Poncho Vs. Rain Jacket

Get a poncho, you won't regret it. The things you can do with a poncho are legion. Heck, one day you may even decide to leave the tent behind :)

One thing in particular I like is that if it rains, it takes 10 seconds to setup, and it keeps both me and my pack dry. It is a small annoyance but an annoyance none the less to un strap your pack, lay it on the wet grass, put your rain jacket/pants on, put a cover on the pack, put it on your back, and then readjust the straps. If your weather is like mine you know it will stop raining 2 minutes later, and you end up overheating because you don't want to go through the hassle again in case it rains again.

Best bang for your buck is the Campmor Silnylon Poncho-Tarp (http://www.campmor.com). They got two styles, a regular plus one designed for backpacks with an extension that snaps out of the way when not in use. I got the larger one and now regrets it; way too big.

Richard, would you care to elaborate on the drop stopper? I may be in the market for something just like this.

With today's options, it's hard to go wrong. I like a poncho, though because they're simpler, cheaper, and more ventilated. They also have more camp function, whether as primary shelter or a supplementary vestibule for your tent.

Abdon hit on another great point about ponchos: the ability to don and doff the poncho without needing to stop or to remove your pack. If you're out there for a couple days, this can become a huge blessing. Wind flapping can get annoying, yes. I don't suggest you add a belt, though–just tie the rear corners around your waist.

-Mark

You mentioned Washington and Oregon as destinations.
I have some experience with ponchos breaking brush in the rainforests on the West side of the Cascades. The physical contact with the vegetation will eventually soak your clothing, and that will wick up eventually into your top layers even when covered witha poncho. So in that area, WP/B clothing is preferrable. In the dryer less vegetated Eastern half of those states, a poncho would be fine based on my experience in the topographically similar TX, AZ, and CA.

Personally I haven't used a poncho in years, and now that I learned about windshells here at BPL, my windpants and windshirt are good enough for light rain/wind/brush, and my DIAD and rain pants are reserved for the heavier stuff.

A poncho is multi-use, certainly, but so is a DIAD or other light WP/B shell. It cuts the wind, insulates at about clo 1, and is completely waterproof. Personally I don't want to have to take off my shell to pitch my shelter. And with a poncho you are going to carry rain pants anyway, right?

Your question is timely for me. I have recently purchased SIL nylon from Walmart and am attempting to build something similar to the Integral Designs Silcoat Cape. Hoping to come in at 7 oz. Not intending to use it as a tarp, but am intending to use is it as a wind breaker. Features: front zip, just big enough to cover a small pack, belted for windy conditions, snaps to form sleeves, hooks to allow rolling up the sides ala a muscle shirt.

Literally decades ago, I spent a mostly wet spring month on the AT in a poncho. I stayed pleasantly dry and ventilated. It handled mists and downpours wells and did OK in moderate winds.

Somewhere down the line I switched to WP/B jackets, with pit zips etc. I'm never as comfortable as I was in that poncho due to heat and damp buildup. I really miss that poncho.

Questions I hope to resolve: How will it do bushwhacking in moderately dense brush? Will it snag too much? Tear too much?

A poncho is limited in fierce winds. We rode the top deck of a ferry in 40 mph winds and 12 foot waves. My jacket cinched down nicely and I stayed pretty comfortable. No such hope for a poncho. So if you expect dangerous, windy and cold conditions I would say no go. For that reason I would worry about extended and exposed Pacific beach and mountain ridge hiking, but have no real experience with these.

Gearhead Alert: You may end up with both a poncho and a WP/B jacket in your arsenal. Select the one most appropriate for the trip you are taking.

Tyler… you summed it up well. Poncho vs. Rain Jacket seems to be a very personal decision… which points out that none of the options at that good :-( No matter what the weather is, I seem to end up with a very damp chest due to condensation inside the poncho, and wet sides due to wind blown rain and/or brushing against things. I am a Rain Jacket type. I would recommend DriDucks / Dropstoppers or a light weight eVENT jacket. For more detailed thoughts see
Mark's thoughts on clothing / raingear.

Mark,

I am going to give your technique a try.

Thanks

This is on gossamer gear's web site:

NOTE: THE MANUFACTURER OF DRIDUCKS HAS INFORMED US THAT THEY HAVE BEEN SWITCHING OVER TO A NEW FABRIC AND REMOVING THE POCKETS FROM THE JACKET. WE STILL HAVE A MIXTURE OF NEW AND OLD PRODUCTS BUT THEY ARE COMING TO US WITHOUT ANY NOTIFICATION AS TO WHAT IS WHAT. THEREFORE YOU MAY RECEIVE A SET THAT IS EITHER LIGHTER OR HEAVIER THAN OUR STATED WEIGHTS. THE JACKET MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE POCKETS. UNFORTUNATELY WE CANNOT PROCESS SPECIAL REQUESTS FOR A SPECIFIC FABRIC OR POCKET OPTIONS AS THE PACKAGING IS THE SAME AND THERE IS NO WAY TO TELL WHAT WE ARE SHIPPING.

Jaiden,

I love my Dropstoppers. For hiking on trail or in clear terrain, I don't know why anyone would want to spend 10 times the amount for something that probably doesn't function any better. I just hope they don't go away as they definitely need replacing every now and then!

Off topic:
Sean,
When will you be doing the Tahoe Rim Trail? I'm going to be leading groups in the Tahoe area starting July 27 returning every two weeks through late September. Maybe we could cross paths.

I won't pine too much. We'll be doing 6 days on the Lost Coast in June.

I'm still in the experimental stages, but the short answer for me is it depends on the temperatures. In general, if it is going to be above 50 degrees I'm probably gonna go with my Equinox Terrapin tarp/poncho. If the temperatures are generally below that than I use a Marmot Oracle jacket.

Here are a few general observations on the poncho. As someone else mentioned, the poncho can be removed and put back on without stopping and taking off the pack. If it is flapping around a lot I use a piece of shock cord around my waist as a belt. If the rain is really blowing then moisture can get up under it. This also occurs if one is in wet vegitation that is rubbing up against the poncho. In my opinion it offers superior ventilation to a jacket allowing for it to be worn comfortably in much warmer temperatures.

Here are a few observations on the jacket. The jacket is definitly more water proof in the respect that it seals off areas where moisture can get in more effectively. The jacket is much more comfortable to wear around camp, and can double as a wind shell for when it is not raining but cold. If the temperatures are warmer than hiking in the jacket will cause one to sweat, and thus the jacket provides less ventilation. The jacket also requires one to stop to remove it or put it on. And last but not least, my jacket weighs about 8 more ounces than my poncho. Of course I could look into lighter jacket options.

So all said I think it is just a matter of personal preference, and I would encourage you to experiment a little to see what you like best. For me the answer is both, and I take the jacket in colder temperatures and the poncho in warmer temperatures. I will also typically carry the jacket over the poncho if I know I am going to be in thick or heavy vegitation.

Certainly, no flaws Richard, but in the first two scenarios what circumstances influence your choice of Propore relative to Entrant and vice versa?