Finally purchased one. I am prepared to treat it for waterproofing, if need be. One of the reasons is that I also use a RIBZ chest pack ,or a Hill People Gear chest rig. I like the accessibility with a poncho. By the way, "villa", as in Pancho Villa,the Mexican bandito, is pronounced Veeyah. ( LL is a "y" sound) Great videos. Thanks.
How did this Poncho hold up in the long run?? I keep hearing mixed reviews on how it slowly starts to absorb water, which I'm hoping really isn't true. Let me know, thanks.
Cheers bro, I've been looking at one of these for a while now, and after seeing your review, I'm sold! Thanks again for shearing the video, subscribed.
No worries. Make sure you head over to the main site and subscribe there as well - I have started using Vimeo more - less ads, more HD. www.thebloke.co.nz
Great review. Nice bit of kit large enough to cover you and your equipment but ventilates well. I had been looking at the Snugpak Enhanced Patrol Poncho but I may rethink that. Now that is some kinda bush behind of you. Thanks for sharing. atb
I have two USGI ponchos that weigh in at 750g each which I snap together for a roomy ground tent (especially useful in windy foul weather) with the press studs and a trekking pole supporting the centre grommet, to form a door accessible from either side when the other is studded to it. If it's raining I pitch one with with the studs running along the line with the trekking pole at the centre, and sling my backpack underneath. I then place the grommet above my hand on the trekking pole, and stud it to the other one still wearing it, extract my head and peg it from the inside. This system works for getting off the ground as well, again if it's raining, I pitch the other below a ridge line passing through the hood cord to support the centre, with prusik loops from the corner grommets knotted to the ridge line for tensioning, in a diamond shape to give the extra head and feet cover if necessary depending on weather, I then get under, take off the one I'm wearing now in the dry, and clip two carabiners through opposite end grommets scrunched together (6 in total), two webbing straps around trees gives me the securing points for my former wet weather gear as a hammock. The only thing about the USGI ponchos is they aren't breathable and prone to condensation, same as the vast majority of military ponchos, but as there's plenty of ventilation, it's not too bad, I get slightly damp at worse, and a worthy trade off for the flexibility of having shelter and a hammock sleep system. However Hazard 4 have brought out a *Technical Soft Shell poncho that is described as breathable and fully waterproof, but it is heavy at 1050g, so I'm sticking with two USGI versions at 1.5kg. I've also found over the years, even with Gucci gear like breathable Goretex tends to fail once it gets dirty and when I wear a jacket, it's made from Ventile, a tight cotton weaved fabric whose fibres swell when wet and close up which still works when it gets dirty. * www.military1st.co.uk/h4-apr-pnvl-r-blk-hazard-4-poncho-villa-technical-soft-shell-black.html
Yeah. Ventile interests me. It's not something you see much of in NZ. More just your oilskin type products. That's for the write up - really nice to see multiple uses for items.
The Bloke Heavier than today's man made 'waterproof' fabricss, and it stiffens up when wet, but I love mine. Ventile® was originally developed in the 1930s, as WWII loomed, initially for RAF aircrew immersion fying suits to keep them dry if they had to ditch in the sea, so it's got a great pedigree. I started using breathable wet weather gear in the 80s, and have had a sucession of jackets/trousers, some very expensive, and I ended up being disappointed with the performance of them all. Either they didn't breathe very well or they would wet out. Then one day I came across a Keela (made in Scotland) single skin Ventile jacket in the mid 90s. Never looked back and definitely the best jacket I've ever owned, and one of the cheapest at about £100 (about half the price of a Goretex jacket at that time). I've still got it and it will still withstand heavy driving rain for about 3 hours before it starts to get damp, but combine that with its wind blocking capability and superior breathability, and it's got a lot going for it. After 20 years it's frayed at the cuffs and hems, but apart from that, it's good for a few more years. The other advantage is being a natural fibre, it's more resistant to burning it if you are around an open fire, whereas man made fabrics melts into holes at the slightest touch of flying hot ash. If you are interested, there is a Ventile® poncho available in the UK, not light at 1.2kg and shipping costs to NZ may be prohibitive. However from what I've seen of Hill & Trek's gear in the past. it will be top quality that should last for many years. www.hilltrek.co.uk/acatalog/info_180.html Treatment's dead easy, when the water stops beading off my jacket and soaking in too much, I wash with Nikwax Techwash and then their cottonproof, quickly go over it with a hot iron when dry, and it's good for another 6 months or longer depending on use.
The Bloke I've never owned any Hill & Trek gear, but in the 90s, when I was on my local Mountain Rescue Team, a rep was invited in to show us their wet weather gear, and I was able to give it a good hands on inspection, which is why I know it's top quality, that plus some of the other team member's bought stuff and were very pleased with it in use afterwards. I already had my favourite jacket, otherwise I would have bought one of theirs. Another advantage of Ventile is that you don't have to worry about rustling noises alerting wildlife when you are trying to be quiet whilst observing/photographing etc.. In the video, you also mention using a belt, which will increase condensation, but a necessary move when it gets windy. Military ponchos usually have a cord on the inside of the front flap to tie them around your waist to restrain them in gusting conditions, and there's also something to be said for having a heavier poncho, like the Ventile one, that won't flap about as much. I have a lightweight poncho that only weighs about 200g for day walks that has all the grommets to make into an emergency shelter, easily done in a couple of minutes with a few pegs and a trekking pole or cut branch, into a plough pitch, sharp end into the wind. If it gets windy whilst I'm walking, I use three carabiners to weigh it down, If my backpack isn't too big, I clip back and front grommets between my legs and at the corners to form loose pants which help to stop it billowing up. With bigger packs, especially on a day with frequent short showers, I clip or tie the back flap over my backpack as a cover, and roll the front flap placing it behind my head. That way I can quickly roll it out in a few seconds without having to take my pack off, place it over my head and secure the side snap studs to keep dry.
blackboardbloke Hmmm... might have to bite the bullet and order some in. The traditional NZ 'Bushshirt' was/is a heavy wool shirt - that while stays warm, is quiet and won't burn, but gets really heavy when wet. While I like the lightness of the new textiles, they aren't as robust and half of them aren't all that waterproof anyhow.
Finally! 824 grams, so it's not light. I am planning a comparison between the other poncho I have (one of Dave Canterbury's) and a tarp as shelter options.
£120 seems a bit much for a poncho, given that you can get them for £5 at any venue which seeks to rip you off with shitty merchandise. However, I am tempted by this because of the sheer quality and use I will get out of it.
I can't figure it out from the comments below. Does it keep you dry, without adding any chemicals to it? As is, at a concert and in a rain storm, would you expect to stay dry for a few hours?
+CC D Yes. But the nature of DWR means you may need to retreat it. Additionally, I have come across jackets in the pass where the DWR needed retreating a lot quicker than expected, one done, it's fine. I think it might be related to how things get transported - but not sure. If you want something the never needs treating, get a PVC poncho.
It's called the poncho villa. You should know that if you watched the video, it says so on the product itself, in the 3rd or 4th second of the video. Still feel smarter than everyone?
Jeff Gibson On the EDC Forums? Spoke to the guy for a bit. Yeah, I have. Though to be fair - I habitually NikWax nearly all my new gear not long after having them. I have had another poncho from a 'reputable' bushcraft store that wetted out instantly, just on one side of the poncho. I am picking it was made out of two differn't runs of material. It also had rips in it from new. You won't be seeing a review of that on my site.
Jeff Gibson Would like a follow up review as well...if not perhaps I will be able to help. I'm going to a beer fest and it's supposed to rain cats and dogs all day.
Finally purchased one. I am prepared to treat it for waterproofing, if need be. One of the reasons is that I also use a RIBZ chest pack ,or a Hill People Gear chest rig. I like the accessibility with a poncho. By the way, "villa", as in Pancho Villa,the Mexican bandito, is pronounced Veeyah. ( LL is a "y" sound) Great videos. Thanks.
Ah. Thanks for the clarification... :)
Cheers.
How did this Poncho hold up in the long run?? I keep hearing mixed reviews on how it slowly starts to absorb water, which I'm hoping really isn't true. Let me know, thanks.
its def not water proof
Not good it's only water resistant not waterproof
Thanks for the demo. I like Hazard 4 gear the best of all the gear Ive used. Top quality.
Cheers.
It's also a pillow!
got one recently. really liking it. :)
Nick's wax? What kind of treatment?
Cheers bro, I've been looking at one of these for a while now, and after seeing your review, I'm sold! Thanks again for shearing the video, subscribed.
No worries. Make sure you head over to the main site and subscribe there as well - I have started using Vimeo more - less ads, more HD.
www.thebloke.co.nz
Great review. Nice bit of kit large enough to cover you and your equipment but ventilates well. I had been looking at the Snugpak Enhanced Patrol Poncho but I may rethink that. Now that is some kinda bush behind of you. Thanks for sharing. atb
The Waitakere Ranges. Full of cuttygrass and supplejack. Both horrible stuff to try and push through. Thanks for the comment!
Nice poncho and villa bro. Useful info.
Nice review, good to see it on a person. Question, though: at 5:05 min in the video, did the zipper pull get yanked off? Lol.
coolkayaker1 Brute force strength mate. Actually, the knot in the bit of cordage came undone. Tied it back on afterwards... well spotted!
Will a standard poncho blanket or woobie fit in this poncho?
I have two USGI ponchos that weigh in at 750g each which I snap together for a roomy ground tent (especially useful in windy foul weather) with the press studs and a trekking pole supporting the centre grommet, to form a door accessible from either side when the other is studded to it. If it's raining I pitch one with with the studs running along the line with the trekking pole at the centre, and sling my backpack underneath. I then place the grommet above my hand on the trekking pole, and stud it to the other one still wearing it, extract my head and peg it from the inside.
This system works for getting off the ground as well, again if it's raining, I pitch the other below a ridge line passing through the hood cord to support the centre, with prusik loops from the corner grommets knotted to the ridge line for tensioning, in a diamond shape to give the extra head and feet cover if necessary depending on weather,
I then get under, take off the one I'm wearing now in the dry, and clip two carabiners through opposite end grommets scrunched together (6 in total), two webbing straps around trees gives me the securing points for my former wet weather gear as a hammock.
The only thing about the USGI ponchos is they aren't breathable and prone to condensation, same as the vast majority of military ponchos, but as there's plenty of ventilation, it's not too bad, I get slightly damp at worse, and a worthy trade off for the flexibility of having shelter and a hammock sleep system. However Hazard 4 have brought out a *Technical Soft Shell poncho that is described as breathable and fully waterproof, but it is heavy at 1050g, so I'm sticking with two USGI versions at 1.5kg. I've also found over the years, even with Gucci gear like breathable Goretex tends to fail once it gets dirty and when I wear a jacket, it's made from Ventile, a tight cotton weaved fabric whose fibres swell when wet and close up which still works when it gets dirty.
* www.military1st.co.uk/h4-apr-pnvl-r-blk-hazard-4-poncho-villa-technical-soft-shell-black.html
Yeah. Ventile interests me. It's not something you see much of in NZ. More just your oilskin type products. That's for the write up - really nice to see multiple uses for items.
The Bloke
Heavier than today's man made 'waterproof' fabricss, and it stiffens up when wet, but I love mine. Ventile® was originally developed in the 1930s, as WWII loomed, initially for RAF aircrew immersion fying suits to keep them dry if they had to ditch in the sea, so it's got a great pedigree.
I started using breathable wet weather gear in the 80s, and have had a sucession of jackets/trousers, some very expensive, and I ended up being disappointed with the performance of them all. Either they didn't breathe very well or they would wet out. Then one day I came across a Keela (made in Scotland) single skin Ventile jacket in the mid 90s. Never looked back and definitely the best jacket I've ever owned, and one of the cheapest at about £100 (about half the price of a Goretex jacket at that time).
I've still got it and it will still withstand heavy driving rain for about 3 hours before it starts to get damp, but combine that with its wind blocking capability and superior breathability, and it's got a lot going for it. After 20 years it's frayed at the cuffs and hems, but apart from that, it's good for a few more years. The other advantage is being a natural fibre, it's more resistant to burning it if you are around an open fire, whereas man made fabrics melts into holes at the slightest touch of flying hot ash.
If you are interested, there is a Ventile® poncho available in the UK, not light at 1.2kg and shipping costs to NZ may be prohibitive. However from what I've seen of Hill & Trek's gear in the past. it will be top quality that should last for many years. www.hilltrek.co.uk/acatalog/info_180.html
Treatment's dead easy, when the water stops beading off my jacket and soaking in too much, I wash with Nikwax Techwash and then their cottonproof, quickly go over it with a hot iron when dry, and it's good for another 6 months or longer depending on use.
blackboardbloke Yeah. That's exactly the one I have had my eye on for a while now... :)
The Bloke I've never owned any Hill & Trek gear, but in the 90s, when I was on my local Mountain Rescue Team, a rep was invited in to show us their wet weather gear, and I was able to give it a good hands on inspection, which is why I know it's top quality, that plus some of the other team member's bought stuff and were very pleased with it in use afterwards. I already had my favourite jacket, otherwise I would have bought one of theirs. Another advantage of Ventile is that you don't have to worry about rustling noises alerting wildlife when you are trying to be quiet whilst observing/photographing etc..
In the video, you also mention using a belt, which will increase condensation, but a necessary move when it gets windy. Military ponchos usually have a cord on the inside of the front flap to tie them around your waist to restrain them in gusting conditions, and there's also something to be said for having a heavier poncho, like the Ventile one, that won't flap about as much.
I have a lightweight poncho that only weighs about 200g for day walks that has all the grommets to make into an emergency shelter, easily done in a couple of minutes with a few pegs and a trekking pole or cut branch, into a plough pitch, sharp end into the wind. If it gets windy whilst I'm walking, I use three carabiners to weigh it down, If my backpack isn't too big, I clip back and front grommets between my legs and at the corners to form loose pants which help to stop it billowing up. With bigger packs, especially on a day with frequent short showers, I clip or tie the back flap over my backpack as a cover, and roll the front flap placing it behind my head. That way I can quickly roll it out in a few seconds without having to take my pack off, place it over my head and secure the side snap studs to keep dry.
blackboardbloke Hmmm... might have to bite the bullet and order some in.
The traditional NZ 'Bushshirt' was/is a heavy wool shirt - that while stays warm, is quiet and won't burn, but gets really heavy when wet. While I like the lightness of the new textiles, they aren't as robust and half of them aren't all that waterproof anyhow.
That's a pretty nice poncho, especially with the front pocket, any idea how much it weighs?
Good question - one I forgot to answer. Will weigh it tonight and add it to the article.
Kerry Adams
I could not find the weight in your article :-(
Nicholas Stevenson Sorry, I keep on forgetting to throw it on the scales. Have set myself a reminder for tonight... ;)
Finally! 824 grams, so it's not light.
I am planning a comparison between the other poncho I have (one of Dave Canterbury's) and a tarp as shelter options.
Would you tell us your height? For comparison with size of poncho. Thanks for the review.
About 6ft 1
Thanks again.
Thank you for a great review! :) Gearlove from Denmark! :)
100 bucks for a poncho, really worth it? Whats your experience with it?
Scotch guard when it needs it.
Yup. All 'waterproof' kit require re-proofing now and then.
must buy
£120 seems a bit much for a poncho, given that you can get them for £5 at any venue which seeks to rip you off with shitty merchandise. However, I am tempted by this because of the sheer quality and use I will get out of it.
I can't figure it out from the comments below. Does it keep you dry, without adding any chemicals to it? As is, at a concert and in a rain storm, would you expect to stay dry for a few hours?
+CC D Yes. But the nature of DWR means you may need to retreat it. Additionally, I have come across jackets in the pass where the DWR needed retreating a lot quicker than expected, one done, it's fine. I think it might be related to how things get transported - but not sure.
If you want something the never needs treating, get a PVC poncho.
Thanks for the info. I think I will check out the nylon ones before going to PVC. PVC is so hot and sweaty.
Does it feel somewhat breathable even with water resistance?
Hard to tell, really... it's a poncho - so had plenty of space to 'breathe'
The Bloke I just ask cause I live in a climate where it can still be upwards of 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the rain (32.2c to you).
Gotchya. I 'heavy' enough that you would probably want to consider something a bit lighter.
Make more videos
Hah. Thanks! Just need the time!
But it’s not waterproof, just water resistant. Wouldn’t last 5 minutes in tropical rain with that soft shell material.
Maybe. But a PVC (waterproof) poncho would mean you are wet from sweat in five minutes as well.
@@GoodBlokesNZ true
Water resistant, wasn't supposed to be water proof?
Ah well, I'll look for something that is water proof.
Antonio Botello - good luck. Unless it's pvc most things will wet out eventually. 💧
makes a lot of noise
Video not villa ;)
Ah, nope.
It's called the poncho villa. You should know that if you watched the video, it says so on the product itself, in the 3rd or 4th second of the video. Still feel smarter than everyone?
Nice poncho. I know you're not trying to be fashionable but id prefer that ugly pocket to be on the back.
Yeah - could be a bit hard to access though?
The Bloke have you used your poncho in the rain much. I read a review today that said it soaked through the first use. How has your performed so far ?
Jeff Gibson On the EDC Forums? Spoke to the guy for a bit.
Yeah, I have. Though to be fair - I habitually NikWax nearly all my new gear not long after having them.
I have had another poncho from a 'reputable' bushcraft store that wetted out instantly, just on one side of the poncho. I am picking it was made out of two differn't runs of material. It also had rips in it from new.
You won't be seeing a review of that on my site.
Jeff Gibson Would like a follow up review as well...if not perhaps I will be able to help. I'm going to a beer fest and it's supposed to rain cats and dogs all day.
Ian Robertson its been raining cats and dogs here for days. There are poodles all over the pasture. Lol