Reader Reviews

Rating: 5 / 5

The GoLite Ultralight poncho/tarp is a great multi-use item. It can serve as raingear, pack cover, ground tarp, rainfly, gear loft, and tarp shelter. It's silnylon construction is very lightweight yet durable. The extra long backside serves as a pack cover or can be snapped up when sans pack. Unlike some ponchos the buttons are strong and stay snapped without easily coming undone. It has eight sturdy webbing loops for all sorts of tarp constructions. It's one of the most versatile items I carry and I'm very pleased with it. It's packed weight is 10 oz.

Edited by wamyteipen on 08/09/2007 15:30:21 MDT.

Rating: 5 / 5

This Golite gear is made of a rugged silnylon. It has snaps to help shorten its length when worn as a poncho. It is useful to run a guide line over the top of it between the supporting poles to help keep the hood up and closed tight when being used as a shelter. I have two knobs of tape around my hiking poles set at different heights, so if it is wet, windy weather, I can pitch the tarp lower to the ground at a preset condition. Remember this is a minimal shelter. Be used to tarp camping before you use this as your only shelter. Remember, too, if you have this as your only raingear, you have to remove it to set it up! I cheat and carry a lightweight rain jacket for the times you need to be out in the rain when your tarp is up. With a poncho your arms are exposed in the rain. I like the Sierra Designs Isotope (sp???) Rain Jacket that I read about at this website. When compared to the Gatewood cape from Six Moon Designs, I would say that the Golite is a more durable poncho because of the more rugged nylon, but not as good as a shelter, because the Cape sets up more like a tent with a zippered door. The zipper also gives you more venting options when worn as a poncho. Both fit nicely over the pack with the Golite being a tighter fit and maybe flaps a bit less in a wind (hard to judge that, however) As a tarp, I use the Golite set up with the ridgeline down the middle 90% of the times I have used it. There are other options as to its pitching set up. I beleive both these products are reviewed by BPL with photos. Check out the Reviews of Gear.

Rating: 5 / 5

I always have and always will carry a poncho of some kind.. excellent tarps, ultimate windbreak, packcover, groundsheet, great insulater (throw one over your sleeping bag if you get to cold and feel the difference in no time, this puts the breathability to 0 but really works. try it. Just be sure to give your sleeping bag a good airing the day after). Some crazy people use them as a kind of rain overcoat, but only mad crazy people, this is better with the golites as you can fold up excess fabric.

The Golite Poncho weighs in at 305grams, once youve thrown your packcover away that means about 200grams of total usefulness. IMO one of the single greatest pieces of backpacking equipment, there should be one in all packs and the golites comes highly reccomended judging from weight and features.

Havn't had the golites long enough to comment on its durability, i may remark my score later.