Join Ponchos for couples…

I think you would be better off with a 10×10 tarp and separate raingear.

You could get 2 campnor extended ponchos and they are roughly 5×9 and 9 oz. Dont know how you would join them together to be water tight. Maybe a WP zipper and some velcro, but it would be looong 9' zipper.

That would give you a 10×9.

I was actually considering this application in fact. I simply figured I would have to have larger ponchos(or more square, i suppose) so that the individual poncho can still be viable as a shelter. That, of course, doesn't keep me from constructing my own poncho set though.

Brawney makes a good point on her blog about raingear and I agree.

In a condition where say it is raining for 3 days straight its nice to have a separate rain gear and tarp. I got caught in Estes Park in Colorado years ago at 9500F. It just poured for days. Miserable and I had a tent. The AT even longer. That said 2 people with their ponchos fastened together for shelter in the rain, then pack your gear and unfasten and pack your pochos while trying not to get soaked is a real PIA. How about a tarp and use 2 lighter ponchos for the ends. That way if you have to bail out at least you could cram your gear into the center of the tarp and put on your poncho if need be. 5oz each seems like it would be worth it and it would offer a small bit of comfort.

A UL 8×10 or 9×9 made out of 1oz spintex would weigh about 10-11 oz without stakes. Cuben about 6oz.

I will say I take off at times with just an extended poncho, but I would not want to be caught out in an extended rain with that setup. Guess I am not hard core enough to handle it.

FYI-

The standard US military issue poncho has both grommets and button snaps around the edges. The button snaps can be used to both close the sides of the poncho while using as rain gear and attach two ponchos together as one larger shelter. I got mine at an army surplus store on Hwy 1 between Santa Cruz and Monterrey. Used they are about 20 bucks and have already been seemed sealed by the prior GI owner. The only problem is, being military issue equipment the ponchos are strong but not extremely light. Definitely several ounces heavier than the Gatewood Cape or other popular UL Ponchos. It seems like it would be relatively easy to add these buttons to a UL poncho and get the same benefit in a lighter product. I'm not in the military so I have little experience in actually using the poncho. Therefore I can't comment as to how rain proof the double poncho configuration would be. I can post pics and exact weight upon request.

I have been wondering about this. My thoughts have gone on the lines of using golite poncho tarps. Using the first one as normal except pitching the low side and end higher than usual. (Flying V or similar) Then using the second poncho to make a ground sheet and 2 side walls attached to the first tarp a few inches in from the edges. The join between the 2 tarps would not have to be waterproof in this case as the rain might drip off clear of the join. If insect proofing was neccessary I thought a mesh and light fabric addition could be zipped to the second poncho to make an inner roof and the missing walls. It would be suspended off the first poncho.This would make a sort of double bivvy bag or with a bit more material a tarp tent. If it was raining heavily on breaking camp one person could use the second poncho whilst the first poncho was still keeping the rain off. The other person could wait with their head in the hood whilst the guylines were removed around them.
Has anyone tried a setup like that?