Anyone use MLD Cuben Poncho Tarp?

[Roleigh Martin]

I would like to hear from those who have used a Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben Poncho Tarp – http://tinyurl.com/7ovmyr – and would be interested in how it compares with MLD Silnylon Pro Poncho and/or Roger Caffin's MYOG Poncho – http://tinyurl.com/7sh24m . I don't care about it's use as a tarp, only as a poncho / parka. Please indicate your height and volume of pack. I am 5'8" and my pack is a Granite Gear Nimbus Ozone fully loaded (but only 16 pounds base gear) – but with food and water for up to 7 days, packs full. I mostly do High Sierra hiking but train in MN which can get wet. Thanks!

Things I'm interested in is whether or not this can adequately protect pack and body; whether it serves well as wind jacket if pack is off your back (at night at camp); whether one feels condensation; whether it holds up well; can it protect pack only and not be worn as is with Roger Caffin's design (I like his safety anchor feature). Is this Poncho/Parka wide enough to do the job for a 5'8" compared to the sibling Silnylon version of MLD. Would really like to hear Roger Caffin's comments too in comparison with his MYOG parka.

[Roleigh Martin]

Are there no BPLers who own such willing to give feedback?

[Tony Wong]

Roleigh,

My friend, Jeremy, and I have the MLD poncho tarp in Silnylon and have been rained on once with it….hail and steady drizzle for a few hours. (Photos under Emigrant Wildress Photogallery photo essay).

I found that with the MLD rain chaps, the coverage was fine for my Jam2 pack and I.

I did find that I benefited by wearing my wind shirt to provide protection for my arms and to protect against any rain that could blow in from the sides.

I am 5'6" and I found the length fine and the hood is very well designed and did not leak.

The only weakness, which is probably inherent with this design are the slits for the arms and just below them.

They flare open quite a bit to allow arm/shoulder movement and creates an opening where the rain can be blown in.

My short and one time experience of hiking with it on for a few hours in the afternoon showed that I remained well vented and dry with my wind shirt.

Hope helps in some way….considering that I do not have the Cuben version.

-Tony

[Roger Caffin]

Hi Roleigh

Been up mountains wearing my poncho …

I have never used the MLD poncho, so my comments won't be a real lot of use. It looks as though it would keep the rain off pretty well as long as you don't lift your arms too much.

However, it also looks as though it is meant for warmer weather than my poncho: the large slits in the sides would not keep you very warm in cold windy conditions. I found that my poncho was quite effective in keeping us warm even in the snow owing to the way it excluded all wind.

Durability? Simply no experience.

Cheers

[Roleigh Martin]

Roger, thanks. I really like your poncho pattern. Do you know of any backpacking seamstresses/tailors that could / would sew someone your poncho for someone?

Thanks!
Roleigh

[Roleigh Martin]

Well based upon the feedback so far, it looks like no BPLer has a MLD Cuben Poncho Tarp. Bummer. Thanks for the replies so far, they are interesting nevertheless. Still hoping for someone to come forward with first-hand observations though.

[Lynn Tramper]

Well, the only difference with the cuben version (compared to the silnylon) would be durability, and I doubt that anyone has owned a cuben poncho long enough to comment on that. Otherwise, what Roger said. Ponchos are good for warmer, less windy conditions, and are not brilliant for bush whacking. I haven't tried Roger's version so I can't compare, but if you are not planning on using the poncho as a tarp/awning/ground cloth, then maybe look at something more versatile for your needs? Or you could get a poncho and sew closed the sides so less wind/rain blows in since you don't need the tarp feature. This wouldn't add any weight, but you would still get wet arms, and venting wouldn't be as easy.

[Roleigh Martin]

Thanks, Allison. The noted differences I've read are: (a) cuben fiber is stiffer – less drapier than silnylon; (b) the MLD cuben fiber poncho is significantly smaller; (c) the hood design differs. I'm concerned if the smaller size would be a problem with someone 5'8" packing a full volume (but relatively lightweight) granite gear 3800 cu inch nimbus ozone pack. My base gear weight in pack plus pack weight is 16 pounds with remainder being food and water (up to 6.5 days of food). The pack typically gets to be near full volume then, especially since reduced food weight takes up same space (because I use a Bearikade bear-resistant cannister, the weekender).

Your idea of sealing sides is a good idea. I could see keeping the tarp functionality there to have a high ceiling cover in the case of rain for dinner and breakfast coverage (keep it high to avoid stove fire) and would favor using velcro solution in circular velcro "buttons" about 6" apart on the sides then.

Would really love to hear from someone who has the Cuben Fiber poncho/tarp though.

[Lynn Tramper]

>The noted differences I've read are: (a) cuben fiber is stiffer – less drapier than silnylon;

Definitely true!

>(b) the MLD cuben fiber poncho is significantly smaller;

You could make a "mock" poncho out of an old sheet to test the size.

(c) the hood design differs.

Yes, but I found it farily trivial to insert a wire into the brim of the hood to stiffen it. I have not yet worn the thing though, so I can't really tell you much more about field perfromance.

So far we have only used it as a tent porch awning and ground cloth (both functions that an ordinary rectangle of cuben could have filled). The forecast was so bad for our last trip (and it was right), that I went with a tradtitional raincoat instead. Just as well as it turned out there was tonnes of unexpected windfallen trees to clamber over/under/around. A poncho would have been totally inappropriate in those conditions.

[Roleigh Martin]

Allison, I saw your posting against Velcro – http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/13292/index.html

I will consider snaps instead. What do you prefer, plastic or metal?

[Lynn Tramper]

I will consider snaps instead. What do you prefer, plastic or metal?

The MLD poncho comes with plastic snaps. My rant on velcro was not to say that it doesn't have it's uses, merely that I wish it wasn't on sooo many pieces of hiking gear that tend to come into contact with eachother and with knit or fleece fabrics. Velcro might work well for your purposes…it really depends.

[Roger Caffin]

Plastic because they don't need sewing and I have them in bulk …
Otherwise I don't see much in it, but do get the stainless steel ones.

Cheers

[. .]

I'd like to resurrect this thread with hopes to hear more about user experience with MLD's Cuben poncho tarp.

[Steven Evans]

I missed this thread when it was originally created or I would have replied to Roleigh.

Anyway, I bought my cuben poncho tarp some time in 2008…maybe even 2007, I honestly can't remember.

Coverage: I'm 6'3" tall and I find it is fine as raingear. If it is going to be really wet or wet and cold, I bring my cuben rain chaps and event rain mitts.

Durability: I'm fairly used to the 0.33 oz/yd cuben so to me the 0.6 MLD cuben is bombproof. My poncho has been used alot, it's even starting to turn yellow/brown in some areas, but it's still going strong and I see no reason why it won't last for many more years.

Sleeping under it is tight for a guy my height. If I pitch it in half pyramid, I sometimes brush the walls with my head or toe. I usually pitch one of the corners up a bit to give just a bit more clearance.

Bottom line: I love it. Quality piece of gear.

Here's a thread with a bunch of pictures of it.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/thread_display.html?forum_thread_id=21233

[simon hackett]

I haven't had a chance to use it as a poncho yet but here are some shots of it set up as a tarp:
http://minimalgear.blogspot.com/2009/10/mountain-laurel-cuben-tarp-first.html
On me as a poncho:
http://minimalgear.blogspot.com/2009/11/odds-and-sods.html
Some more shots set up:
http://minimalgear.blogspot.com/2010/05/fannying-about.html
and in use on a trip:
http://minimalgear.blogspot.com/2010/05/buttermere-and-blackbeck-part-two.html
They might give you an idea.

[Lynn Tramper]

Well, a year or two on, I have more field experience with this poncho, and have also trialled The Packa, which is not exactly like Roger's mountain parka, but has many similarities.

The MLD poncho is a lot more durable than I expected, but I would not take it unless I was expecting warm weather without too much wind. In any other conditions it would not work so well. It is well ventilated and perspiration build up hasn't been a problem. The Packa OTOH, gets very hot and sweaty on me, and the pit zips are neither adequate to improve ventilation, nor does it seem to keep the water OUT if the wind is blowing from the wrong direction. Ditto with the packa's front zip. It needs some snaps or velcro applied to keep it from blowing open from side winds. The front zipper seam and pocket seam are not sealed and leak easily. It is hard to dry the Packa in the field, the poncho is easy to dry. The hood on the MLD poncho is also a lot bigger than the Packa, and with the MLD it is trivial to remove the pack without taking off the poncho. I would rate the Packa as impossible to remove the pack without taking the whole thing off and getting wet. Using the MLD as just a pack cover is *possible*, but not as easy as the Packa. Any other questions just let me know. Also keep in mind that lots of folks like their Packa, and Roger's parka doesn't have some of these problems but would share others with the Packa. I mostly carry the MLD poncho on day trips as a "just in case" rain option when the forecast is OK…I only wear the Packa when biking around town in the rain, and for this purpose it's great as I don't generate a lot of heat biking, and it covers my day pack nicely.

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