Gatewood Cape or Golite Poncho/Tarp & Bivy?

I have a Gatewood Cape and it is also a Poncho Tarp. I have used it often without a bivy but, if rain were a constant I would certainly use a bivy for splatter. That way you can keep a bit more air running through it by pitching it a bit higher. Nonetheless, the Gatewood Cape and be pitched right down to the ground which would reduce any splatter.

I haven't used a Golite Poncho Tarp so I can't comment. I don't know if it can be as enclosed as the Gatewood Cape.

Welcome, Cameron!

We'll go easy on you here.

I love my cape! I prefer it to the Golite, YMMV.

As to your specific question, I agree w/Scott and I use a UL bivy if I'm concerned about much rain. Actually, I use the bivy most of the time, anyway, since it adds a little warmth and lots of wind / splatter protection.

If I could only get one now, it would be the cape. You can make, or have someone make for you, a cheap bivy from tyvek or low price fabric, as funds allow.

Let us know what you decide!

I use a Golite/Tigoat combo, but have no experience with the Gatewood.

Gatewood Cape = 11oz + whatever ground you're using
Golite + Tigoat = 16 oz

So adding in the ground sheet, you're probably saving less that a quarter pound. I'm guessing on the AT at some point you'll want bug protection as well, which is a built in feature of the Tigoat. (You might want to look at the SMD Meteor bivy as it provides splash protection + a spacious bug net area)

I need bug protection, so that's a big factor in my decision, and the bivy allows me to comfortably sleep out under the stars on dry nights, which is most of them.

I also use the golite poncho and bivy. It has worked good for my solo UL trips. It is on sale here:

http://www.prolitegear.com/golite_poncho_tarp.html

Cheap enough to try out!

Mike

I've used the Gatewood Cape and Serenity Net Tent combo in Scotland in the late autumn; the weather was wet and windy; I lowered the cape as Scott suggested and it stood up to a lot of bad weather, no splashing – with the added advantage of bug protection. For me a versatile and practical option.

You will not need a bivy with the Gatewwod Cape. It can be pitched with the sides low to the ground. I like taking a ground cover just a bit wider than the sleeping bag in case the ground is wet when you set up camp. In cold weather I will take a bivy just for warmth.

Gatewwod photos:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/571720316aNJADA

So for you Gatewood Cape users, do you not get splatter from the one side that doesn't go all the way to the ground? (I guess it'd be the side oposite of the door. It looks to me like it hangs about a foot above the ground even if the rest of the tarp is touching the ground.)

I used a Gatewood Cape and cannot see how anyone would recommend using it without a bivy.

I purposefully tested it in a Spring time shower (not a thunderstorm, mind you) and the splash from underneath the sides was intense enough to worry me had I not had a bivy.

UNLESS you have a down bag without an epic shell (or a really good DWR), I would use a bivy. It's not that much heavier than a GoLite Tarp (if at all) but still needs a bivy.

I haven't used my Cape yet, but my plan was to pull the sides of my Tyvek groundsheet up to protect from splashing and gusts; Kinda like a taco. Pin the two sides together or use string to keep it in position. My belt could become a multiuse item too???

Cameron, while I love my Tigoat, if you don’t need bug protection, or you have a head net, you could look at the Equinox bivy for about half the cost of the Tigoat and the same 6 oz weight. It just lacks a net window. If you hunt around you might find one for $50 or less.

Have you considered the SMD Wild Oasis? I got mine early this summer, and haven't looked back at the tarp+bivy combo. The WO has a has kept me protected from the elements and bugs with it's simple 18" No-See-Um skirt; haven't had any condensation issues by leaving the zippered entry open as much as possible. The high vent in the opening seems to help with this factor as well. Same spec's as the Cape, only 2 oz's heavier and 40 bucks. You won't need a bivy with the WO. Check it out=)

"So for you Gatewood Cape users, do you not get splatter from the one side that doesn't go all the way to the ground?"

At nearly 6'2", I have to "elevate" my cape to keep part of me/my quilt from touching the walls. Even if I didn't have to raise it I can't imagine enduring a serious storm (and the inevitable splatter) in the cape without a bivy.
For someone 6" or so shorter, maybe he or she could get by.

I've used my cape for the past eighteen months in rain, strong winds, better than 30 knots and light snow. Like any well desigined piece of eguiptment its function is driven by the experience and creativity of its user. You need to spend lots of time playing with your cape in lots of conditions but it is one increadably functional peice of gear. I have never used or need a bivy and I give the Gatewood cape 5 stars for performance and versatility.

Good Luck and enjoy!

The other Gatewood advantage, not yet mentioned here, is that it doubles as rain gear allowing you to reduce clothing weight.
Personally I would not use it without a bivy when snow/rain/wind are in the forecast.

One of the design objectives of the Gatewood Cape was to eliminate the need for an additional bivy. The small tarp / bivy combo has been around for several decades simply because small tarps lack the overall 360 rain protection.

Personally I don't use a bivy with the Gatewood Cape, but I do recommend using a proper sleeping bag. One that is capable of dealing with both condensation and a moderate amount of side spray. Both my sleeping bag and quilt have good waterproof breathable shells. One uses Epic while the other uses Pertex.

I also always setup the Gatewood Cape with a gap of several inches around the perimeter. This aids both headroom and ventilation.

One of the best solutions to reduce or eliminate side splatter is in proper site selection. Campsites that have been groomed for tents are often bare ground, devoid of vegetation. The flat hard surface promotes splatter under the sides of your shelter.

Personally I look for sites that retain either some leaf litter or have an uneven surface. Water striking these surfaces are far less likely to splatter as the rain drops are broken up when they land. These kinds of surfaces also can absorb greater quantities of water before they start to run off and potentially under your tarp.

Also camping under trees can significantly reduce splatter while providing a warmer campsite.

Ron Moak
Six Moon Designs