poncho or tarp?

[redisherfox]

whats best in your opinion or is it best to have a choice ??

[ged]

Depends what you want and what you're doing. You can wear a tarp but it's a bit of a faff.

[Ahjno]

whats best in your opinion or is it best to have a choice ??

There's no best. It's what ever floats your boat. I normally take a tarp, especially when hammocking, as a tarp gives a bigger dry area. When I go lightweight I take a poncho, but that's usually in summer when there's little or no wet stuff falling down.

[Andy BB]

There's no best. It's what ever floats your boat. I normally take a tarp, especially when hammocking, as a tarp gives a bigger dry area. When I go lightweight I take a poncho, but that's usually in summer when there's little or no wet stuff falling down.

No difference in England between seasons and rain

[Dark Horse Dave]

I've used both as a shelter - a poncho as a low lean-to and a tarp in an A frame way - but tend to stick to bashas / tarps these days. I think on balance waterproofs are more versative / easier to work with than ponchos as rain protection, and you get more room under a tarp.

[oldtimer]

Whatever else I try I still prefer a very light 2man tent. Rainproof , wind proof, draught-proof, warm, bug-proof and no need camp under dripping trees.

[JAG009]

This might help you decide couple of pics of both set ups both work as shelters but as ged said tarp as a poncho is a bit of a faff

Poncho just enough to sleep under but you really need a bivi bag



Tarp loads of room and no need for a bivi if you dont want to use one


Take your pick

[santaman2000]

It's interesting to note that the Marines are replacing their ponchos with tarps on a one for one exchange www.currentmilitaria.com/marpat-coyote-tarp-71 The individual Marines preferred the tarp over the poncho by 91% when asked. I'm not sure exactly why since the issue ILBE tarps are the exact same size as the poncho (90 inches X 80 inches) and doesn't have the same easy ability to wear it as a poncho. It is a good looking tarp though and made of the same material as the poncho (treated/waterfproffed rip stop nylon)

[Shewie]

Tarp for me, and waterproofs if it's raining

[Steve13]

looking forward to trying the Poncho for rain when walking but I think it would be too small to sleep under IMO, I much prefer a lightweight tent

[SimonM]

Speaking from personal experience in the TA, years ago:-

Waterproofs for rainwear... Ponchos just aren't practical on the hills in windy conditions.

Tarps for sleeping under...Ponchos just aren't big enough to get comfy under.

The MOD started issuing shelter sheets (tarps / bashas) for a reason you know!

Simon

[redisherfox]

I use a german poncho with fibreglass poles to form a low level dome type shelter not roomy but fine, use this system in pap weather. or some times my home made canvas tarp mainly for use near open fires.

[Sttrory]

Tarps any day! Ponchos are so yesterday ;-)

[Laurentius]

Depends what you want and what you're doing. You can wear a tarp but it's a bit of a faff.

You can indeed wear a Tarp but a bit of a faff is an understatement. Ultimately you have to ask, if your Poncho is your shelter, where then is your waterproof when you need it?

[santaman2000]

looking forward to trying the Poncho for rain when walking but I think it would be too small to sleep under IMO, I much prefer a lightweight tent

An issue poncho is 6 feet & 8 inches X 8 feet & 6 inches. And 2 of them will snap together. The same as the current Marine Corps ILBE tarp.

[redisherfox]

its great to have verid ways , what about polish lavvus ?