Ponchos

I debated where to put this thread, but I think 'Survival' is ultimately the most useful in the long run.
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How many here know what a poncho is? Dumb question right? However, I'm not talking only about those plastic or nylon things you pull over your head when it's raining outside, but rather ponchos in a much broader sense as in wool, alpaca and other material ponchos.

To get a better idea of what I'm talking about, visualize Clint Eastwood in the famous spaghetti western movie 'Fist Full of Dollars'. That and countless other old west movies where Mexican gunfighters and people in general wore ponchos as an outer garment. These are the ponchos to which I refer. Some call them a 'Gaban' and others still call them a 'Serape" (although Serape has a more feminine connotation).

As some may know, I recently had some fairly extensive shoulder surgery. Finding and wearing shirts and/or jackets is next to impossible. I needed to find an simple alternative. A while back while in Peru on business I bought an alpaca wool poncho. I'd purchased it mainly for the art value of the weaving with no real intention of wearing it, but rather hanging it on the wall as a piece of South American artwork. Well, I never got to hanging it on the wall. Now, enter my shoulder surgery dilemma. Then, a thought popped into my head one day...why not try the Peruvian poncho on. And so I did.

Well, first off, the poncho works great because it doesn't have arm holes so I can get it on over my bulky sling contraption, and it's pretty dang warm to boot. I felt I looked like a complete dork, but I didn't care...it worked! Since then I've been wearing it pretty much daily. In this time the poncho has really grown on me as a garment in general. It is hyper-functional overall, and frankly an amazing design, especially in its simplicity.

It can be used as a highly functional outer garment, it can be used as a blanket or a ground cloth and it allows for easy access to clothing underneath it. It also can be thrown over a shoulder to one side to allow full access to your front or to cool off. It's warm, but not stuffy and/or hot. And, it serves as a good windbreak as well as keeping the garments you have on underneath from getting too dusty/dirty. All in all it's a super versatile garment.

After this I started researching some of the history of the poncho. It's actually a storied piece of clothing, certainly in South American and Mexican culture. After seeing some of it's many uses I started to feel like less of a dork for wearing it. Then, when I started thinking about how many other pieces of clothing it could replace on say a backpacking trip, or as something you throw in your car it seemed almost indispensable. For something like primitive camping or bushcrafting a poncho almost seems like a must have item. Heck, now I want even more.

There are all kinds of ponchos out there, some of them pretty high-tech even. There are soft shell ponchos, waterproof nylon insulated ponchos, ponchos with pockets. So, I decided to do some experiments. What if I put a belt around one? Wow, even more functional!

For a piece of survival gear, probably the most functional garment I can come up with is...a poncho! I highly recommend looking into the utility of a poncho for your survival kit. You won't be disappointed.

Any thoughts on the use of ponchos for survival gear?

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

In the Army, we took poncho liners (issue item) and gave them, along with our rain jackets to the local tailor. He cut up the liners and used them to insulate the rain jackets, which were greatly preferred over the standard field jacket.

And yes, ponchos have many uses.

Cheers

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

who feeds the cows?

Wildly off topic, but it just popped into my head.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

While I prefer Anoraks myself, the poncho, IMO, is one the most useful and versatile pieces of gear you can own. Shelter, warmth, storage, etc.
As long as it's not some cheaply made junk, and the seams are tight, it can be a lifesaver.

I do prefer rain/windproof models as opposed to the woolen/knit type for warmth. I usually don't have an issue keeping warm.
And there's nothing dorky about a poncho unless you're trying to be too cool wearing it.

All in all, nearly an essential survival item for me.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

True story.

I had serious puppy love for a guy in high school.
My parents traveled to Mexico and bought me a bright pink alpaca poncho.
I LOVED IT. Seriously it was so warm and pretty.

Went to school the next day and my bf laughed and said it was the most hideous thing he'd ever seen.
I was livid, and didn't like him after that.

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

Any thoughts on the use of ponchos for survival gear?

i got several surplus ponchos. got them in all my vehicles, in the shed, shop and in to go bags.

got to check them out though, the water proofing does deteriorate on some. best if you have a surplus store still open where you can find them, and pick the ones you want.

there are lots of uses for them.

a reply to: Gravelbone

You just say that cause you'll never be as cool as this guy



Ponchos are pretty great for rain hiking and camping though.

I know when in a pinch, large size plastic garbage bags make excellent panchos and repel rain really well. Have had to do this myself.

If you're out camping/hiking/trekking, I believe they make hunter's orange garbage bags that protect well from the elements and are just what you want to have on hand if you're being searched for. Survivorman has these on hand in all of his survival kits.

IDK, though, the way things are going now, I might advise having the drab grey/black garbage bags instead. We might be heading fast towards a time where one does not want to stand out clearly in the bush....

a reply to: dug88

Figures he has a man bun too.
If I wanted to walk around draped in what looks like a Pier 1 throw rug to look cool, my kids would beat me to a pulp before I got out of the door if I wouldn't stop myself.
If that's "cool", call me an L7 Square then lol.

a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

I know when in a pinch, large size plastic garbage bags make excellent panchos and repel rain really well. Have had to do this myself.

i remember the first time i saw that, Mork and Mindy. tried to find a clip but haven't so far.


nanu nanu

now if you do a search for tag bag poncho, you get thousand of hits with people getting all kinds of fancy with them.

a reply to: hounddoghowlie

Yeah, I never saw it done before, but we were out fishing at a friend's camp when I was a kid, and it came on to raining heavy. Being young and dumb, we hadn't packed foul weather gear, but the parents had stocked the camp with lots of Hefty bags.

That day I learned garbage bags will keep you very dry, and also learned it's not wise to go into the wilderness without knowing the weather forecast and packing accordingly.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

True story.

I had serious puppy love for a guy in high school.
My parents traveled to Mexico and bought me a bright pink alpaca poncho.
I LOVED IT. Seriously it was so warm and pretty.

Went to school the next day and my bf laughed and said it was the most hideous thing he'd ever seen.
I was livid, and didn't like him after that.

He was probably flirting with you, guys have a way of saying things like that when they're flirting...

US mil surplus ponchos function nicely as shelter covers. they are designed to use 2 together to complete a 2 man survival tent (no bottom). Buy new equivalents from Cabelas as the Army surplus will have patches all over and they are guaranteed to leak. Also very handy to keep you and your pack dry in the rain which is why it's superior to a raincoat and pants. A pair of waterproof gaiters will keep your pants dry walking through grass and can be pulled down over your socks after removing boots to sleep.

Absolute necessity for any bug out bag, in the top 5 items for sure.

I forgot to add I made a poncho from a wool blanket and customized it with velcro straps on the side to keep it tight around the body and built in pockets above the shoulder to keep spare socks that act to cushion pack straps. with some bleach and dyes I varied the color pattern up for an acceptable camouflage pattern. overall the poncho is an ideal bit of clothing/protection. Wool can even be treated with lanolin to make it water-resistant if you want to get crazy with it.

a reply to: LSU2018

He was probably flirting with you, guys have a way of saying things like that when they're flirting...

It worked out very well for me.
We broke up, he got another girl preggo and skipped town!

Moral of the story, don't trust guys that don't like Ponchos! LOL

originally posted by: Gravelbone
a reply to: dug88

Figures he has a man bun too.
If I wanted to walk around draped in what looks like a Pier 1 throw rug to look cool, my kids would beat me to a pulp before I got out of the door if I wouldn't stop myself.
If that's "cool", call me an L7 Square then lol.

I was thinking exactly the same thing, it looks like a throw rug draped on him. He wears skinny jeans, too, LOL.

originally posted by: JAGStorm
a reply to: LSU2018

He was probably flirting with you, guys have a way of saying things like that when they're flirting...

It worked out very well for me.
We broke up, he got another girl preggo and skipped town!

Moral of the story, don't trust guys that don't like Ponchos! LOL

Ha! Yes it definitely worked out for you! I dated the same girl through the 11th and 12th grade, she ended up pregnant about 5 months after we broke up, had twins, got addicted to speed to lose her baby weight, had to give up her kids to her mom, got pregnant again from a different guy a year later, twins again. It was a good thing we broke up when we did.

originally posted by: F2d5thCavv2
a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

In the Army, we took poncho liners (issue item) and gave them, along with our rain jackets to the local tailor. He cut up the liners and used them to insulate the rain jackets, which were greatly preferred over the standard field jacket.

And yes, ponchos have many uses.

Cheers

Reminds me: I need to go down to the surplus store. And, I need to replace two thermal blankets.

Good thread, FCD. Thing I like most about the poncho is its versatility. Like HoundDog, I keep these things as handy as I do Mora knives.

a reply to: LSU2018

I mean, what else COULD he wear with that get up?
When you assasin down the avenue to get your soy latte, you have to look like you mean it.

a reply to: SleeperHasAwakened

hefty even use to promote them, page is gone now but here is the pictures.







the the way back link,
www.hefty.com..." target="_blank" class="postlink">DYI Poncho

for some reason can't get the link to post.
here's a screen shot,

a reply to: Flyingclaydisk

A poncho also goes over a backpack and therefore gives you mobility in the rain.

Good to hear that you are being positive despite the shoulder and sleep deprivation. I appreciate your posts as they give me a glimpse into the real life of someone else. Thanks FCD.