Overall good video. I also recently picked one of these up and am looking forward to using it as part of my super ultra light kit. One word of caution though on your setup is that your ground cloth is sticking our under your tarp and will collect water! Unless you want to wake up in a creek, better to make sure your groundcloth is tucked under and not able to collect water...
I have the forerunner to this one,weighs about 9 oz,stuff sack was not re-useable,but it's the same idea etc.I plan to re-purposed mine as a portable privy for those occasions when it is really raining hard.Haven't tried it yet but it should suffice for that.I would not consider using this thing as a shelter.Don't expect it to keep you and your gear dry in a rainstorm either but it helps some.
This is the longest (265 cm = 104 inches) poncho tarp I've ever seen. I've tested 200 cm = 79 inches long, but they don't cover your entire sleeping bag. 220 cm = 87 inches is very minimum that will cover a typical sleeping bag and a 6 feet (183 cm) long sleeping pad.
This would be a good replacement for my aging MSR eVent tarp I pack along my OR bivy for bad days for a head shelter or solo cook tarp. The new fabric is not going to make a good sunshade.
Montbell U.L. Super Stretch Hugger #2 Sleeping Bag: 25 Degree Down. This is one of the old ones that pre-dates the newer spiral stretch design. I like the old ones much better, but I believe the patent Montbell held on the stretch design expired, so Montbell moved to the spiral stretch design because they still had a current patent on that.
Hi, There is another poncho from Sea to Summit which is half the price and is made from "regular" nylon, it is called Nylon-Tarp poncho. Compared to the Ultra-Sil, which should be more durable and tear resistant ?
martincho8002 this one is 15d nylon silicon coated, the second is 70d nylon tpu coated. The second should be more durable and tear resistant. For a really cheap option, naturehike sells a 20d nylon silicon coated, and a 210t polyester tpu coated for under $20, which is good if you want to try poncho tarping.
Yea I have the regular nylon one and it seems very durable. It's been used as a tarp and poncho/pack cover in all kinds of conditions and still looks 100% new. I feel like it would be more durable for sure but this ultra sil one is lighter. So it's a tradeoff. Do you want lighter or more durable.
When ur hiking ur rate of perspiration & condensation overloads ur rain jacket's breathability and u get wet from the inside out, anyways. Better to wear a softshell that keeps u warm while wet but is highly breathable, or this poncho that covers ur pack too and serves double duty as ur main shelter or maybe ur cooking shelter. (I live in bear-country and have to cook not where I sleep!) Also, u can keep ur arms inside?
Tyvek, which is used in home construction. Very light, and very good for a ground cloth. It is noisy(crinkly sounding) in the beginning but mellows out over time.
Outa ThisWorld cape is a hex tarp. This is a flat tarp. Cape can only be used one way. This can be set up multiple configurations. Pros and cons for both. I’m gonna own both and figure out which one I prefer. I’ve always liked flat tarps. the gatewood cape is nice 360 degree protection in bad weather. But if your comfortable enough outdoors this flat tarp can set up to also have enough protection.
Gabriel Steinman No, I am just up in the foothills of the Bridger Mountain Range, but it was super difficult lighting conditions! In the beginning I was backlit by the sun shinging through the trees, then the sun went behind a cloud and I was in very dim light.
When pitched as a tarp you are going to get wet in any sort of real windblown rain with this. Not enough surface area to really cover you. The groundcloth also needs to be smaller than the tarp footprint or you will be sleeping in a lake. Makes me wonder if the designers ever have been is a real storm. The Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape is somewhat better, but SO cramped to spend any time in. Poor, uncritical review.
Im not aware of any ultralight product that would be designed to handle a storm. Not sure why you would be out camping in a storm with this equipment in the first place. You will always have to carefully consider the trade-offs with weight/safety. Buy a tent if in doubt
Yea if you are using this as your only shelter and it is a real storm you will get wet. But that isn't really what it is designed for. I have the nylon version and considering getting this one to save some weight. It works great as a poncho/pack cover and as a quick shelter from sun or rain but if it is a lot of rain just use a tent.
Get a bivy with side DwR protection. Or lower this during a storm or set up wind side to the back. Plenty of theuhikers use these for months on trail. If you get wet its user error
Nice demo, thanks SO much!
Overall good video. I also recently picked one of these up and am looking forward to using it as part of my super ultra light kit. One word of caution though on your setup is that your ground cloth is sticking our under your tarp and will collect water! Unless you want to wake up in a creek, better to make sure your groundcloth is tucked under and not able to collect water...
good review, thanks for taking the time.
I have the forerunner to this one,weighs about 9 oz,stuff sack was not re-useable,but it's the same idea etc.I plan to re-purposed mine as a portable privy for those occasions when it is really raining hard.Haven't tried it yet but it should suffice for that.I would not consider using this thing as a shelter.Don't expect it to keep you and your gear dry in a rainstorm either but it helps some.
This is the longest (265 cm = 104 inches) poncho tarp I've ever seen. I've tested 200 cm = 79 inches long, but they don't cover your entire sleeping bag. 220 cm = 87 inches is very minimum that will cover a typical sleeping bag and a 6 feet (183 cm) long sleeping pad.
Great review, thanks
Thanks for the info!
thanks really useful video. looks like a great product.
I sure hope I can adapt to something like this....very nice...thanx...
and we are coming up on the 8 year anniv... would like to see someone climb in there.
I used the poncho part....wow....very nice....what a game changer....now I have to learn on how to use it as a shelter....
The key part is figuring out how to tie up the hood properly so it doesn't leak (found that out the hard way). There are a few good videos.
Thx so much this was great!
your footprint extends out of the shelter which means in a rainstorm it would pool onto the sleeping system...
This would be a good replacement for my aging MSR eVent tarp I pack along my OR bivy for bad days for a head shelter or solo cook tarp. The new fabric is not going to make a good sunshade.
Thanks.
W razie deszczu ta biała podłoga zrobi niezłą kałużę pod tarpem. Za szeroka 🙂
Hey Craig!, just wondering what sleeping bag you had under the tarp poncho. thanks!
Montbell U.L. Super Stretch Hugger #2 Sleeping Bag: 25 Degree Down. This is one of the old ones that pre-dates the newer spiral stretch design. I like the old ones much better, but I believe the patent Montbell held on the stretch design expired, so Montbell moved to the spiral stretch design because they still had a current patent on that.
Why is your groundcloth way larger than the tarp? Like this you'll end up in a puddle of water!
Yeah I have found this to be an issue even with tent footprints. I tend to connect them while putting the tent up then disconnect and tuck underneath.
That is done in demos to protect not the person...rather the product. Nothing to do with a good pitch.
@@geraldhenrickson7472 That makes sense.
how waterproof is it really? so many of these poncho pack covers aren't waterproof, just water resistant
Can't say for certain on this one but I have the nylon version and it is very waterproof.
50% of comments: nice review!
Other 50%: your ground sheet is sticking out! 😭😭😱
It's just a demo, showing different setups, I'm sure if he was sleeping in it, he'd adjust the tyvek groundsheet.
A modern take on the old military poncho
The Punisher
Hi,
There is another poncho from Sea to Summit which is half the price and is made from "regular" nylon, it is called Nylon-Tarp poncho. Compared to the Ultra-Sil, which should be more durable and tear resistant ?
martincho8002 this one is 15d nylon silicon coated, the second is 70d nylon tpu coated. The second should be more durable and tear resistant. For a really cheap option, naturehike sells a 20d nylon silicon coated, and a 210t polyester tpu coated for under $20, which is good if you want to try poncho tarping.
Yea I have the regular nylon one and it seems very durable. It's been used as a tarp and poncho/pack cover in all kinds of conditions and still looks 100% new.
I feel like it would be more durable for sure but this ultra sil one is lighter.
So it's a tradeoff.
Do you want lighter or more durable.
can someone explain to me what's the point of rain cover if half of the arms are not covered?
When ur hiking ur rate of perspiration & condensation overloads ur rain jacket's breathability and u get wet from the inside out, anyways. Better to wear a softshell that keeps u warm while wet but is highly breathable, or this poncho that covers ur pack too and serves double duty as ur main shelter or maybe ur cooking shelter. (I live in bear-country and have to cook not where I sleep!)
Also, u can keep ur arms inside?
What did you use for a ground cloth?
Tyvek, which is used in home construction. Very light, and very good for a ground cloth. It is noisy(crinkly sounding) in the beginning but mellows out over time.
Thanks!
Were can I get it?
How long is it? In cm pls
Hi
It's 145 x 265cm when deployed
Its $140. Whew!
Looks like a copy of the 6 moons cape.
More like a copy from the golite poncho tarp.
Outa ThisWorld cape is a hex tarp. This is a flat tarp. Cape can only be used one way. This can be set up multiple configurations. Pros and cons for both. I’m gonna own both and figure out which one I prefer. I’ve always liked flat tarps. the gatewood cape is nice 360 degree protection in bad weather. But if your comfortable enough outdoors this flat tarp can set up to also have enough protection.
Watch out for those hunters!
Yeah - they were getting pretty close!
ProLiteGear were you filming this in front of a blue screen?
Gabriel Steinman
No, I am just up in the foothills of the Bridger Mountain Range, but it was super difficult lighting conditions! In the beginning I was backlit by the sun shinging through the trees, then the sun went behind a cloud and I was in very dim light.
it does not stuff as easy as you say.
This is very romantic lol but not much use. Best to carry something that's fully useful.
cosgrove notts it’s plenty useful. It’s a tarp and poncho. How is it not fully useful?
When pitched as a tarp you are going to get wet in any sort of real windblown rain with this. Not enough surface area to really cover you. The groundcloth also needs to be smaller than the tarp footprint or you will be sleeping in a lake. Makes me wonder if the designers ever have been is a real storm. The Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape is somewhat better, but SO cramped to spend any time in. Poor, uncritical review.
Im not aware of any ultralight product that would be designed to handle a storm. Not sure why you would be out camping in a storm with this equipment in the first place. You will always have to carefully consider the trade-offs with weight/safety. Buy a tent if in doubt
Yea if you are using this as your only shelter and it is a real storm you will get wet. But that isn't really what it is designed for.
I have the nylon version and considering getting this one to save some weight.
It works great as a poncho/pack cover and as a quick shelter from sun or rain but if it is a lot of rain just use a tent.
If you’re cowboy camping or just using a bivy this might be a handy piece of gear since you’re carrying your rain gear anyway
MrWolfsack 😂🤣
Get a bivy with side DwR protection. Or lower this during a storm or set up wind side to the back. Plenty of theuhikers use these for months on trail. If you get wet its user error