Whilst out walking the WHW last year, we met quite a lot of walkers using ponchos instead of jackets. We got talking to one guy who had done a lot of walking and swore by using ponchos instead of jackets.
Does anyone have any experience, good and bad if using ponchos?
good until it gets windy then a comnplete pain. I have twice walked with folk using them and they really struggled in driving rain
Takes me back to the days of knee-length cagoules. Great for vertical rain. Pish poor for most of our weather. TBH if the rain is falling vertically then an umbrella-ella-ella might be as good.
I have a Snugpack poncho that lives in my rucksack as an emergency layer.
It's okay the material isn't very breathable and even being open and 'flappy' it ends up muggy and wetting you from the inside out.
Not as good as a decent jacket/pant combo.
I'll be going down the Poncho for for my next walking waterproof clothing purchase.
I use an agu poncho on my motorbike all the time. No issues with 50+mph wind speeds 😉.
Never used a poncho, but I have always been curious as Paramo have a poncho in their range
As I like their other items I remain curious as to what a poncho would practically offer, as their jackets are already brilliant in the rain
I have the same curiosity with the small number of commuters I observe wearing a poncho or rain cape whilst cycling
On the Compostelle route the poncho wearers got soaked feet and blisters while the overtrowser wearers kept their feet as dry as their boots were waterproof. Even in vertical rain the water drips off onto the feet as you walk.
I hiked/camped a decent chunk of the GR211 in pouring rain with my brother one easter a few years back. My brother was using my spare 'poncho' tent, (SMD Gatewood Cape) as a shelter for the trip. Despite being soaked most days as my conventional lightweight waterproof jacket leaked, it never occurred to me to use the tent as a poncho - mainly due to the faff dealing with the trailing guy lines, and I was warm enough whilst moving, with wicking base layers, despite my top half being soaked through... saw lots of refuge-refuge hikers with clear plastic disposable ponchos, they looked happy enough.
I did the hike in lightweight Inov8 trail runners with wet feet most days, decent socks, a bit of Gewohl foot creme, and zero foot problems. Boots often lead to blisters on longer hikes, dry or wet.
My understanding is ponchos work well enough in calm conditions but are probably best avoided if you are thrashing through spikey scrub or hiking exposed trails in windy conditions. Plenty of info on the interweb.
I feel like this is all going a bit Clint Eastwood…. Anyway, no. What happens with wind-driven rain?
Which is why in High Plains Drifter Clint wears a duster rather than a poncho.
https://5shop.lol/products.aspx?cname=high+plains+drifter+coat&cid=68
It gets a tad windy up on the plains.
A duster also has the advantage of making you feel that you are in the Matrix. Although you do have to talk softly and slowly.
They're rubbish. I remember buying on on cycle tour early nineties as a youthful experiment, not only an uncontrollable sail, but muggy and damp, perhaps something to do with warm air rising or all the flapping.
I've used one a fair bit over the years, great but of kit when static or when doing low intensity activity not a fan for on the move.
Also good to sling over all your kit in a sudden downpour while you get proper waterproofs in.
Plenty out there, I have a spare one if you want to try before you buy.