Poncho Tarp Suggestions

**tammons** · 03-19-2010, 09:53

Only one I own is the Campmor 5x9 extended, but its really too big as a poncho and not big enough as a tarp over my hammock.

Then the same old question, what do you do when its a frog choker and you need to set up. Change into another rain jacket, set up your soaked poncho tarp etc etc.

I would rather just take a separate tarp and rain gear.

I do like to pack it when I am out for a day hike or maybe an overnighter with minimal gear when I do not expect rain just as sort of an
emergency shelter/rain gear.

**schwieb** · 03-21-2010, 18:22

Sounds like a lot of cautions against using a poncho as a tarp unless necessary. Thanks for the advice.

**TrailH4x** · 03-21-2010, 19:18

Originally Posted by bdpalace

I use big tarps with my boys so they have somewhere to pass the time during a rain storm and not be confined to the hammock. YMMV.

Same opinion here.

My son just traded up to a larger tarp about a month or so ago. We just returned from a weekend scouting a new backpacking trail. He brought along a friend and one evening we even managed to find a three tree triangle perfect for hanging them both under his "new" tarp (their heads we hung from trees 3' apart and both feet were tied to the same tree.

A pretty nasty cold front came through leaving us with a whole afternoon of drizzle and rain. The boys sat beneath the two hammocks playing cards, doing magic tricks and cooking their meals on alky burners. Temps dropped to 34° (from 70°)

. The proximity allowed the boys to share warming tips and challenge each other on who would "man it out."

A solid tarp with a large footprint will pay you back for the trips of logging it along- all in the one trip where things get a bit hairier than you would have liked. All while allowing your kids to gain confidence in there sets rather than doubt their love of backpacking.

My .02 at least.

**TrailH4x** · 03-21-2010, 19:23

Originally Posted by schwieb

Sounds like a lot of cautions against using a poncho as a tarp unless necessary. Thanks for the advice.

Now on the other hand, a Poncho Villa made an excellent emergency jacket when combined with under layers for my son this weekend (no jacket in the pack for the 75°, turned 34° outing).

Hopefully he will forget about my poncho now. I really think it fits me better...

Ponchos really have their place wither in a pack on on your back. I just wouldn't use them for any more than a minimalist vestibule with a ground tarp in the every day shelter arena.