ZPacks groundsheet/poncho performance

I've only had to use mine as a poncho in the rain once, and it worked just fine for that.

I use it in my Hexamid Twin as a groundsheet. It works well for that too. The corners clip in and create a bit of a bathtub shape that prevents water dripping off the outside of the tent from getting inside. I've used it in pretty heavy storms and everything stayed nice and dry. As far as not being "water tight", I don't know if that really matters, ever. I think if you picked that bad of a campsite you'd have bigger problems.

Lots of experience here. Almost never use it as a groundsheet — that is probably the quickest way to get holes in it. I use a waterproof foam pad or polycro sheet on every trip. Awesome as a poncho, not big and billowy. It's a little short for cold wind driven rain, but a Cuben rain quilt solves that problem. Hood is not stellar, but a eVent baseball cap under it works wonders, although I usually just deal with the hood — not a big deal. It is one of my favorite pieces of gear. If you click my website in my profile and do a search for zPacks Poncho, there is plenty of info to keep you busy for a while.

I have two full seasons with mine. I love it as a poncho. Best hood I have found and I like the adjustable side zippers and the shock cord "belt." Be warned, they run small. I am 6 feet tall and 210 pounds and use the Twin size and it fits OK, but it is smaller then the Gatewood and the Golite ponchos. I also use mine as a groundsheet and, after two seasons, I just found one tiny pin hole I repaired with cuben tape. I have used the poncho/groundsheet in heavy rain and wind and find it is very adjustable and controllable. I also have a pair of Zpacks cuben chaps and a cloud kilt to cover my legs, depending on if I am wearing pants or shorts on a particular trip.

Thanks everyone for your insights. I have been reading your blog for a couple of years Nick. Your post on ponchos vs WPB rain gear is the best article on rain gear I have ever read and is a big reason why I am considering the ZPacks poncho. The solo size looks a little small but I also have the ZPacks rain kilt. The zippered sides and front look really useful.

Only the price has me hesitating and considering other options. The Sea to Summit ultra sil poncho is made of 15D silnylon and is only slightly heavier. It is also larger, cheaper, and can be pitched as a tarp. That would be nice for cooking in the rain.

Evan,

There comes a point where one needs to really evaluate cost vs. benefit of really light gear. My wife and I are DINKs (double income, no kids at home any more), so I am comfortable buying pricey gear if it fulfills a need. However, I am not always buying gear — actually it has been over two years since I bought anything other than direct replacement stuff such as tent stakes, guy line, or fuel.

An 8 ounce sil poncho for under $90, versus a 3.4 ounce .71 cuben poncho for $150 is something to really think about. Yes it works better for me that my older sil unit, plus it really needs a cuben skirt for some trips, which adds another ounce and $50. Plus I think Joe switched to heavier cuben.

So…

$200 to save less than 4 ounces. That's over $50 an ounce. Yes, for me it works better. But 20 years ago when I had kids at home no way would I have bought this. The sil works well enough. Plus you can use the Sea to Summit as a shelter too — although that does take some practice. You can't use the zPacks as a shelter. As a groundsheet the zPacks is at risk for damage, and my poncho is thinner material than what Joe is selling today. I am just presenting as many pros and cons to help anyone thinking about buying one to arm themselves with as much information as possible, so they can make the best decisions for them.

Many people complain about "normal" ponchos being too large, too billowy in the wind, and apt to catch on branches and stuff while hiking. I disagree. A piece of cord around the waist covers the wind. Sure, the material can be a little inconvenient at times, but being wet all day from sweat and/or leaky rain gear is much more inconvenient, IMO.

Bottom line. Most people are not going to want to try a poncho, or if they do they don't like it. It is not for everyone. I do not share my experience in an effort to convince people it is better. It is just an option. I like wind shirts. Others don't. There is no right or wrong.

Lastly, thanks for the compliment. The most popular posts on my blog are camper related, which is too be expected as there are many more people interested in campers than backpacking. But the post you referred to gets the most hits day after day of anything on the site.

Nick,
Good points. I often end up eventually getting what I originally wanted when I buy something else because it's cheaper. I am pretty satisfied with my gear now, at least the major stuff,and I look forward to not having to make any big purchases for a long time. I do enjoy tweaking the small stuff when I learn about something that looks like it would work better.

In this case I think I like the ZPacks poncho better than the Sea To Summit one, but it's close. I think I would like the smaller size of the ZPacks in a strong wind, I think the 1.0 cuban material is stronger than the sil nylon, and I like the side and front zippers for venting on the ZPacks. I was thinking I would use the ZPacks poncho as a ground sheet but I hadn't thought about the increased risk of getting holes in it and I already have a solo ZPacks ground sheet that I like. Between that and my ZPacks rain kilt, and sometimes some polycro, I don't need a bigger ground sheet.

With the STS poncho I like the option to use it as a tarp but I don't think I would need it much, just once in while as something to cook under. I would never use it as my primary shelter. The weight is close, 5.1 ounces for the ZPacks and, according to a Prolite Gear video, as low as 6.6 ounces for the STS. Maybe I'll get the STS poncho now as it's on sale for about $70 and keep watching the gear swap for a ZPacks poncho. Then I would have a back up poncho. Thanks for your helpful input.

If you use it as both poncho and groundsheet (in keeping with the multiple use gear principle of UL backpacking), you also save a couple ounces or more, in not having to bring a separate groundsheet. Once I reached a base weight that I was really happy with, I began looking for things that I could simplify. Since I don't view rain gear as always necessary, its nice that this eliminates bringing a single rain jacket altogether.

The bathtub shape with clips is a little nicer than what you'd get with a simple piece of polycryo as well. Sure, you're bound to put some wear and tear on a fabric that doesn't have a lot of abrasion durability, but if you just plan to lay it down, put a sleeping pad on top of it, and go to sleep, I don't think you're putting it under too much stress. Even if it got some pinholes, it wouldn't be catastrophic failure that would eliminate its usefulness as rain gear. Easily repairable with cuben tape. I've camped with mine on gravely decomposed Sierra granite, pine needles, etc and have had no issues yet. It's always wise to be thoughtful about campsite locations anyway.

Most of my foam pads are water proof, so a groundsheet isn't needed. However, in the desert I usually bring a polycro sheet to keep sand out of my stuff.