View Full Version : Poncho Shelters for couples...
holyphenol
08-05-2009, 12:11
For cross-reference sake, I am also posting this to BPL to get a plethora of ideas, just in case somebody was checking that out as well.
So, I've been looking around to find a configuration for combining two ponchos to create a shelter for two...
I understand the premise of shelter halves, but I've read/heard that rain leakage can be an issue. Either way, I'm trying to get my ladyfriend to continue on our lighter pack-weight kick(currently, we've owned a msr hubba hubba for three years and tiring of it's unnecessary weight). On the other hand, it has added functionality becuase she only goes on about 75% of my outings. With a configuration like this, I wouldn't have to change out gear in my pack simply b/c of her absence(she actually joins me as a 'section hiker' during a few of my longer jaunts sometimes, which would facilitate the idea of a modular tent).
Also, as a consideration for our sizes, I'm 6'4 and she's 5'4. Would it simply be easier to cover the open end of a tarp setup with the larger poncho staked to the ground into the wind?
By the way, there are plenty of trees here for vertical supports.
Thanks for the all of your help and looking forward to criticism, both positive and negative.
Alligator
08-05-2009, 12:23
I can only address the tarp setup that you mentioned. I found an 8X10 silnylon tarp to be adequate for myself and my wife. I am 6'2" and she is 5'3". If you went that route, the tarp weighs 13 oz. Having the poncho would be an added bonus. You could spare a few ounces maybe with a shaped tarp or different material. You would need some stakes and line but you also need that for the poncho to some degree.
holyphenol
08-05-2009, 12:35
Would it simply be easier to cover the open end of a tarp setup with the larger poncho staked to the ground into the wind?
I suppose I should change this to - ...open end of the smaller poncho setup with the larger poncho...
I was just to eliminate weight by making both of our raingears multi-functional.
I do appreciate your perspective on it though, especially considering your height, because an 8x10 was going to be my default option.
Alligator
08-05-2009, 12:50
Gotcha. I've never had much luck combining tarps but I've only tried to do it for car camping and didn't give it much forethought. I'm interested as well to see something workable.
holyphenol
08-05-2009, 12:58
well, as long as it wouldn't harm the integrity of a shelter, I thought about simply attaching 1/2 of a waterproof zipper to each side, but I don't have any experience in doing this... yet...
Seems to me that you want a little overlap to have it be reasonably weatherproof, and given that ponchos aren't that wide anyway, I have to guess that the result would feel pretty sketchy for two people (?).
How about a sort of hybrid approach where you combine two ponchos to make one decent tarp shelter for one person, and bring a solo tent (or tarp or whatever) for the other person? That at least saves a little weight (over a 2-person tent) assuming that you both use a poncho anyway. And are both happy without rain gear in camp.
Alternatively, just get two Gatewood Capes and have separate shelters. Though you might be too tall for one of those ... dunno.
My wife and I use a tarptent.com two person shelter when we hike together, and in that scenario I'll typically bring my shorter, lighter poncho; seems good enough to me. Particularly when there are a lot of bugs!
How about a tarp and a couple of these:
http://www.integraldesigns.com/product_detail.cfm?id=824&CFID=1085776&CFTOKEN=82972667&mainproducttypeid=1
I've been looking at these for a while now. Might be just the thing for short term warm weather hiking (instead of either jacket or full poncho).
cwayman1
08-07-2009, 12:44
I agree with BrianLe that you will want some overhang, but I would say that two ponchos would be more than wide enough for two ppl- each poncho being about 5-5.5 feet wide... at least. So there's a 10-11' wide tarp... more than enough. And if you put some additional grommets or webbing tie-outs maybe 8 or so inches in on the sides of each poncho then you have a way to attach the overlapping pieces so you get rid of most of the overlapping flapping :D
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/showimage.php?i=35709&catid=searchresults&searchid=26424
"...but I would say that two ponchos would be more than wide enough for two ppl- each poncho being about 5-5.5 feet wide... at least."
FWIW, there are few ponchos that wide.
Equinox Terrapin Poncho is 58" wide (4.8')
Campmor ultralite poncho is the same width
Golite ultra-lite poncho is also that width (and I can say from experience that it feels not at all generous when pitched as a solo tarp)
Bozeman Mountain Works SpinPoncho is 51" wide
Poncho Villa is about the widest at 64" but it's also only 64" long (!)
The Integral Designs Sil Poncho/Tarp is 60" x 96", so we do reach 5' there
the Mountain Laurel Designs MLD Pro Poncho is tapered, 55" to 67", designed to be better as a shelter in that way; dunno how that would work mating two of them
I was initially skeptical that a comfortably wide tarp would be obtained from two off-the-rack ponchos connected together with any significant overlap. Thinking a bit more, however, it would probably be fine. Even though I found a 58" wide poncho not very wide as a solo shelter, it doesn't scale up that way when combining two for two bodies --- about 9-1/2 feet wide for two connected 58" wide ponchos.
cwayman1
08-08-2009, 11:13
hmm, to be honest i never really looked into poncho widths. I just assumed that it would have to be wide enough to ALMOST cover up your hands when you have your arms spread. and with spread arm width being almost spot on with height... i'm right at 6', so I just threw out 5-5.5'. so not as wide as i figured, but yeah, still wide enough i'd say. thanks for the info too!
Wise Old Owl
08-08-2009, 11:19
Gotcha. I've never had much luck combining tarps but I've only tried to do it for car camping and didn't give it much forethought. I'm interested as well to see something workable.
Yes - I agree, I wouldn't mind seeing a pic from a test in the backyard.
As for the post above, I use a tarp for Hamock hanging and 8x10 is as small as I would want to go, the average military poncho leaves a lot to be desired, you are going to accept getting wet.
cwayman1
08-08-2009, 11:34
W-O-O, i as well am a hanger, so i can't really help with the pics, and am in the process of making a 12x10-ish hex tarp-- kinda like an OES MacCat without the cat cuts. what you have to keep in mind, though, is that a hammock itself will be about 9-10 feet long, and since most ppl sleep on the diag. then you take up more width as well. i agree, i wouldn't hang under less than an 8x10 on the asym, but just a person will take up much less room.
Wise Old Owl
08-08-2009, 11:40
Yea and I just tried to see if there were pics in the gallery for ponchos and there are a few -
http://whiteblaze.net/forum/vbg/browseimages.php?do=searchresults&catid=searchresults&searchid=26460&page=2
cwayman1
08-08-2009, 11:56
yeah, room is kinda slim, but then again that seems to be the case with most UL stuff-- not a lot of excess room, but still sufficient. As well, although I've never seen an HH with stock tarp in person, SGT rock's poncho-tarp doesn't look all that much smaller than the stock.
AND let's not rule out the idea/possibility of a DIY poncho project :)
holyphenol
08-09-2009, 01:56
thanks all for the helpful hints...
i actually am going through a hip replacement surgery for one of my dogs, so this is going to have to be pushed back a week or so...
either way, once i get everything worked out, i'll throw up some pics for everybody...
also, should i consider snaps along the overlapping area of the ridgeline?
just wondering if, in a decent wind or rain, if the open overlap will be an issue even if pitched leeward...
thanks again!
Wise Old Owl
08-09-2009, 12:11
This was so interesting I got out my military poncho and laid it out on the grass next to the tarp .... Well if you do not snap two together for one person I just don't get it. It would bearly cover a foxhole, I was going to string it out and guy it but its just too small even for a bag on a mat. The best you could hope for was a very bad bivy bag. So you lost me here as a mil spec poncho is too small, heavy for the coverage and well best left at home.:-?
Holyphenol I found these for you to check out and are well recommended by the WB community at large.
http://www.thepacka.com/index_files/Page346.html
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=11&cat=Shelters
Of those last two links, the Packa looks nice but can't be used as a shelter.
The Gatewood cape at the second link, however, is a brilliant piece of kit. I just got one, and it was 11.1 oz before seam sealing --- with 6 light stakes added and a GG polycro sheet underneath it's a very nice solo shelter for just over 15 oz. Add their bug nettent for 7 more oz and the total is still less than, say, a tarptent.com Contrail, and is combined shelter AND raingear.
As a poncho I suspect it's a little less optimal as I'm concerned about how well it breathes, even with the front zipper open. I'll hopefully test this out over the next couple of months.
holyphenol
08-09-2009, 17:42
This was so interesting I got out my military poncho and laid it out on the grass next to the tarp .... Well if you do not snap two together for one person I just don't get it. It would bearly cover a foxhole, I was going to string it out and guy it but its just too small even for a bag on a mat. The best you could hope for was a very bad bivy bag. So you lost me here as a mil spec poncho is too small, heavy for the coverage and well best left at home.:-?
Holyphenol I found these for you to check out and are well recommended by the WB community at large.
http://www.thepacka.com/index_files/Page346.html
http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/shop/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=11&cat=Shelters
Ummm, I wasn't going to use military halves, I was just using the term to more easily illustrate how I possibly wanted to combine the two tarps to make on... If anything, I will probably end up making my own(I'm about to try my hands at a simple tarp to start things off though...) to customize for the length difference between the lady and I.
To be honest with you, my lady friend has shown more interest in the SMD cape than anything else - mostly due to the fact that it can have some bug protection and still be on the lighter end...
As for the packa, well, I haven't had my hands on one, so I'm still at a loss for why it can't be converted to a tarp of sorts - even if there are some necessary mods. Any help on this one guys? For my sake this would be my favorite option for multi-functionality's sake.
Wise Old Owl
08-09-2009, 19:24
Well you are very lucky to have a woman who "likes" that kind of rustic living. They are a very rare relationships.....
Still send us a pic as to what you are talking about when you get done...