Ground sheet

That Zpacks poncho/groundsheet seems to combine very well with the hexamid. There have been some pics up of it on the forums.

"The Zpacks poncho/groundsheet seems to combine very well with the hexamid."

I initially thought that setup looked pretty clever, but then after thinking about it a little bit, I realized it's actually the worst of both worlds.

Let me explain: I hate ponchos and believe a shell should be an integral part of one's clothing ensemble. I use a Patagouchi Torrentshell pullover (I can already hear the howls), but it works for me both as a windshirt and rain shell. (I sewed my own sil rain skirt – 1.8oz.) In addition, before taking off in the am or decompressing at the end of the day, I can put it over my MB down vest to create a good parka effect.

But the key is that it fits very nicely – I tried on a bunch of shell versions/brands before I had one that I really liked. Shirts, jackets, vests, etc are a beotch to fit properly, and you'll really notice if you're hiking for any time with something that is ill fitting.

Now, if you happen to like ponchos, the ground cover version is going to be too small to do much of any good. Nick even admitted in the photos he had posted that he had to change the length of his shorts to ones shorter than the ones he actually liked to avoid getting the bottoms soaked.

Now, how much weight did he save by making this compromise? (In addition to wearing a potentially dirty ground cover.) Try 1.4 ounces for a 84"x40" piece of window shrink wrap. Think about it – the cheapest, most disposable part of your kit, after perhaps an alchy containter nee old water bottle, is a cheap, lightweight ground cover.

So I would say, stick with focusing on the best rain shell and tarp for the job – if you can combine them, great (like the Gatewood cape). But for 1.4oz, my ground cover is just that – a dirty ground cover than might get tossed at the end of the trip.

I use the Zpacks Solo Plus groundsheet in my Solo Plus Hexamid. As mentioned above, using the right rain gear can be better than compromise, and in this case too I feel that the appropriate ground sheet has it advantages. By that I mean it works well together.

Of course there are disadvantages too. Namely the price of the Solo Plus ground sheet. But also how well will a cuben fiber (especially the light version that I use) stand up over time to being used as a ground sheet?

Of course other options are available. I also have a piece of cut down polycro but it is not as efficient as the Solo Plus ground sheet, IMO. Then there is tyvek and the painters plastic too…

A WPB shell WILL wet out in prolonged rain. A WP shell does not breath and you will soak in your own sweat. A WP poncho will not wet out, and it breathes through the large arm openings fairly well.

Yes, my poncho/ground sheet only goes down to mid thigh, which is much longer than a shell jacket. So we both benefit from a rain skirt. Mine is cuben which will not wet out, your silnylon skirt can wet out because it is in contact with your body, especially in hard driving rain.

With your set up you need a pack liner or pack cover, my poncho keeps the pack protected.

The bottom of my ground sheet can get dirty, but it becomes the outside of the poncho and is soon sparkling clean in rain. If no rain, it is folded dirty side in, so no dirt gets on anything. I get less dirt clinging to the cuben than any other fabric I have used as the material is fairly slick.

Your groundsheet is an extra piece of gear.

A WPB shell sucks as a wind shirt. I have a Houdini for this.

The poncho/groundsheet is a much closer fit than a conventional poncho, so it does not have the billowing effect usually found in other ponchos. On one trip with constant rain I was able to descend a steep side canyon full of brush, acacia and large cacti without the problem catching on any of it. Shrink wrap would have been shredded on this hike. The cuben caught on a couple of acacia branches with no damage… even a shell jacket would have caught the branches.

In winter with wet snow a poncho will not compress that great big puffy.

On a trip last year I did a lot of hiking in cold blowing rain. Temps in the 40's. I was warm AND dry wearing a thin base layer top… no sweating. True, the bottom of my shorts got wet and a rain skirt would have fixed that. Unfortunately it is hard to find 5" inseam shorts these days. I dug out a couple old worn pairs of Columbia shorts which are shorter… plus it led me to look for new, shorter shorts and I found that Patagonia is now making my old beloved Baggies in 5" inseams again. These are the perfect hiking shorts anyway.

I have been using ponchos for over 40 years. I also have worn just about every kind of shell except eVent. In my book a poncho trumps, especially if you carry a dedicated wind shirt, which is my most versatile piece of equipment.

Weights:

zPacks Hexamid with guylines = 3.63 oz
zPacks Poncho/groundsheet with tent clips = 4.09 oz
zPacks Rain Skirt = .99 oz
Houndini Wind Shirt = 4.23 oz

Total = 12.94 oz
for shelter, ground sheet, rain gear and wind gear. Most people are happy with a 13 oz shelter, and for 13 oz I have a complete system, which for me works better.

And I am not tossing junk into a landfill at the end of a trip.

Hey Nick,
Ive seen the picture of you wearing the poncho. Just for reference, how tall are you? I was thinking of getting one of these, but at 6'3" I was thinking it may be too short.
Thanks for all the info,
Rob V.

I am 5'11"

One other thing, I have been wearing it with a zPacks Zero size small. Now that I have my McHale Bump, it might not be as long.

Joe at zPacks will make it longer, but it might not work well with a stock Hexamid.

If you are interested in it, give Joe a call.

Nick,

You got your Bump? I want pictures!

Also, now that you have the bump, the zero is obsolete, right? Keep me in mind if you want to sell it!

Got the Bump. It's a great looking pack. Won't have time to take pictures this week. Between work and getting read for a hiking trip I will be busy.

I'm going to keep the Zero as a day pack and ocassional XUL trip.

Alright alright.

I knew you were going to keep it. I was kidding. Take it as a roundabout compliment.

Hey BPLers,
I have a Zpacks Poncho Groundsheet and use it with my arms tucked underneath the front while hiking creating an umbrella effect. It was a little awkward at first but I got fairly proficient at hiking up and down hills using my Titanium Goat treking poles in a blowing rain. I used a few self adhering velcro dots to assist keeping it in place on my forearms. The front of my hiking shorts got damp but for the most part not as bad as if the poncho were allowed to just hang verticaly. I have the heavier of the 2 groundsheets availiable but wanted extra puncture resistance for sleeping on my Neo Airmat.
I've considered getting a cuben rainskirt from Joe at Zpacks but may just MYOG one that I can use as a half-fast bivy by attaching it to my groundsheet with zippers and velcro for keeping the foot of my bag from getting wet. I did have Joe add a flap to cover the hood hole 'cause I bring the hood inside-out while in the groundsheet mode but haven't tried it out in the rain yet.
Best,
Mulestomper