From South Africa lived many days of my 2 years conscription under a tarp, during the South African bush war round about 1975, and afterwards, as a civilian on my bike, the very same tarp as a lean to next off the side of the bike, and a cheap lilo as a blow up mattress.... if it got cold, reach up and start the bike, warm as a baking hot-cross bun.. 😅...@ 66, I don't hike no more, I go walkabout, but I carry another one of the very same tarp with me
In the 70's I traveled for several years on a Triumph Motorcycle through the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains of NC and TN with a Military Surplus Poncho as my only shelter. I still always carry one when hiking or riding today.
I have watched other walkers with expensive kit struggle with waterproofs and covers for their packs, always make me smile knowing I have a surplus store poncho which will take me two seconds to waterproof me and my rig.
Ponchos maybe used to be cheap...I have mine from my Army days in the 80's, the much sought after Woodland camo. But they have skyrocketed in price! Surplus will go for $50 on up, I saw some rare new ones for $90 USD! Apparently they are rarely issued anymore, I tried to get a friend's son to score me some since he had just enlisted and he couldn't get any! I found a woodland camo one at a surplus store for $20, pristine condition, an extremely rare find. I re-waterproofed both and they are as good as new. Love my poncho!
My first poncho that my brother gave me in the seventies was a USGI rubberized poncho, not only did it turn water good , it was warm cause it held in the heat, really saved me one time on a cold rainy canoe trip, don’t go without my poncho, some times two. Excellent video Neil.
My dad gave me my first poncho. A rubberized one. Had it for years. Awesome. Went everywhere with me. Lost it when the equipment boat sank crossing a lake during a fishing trip. Took me about a year but I found another one. I've had this one about 35 years and it's still in good shape. ❤ it!
I used prussiks through the grommet holes and tie them to a pole or two withies tied together on the outside of the poncho - you can still get that arched dome effect. I always have jungle knots with me anyway now with 8 Y pegs, a tarp and a poncho; It's just part of my kit in a grab bag, the grab bag can then fit into a pannier, daysack, bergen whichever. My grab-bag is a plce belt pouch that would usually take a canteen water bottle with lid and pan or mess kit, that goes in another pouch. I built that kit for a quick need solution for the old shtf requirements. 1 bag, all need covered - grab and go.
I'm definitely with you on Mora knives and ponchos being a mainstay of bushcrafting gear. Also a good quality pocket knife with a woodsaw, whether that's a German Army knife (used to have a Victorinox one of those, it was great) or SAK like the Hiker, Farmer or Huntsman/Fieldmaster, but if it were a choice between a folding knife and a Mora, I'd go with the Mora. Add a metal container or cooking pot of some kind and that's 3 of the 5 ''C''s covered, so these 3 with a lighter and some cordage are absolute essentials for any kit. I picked up a Dutch Army canteen cup for a couple of Euros in a surplus store when I was living in the Netherlands, and rate it highly, it's bombproof to use a hackneyed word. Since then I've bought a matching Dutch water bottle, and an after market Pathfinder lid for it.
excellent video. 1st time i have seen that hood modification that should be standard lol. the poles in corners to make a rigid low profile shelter is a fantastic mod, and will i now watch the other creators videos to see. 10/10 for content & info
Single most important piece of survival tech with what's coming is effective thermal defense!🦉 Been reading Max Velocity's book Patriot Dawn. VERY highly recommended!
Hello Neil, So, remember all the way back to 1970's when we were young Cadets, with 37webbing we had those capes, that buttoned together to make a shelter, they didn't have a hood like the 58 pattern poncho, so a gapping hole we tied up with jute string. I want to say it was rubberized canvas (excuse the z). Almost like Lavvu. As always Sir, outstanding information.
@@greencraft4783 He's a cheeky monkey! I've been trying to get MY HH back since the mid 80's. OBE, needs to buy us a pint and a ploughman's this September when I'm back for my annual visitation! I'm sure he's half Scottish, I've never seen a Southerner's wallet close up as quickly as Deano's!
Chris, search for "military anorak " on Amazon. They are £30. Then go to my video on "pimping your bushcraft smock" from a few weeks ago to see what it did to mine.
Bush craft eighties I teen was just survival it was semi perm camping part woodsman ship know how make lean to or small cabin and off ground sleep bench. How make semi permanent camp woods go back to
Yeah scouts pouch big piece kit. Not just rain . It could be use under stars sleep wrap protect blankets or bag dew hold heat and course shelter. Poncho as shelter mahe two person tent either as long triangle, diamond or small one person pole tent. Dew hood help collect water if need. Then there put water collection system. Yeah poncho cool piece. I aged with got little extra weight not as good fitting but never say poncho bad carry.
Nah, full 3x3 tarp every time for me. I have my Karrimor Sabre SF 45 with side pouches and their 3 dry bags to keep kit dry and a US Army Goretex suit to keep me dry and I could sleep in it on my Xtherm if it ever came down to it. I find ponchos incredibly annoying get over my kit in the damp/wet and I and walking in them with their ridiculous hoods is a pain too. They’re also pretty useless to sleep under in anything other than rain coming straight down too.
Unfortunately, for tall people poncho's are not so good unless you can locate an especially long version. I hike with my dog so also need a little extra space.
Even when the sky is blue, my poncho is with me...
I'm the same always have my poncho with me too and love the t-shirts medium would be good size as well
Get it in sky blue, might save you from the DEW.🤔
From South Africa lived many days of my 2 years conscription under a tarp, during the South African bush war round about 1975, and afterwards, as a civilian on my bike, the very same tarp as a lean to next off the side of the bike, and a cheap lilo as a blow up mattress.... if it got cold, reach up and start the bike, warm as a baking hot-cross bun.. 😅...@ 66, I don't hike no more, I go walkabout, but I carry another one of the very same tarp with me
In the 70's I traveled for several years on a Triumph Motorcycle through the Blue Ridge and Smokey Mountains of NC and TN with a Military Surplus Poncho as my only shelter. I still always carry one when hiking or riding today.
Always got one in my pack.
I have watched other walkers with expensive kit struggle with waterproofs and covers for their packs, always make me smile knowing I have a surplus store poncho which will take me two seconds to waterproof me and my rig.
Have poncho, will travel. Excellent demonstration
You've convinced me, I'm sold... I'm going to make the mods you showed us. Thank you 🙏
Another good trick is tying upside down to gather water in the hood to gather water great vid😊
Ponchos maybe used to be cheap...I have mine from my Army days in the 80's, the much sought after Woodland camo. But they have skyrocketed in price! Surplus will go for $50 on up, I saw some rare new ones for $90 USD! Apparently they are rarely issued anymore, I tried to get a friend's son to score me some since he had just enlisted and he couldn't get any! I found a woodland camo one at a surplus store for $20, pristine condition, an extremely rare find. I re-waterproofed both and they are as good as new. Love my poncho!
Clint Eastwood approves of this video
Still got my British Forces poncho. Great bit of kit
My first poncho that my brother gave me in the seventies was a USGI rubberized poncho, not only did it turn water good , it was warm cause it held in the heat, really saved me one time on a cold rainy canoe trip, don’t go without my poncho, some times two. Excellent video Neil.
My dad gave me my first poncho. A rubberized one. Had it for years. Awesome. Went everywhere with me. Lost it when the equipment boat sank crossing a lake during a fishing trip. Took me about a year but I found another one. I've had this one about 35 years and it's still in good shape. ❤ it!
i got 2 poncho usgi inmy alice pack.1 for shelter 2nd broused tic bed. super handy
I used prussiks through the grommet holes and tie them to a pole or two withies tied together on the outside of the poncho - you can still get that arched dome effect. I always have jungle knots with me anyway now with 8 Y pegs, a tarp and a poncho; It's just part of my kit in a grab bag, the grab bag can then fit into a pannier, daysack, bergen whichever. My grab-bag is a plce belt pouch that would usually take a canteen water bottle with lid and pan or mess kit, that goes in another pouch. I built that kit for a quick need solution for the old shtf requirements. 1 bag, all need covered - grab and go.
I'm definitely with you on Mora knives and ponchos being a mainstay of bushcrafting gear. Also a good quality pocket knife with a woodsaw, whether that's a German Army knife (used to have a Victorinox one of those, it was great) or SAK like the Hiker, Farmer or Huntsman/Fieldmaster, but if it were a choice between a folding knife and a Mora, I'd go with the Mora.
Add a metal container or cooking pot of some kind and that's 3 of the 5 ''C''s covered, so these 3 with a lighter and some cordage are absolute essentials for any kit. I picked up a Dutch Army canteen cup for a couple of Euros in a surplus store when I was living in the Netherlands, and rate it highly, it's bombproof to use a hackneyed word. Since then I've bought a matching Dutch water bottle, and an after market Pathfinder lid for it.
good vid, excellent ideas for some easy mods to the humble old poncho. 👍✌🖖
Great video and advice mate I own one and don't leave home without it.👍
excellent video. 1st time i have seen that hood modification that should be standard lol. the poles in corners to make a rigid low profile shelter is a fantastic mod, and will i now watch the other creators videos to see. 10/10 for content & info
I love my DA Poncho. A very good sized piece of protection.
A very informative & useful vedio---- Cheers.
I like what you did with the ridgeline. Allows for quick deployment.
Single most important piece of survival tech with what's coming is effective thermal defense!🦉 Been reading Max Velocity's book Patriot Dawn. VERY highly recommended!
...and yes, my post is poncho related. Rubberized milsurp is helpful.
Great video/information again Neil 👍🏻
Fab content
Hello Neil, So, remember all the way back to 1970's when we were young Cadets, with 37webbing we had those capes, that buttoned together to make a shelter, they didn't have a hood like the 58 pattern poncho, so a gapping hole we tied up with jute string. I want to say it was rubberized canvas (excuse the z). Almost like Lavvu. As always Sir, outstanding information.
Mate, I think Deano still has one. He still misses his HH jumper you proffed....
@@greencraft4783 He's a cheeky monkey! I've been trying to get MY HH back since the mid 80's. OBE, needs to buy us a pint and a ploughman's this September when I'm back for my annual visitation! I'm sure he's half Scottish, I've never seen a Southerner's wallet close up as quickly as Deano's!
Always have one in my daypack and another in my car
Cracking video. Thanks
My first poncho was an East German rubberised poncho and I got mine in Hailsham 🤘 I use to live up the road in stone Cross. I've still got it.
Great vid as normal. Look forward to shirts. Xl would be my order.
Xxl on the t-shirts ,always have a poncho with me, good health and safe travels, cheers craig
Always in the top of by daypack 👍👍
👍 .. good advice .. thanks 😊.
I have Dutch, German and British Army ponchos that I've used for years they are great 👍
Which would you recommend?
I really like the Dutch Army one the best
@@davidsayer3325 👍 thanks
Could you please show details on how you sewed the webbing onto your poncho. Wanting to replicate the pockets on my poncho.
Great job on the video
The poncho is arguably the most versatile item in your kit.
Great info on the old poncho. T shirt Med Large X Large & XX Large I think is best Neil. Put me down for an XXL please👍
I like the t shirt enough to get a couple. If they're a success, why not consider coyote tan, or international orange? Great vid!
yes, I agree - international orange would be great, and hard to lose when bushcrafting
2xl for me, top of my bag is my poncho
i've had A helikom tex pomcho forever; 2XL is where i''''m at- the bigsizes always sell out first.
I prefer my poncho over any waterproof jacket even for hills walking. When rain and wind is battering my face, I don't care if the poncho flaps about.
Hi Neil, nice explanation of all the shelters... New subscriber.. Can I ask where you got your jacket or what its called please...Cheers Chris.
Chris, search for "military anorak " on Amazon. They are £30. Then go to my video on "pimping your bushcraft smock" from a few weeks ago to see what it did to mine.
Bush craft eighties I teen was just survival it was semi perm camping part woodsman ship know how make lean to or small cabin and off ground sleep bench. How make semi permanent camp woods go back to
Yeah scouts pouch big piece kit. Not just rain . It could be use under stars sleep wrap protect blankets or bag dew hold heat and course shelter. Poncho as shelter mahe two person tent either as long triangle, diamond or small one person pole tent. Dew hood help collect water if need. Then there put water collection system. Yeah poncho cool piece. I aged with got little extra weight not as good fitting but never say poncho bad carry.
Suddenly a thousand people are on eBay bidding on army surplus ponchos.
Good size poncho...but not compatible with other nato issue poncho ...the KL one is bigger
I've seen people wearing them with belts to stop them flapping about.
👍🏾🤙🏾✌🏾
Nah, full 3x3 tarp every time for me. I have my Karrimor Sabre SF 45 with side pouches and their 3 dry bags to keep kit dry and a US Army Goretex suit to keep me dry and I could sleep in it on my Xtherm if it ever came down to it.
I find ponchos incredibly annoying get over my kit in the damp/wet and I and walking in them with their ridiculous hoods is a pain too. They’re also pretty useless to sleep under in anything other than rain coming straight down too.
Unfortunately, for tall people poncho's are not so good unless you can locate an especially long version. I hike with my dog so also need a little extra space.
2xl max
US I served we weren't allowed use our hoods coats cuts down your side vision
Sucked me I had wear glasses but uniform orders were what they were.