So I think a poncho is one of the best rain gears for backpacking, the only problem is when you drape the back of the poncho over your pack it causes the rear edge to ride up and leaves you and your pack uncovered in back. To fix this I took and added a strip from a second matching Dri Ducks poncco and sewed it on w/ a flat felled seam. The seam is oriented so the folded edge is down and should shed water well. In addition I made sure to allign the snaps on the added piece so that everything matched up and I can snap all the way down. In doing this I noticed that the arm opening was dramatically bigger now and might alow rain to enter at the arms so I added two darts on each side above the 3rd set of snaps. This did three things: it made the arm hole smaller and better proportioned, it created a hump on the back of the ponch that molds around the loaded pack, and by placing the darts at the other two unused snaps I was able to cut them out. Finished weight is 10.1 oz and that includes a small stuff sack.
As a bonus since I have about 2/3 of the 2nd ponch left over I am going to make a rain wrap / kilt for lower rain protection. This will be similar to th one that ULA offers. When all is said and done I will have a pack fitted / lengthened poncho and a rain wrap for about $26 in materials.
Oh and since I spent the time and effort to do this I have ensured good weather for my Mt Rogers trip next week!
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