Helikon Tex Poncho

I’ve used this a couple of times in the short time that I’ve owned it. Kept me dry. I haven’t tried it as a shelter yet but it’s something I’d like to do in the future. Great size for packing in your bag. Well worth the money. Service was excellent as always, it arrived really fast.

Living in wild Wales is a privilege but comes with certain challenges. Rain can be a persistent companion but going back to using a poncho is a positive response. This particular one by Helikon is really good. High quality construction, light in weight and waterproof. Doubling up for a quick shelter is a practical and sometimes necessary solution to an advancing weather front. Highly recommended.

These are good quality and very fit for purpose. They are also multi-functional as you may be aware, as you can use them to make various shelters from sun, rain, snow, cold etc. It won't insulate you but it will keep the wind off your skin as well as the rain. If you need warmth in a shelter you make from this, you need a diamond or plough type where you anchor 3 sides to the ground and have one raised, so you get only one corner open, so you have more of a pocket to help keep body heat trapped inside. Try to keep the open side away from where wind may blow inside where you are. I have not had an occasion to use it yet, but I keep it in my backpack in case I am on my way to or from work during a bad downpour. Which is less of a concern these days since rather than walking for 2 hours a day total I walk about 1 hour and have bus travelling between that amount of time.

After dabbling with poorly made rip-stop poncho/tarps off Amazon and other military surplus shops I saw this. Nice thick grade rip-stop material yet not too heavy at 420g. Good quality press studs and eyelets. Measures 7ft 2inch x 4ft 9inch. I use this in combination with a bivvy bag and couldn't be happier

Have both the multicam and OG versions; wore it over a thin wool baselayer going up Helvellyn in some fairly spicy weather; remained warm and dry and extrememly well-ventilated. It also caught the wind far less than I'd have expected. This is a combination I prefer to any Gore-Tex I've ever worn, so it's now my default waterproof anywhere but the town centre. Plus it packs down a lot smaller than the '58 Pattern I used a few years ago. No complaints at all.

Could do with a few practicality tweaks, but for the price it's a smashing bit of wet kit. Handy to have for any outdoor work due to its toughness.

Have multicam version which I don't think they make now. Good quality and not too thin. Neck adjuster total s**te but all else about it is alright. Came with bag. Perfect in downpours and never let a drop in. I use with patriot fleece when hiking since it's warm combo and plenty room to breathe an packs small, fits over my bag when worn so water not channeled down my back between shoulders and bag. Compression straps on storage bag would've been nice as would enable it to pack much smaller, and loop to fasten to pals web on my bag for external access when rain starts without need to open but guess you could DIY them.