Would a Ripstop nylon poncho be 100 per cent waterproof?

[darrenleroy]

I've seen a lightweight poncho that claims to be 100 per cent waterproof US military issue on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s?ie=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=sports&field-keywords=Military 1st

Lots of camo styles and has poppers and is a good size for an emergency tarp. It's also a good price. So far so good...

BUT!

If I was in a trudging along in a downpour would it be waterproof? Is I thought ripstop nylon was water resistant only.

And do you reckon it's US military kit or a copy? I'm guessing the latter.

 

[JAG009]

Probably not but a bottle of nikwax or something similar would sort that out !

Jason

 

[Shewie]

Normal ripstop isn't very waterproof but I should think that one is PU coated, I'd be very surprised if it wasn't.

NIkwax/Grangers/Fabsil will all help but I wouldn't expect great things from it

I think the genuine US ponchos are in a woodland camo print though, like this ...
http://www.premiersurplus.co.uk/more/on/details/00322
http://www.armysurplusworld.com/product.asp?productID=47188

 

[eminen]

i have a ripstop fishing umbrella and its waterproof if that helps

 

[woodspirits]

ive had a german army rubberised poncho for years, totally waterproof but you can get a little condensation at times, great piece of kit

 

[Laurentius]

I am tempted to say "Is anything" certainly not modern hi tech kit.

Years ago I found the WW2 rubberized groundsheet poncho pretty effective in a downpour but heavy.

I have a Swiss Army alpenflage Poncho, and that is as waterproof as they come, but it is neither high tech, light or breathable.

 

[darrenleroy]

I am tempted to say "Is anything" certainly not modern hi tech kit.

Years ago I found the WW2 rubberized groundsheet poncho pretty effective in a downpour but heavy.

I have a Swiss Army alpenflage Poncho, and that is as waterproof as they come, but it is neither high tech, light or breathable.

I suppose the best option is to buy this cheap poncho (£15) and try it out! It looks fine and is lightweight which is a bonus point for me. I don't think I'm going to be out in a 24-hour torrential downpour anyway so I imagine a poncho over a jacket/fleece/anorak and heavy duty cordura rucksack should be enough to stop me and my kit getting wet on the way to or from camp.

 

[Graham_S]

I would say that it's probably PU coated, and as such would be waterproof.

 

[Rabbitsmacker]

my dutch army poncho is riptop and is waterproof. had it years now.

 

[launditch1]

They look like copys to me.The fact the same version is available in green, woodland, black and flektarn...
You can get a proper issue one for that price and they are waterproof...i have one.

 

[darrenleroy]

They look like copys to me.The fact the same version is available in green, woodland, black and flektarn...
You can get a proper issue one for that price and they are waterproof...i have one.

I think the link Shewie added a few posts above this one took me to a UK supplier but alas, they've sold out. I've had a look on the web but it's always hard to know if they're original or not. I'd prefer a proper issue one but may have to settle for a copy. Let's hope the Chinese garment workers weren't doing quadruple shifts that day.

 

[bailout]

Ripstop just means that there is a grid of fibres in the material that are thicker and stronger than the rest. Hence it is supposed to be more resistant to tearing than if the thicker fibres weren't there. Whether it is waterproof or not depends on the coating.