Question about hood on poncho tarp

[lustreking]

I'm just about to finish my poncho tarp, that is, when I get the nerve to cut a big head hole in the nice tarp I've made.

Anyway, I've never seen a commercial poncho tarp up close. When I make the hood, how long should the "neck" portion be so that I don't have to worry about leaks in tarp mode?

[sbhikes]

I have a pattern for a Parcho and the hole is not round and the hood itself is much longer in front than in back. Of course, it's not a poncho exactly and it's not intended to work as a tarp.

What I would do is go to the hardware store and buy a cheap plastic poncho and take it apart to get proper measurements.

[lustreking]

What I would do is go to the hardware store and buy a cheap plastic poncho and take it apart to get proper measurements.

The problem is that cheap ponchos are not intended to be used as tarps so the neck section would probably be much shorter than I would need it to be.

[DripDry]

There is a hood pattern on thru hiker (http://thru-hiker.com/projects/hood_pattern.php) and a tarp poncho pattern at http://royrobinson.homestead.com/PonchoPlans.html

[lustreking]

There is a hood pattern on thru hiker (http://thru-hiker.com/projects/hood_pattern.php) and a tarp poncho pattern at http://royrobinson.homestead.com/PonchoPlans.html

Thanks, I'm roughly following Roy Robinson's design and I wanted to see if the 6 inches or (after seams) that he recommends is enough, when compared to commercial versions.

[general]

mesure your head and neck. you're the seamster, fit it to your specs. then you can tell everyone that it's custom.

[lustreking]

mesure your head and neck. you're the seamster, fit it to your specs. then you can tell everyone that it's custom.

The issue isn't fitting MY neck. There has to be enough material there to be able to seal up the hole in tarp mode to prevent leaks.

I found out that on a Golite poncho tarp the length between the seam of the hood to the cape and seam at the chin is 8.5", which is about 2.5" more than the Roy Robinson design (after seam allowances). I think I'm going to re-do my hood for a longer neck length.

[Tinker]

The neck section on my Mountain Laurel Designs poncho is 6". The face opening has a bungee cord with a cord lock closure. It's a traditional round opening, not their trademark "along the seam" one. I've never had a problem with leaks setting this up in the tarp mode.

I twist the hood, fold it over, then wrap the bungee cord around it, securing it with the cord lock toggle. I've most often used it in the modified lean-to mode.
Link to pics of my poncho: http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/253492996JmxEGl

[lustreking]

Thanks for the reply, Tinker. Good to know that 6 inches works for you. Now on the other hand, I recently found a post on BPL where Ron Bell himself recommends an 8" neck.

http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...thread_id=4871

I still can't decide what to do!

[Wise Old Owl]

The problem is that cheap ponchos are not intended to be used as tarps so the neck section would probably be much shorter than I would need it to be.

What? anything can be used seriously as a tarp, use your imagination! Why not customize it? off center so there is more material at the back to cover the backpack and use a hat brim and add a half inch for the oval. Measure the LENGTH of your neck. add a 3/4's to it for the join with a good fabric glue. And follow what SB said.