So I’ve got a few other pieces of gear from Zpacks and they are all outstanding!  Needless to say, I’ve have had my eye on the groundsheet poncho for awhile and I finally found some extra cash laying around so I bought it.

I’ve only used it once as a poncho and it did exactly what it was supposed to do so that’s 50% of its’ usage proven.  Although, there is still the time – durability test but if it’s anything like my other Zpacks gear (Rain Kilt; Bathtub Ground Sheet; Hexamid Solo-Plus Tent ) then it will be tough as nails and perform superbly.

I can’t wait for cold weather when mosquitos and other biters aren’t so prevalent and I don’t need a bug screen so that I can just pair this piece of gear up with a small tarp and bam I have a shelter.  In that situation I would use it as a bathtub groundsheet.  If rain is expected I will have a large trash bag or two(I never camp without one or two stashed in my pack) so that I can use it as a poncho while my gear is tucked inside the trash bag.

One thing to keep in mind with just about any poncho is that they aren’t warm like a standard rain coat/jacket.  The arms are too short on nearly all ponchos and they are airy by design so this provide the right recipe for dicey situations if you’re dealing with temperatures around 50F and lower.  If you aren’t wearing proper arm insulation like a long sleeve shirt of good substance depending on the temperature then it can get serious.  I had a bad situation on the Wonderland Trail with my Sea to Summit Poncho Tarp when we hiked across a snowfield and it started raining and the temperature dropped simply because we were hiking across the snowfield.   My core temperature started dropping and my gut sank.  Thankfully we were close to our next camp and I was able to get in my sleeping bag and get warm.

There are so many things to like about this piece of gear because it’s so versatile.  It can also function as a pack cover with or without being used as a poncho so there you go – excellent all around piece of super lightweight gear.  Another thing I like is that say you’re on a day-hike and instead of a tarp and a raincoat just throw this 6.1 ounce(for the twin size) in your pack.  If the weather turns bad and you want to hide out for a bit.  Just pull this gear out and you can easily stretch it over two people and hunker down for awhile.  What’s not to like about that?!

Here are the specs directly from the Zpacks website.  I purchased the twin size because I like my space so  it weighs in about an ounce more than the standard solo-plus size.  There is also a flat poncho that weighs the same as the twin size but it doesn’t have bathtub walls, though it’s larger folded out flat.  I prefer the extra protection of bathtub walls in my groundsheets.  It just makes me feel a little more secure in the fact that should a small stream form and start running toward me it won’t just run right onto my sleeping area.  No good!

 

Below is information directly from ZPacks website…

Zpacks Groundsheet-Poncho

We have taken our Bathtub Groundsheet, added a hood and zippers, and turned it into a 3-in-1 piece of gear; Poncho, Pack Cover, and Ground Sheet all at once.

Twin Size:

As a groundsheet this size will fit two hikers. It will fit in our Hexamid Solo-Plus tent.

When in poncho mode it is wider (more arm coverage) and longer (more leg coverage).  It is asymmetrical to match the footprint shape of our Hexamid Solo-Plus tent. That means when worn, it hangs down a little farther on one side compared to the other.

38″ wide at the ends, 50″ wide at the center, 90″ long, with a 5″ bathtub folded up all the way around. If the material were laid flat the dimensions would be 48″ x 60″ x 100″.

Weight: 6.1 ounces (173 grams)

Note:  There is a 1 year warranty against defects in materials or workmanship on all Zpacks gear.