Stealth Camping Shelter | Dutch army Poncho Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 มิ.ย. 2024
- The Dutch army poncho is a versatile piece of kit that can be used as a stealth camping shelter, an emergency shelter, a waterproof jacket or even improvised into a stretcher. It's this versatility, along with its low weight and practical design that earn it a space in my rucksack.
As with most of my reviews, I buy the kit myself, particularly when it comes to military surplus and I only ever recommend kit I genuinely like and use.
Big thank you Mick at @hampshireoutdoorsandsurviv9340 for recommending this piece of kit, I had not heard of it before and its been my 'go to' all winter when I'm out walking the dogs.
00:00 Introduction
00:14 Versatility
01:03 Weight and material
02:23 Camouflage pattern
02:42 Size
03:03 Emergency & Stealth Shelter
04:55 As Rainwear
08:25 Final Thoughts - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
![ถ้าพี่วุ้นท้อง แป้งจะท้องไปด้วยกัน !!!! [ดูคลิปเต็มหน้าช่อง] #Short | PANG ORNHIRA](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/FeyEnVMwitA/mqdefault.jpg)
I am Dutch and have seen people all over the world be very enthusiastic about, might be about time i get myself one before the whole world except me has one.
I have been very impressed with Dutch kit so far. I also have the hooped Bivi which is also fantastic.
Dutch kit is robust and durable, just as pretty much everything made in NL is.
Get one or two. I’m Swiss and love my two Dutch army ponchos. Big enough for tall people and big enough as an actual shelter. I’ve slept under it in lean-to configuration many times. When you touch it, you can feel the quality.
Love my Dutch poncho. Good for an overnighter with a bivvy bag (I have the British Army one), or in an emergency kit, or just for days out in the woods. If I'm staying a couple of nights or more I take my British Army Shelter Sheet for more cover, but the Dutch poncho works well in summer. Tend to put mine in plough point configuration too.
Regarding pitch angles, I tend to have mine steeper during the day/evening so I can sit up under it and cook etc., and lower it for sleeping (and extra stealth).
yes, they are not roomy which is the downside. Definitely worth using something bigger if you are going out for and planning on spending a few days out.
Serious question, is your bivy waterproof in heavy rain? I have 2, both leak in places, ive tried nikwax, made no difference. Is that why you use your poncho with your bivy? As an extra water proofer?
@@oscar38 Honest answer, I haven't used it without a poncho or British Army shelter sheet (basha) as yet, it's just insurance and extra insulation. Means I can sleep comfortably down to 5 degrees in just a cheap £10 bag and fleece liner, if it's colder I take my Snugpak. I've had some rain on my bivvy bag but nothing major and no leaking. But I should point out that mine was unused and still packaged when I bought it, I think I paid £35 for it.
@@simonh6371 ok thanks for answering 👍
I've already gone down the "army surplus poncho rabbit hole" - settled on black French Military in the end. 125x90cm so still need waterproof trousers or shorts, but happy with the purchase. Cost about £25 and outperforms a raincoat that cost 4 times.
Only real "downside" is the Sith Lord hood...
I sense your anger at the hood, good....let the hatred flow through you!
You could easily make up a longer extension piece to that from lightweight rip stop material in camo,defiantly a great piece of kit 👍🏻
You could, in a pinch I reckon you could use a space blanket for a bit of extra head-room too.
Try the hood up OVER a wide brim hat, preferably one that has a decently stiff brim. The hood will balloon out over the sides and back to shed rain perfectly while keeping the area around your ears free to hear. The wide brim also means you won't get water in your eyes. You will look a bit weird, but I've found there are not many other dog walkers, etc. out in the pouring rain anyway :) I also keep a few very small 'pinch clips' (no idea of the real name) always clipped to my hat. You can easily clip the poncho hood to the edge of the brim so it doesn't flap off, but make sure it is a hat with a chin strap.
Smart idea, bit like how a beekeeper wears their mesh hood over a stiff brimed hat.
Might try that. I have used a baseball style cap and it still wan't enough, but a 360 brim might just be enough to take up the volume. Thank you.
@@dogdadoutdoors Try it with rain jackets too. Open up the hood as far as it will go, then pop the hood over the hat. Great ventilation on warmer rainy days and keeps your hearing abilities much better than with only a hood. I rarely use a cap now, just a hat.
@@dogdadoutdoors A Tilley (the one I use) type brimmed cotton duck/canvas hat works for me (good for sunny conditions as well) with surplus military poncho oversized hoods. If it’s windy with rain, otherwise in rain I cinch the hood drawstrings up around my neck for a preferred all round view.
I’m ex military RAF and TA REME, early ‘70s - early ‘80‘s, and in the mid ‘80s I got into long distance trail backpacking. I started off with a two man squeeze tent, then thought why not take two ponchos… one for rainwear and stud two together to make a fully enclosed shelter for foul weather (all NATO issue standard sized military ponchos have the same stud spacing and will stud together… they don’t have to be from the same country’s military). I started off with the ones I was familiar with, British Army ‘58 pattern olive green, 2 for £16, and I’ve stuck with that ever since. The 58s wore out in the late ‘00s, and I replaced them with two genuine surplus USGI woodland camo ponchos. Not as robust as the’58s but still very tough, just over half the weight (1kg v 600g) and pack up smaller.
I also have some bought new lightweight versions when it’s summer fair weather for travelling light. I always carry at least one poncho with me on a day hike. I use a lightweight wind/waterproof jack and if the rain gets heavy, poncho over that. Condensation is pretty much limited to around the neck, I use a scrim net as a scarf to soak that up.
Great little shelter. Identical camo pattern to my old New Zealand Army lightweight shelter 🇬🇧 🇳🇿
I think the Dutch and New Zealand had copies of the same British pattern. Its still my favourite, much better for British woodlands than the new MTP.
I am 5'10" and this poncho just about works as papa hikers tetra-wedge for bad weather. It also works very well as a kind of gunyah pitch (without a groundsheet fold) when the weather is better. Good for a backpacking tarp/rain poncho combo
Yes, its that dual use which makes i so good I think. Its not the best tarp out there, but given you can essentially just camp under your rain wear and carry no extra weight, its awesome!
I'm very happy with my Dutch Army Poncho. Nabbed it for £15 brand new last year & as you say they're getting rarer than rocking horse poop now, and the prices are getting crazy, if you can find one1
I saw Felton's have some brand new ones, but in the jungle camouflage which is pretty bright and £49!
Very useful info, many thanks.
Glad it was helpful and thanks for watching!
cheers for the mention mate yep one of the best bits of kit in my bag never go out with out it so many uses have fun stay safe great video
Cheers Mick!
I love a poncho shelter. Great video ❤
Thank you.
Great video mate 👍
Thanks for watching!
I also have a great appreciation for the military poncho. As to the oversized hood: try folding the visor portion inward (to avoid having it catch the wind) and secure it with duct tape.Of course, this will put the drawstring run in the wrong position to secure it around your face, but it should still hold it adequately,.
I'll give that a go.
Thanks for your review. A little bit of information the poncho is in use withe the dutch army sinds the 90s. In 2018 the started project strong to modernize the dutch army. But the sleep systeem didt changed match. So the poncho lives on with the dutch army. The only diffrents is that the poncho is now in nfp pattern. I am dutch myself
Thanks for that, thats brilliant news. It means there will be Dutch Poncho's knocking around for a fair bit longer then, and the hooped Bivi's. Just seen the prices of the new NFP ones though, holy mother they are expensive!
Everything is cyclical. I’ve still got my old 58’ poncho I was issued in 86. Then the basha sheets came in and everyone forgot how great the poncho was and now it’s back in fashion. I have all the goretex kit but as I live in hot Aus the poncho is my go too bit of kit and emergency shelter.
You are not wrong on cyclical fashions. I managed to find a 58 pattern style poncho roll in MTP that worked with my webbing belt kit years ago and the lads thought it was the most gucci item out there!
Well spoken review! I sure love my poncho too. You definitely need to wear a boonie hat or something similar under the hood. But there are also small grommets where the ears would be, which can be used to attach a bit of elastic cord.
I don’t have one myself but I think the original German Bundeswehr poncho has the same dimensions, same weight, same material, but comes in a plain green. Some day I’ll get one for that reason: It would come in handy outside the forest.
I've been toying with the idea of trying to modify the hood somehow, but I'm not particularly handy with that kind of thing, I never thought of using the sides, must look into that. Thank you.
So, I ordered two original German Bundeswehr ponchos and received them today. They are both very sturdy, just like the Dutch ones, but in olive green. There are some more differences:
One seems to be older (maybe 1985, but barely readable), rubbery, quiet material, 1000g, with the dimensions of 214x156 cm.
The newer one (clearly from 1991) has a louder, more shiny material, 900g, with the dimensions of 217x157 cm.
Both of them have a 20mm wide webbing all around, with more buttons but fewer grommets than the Dutch. The buttons are compatible. Every second button on a Dutch poncho lines up with a button on the BW poncho. The hood has a button at the front to fasten it to the belly, probably when using it as a tarp. No integrated pouch, but the hood can be used for that.
All in all: Good quality, indestructible, less cringe than the Dutch camo ponchos (I find DPM beautiful though), and a little heavier.
The loudness of the newer one is still less than the Dutch poncho material.
Got a solid green one! Muts nuts!
No way! Recently? Please spill the tea on where from if so.
@@dogdadoutdoors they are were standard nato issue not just Dutch! Yes the US style poncho is flinsey still useful nonetheless eh! My green nato one is circa 77-78 but totally unused until about 5 years ago! So where did I get it? Lol my late father was the RQMS for HM ARMED FORCES S.H.A.P.E. UKSU 76-84 The ultimate cheat code for getting good shit! ;^) He was RGJ 1950-1985.
@@blackwingvisuals5017 So you mean a British Army poncho, not a Dutch one. Used both, but the Dutch one is better.
@@simonh6371 I wasn't able to see they were different in anyway! I did a side by side comparison some time back. Same materials just different pattern! Same press studs same massive hood! Just solid green
@@blackwingvisuals5017 It will have English writing on the label. Dutch poncho labels are in Dutch, with the letters KL = koninklijke landmacht (royal army) or perhaps KM (marines)
Could be handy for bike packing.
I guess so, small and lightweight.
With the hood up, how about wearing a tight fitting cap or water proof head torch over the top of it to keep it in place.
Tried, it's that big it still swamps it!
Ang nato poncho, should be compatable with each other. I have german one very simular to your dutch one. If was not second hand, new in its pack.
Tip avoid the copies they are chinees. Studs different size, and eyelets not so good . Ok as rain cover cover little else.
Genuine ones no problem they do the job, can even be clipped togeter i.e 20 of them to form a tent.
American helicon ponchos are a little longer also very good.
The poncho liner or woobie is worth having to as it clags into, the poncho and forms a zleep system.
I might look at German ones then if you can still get them new. Agree on the copies, they are OK for rainwear and have their place as they tend to be smaller and lighter but nowhere near as good.
@@dogdadoutdoors
Any nato military should fit together. Like british with german or dutch with french. They all have them. That is genuine bpm mtp etc
Not cheap knock offs made in china or elsewhere, they are not compatable .
Hope it helps
Hey Dog Dad,
when I look inside the hood of my dutch poncho... there is a tunnel for a string to adjust the size of the hood .
All the best from Germania
Juergen
Had to check, mine doesn't have that unless you mean the one around the edge, so you lucked out there.
@@dogdadoutdoors I don't speak english fluently, so its a bit difficult for me to explain.
There are two grommets inside the hood that are covered from the outside with patches.
If you thread a shock trough from the outside or vice versa and put on cord stoppers / tankas at the inside on both ends ... you can adjust the hood.
The hood is of course designed to fit over an helmet 😉
@@j.juergen1010 Ah, I understand. I've been told those are for a communications device. I know what you mean and i do have those. I could try something with those, thank you.
Nice and very detailed review 👍🏻
Thank you, much appreciated.
Ray mears!
A couple of people have said that now, I'll take it as a compliment!
Thought Dutch poncho was polyester, U.S original woodland is nylon
I had to double check after that and its polyamide, which is also known as Nylon.
Ha! I've been looking at these today. Try getting one. They're all sold out!
Oh wow! I remember when I first started they were out of stock but did come back in after a few weeks. Dutch kit in general seems pretty much in demand.
@@dogdadoutdoors it does seem that way. I recently bought the 35lt daypack and it's really good quality. Love the way they've compartmentalised it into three sections. It makes me feel organised!
Nop not compatible....the Dutch poncho is bigger so the studs ar on a different spot...I'm ex Dutch infantry and that was the first thing I tried when I got the poncho...because before that we had the Brit WW2 raincape model
Great poncho, great review!
Where can I get one, or a more readily available equivalent?
On ebay but the prices have gone up since I got mine 4 years ago, I paid £20, now it's double that.
I got mine from forces uniform and kit, but a lot of surplus stores have them from time to time. Its one of those items that runs out though.
The Wirral Ray Mears?
LOL! That is not the first time I've been compared to Ray Mears, I think it's our build. Prepared and skilled outdoorsmen don't go hungry! :)
@@dogdadoutdoors Is that where you're from as well?
@@therespectedlex9794 From Skelmersdale originally so not far, but am an economic migrant and moved out decades ago. Still haven't shook the accent!
Reflection on synthetic shelters can sometimes be an issue
Agree. I've been quite pleased with this, its pretty matt. There is only a very slight sheen to it in the right/wrong light, but it is better than the current British Army Tarp in that regard, I think the darker colour scheme helps too.
Sir, this video recorded by dji pocket 2?
No, I still have a pocket 2 but this was shot on a Nikon Zf and 24-70 F4 S lens.
@@dogdadoutdoors Actually I want to run a TH-cam channel and want to travel this beautiful world. I'm only 20 yrs now. I don't have much money. I have a Android phone model Vivo V27. Should I buy a mobile gimbal or dji pocket 2?
😢
I will be thankful if I get your suggestion.
@@agamirami I don't know the Z27 but the Pocket 2 is a perfectly adequate camera to get started. All of my videos apart form the last 4 or 5 are shot on it. Starting again though I would probably buy an action Cam if you are shooting outside as the pocket series is not waterproof. Something like a DJI Action 4.
But the best advice I can give you is start making content with what you have and learn how to use it, where its limitations are, how to work around them and then finally that will help you understand what you need from a new camera.
I used the pocket 2 for about 2 years before I invested in something expensive and by then, I knew exactly what limitations was looking to overcome.
You can also get a lot of very capable 2nd hand digital SLR camera stuff now, particuarly if you are happy to edit in HD and not 4k. If you do want 4K, you need a half decent computer to edit it.
When you say military-style poncho do you mean the USGI one?
Various brands, like MFH.
@@dogdadoutdoors Fair enough. I'm quite happy with my USGI poncho, although their Camp Shield blanket isn't quite as good as I hoped for.
Me 2
A little rain on your tarp, and i can find you blind😉. Cause this sound dosent exist in the forest.
You would have to be close though!