Poncho & Flashlight recommendations?

[Leigh Robinson]

Hi,

I am slowly collecting kit. What Kit I have got so far has been based on your recommendations and I have found it to be spot on. So I would like more advice please.

I now would like to get:

Poncho:
A long one. I have seen short ones that would get the lower half wet.
http://www.worldofsurplus.com/ishop/...opscr1354.html
Not looking for this colour because its a bit too 'military'.

http://www.britisharmysurplus.com/po...454&p_i=447454
This is the colour I am looking for. It wont look so crazy if I was to use it around town. But not keen on the German flag though

I understand they can act as tarps and get lining. I don't really understand about linings and what's needed to make a tarp. But this kind of multipurpose is what I am looking for. You guys are using this equipment so I need your advice on this.

Flashlight:
I am looking for something like what the police or security use(the long handled ones). Ideally it would be able to focus the light so I could see far in the distance and if I twisted the top it would go wide angle so it would light up a large area. Maybe even a button for morse code.

I have no idea what is good to buy.

So if anyone could offer some help or information i would be really grateful.

 

[Mastino]

I can reccomed the Dutch poncho as found here: http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/army-surplus/clothing/military-clothing/military-clothing-2/dutch-camo-wet-weather-poncho-348045.html. It's lightweigth, strong and big enough to fullfil multiple roles. And sorry, it's camo...

 

[WOKKA]

Hi Leigh, i,d recommend the genuine issue us ripstop poncho, but i understand you don't want camo,so would say go for either a 58 patt uk poncho or a norwegian army one.both of these are plain green with no flags. you will find with all ponchos that your lower legs will get damp.
to use as a tarp you need to tie off the hood, otherwise being in the middle you will end up with a drip drip during the night. the liner is only used if you turn the poncho into an emergency sleeping bag.
as for flashlight( long security one) it would have to be either a 4 or 6 D cell maglight. you can focus these for short or long range. also loaded with the weight of the batterys they are ideal for self defence.
cheers WOKKA:AR15firin

 

[Jared]

Exped do a nice looking poncho

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/0/2079F5C83321CBA8C1256F2B0037A182?opendocument

They also do a liner for it, though both seem not to be widely available in the UK (if at all)

As for flash lights.

Surefire is the top manufacturer brand, pretty much run on CR123s and are relatively expensive.

Fenix is another good brand, either a P3D Q5 which runs on 2 CR123s, or L2D which takes 2 AAs.

If want something cheaper, the Ultrafire lights available from dealextreme (Note free world wide shipping) seem fairly well respected given their relatively low price.

 

[andy_e]

These are good, mine has no flag and is slightly more brown ...

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/home/genuine-german-army-olive-waterproof-358507.html

Are you sure you wouldn't prefer the flexibility of a head torch? The Alpkit one is a good buy. The main beam is very good, it also has a decent lower power white LED for close work as well as red and greenLEDs for night vision protection and map reading.

http://www.alpkit.com/gamma/

 

[Tengu]

Do be sure to get a light that takes an EVEN number of batteries; else you will end up with one over.

my cousin found out the hard way

 

[tetra_neon]

if you're planning on wearing your poncho in the bush, i'd go for something heavy. my uncle gave me an OD polyurethane backed heavy nylon NATO one years ago which i still use. my friend has the german army OD rubberised one, which is also very solid. both stood up well canoeing in north sweden in early september.

the silnylon ones are great for hiking, but i wouldn't like to lay one down on a floor littered with pine needles, or walk through dense forest wearing one.

i bought a genuine US army woodland camo one, but it leaked quite heavily through the seams during a proper downpoor. it is lighter, and with some new sealant it would be fine - but i just use my nato one.

as for torches, i'd get a Fenix one. they do varying sizes, but i have this one: http://www.fenixtactical.com/fenix-l2d-q5.html it's takes 2 AA's, last for AGGGEEES, super bright and very tough. i've also got a headband for it for when i want to use it hands-free (and look like a plonker).

hope that helps.

 

[Green Arrow]

Yes I agree, I have the Fenix T1 and it is excellent, tough, really bright light and battery life seems ok too.

 

[Big Bad Stu]

Leigh,

Get yourself down to a good local surplus store and buy a good thick proofed nylon poncho, mine was £14 and is a heavy duty textured nylon in olive green.

For torches you can't go wrong with Maglite, I used them when I was a milkman about 15 years ago. They were the only torches to come through without breaking, I still own them both today and they are going strong. They are readily available and are relatively inexpensive.

Stewey.

 

[hiraeth]

Hi Leigh, as has been said by outhers a 58 pat poncho for which you can also get a webbing roll for easier carrying and also a 5 or 6 D cell Maglite gives out a great light and on spot the Beam carries a fair way on top of this its fairly bombproof dont care to remember the number of drops and knocks mine has had and its never let me down.

 

[Leigh Robinson]

I am following the thread.

I am going for the Maglite 4D Led

and

Now looking for a heavy poncho (wont tear if used as a makeshift tent/groundsheet).

So now I have sorted the torch I now need to choose a poncho thats heavy and in olive green.

Any other advice/recommendations?

 

[Leigh Robinson]

Are the NATO poncho any good?

 

[andy_e]

Don't know about the NATO poncho, but I've used the German one as a groundsheet while bivi-ing, it's tough as nails.

 

[Barn Owl]

I'd buy the likes of a fenix pocket torch Leigh.
They're small and put out an excellent throw.
Maglites are heavy and cumbersome and can fall to pieces,(I used them in work) and often dropped them.

Tom.

 

[Dr Onion]

Found these the other day - don't have one but they look quite good for the money

http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shop/swat-police/clothing/black-tactical-rip-stop-nylon-219092.html

I know, I know, they use the word "tactical" but still, they look decent enough!

Dr O

 

[Jared]

Ferrino todomodo ponchos ( http://www.ferrino.it/en/homepage/products/RAINWEAR/rainwear_119 ) made from some sort of aluminiumised ripstop nylon.

Seem available in the UK ( http://www.fra-angelico.co.uk/index.php?page=products&parid=37 )

 

[h2o]

petzl head torches are my favourite, i use my maglite for dog walking and its battery last a long time using leds.but i wouldnt want to carry it any distance .Ihave a couple of ponchos the us camo is the 1 i use most.

 

[sandbender]

Exped do a nice looking poncho

http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage.nsf/0/2079F5C83321CBA8C1256F2B0037A182?opendocument

That is a nice looking poncho Jared, I'm guessing you don't have one? does anyone on this forum have one, is it any good, is there a UK importer?

 

[Beer Monster]

That is a nice looking poncho Jared, I'm guessing you don't have one? does anyone on this forum have one, is it any good, is there a UK importer?

I looked into this a while back. Exped's distributor in the UK is Lyon Equipment Ltd (www.lyon.co.uk). I emailed them last year but they said they had no plans to import the poncho .

 

[Beer Monster]

Ferrino todomodo ponchos ( http://www.ferrino.it/en/homepage/products/RAINWEAR/rainwear_119 ) made from some sort of aluminiumised ripstop nylon.

Seem available in the UK ( http://www.fra-angelico.co.uk/index.php?page=products&parid=37 )

Anyone got one of these? They look interesting but I'd be a bit worried about all the seems?