Introduction
The backpacking poncho gets a bad rap – even though it can function as a tarp and provides more ventilation than a rain jacket. On top of that, it has far fewer breakable features (read: zippers) than traditional rain gear. So why aren’t ponchos more popular?
The Unpleasant Reality of Rainwear
Let’s start with an unpleasant truth: if it rains long enough and hard enough, you will get wet. Water is relentless and inexorable. Even light rain will find its way through every taped seam, pore, and opening – especially when paired with windy conditions. Water will arrive at your naked skin and begin enjoying its favorite pastime of running downhill and soaking your shirt, pants, and undies.
All you are buying when you buy raingear is time: the time before you get wet. That time could be short or long, but it will not be infinite. It can always rain longer than your gear can keep you dry.
That said, longer is better than shorter; lighter is better than heavier; cheaper is better than expensive; well-ventilated is better than clammy; reliable is better than unreliable. There are choices to make. That’s true of all gear. Over the years, backpackers have made their choices and driven the gear market to ever-better functionality and value. Usually.
Allow me to suggest that raingear is an exception.
My first long backpacking trip was in the summer of 1968, from Red’s Meadows to Yosemite on the JMT. I carried a base weight of 35+ pounds (16 kg) – including a hatchet. There is not a single item in that pack (including the canvas pack) that I would consider taking along with me today.
Except for the poncho.
Being but a lad then, I could not recognize the elegance and perfection of design embedded in that poncho. It was just too simple and primitive. Newer surely would be better. When the first generation of breathable and not-at-all waterproof parkas came out, I gladly shelled out for a cutting-edge Sierra Designs 60/40 parka.
The advantages of ponchos
It was a fine and innovative garment, but it wouldn’t keep me dry for more than about 20 minutes. So when Gore-Tex jackets came out, I eagerly bought them – one every five years or so, each claiming to have cracked the code of waterproof breathability, each leaving me soggy if it rained more than an hour or two.
At about the same stage in life that I realized my parents actually were pretty smart, I also realized that the multi-functional backpacking poncho works pretty darn well. Here’s why:
- Ponchos are genuinely waterproof – because they are made of fully waterproof material instead of 2, 2.5, or 3-layer waterproof breathable fabric.
- They are well-ventilated by the nature of their design.
- They (usually) don’t have zippers and thus are not subject to zipper failure.
- They have few seams that can leak.
- They can cover your backpack – even a large backpack – and keep it dry.
- With some practice and skill, they provide a crude but effective shelter in which to eat lunch during an all-day storm.
- They can be a sleeping or cooking shelter.
- They can serve as a ground cloth.
- They can be worn while you are washing all your clothes at the laundromat.
- They are inexpensive.
- They never wear out.
- They require no maintenance.
- They never become obsolete.
- They never go out of style because they never were in style.
Yet poncho-wearers are a tiny minority in the backcountry, decidedly out of the mainstream. Wearing a waterproof breathable jacket is just one of those things that hikers are supposed to do if they want to do hiking right. Ponchos have acquired an air of dirtbaggery about them.
In our archives: This two part article on alternative rainwear provides a further argument for searching outside of traditional rain garments. Read part one here and part two here. Also, browse our poncho archives for specific gear recommendations.
Why some backpackers don’t like ponchos
We took a straw poll of Backpacking Light employees to see what they thought about ponchos. Here’s what they said:
Ryan Jordan (owner / founder) – I’m pro-backpacking poncho-tarp for trips with mild weather where the chance you’ll actually need raingear or a buttoned-up overhead shelter for a severe storm (with wind) is low. See this article for more on poncho tarping in inclement weather.
When faced with the decision to wear a rain jacket or a poncho in rainy conditions, I’ll opt for a poncho over a rain jacket below the treeline when wind is mild, humidity is high, temperatures are warmer, and the ventilation offered by a poncho is welcome. Otherwise, I find a rain jacket to be more manageable in high winds, colder temperatures, and lower humidity areas.
Andrew Marshall (managing editor) – I grew up backpacking in the rain with cheap, plastic emergency ponchos before moving to rain jackets in my early adulthood. My only experience with poncho ultralight backpacking since then was an experiment on the Colorado Trail with the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano Tarp Poncho, I loved the multi-functional concept – especially the extra material at the back to cover my pack – but struggled with it in high wind situations above treeline. I found that setting it up as an auxiliary meal shelter was too time-consuming in practice. But after editing this article and reading Drew’s suggestions (below) I’m seriously considering giving backpacking rain ponchos another shot. Too bad I gave my old Sea to Summit number away to a friend. Maybe I’ll check out Roger Caffin’s Make Your Own Gear: Silnylon Mountain Poncho article…
Chase Jordan (production editor) – When it comes to backpacking ponchos vs. rain jackets, I’m anti-poncho. They impede movement when in rough terrain and are less durable in comparison to rain jackets/pants combo. I also don’t enjoy the limitations of a poncho tarp in camp during storms, because the item I’d use to keep me dry while doing camp chores is being used as my shelter.
Matthew King (community moderator) – I haven’t ever used a poncho. They strike me as an incomplete solution allowing arms to get wet and seem like they would be prone to blowing around a lot. I have no interest in a poncho-tarp because it seems like a poor shelter and a poor rain shell. Also, what if you want to leave your shelter for some reason while it is raining?
I am pro-Packa on trips where there is a forecast for rain. I like that it covers the pack but more importantly, the airflow provided by having my jacket over my straps and pack is wonderful. I have the taped 15D version that is no longer sold which weighs 8.5 ounces (240 g) once I swapped the heavy shockcord/cord locks out for something lighter.
On a trip that doesn’t have a forecast for sustained rain, I bring a rain jacket. I prefer a silnylon jacket but mine failed and I haven’t found an appropriate replacement so I bring either a FroggToggs or an Outdoor Research Helium 2 jacket.
Mark Wetherington (staff writer) – I’ve never used a poncho and don’t plan to for the same reasons listed above.
In our community: Check out these forum threads for more on the topic of ponchos.
Common poncho problems and solutions
Most of the concerns listed above can be addressed with simple fixes in gear and technique:
Problem: ponchos flap in the wind
Solution: make a poncho belt. Get a 6-foot length of 3mm shock cord and a cord lock. Thread the ends of the cord through the toggle and tie it off to make a loop. After your poncho is on, wrap the belt around your hips, under your backpack, then put the toggle through the loop and tighten appropriately. Your poncho will still flap, but to a much more tolerable degree.
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Discussion
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Companion forum thread to: The Backpacking Poncho: An Ultralight Alternative to Rain Jackets
Drew Smith makes the case for backpacking ponchos. They provide more ventilation vs. rain jackets and can also function as ultralight tarps.
I really like the Sea to Summit Nano Tarp Poncho, but the available colors of lime and pacific blue are just so darn unstealthy. Even though they’re not available in North America yet, the Bach Tarp Poncho has virtually the same dimensions as the Nano. It’s also made with a 15D silnylon, however, the Bach is a high-grade Gorlyn silnylon 6.6 and I’m not sure about the S2S. Nano is quality though. Anyway, the Bach’s willow bough green color is perfect for stealth. Weighs 7.55 oz. Ulog has them for $140 and I’m not sure how much shipping from UK would be. https://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/equipment-c3/tents-shelters-c25/tarps-c43/tarp-poncho-p16765
“Standard Sipping (not tracked)” to a US address is free. Tracked is ~$15.50.
Hey thanks John. I still have my GoLite Poncho. It’s somewhat stealthy, however, the quality isn’t that good. Temptation. I rail against consumerism and materialism, yet I’m the biggest hypocrite of them all.
And as far as pure quality, the Exped Bivy Poncho UL is probably the best. Sure, MLD Pro Poncho is supreme, but like the SMD Gatewood Cape, it’s so big it’s like wearing a tent when in raingear mode. Anyway, the hood visor on the Exped is top-notch, far better than most. Also it has a lot of quality snaps and can quickly be made into an emergency bivy. Of course there are 8 tieouts for tarp mode as well. Exped is couple inches wider at 59″, but it’s only 94.5″ long. Made with 15D silnylon and listed weight is 10.9 oz, however, I’ll bet the actual weight is lighter though. The Bivy Poncho is hard to find right now with supply chain issues. https://www.exped.com/en/products/ponchos/bivy-poncho-ul
Bivy mode. All the extra snaps and smart design make it possible, whereas the other tarp ponchos don’t lend themselves to becoming a bivy as near as well.
I accidentally became a poncho fan when I worked in Yellowstone park for two summers as a teenager. The $8 one I picked up a couple of days before being shipped off for the summer was the cheapest raingear at the surplus store. Knowing I’d be working outside with shovels, pulaskis, etc., I knew I wouldn’t cry if I tore it, which I did. Even so, I didn’t feel the need to bring anything else. I spent another $8 the next summer.
Like everyone here, I have tried and keep trying wpb jackets that always seem to not quite satisfy, so I keep dragging out the ponchos and making them work.
One advantage that I think doesn’t get mentioned enough is that your whole pack is protected. A pack with wet straps and back-panel is unpleasant and can cause irritation, like carrying a wet toddler on your back.
I love the idea of a poncho; for me, the reality is another matter.
I mostly hike in California. More: I’ve had the flexibility to choose when I go. So I never go when the forecast is for extended rain. Still, afternoon thunderstorms (or sometimes all day and night t-storms) happen. They might last four hours, usually less. So I’ve never had the issue with WPB jackets wetting out. Frankly, even when I’ve been in day long rains, I’ve not had this issue. But I’m usually at altitude, where the temps are cool and I don’t “sweat out” from inside. Humidity is low in the Sierra.
Ponchos snag on brush and gust in the wind. Given that I use a Snozzle to hold all my down and clothes–and my bag and jacket are in waterproof stuff sacks–I have less need to cover my pack. I also usually have a garbage bag for inner and/or outer protection. And again, that poncho tends to flap badly in wind when it cover a pack. A jacket goes on and I’m done fiddling, except perhaps to zip and unzip. It conforms to my body, unlike a poncho.
It’s possible that in a rainier, more humid environment I might find a poncho attractive.
As for using a wet (or dry) poncho as a (non breathable) bivy–I’d rather not.
I’m a little curious that so much emphasis in that article was on how ponchos looked. I tried hard to make a UL poncho work for a few years, and mine still goes in my bag on just-in-case days in the summer or warmer weather. The shock cord belt concept worked for me, sort of, but silnylon is very slippery and I’d spend all my time fidgeting with the material to keep it closed against wind and rain, or adjusting it as my pack or movement shifted it under the cord. Having said that, my prime money-sink in backpacking is raingear. I have yet to find something I really trust, and I’ll most likely snap at the Next Best Thing I see when it comes along.
I think a cagoule is a good marriage of jacket/poncho in terms of ventilation and wearability, but again, only in warmer weather. Ponchos don’t keep much heat in.
A lot of it boils down to how wet you’re willing to get in exchange for convenience, as the article said; a poncho being 100% waterproof doesn’t keep you any drier than a UL jacket if water can find its way into the sides and sleeve areas.
Multi-use, but not great for anything. I tried to like them for years, but ultimately gave up.
Drew covers most of the good points of ponchos well. Thanks!
I’ve posted about my love of ponchos once or twice before :-)
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/88214/#post-2078777
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/non-breathable-rain-gear/#post-3466610
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/stress-free-rain-gear/#post-3602249
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/converting-groundsheet-into-a-hoodless-poncho/#post-3633177
https://backpackinglight.com/forums/topic/reassessing-my-rain-gear-solutions/#post-3697165
Tried using ponchos as shelters, didn’t work out for me. And after too much Type III fun, I’m sticking to trails, so bushwhacking isn’t an issue, either.
I have an ancient Equinox poncho that’s outlived several backpacks. Tempted by a Packa or a similar Decathlon poncho, but the Equinox just keeps on ticking.
I’m partial to umbrellas too, like my original GoLite ChromeDome.
One, the other, or both works for me. YMMV.
— Rex
I apologize to the OP for concentrating too much on gear earlier in the thread and not enough on philosophy, yet I meant to also include the Equinox Poncho Tarp (UL Terrapin version) that Rex mentions. The extended version is 104″ X 58″ and is made with a 30D silnylon, so definitely more robust. Weighs 10.9 oz and can be had in a willow green as well as other colors. The Rab Silponcho is another choice.
I see poncho tarps strictly as an SUL piece of gear that are for warmer temps above 55* F, and for shorter trips where no big weather is predicted. I actually prefer a rain jacket and rain kilt, but it’s the multi-use weight savings which draws me to poncho tarps (shelter, rain gear and pack cover).
In cooler temps I often use my “breathable” rain jacket to stay warm around camp or even to hike in. I’ve also slept in my rain jacket many nights to keep warm enough when my bag/quilt isn’t quite enough. I know many will scoff at the notion, but I don’t have a problem with it. You obviously can’t do that with a poncho tarp, especially when it’s your shelter.
I just finished a four day hike to 11,500 feet. I wanted to try the poncho concept without spending too much money, so picked up a cheap model for $22 on AliExpress. It has a belt, snaps, and Velcro on the sides, so did not snag. The inside has a silver colored reflective surface, which made the poncho too hot for me above 15 C despite ventilation. It was a bit cumbersome to put on quickly, but I got a lot of use out of it as an additional groundsheet and emergency shelter. I also planned to wrap it around the sleeping bag at the high camp, as the reflective surface would boost the insulation value of the sleeping bag. However, the temperatures were much higher than forecast, so didn’t have a chance to try it.
The poncho compacts to a tiny size, so I have taken to packing it for a daily walk to the office, as it rains every afternoon in my location and I tend to loose umbrellas. Even though I got much use out of it, I am still unsure whether I should take it on the next climb. Silver foil makes for a lighter groundsheet and putting on the poncho can be cumbersome when alone and while carrying a larger backpack. OTOH it is easy to deploy with a smaller office pack, so perhaps it would work as a part of a truly UL system.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mNcamng
I also planned to wrap it around the sleeping bag at the high camp
Don’t!
I tried something like this a very long time ago. In the morning the inside of the cover was covered in condensation, which was steadily soaking into the sleeping bag.
Cheers
^ Made that mistake with an emergency blanket one time. :/
Good to know! Do you think that just laying it on top of two bags as a loose blanket would provide sufficient ventilation to avoid condensation issues?
Doubtful.
Ask why most bivy bags have mesh or unproofed tops.
Warm air rises. Warm moist air from you and your SB will rise.
It will still hit the cover and it will still condense if it can.
You need ventilation! This has been a recurrent theme here at BPL for decades.
Cheers
I suspect I am about the same age as Drew and went through all the same trials and tribulations that he did with rain gear. As a major sweat hog, WB gear never worked very well for me. In scouting and later the military, ponchos were pretty much all that was available. I spent many rainy nights under one. One morning it was still raining. I packed up underneath, poked my head through the hood, had a friend pull the stakes and I stood up ready to go! Nowadays I use a lightweight tent (bugs) but still carry a silnylon poncho. If I have to make an evening bathroom break, just slip it on, go out and do your business, staying dry. While hiking, I use a wind shirt as long as I can, then switch to the poncho with a shock cord belt. Yes it will flap. Not the best for high altitude exposed hikes. But no rain gear is perfect. Don’t mind looking like a dirtbag. 😊
I’m wondering if the MLD SilNylon Pro, with it’s catenary seam, would work well as a hammock tarp.
I’ve been using a HammockGear, cat-cut DCF hex tarp for hiking the Appalachian and Green Mountains in summer & shoulder seasons for years now, and have become one with it. I carry a Montbell Versalite Jacket in those same seasons, but I don’t generally hike in it. When it rains, I prefer to get wet with rain water than sweat. When I get to camp I change into my sleep clothes, and the Montbell helps keep them dry.
Of course all that changes with the weather, and the threat of hypothermia. a poncho seams like a solution to getting soaked in sweat. And if it works well with a hammock, all the better!
A lot of opinions here. This being BPL, those opinions are thoughtful and well-informed. A few more thoughts and responses:
“Multi-use, but not great for anything” – this is pretty much true of any multi-use item. You are trading performance for a lighter load. Everyone will have a different preference for what trade-offs are acceptable and that’s fine. The point of this article is not that everyone should wear ponchos but that ponchos should be considered as a viable option, especially if you are looking to hike light. Here is my weight budget for shelter and rain protection when poncho-tarping:
MLD Pro Poncho-tarp 12 oz
Stakes and guys 3 oz
MLD BagLiner bivy 3 oz
Tyvek ground cloth 3 oz
That’s 21 oz for a kit that has kept me dry on the trail and in camp through dozens of storms, and allows me to cowboy camp in fair weather.
“what if you want to leave your shelter for some reason while it is raining?” An extension of this question is what if it is raining when you are setting up/taking down your poncho-tarp? A solution to this very real issue is to bring a windshirt. My Montbell Tachyon (2 oz) will keep me dry for about 5 minutes, long enough to pitch/take down/answer the call. It also is a fine sleeping garment for extra warmth/draft protection. That system works in a fast-and-light hiking scenario, where I do little more in camp than eat, drink whisky, play my uke, write in my journal, and sleep. If you are planning to spend time hanging around camp, then a poncho-tarp is a poor shelter choice, not something you want to spend any leisure time in.
Related tip: attach line-locs to the front corners and peak of your tarp. That way you can tighten/lower the tarp without getting out and getting wet.
I had great success last summer on the JMT with a modified Zpacks groundsheet poncho. Here are some things I found pretty awesome over my SMD gatewood cape
1.) I could use it to cowboy camp on clear nights
2.) I could still setup my pocket tarp in the rain without having to take my raingear off
3.)It has a much tighter fit and is less prone to snags while hiking.
I modified it with some snaps so I could attach a MYOG bug net to turn my setup into a legitimate tent (because S2S pyramid sucks with the pocket tarp). The entire setup with bug net tent is less than 14.5 Oz, which is pretty darn good for a single person tent, excluding the fact it’s also my rain gear!
Con: towards the end of the hike I got pretty tired of having to undo every snap in the morning so I could have my poncho accessible if it rained that day.
Having wet arms sucks, especially at 40F. Cold and wet.
I’ve used an MLD Pro Poncho as a diagonal Asym Tarp above my hammock. I utilize this primarily in warmer weather and when strong wind is not expected. Keeping it fairly flat for most coverage it has worked well. Corner to corner length can be excessive in comparison to the ridge line length of the chosen hammock. Obviously the closer they match the closer the tarp can be to the hammock set up. In the photo this is only a 9 foot hammock so it is suspended quite a distance away from the poncho tarp.
Similar to ChrisBell, I have used a GoLite poncho diagonally over a short hammock. I put the foot-end into the wind almost touching the hammock. It was okay in mild rains, but there wasn’t much margin for error. It won’t fit over my current, longer hammock.
For ground-sleeping, I keep going back to the Gatewood because it’s much better as a shelter and a little better as raingear since it’s conical and your arms go through the sides.
Umbrella + rain skirt handles the conditions where a poncho might be useful, but in my experience (I have a drawer full of ponchos that I tried), they are superior. I carry an UL “breathable” jacket for when the conditions aren’t favorable for either the umbrella, or a poncho. Use of a small cover like a poncho for shelter may be fine in an area where rain isn’t blowing and heavy and bouncing off the ground. Here on the East Coast, even good tents suffer in the summer rains and t-storms. YMMV, HYOH, et al, but been there, tried that, won’t go back.
While not technically a poncho, I use my 6MD Gatewood Cape almost exclusively as my rain gear and shelter. I carry a “disposable” poncho that weighs next to nothing in the event that I need to take off my cape to set-up my shelter in the rain.
I can see the advantages the MLD Pro Poncho has over a traditional rectangular poncho tarp, but I also see how the Equinox (extended version) or the S2S Nano allows for a lot more versatility. Yes the MLD will give you a superior A frame pitch and it increases your coverage, however with cat cuts, a trapezoid shape and being 2″ shorter on long side edges than ridgeline, you can rest assured that the Pro Poncho is pretty much a one-trick pony. MLD website says: it can also be pitched in other configurations depending on your skills.” Maybe that’s true, but you better be good with tarps and patient.
A hiking buddy of mine in Florida carried a Pro Poncho and man that thing looked big when he wore it in raingear mode. It seemed a little beyond what’s optimal size really, however I know many would disagree and I understand.
Below is a quick, crude drawing I did (to scale) comparing the 58″ X 104″ Equinox ands S2S Nano with the 5.5′ X 9′ X 5′ Pro Poncho. As you can see the MLD has 0.6 square yards more surface area (or 13%).
The Flying V or Plow Point is one of the best pitches you can do with a rectangular poncho tarp and that’s because of the way you can use the hood as a panel tieout.
Short 1:09 video
And if you get caught out to where the rain and wind end up being a lot more than what was forecasted, you can also go with the Vietnam Hooch pitch. Hard to enter and leaves little room, but you have 360 degree coverage, which allows you to hunker down and stay dry. Keep in mind that the military poncho in the video below is at least 10″ shorter than the ones I mentioned above, so you’d have more length.
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