cheap yet durable poncho/tarp?

Sucks to be poor like us. Forty bucks is cheap.

Cheaper than $40 yet still good? Have a $70 sea-to-summit "nano-sil" poncho-tarp that makes some compromises. Good luck but sounds like you may want to consider the MYOG route – might try a sil-nylon tarp-cape

Cheap Light Durable

Pick any two, but you can't have all three… ;(

Might need to look for used to get a higher quality piece of equip. in that price range. Ebay or gear swap section of this website or other re-use websites….

Good Luck

Yeah I don't know if I'm just showing my age here or what, but 40 bucks sounds cheap to me for a lightweight poncho tarp with some durability. Are you trying to use it for shelter and rain protection for multiple nights/trips or what? Also, where are you seeing that for $40? I thought it was closer to $70…

$40 for a Terrapin (if the long backpacker version) seems quite the bargain, IMHO. They are typically more like $70. The long version is 9.6oz and you can buy a 7oz Golite for $60.

You can get cheap ponchos, but any I have seen don't have the extended rear panel, making them useless for backpacking and too short for an effective shelter. They are usually PU coated rather than silnylon and nearly double the weight.

Camp Inn makes a 96" long poncho that is on Amazon for $22.70. That is shorter than the more typical 108" backpacker length. It might get by with a small day pack. The weight isn't published, but I would expect 13oz or so. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AOS7LDW?pc_redir=1404620169&robot_redir=1

This is one of those cases where cheap is just cheap. It will be less expensive to spend a little more for something that works. People buy cheap ponchos that are too short and then say they don't work.

I did stumble on the new AMK poncho that is made from their reflective Heatsheet material and 2.3oz. Is appears to have sealed sides, making it more of a cagoule than a poncho. It does appear to have some summer day hiking CYA value. It would gave all the comfort of a garbage bag with loose sleeves and a hood :)

http://www.backcountryedge.com/adventure_medical_kits-sol-survival-poncho.aspx

Doesn't have to be really long nor the lightest thing ever. And the 1.9oz is $40 versus the 1.1oz for 70+

Brett,

USGI ponchos are durable and cheap. I bought mine for $15 years ago so not sure how much it'd cost today. Unfortunately they are military bomber so it weighs in at 1.5 lbs.

That still weighs less than my rain shell and Hexamid Twin together so depending on how hardcore you want to go, it's a viable option.

I'd personal recommend biting the bullet and buying a Go Lite or similar poncho.

This looks plausible,

http://www.gofastandlight.com/Rain-Poncho-Converts-to-Tarp-Shelter-Olive-Drab/productinfo/CL-R4XXX%20%20865%20OLIV/865%20OLIV/

Stopped by the local store last night and they had one. Looks very plausible for $25.