Cloak/ shelter thing

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dean4442

Full Member
Nov 11, 2004
599
59
Wokingham UK
Hi guys, I've been having a good think and keep coming back to the idea. I'm normally nice and warm with my layers on whatever the weather until it rains and then as soon as I put on a waterproof I'm too warm, ponchos are great but I've been drawn to the idea of a cloak made of either waxed cotton or synthetic material. The bonus would be if it could also function as a loue shelter as well, am I barking mad and if so have any of you gone down the same route?
Cheers in advance.
 

dean4442

Full Member
Nov 11, 2004
599
59
Wokingham UK
I've had a look and I think I missed the chance to get one of the polish shelter halves, everybody seems to have snapped them up as they're obviously very good. Back to the drawing board.
 

Laurentius

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Aug 13, 2009
2,422
614
Knowhere
Over the years I have tried many things as my waterproof outer layer. The Polish Lavuu half is rather heavy and does not roll up small which is a disadvantage compared with something like a DD Poncho. On the other hand your lightweight synthetic material will delaminate over time. It's a seasonal compromise. In summer you want something you can carry easily with no trouble, but in winter you want something more durable.
 
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Bishop

Full Member
Jan 25, 2014
1,716
691
Pencader
Possibly one of the most interesting ideas to come out of brainstorming was from Six Moon Designs in 2006 when they pitched the "GreatWood Cape". Where instead of two separate capes joining to form a shelter, the shelter is more asymmetric like a pointed bivi and folds back onto itself to become a poncho. They use some ridiculously thin Sil-nylon that brings the weight down to 310g but pushes the price up to $124 before tax & postage. Great for long distance hikers, less so for for bushcraft. Unless that is somebody could make one using something a little tougher.
 
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Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
3,388
640
50
Wales
Exped released a Tarp Poncho not too long ago. Nothing too special about it, just seems a rectangle (260cm x 145cm) with a hood in the middle in 40D ripstop nylon, with weight at 370g.

 

Jared

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Sep 8, 2005
3,388
640
50
Wales
Or a Ventile poncho?

Ah yes, forgot about those.

 

Erbswurst

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Mar 5, 2018
4,079
1,766
Berlin
If you don't have a British seller you could order the Gatewood Cape from Germany.

The shop specialises in lightweight and ultra light trekking equipment.

 
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JFW

Settler
Mar 11, 2004
506
18
55
Clackmannanshire
The polish poncho is a great bit of kit. There are 3 sizes, size 3 is hard to get, size 2 comes up fairly regularly and size 1 are the least popular as they the smallest. I have a 2 and a 1, both are ideal as ponchos or shelters, but I'm 5' 10" and as a poncho the size 1 is best. I find the 2 a bit long. As a shelter the 2 is best and plenty of room for me and the dog as well as kit. MilitaryMart have them fairly regularly. If you are going lightweight then onetigris do a poncho tent thing. I've no experience with this though, but I think it's about the same size as the polish poncho but about 1/3 the weight. Hope that's some help. Cheers
 
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