Poncho or Waterproofs

[Globetrotter.uk]

I'm sorting out my kit and now I use a hammock and tarp, I was wondering whether I need the poncho, or do I ditch it for a set of waterproofs?

What do your prefer?

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I like ponchos but if the wind gets up they can be tricky.

 

[Treeclipper]

I like my Poncho & if it does get windy a bit of para cord or a belt round the middle helps.

Tree

 

[Shambling Shaman]

I like my Poncho & if it does get windy a bit of para cord or a belt round the middle helps.

Agreed - I do have a belt handy just for that, but have been court out in the open and struggled. To be fair I think I would have struggled with a Jacket.

 

[Graham_S]

both have good points. A jacket cannot be improvised into a windbreak if the weather turns nasty on you, for example.

 

[mazeman]

I like both, but if it's really about staying dry, it's gotta be a jacket and trousers.

 

[andy_e]

Depends on the circumstances: If I'm likely to be moving around a lot then jacket & trousers, else the poncho for sitting around camp. If it's really wet I'll probably have both as the poncho makes a great wind-break / tarp extension / groundsheet.

 

[crazyclimber]

for hill walking / mountains softshell (all but waterproofs). For where there's likely to be heavy rain, waterproofs / softshell. Standard bushcrafting where there aren't downpours predicted it's a poncho and bivy bag for me

 

[Wayland]

I'm moving more and more towards the poncho these days.

I use a lot of wool so I only use waterproofs if it's pretty nasty and quite often I'll just add a wool poncho instead which also doubles as a blanket at night..

I'm quite looking forward to testing the ventile poncho that Littlebiglane is putting together.

 

[SimonM]

Both for me! All depends on what I am doing, as others have said...

• Hillwalking / expedition use, waterproofs
• Bushcrafting, ventile jacket, waxed Forester trousers and poncho if really wet.

Simon

 

[Jared]

Poncho.

Have worn both at the same time once, poncho was to keep the rucksack dry. On Pen-y-fan, and the a serious amount of water was coming down. Windy too, could get a nice lean into it with the poncho on.

 

[Bogman10]

Where? - Walking in a wooded area with not a lot of wind = poncho
- Walking in a wide open area with a lot of wind = Coat and pants
When ?- around camp doing lite chores = poncho
- hiking with a purpose or other strenuous exercise = Breathable coat and pants

On a budget ?= can't go too wrong with a Poncho ( just stay off the mountain tops & out of the monsoons! )
Money no object ? ( I hate you ! ... no I am not the jealous type. ) Best waterproof garments you can buy at the hiking stores. Pick up a poncho too, since you are Mr. Moneybags anyway! ( Lucky &!$@ )
Or do what I did , start with the poncho and save up for the rest.

 

[steveo]

Poncho for me !

 

[Deleted member 4605]

Same as all the others - depends on what I'm doing.

There's a combo missing off the poll though - poncho & waterproof trousers. Best of both worlds!

 

[littlebiglane]

I'm moving more and more towards the poncho these days.

I use a lot of wool so I only use waterproofs if it's pretty nasty and quite often I'll just add a wool poncho instead which also doubles as a blanket at night..

I'm quite looking forward to testing the ventile poncho that Littlebiglane is putting together.

Me too!

Its horses for courses really. Ummm a poncho on the North Face of the Eiger? Possibly not (then a bowdrill would be rather tricky up there aswell!). For much of my bushcraft stuff in woods and also alot of walking over exposed places like Dartmoor I now veer towards a poncho. I have found the coverage gives me excellent respite from the rain still leaving me free to access my dry pockets under the poncho, it also goes over my rucsack to keep it dry. It is also long enough to cover my legs down to my knees so all I need is a pair of gaitors to give me waterproof coverage. I also find that since it it not sealed like jackets it gives a less humid environment underneath. If I have press studs at the cuffs I can make sleeves and if I have a belt around the waist in very high winds then it makes a jacket. Of course as it is not a "sealed unit" it is not tecnically as weatherproof as a jacket - but IMHO more versatile. I also can sleep under it etc..


I am hoping this Ventile poncho will be a step nearer my ideal.

LBL

 

[malente]

Mostly waterproofs for me.

But I might dip my toe in and use a poncho next time...

 

[stooboy]

Ive got some ex german army goretex water proofs i was thinking of ditching in favor of a poncho. I like multi-purpose items.

 

[treadlightly]

I like the idea of a poncho but am not convinced it works for me. I recently spent the night at Stonehenge for the solstice in constant all night drizzle. I though my poncho would be ideal as I was static so wore it with shorts and long wool socks. Trouble was, even though i was not moving, condensation built up on the inside of the poncho which was a pain. Something to do with the dew point maybe? Anyone else have this problem?

 

[myotis]

I like the idea of a poncho but am not convinced it works for me. I recently spent the night at Stonehenge for the solstice in constant all night drizzle. I though my poncho would be ideal as I was static so wore it with shorts and long wool socks. Trouble was, even though i was not moving, condensation built up on the inside of the poncho which was a pain. Something to do with the dew point maybe? Anyone else have this problem?

Doesn't that depend on the material just as it would with a jacket? What was your poncho made of?

Graham

 

[treadlightly]

It is non breathable nylon. But I wasn't active and there are obviously lots of venting possibilities with a poncho. Despite these two things it still got wet on the inside