarp has to elevate the ends for more room in shelter form. I then seam sealed the tabs they added from the top, and put a couple silnylon repair patches on the bottom side for extra protection from drips. I got a couple small carabiners and ranger bands to attach the lines to the extra tie out points to add a bit of stretch and reduce stress.
With my modifications the poncho itself is now 10.8oz, all the lines, carabiners, and ranger bands are 1.9oz, and the stakes with their bag are 4.1oz. This may not even count as ultralight in today's world of super lightweight dyneema shelters, but just over a pound for a combination of emergency shelter and rain gear still works for me.