Gear Reviews

GoLite Ultra-Lite Poncho/Tarp REVIEW

Just because Skurka and Coup chose this raingear/shelter for their record-setting thru-hikes, that doesn't mean it will work for you. Here's the scoop on a tough poncho that makes a great shelter but suffers a little in raingear mode.

By Will Rietveld

October 25, 2005

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It’s hard to beat a poncho/tarp as part of a SuperUltraLight backpacking system — one piece of gear serves as rainwear (including pack cover) and a tarp shelter. New for 2005, the GoLite Poncho/Tarp weighs 11 ounces. It’s made of GoLite SilLite fabric which, is 1.76 oz/yd² compared to ordinary silnylon at 1.3 oz/yd², and claimed to be ultra-tough and ultra-waterproof.

ARTICLE OUTLINE

Introduction
What's Good
What's Not So Good
Specifications: Year Model, Weight, Shell Fabric, Features, MSRP
Performance
What's Unique
Recommendations For Improvement

# WORDS: 1300

# PHOTOS: 6

# TABLES: 1

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By Will Rietveld

Will Rietveld Ph.D, Senior Editor for Gear and Apparel, joined the BPL staff in April 2004. In his former career, Will was a research scientist, project manager, and R&D program administrator. Now retired, he lives in southern Colorado where he takes up a new career of backpacking year-round in the mountains and canyon country of the Southwest. During the summer months Will and his wife Janet are volunteer wilderness rangers in the Weminuche Wilderness. He has been a lightweight backpacker for 52 years and an ultralight backpacker for 13 years.

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GoLite Ultra-Lite Poncho/Tarp REVIEW

By Will Rietveld

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By Will Rietveld

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GoLite Ultra-Lite Poncho/Tarp REVIEW

By Will Rietveld

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By Will Rietveld

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