I am looking at a bivy and poncho tarp combo to drop some weight and space though for fast light trips in fair weather. I am trying to experiment a bit with stripped down gear to see where my personal preference for weight and comfort lies. I figure I could always ebay a gently used piece of gear if it was not my preference.
Flux
Topix Acquainted
Posts: 39
Joined: Wed Sep 08, 2010 8:57 am
Location: Palmdale
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Hey Flux!
Have you looked at the Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape?
It is both a poncho and converts into a single wall shelter similar to a pyramid tarp. There is a harness in the collar that you clip your trekking pole to and you stake the sides out.
On the PCT several of my hiker buddies swore by them... and at them LOL.
I met one couple that shared one for quite a long ways on their thru hike.
Anyhow it is recommended that you use a bivy sack along with the Gatewood cape and my friends confirmed this was a good idea.
Mountain Laurel Designs has superb ultralight bivies.. eight models of them!
The newest one on Momentum 10d weighs less than 3 ounces.
The Gatewood cape weighs 11 ounces.
Adding line and Ti stakes your total combined shelter&raingear weight could be less than 17 ounces with this combo.
That might be the ticket for light and fast treks.
Six Moon Designs Gatewood cape
Mountain Laurel Design Speed Bivy
Oh Yea.. It is also possible to pitch and break down the Gatewood cape/ shelter while it's raining and stay relatively dry. It is a bit of a contortionist act my friend says but possible. Important if this is your only raingear.
You can make more money, but you can't make more time.