I don't use a pack cover. I put what needs to stay dry inside a plastic bag in the pack and use an umbrella and a very light rain-resistant wind jacket. I like the umbrella because I use it in hot sun, too. But if the poncho is something I can actually hike in, I could switch over to use it instead and take naps when it's too hot.

The only sleeping options I really care about are inside or outside a "tent". Aside from rain, protection from bugs and a need for privacy are the only parameters that affect my choice.

I am still thinking about the poncho. I will have to test it out on a real camping trip. It is hard to imagine in my back yard.

It's hard to decide what's best.

Here is a 6x8 solo tarp with a tie out near the foot attached
to and ice axe.

http://owareusa.com/images/solotarp.jpg

Edited by oware on 03/06/2009 09:11:01 MST.

Here's how I pitch my poncho. On the coast when the wind picked up (lots of spray) I just removed the guylines on one side and staked it straight to the ground. Space was tight but I stayed dry in my bivy.

Poncho in photosynth:




Here's a link to the same thing in Silverlight (for Mac users or those who don't want to install the viewer).

Edited by kreppart on 03/06/2009 10:23:28 MST.

That's nice and all but there is no way I'm going to install a new program just to view a photo of an A-frame tarp step pitched directly to the ground.

Why not just post the photo diretly to the website?

What size is your tarp and do you find that setup is suited for rain?

Steve, it's a Golite. I think the size is 8.5'x5'. The half pyramid works fine in the rain. Of course, if the wind shifted 180 degrees in the night and rain started pouring through the open end, I might change my mind.

Edited by Dondo on 03/06/2009 17:40:32 MST.

Re: http://owareusa.com/images/solotarp.jpg

Wow, that is low. Gotta crawl on your belly for that one.

I like the picture above in the snow. And the blue brawnylite tarp looks nice, too.

I hope to practice in the wilderness soon. Maybe this weekend.

Dondo, thanks for the info. I'm excited to try out that pitch when the weather gets a bit nicer.

Chad, those were my thoughts exactly I clicked the picture!

Chad/Steven apologies for not explaining. I don't want to hijack this thread so let me give a quick explanation and we can continue on a separate thread if anyone is curious.

The poncho synth that I linked to isn't a single photo, it's actually a composite view of 21 photos reconstructed in a 3D sort of way. Photosynth takes a set of photos, analyzes them for similarities, creates a 3d model and then presents those photos properly in relation to one another.

My poncho setup isn't anything special but you can view it from many different angles and zoom in up to the full 12 megapixel images to see the details. I know this would have been helpful to me when I was trying to figure out how to set up a tarp.

Anyway, I think Photosynth's ability to show the big picture and the details will be really great for sharing things like tarp setups, camp site photos, and especially MYOG diagrams because you can include views from all sides.

I started another thread here to talk about possible uses of Photosynth in the photography section, if you're curious or have further feedback let's move the discussion to that thread.

Best,

- ken

Edited by kreppart on 03/07/2009 12:45:23 MST.

So I decided to try the poncho in the field. It worked great. I was very happy. It was a colder than expected night (below freezing) with no wind or rain, but I stayed cozy and comfy. I could tell that if it were to sprinkle a little, I would be safe from the rain. I set it up like a pyramid.



I liked the freedom of not having a tent. My poncho is now my new first choice in shelter options.

My pack only weighed about 9lbs, which was also really freeing. I could have gone lighter but I wanted to test my pack with as much of the actual gear I plan to take on the PCT as possible. Plus I brought a book to give me something to do.

The best part of having such a smallish pack (even better than still being able to walk past all the day hikers) was that nobody ever asked me where I was going. I don't think they knew I was going backpacking. My pack didn't look like a backpacking trip was in process. I think this makes it much safer for the single female backpacker.

Looks good.

I own a poncho tarp also, that I use exclusively for rain gear. I haven't used it as a shelter, because I haven't really been able to figure out exactly how I would deal with setting camp in a good solid rain.

How do you plan to handle that scenario?

Well, to be honest, if it is good solid rain I think I would rather have my 8x10 tarp. Then I think what I would do is drape it over my gear and then set it up. There would be enough room under the tarp to dart inside, take off wet clothing, set up my sleeping bag and get inside.

I think I could drape my poncho over my gear and then set it up, but there would be no room to get under the shelter and then get in my bag. I think I could survive with the poncho, but survival is about the best I could hope for in solid rain.

For camping in Southern California, where I live, I think that the poncho is most excellent. It hardly ever rains here. And there are very few mosquitos here, too.

When I hiked the PCT last year it rained in the desert. All of a sudden I could hear rain falling on my tent. A situation like that I think the poncho could handle.

Lol I got so wrapped up in the Photosynth Tech I forgot why I was there. Great Photos