Hiking Condensation-free in Rain

RNP is so loose so poles don't "bang". Hands & arms are dry–no sweaty sleeves or hood. Off-trail not the intended venue.

Well I was describing our trails but yes some over there are nice and wide but what happens if you trip over/slide down a side having the arms inside the cape ?
How do you use trekking poles under there in the wind ?(I imagine you need to cinch it in just like a poncho…)

BTW, John, I am not the guy that posts "fantastic" on every DIY project so feel free to ignore my comments they are just my opinion.

Okay, so another variation on a poncho like I thought. Not bad and a good outside the box solution.

It reminds me of the Hennessy Cat Cape rainfly. Maybe its just the gray hair :) http://hennessyhammock.com/catalog/products/cat_cape_poncho_rainfly_xl/

I would add arm holes a la Gatewood Cape and make it just a few inches longer. It begs for a pocket— self stowing of course.

John : you can keep that cape thing … but i am Heavily jonesing over your fireplace grate.

awesome grate. clean floor. nothing on the wall.
John Rocks !

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more on rain capes.
many (LOTS) of years ago Dana made a rain cover that went over your backpack and head, but only came down around the shoulders. it worked rather well and allowed full function while keeping water out of the rear of your neck area.
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detail people note : John has deployed the otherwise valueless rubber trekking poles tips to protect the sacred perfection of his floors.
i don't have a clue as to what this John fellow does for a living, but i'd wager he's rather adept at it.

cheers,
v.

I'd vote engineer, but he put his pics sideways..lol. Just kidding John. I like it.

Ah, one of those rare opportunities to post my Hunchback of Savage Gulf pic, featuring the regular size frogg toggs poncho:

As Dale commented on it last year, it could use more length in the back due to having to cover the backpack, but your legs are going to be wet, regardless.
Offsetting the snaps left ample coverage in front, and a "sleeve" for free use of the arms, though.
I hiked in pouring rain for over 9 miles that day, and my top half stayed dry and comfortable in spite of warm temps. Legs were soaked from the thighs down, but it was by far preferable to hiking in a vented shell that would have guaranteed my upper body being soaked from the inside or out.
So I do see the value of the thing, though I'm not clear on why it's better than a poncho in most respects.

The back length and zipper from the RNP, but with a way to free the arms like my poncho experiment would be nice for warm weather and clear trails, I think.
Realistically, though, neither would last long around here, so my interest isn't strong enough to pursue it. I was fortunate to be on a heavily used trail that was mostly flat, free of deadfalls, underbrush, vines, and thorns that day, but that is rarely the case, plus I'm usually rambling off-trail at any given moment.

"I'd vote engineer, but he put his pics sideways..lol."

Not software engineer?

Good out of box idea, although "just" an evolutionary step

That will be in the back of my head for future projects, thanks

What if you tripped and fell? Would you be able to put out your hands to catch yourself?

Reaching out from under the hem is quite functional but perhaps not in a fall. I took a good fall once and caught myself but with less than total hand freedom.

In a wind there is a lot of flapping behind but the pucker from the two front hem drawstrings form pockets which catch on your hands. The thing tries to inflate but the nape cord holds it down. Nothing like a poncho. The skirt finishes the package.

Works fine facing the wind because all circulation issues are moot and you zip it right up.

I really like my fireplace grate. It is a copy from Frank Lloyd Wright. Engineer? Guilty.

John,

At some time in my past (5 or 10 years ago?) I made a similar garment. Here are some photos and info to add to the discussion.

More Info

Poncho is made from a 4' X 6' cheap blue tarp and weighs about 9 ounces plus pole and stakes. A cuben fiber version would cut the weight in half or less.

No discreet hood. Edge of tarp forms around and clips to hat brim.

Two 24" zippers allow one to have upper garment and skirt. Position of the zips is shown on the flat tarp photo with the arrows. (two 24" separating zips with two sides to each zipper)

Unzipped garment returns to a flat tarp that can be used for other things when not worn. Photos show it set up for a cooking tarp. This gives me just enough room to get our of the rain and cook while lying on my side.

Goal was to create a garment that was warmer than my open sided poncho and could be made from and easily returned to a flat tarp (without a hood hole) when not in use.

I only used this a couple of times before adding it to my "been there-done that" gear locker". Not sure why but I think I drifted toward the closed cell foam float coat concept about then.

Charlie,

A friend of mine told me something similar. He said he had a very large (and heavy) raincoat like construction workers use. He could stay fairly dry inside it. He attributed the dryness to the size and also the stiffness of the fabric. The two factors combined to maintain some space between his body and the coat.

I am a committed poncho user here in the rainy PNW. I gave up on rain jackets and pants a long time ago. Still, I prefer a full featured poncho with a dual use function. I have a Zpacks poncho/groundsheet and a SMD Gatewood Cape as my mainstays. For day hikes, I have an ID Sil Cape I can throw on. Like Nick G., I have hiked for hours under a poncho without condensation issues. The colder the conditions, the better they perform. Ponchos do look funny and child-like, so you need to be able to handle the condescension build up from other hikers, but when I am nice and dry during a hard rain my sense of superiority keeps me warm inside.

"condescension build up from other hikers"

Oh look Lars, Edward got a cute new poncho. Doesn't he look darling? He has such a nice Mom. And he knows his colors!

Unintended Consequences of Cuben Poncho

Nick,
Give your cuben thingo to Reese Witherspoon (with short shorts) to wear and see what happens.