The Alpha Tent Poncho in heavy rain
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ส.ค. 2024
- Combining two tent poles with a USGI poncho to make a shelter.
Specs of the USGI poncho: 96x66 inches. ORC Industries states they are the sole source provider for Wet Weather Ponchos to US Armed Forces "since 1982".
I bought the 11'3" pair of these poles:
amzn.to/2XyvWS0
I modified each pole to be ~126" overall and added winged wire nuts (in this video) to stop the ends from sliding through the grommets.
I've since changed this to a stopper I designed in FreeCad and had 3D printed. Further details in the Alpha Tent video where I use the USMC Field Tarp, another ORC Industries product.
There was some seepage, at the tabs for the waist cord. I rubbed Seam Grip into and around the stitching and that sealed it up.
This seems to be the original, though he didn’t calculate the 8% length determinant to make it suitable for other sizes: (and I didn’t drill the wing nuts lol)
www.alpharubico...
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Was in Marine Corpe in 1972. This is the closest thing I ever saw to a tent when in the bush in Viet Nam. No polls, a stick in the middle, and staked lose on the corners. If we had to move in the middle of the night we could just grab it and go. Still carry two ponchos in my pack. One to ware and the other for a quick shelter. Snap them together for a larger shelter. Only carry a tent in cold weather.
I was there in 69 all I will say is when you're in mud up to your bunghole the last thing you need is a tent just wear it it will keep you much drier.
Thank you for what you endured over there! Y'all won that war until Congress decided to be morons like usual. My point was your hardwork certainly wasn't in vein. And 2 poncho system is the best system!
Absolute genius idea especially where there are few trees.
Proof that we never really grow up. All men still just want to make forts in the backyard in the rain.
The only time it is not fun, is when you have to do it for real. The back yard will give you practice for the real deal.
I've carried a usgi poncho for almost 20 years and have some old tent poles laying around and never thought of combining them to make a make shift tent. Thanks for the info I will definitely add the poles to my kit for camping, hikeing and mountain biking to seek shelter in case of bad weather . Thanks again for the great information
I’ve used them as a tarp. Just tie off the hood, then you got a field expedient shelter.
I love poncho shelters. And this is an EXCELLENT IDEA
I e slept under one of these ponchos HUNDREDS of times. Always on bungees this is so simple and effective. Thanks for sharing bud I’m off to eBay to buy some extra poles 👍🏻 🏴
The link below is by the guy who invented it, first posting about it in '94. This works with a British Army '58 pattern poncho as well as they're both NATO standard sized.
www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/ponchotent.htm
This is a great idea for a tarp tent in an emergency. A 2nd tarp could be used as the floor as you did, but tied/laced to the outer shell through the gromlets to lessen the gap and keep water out. Saplings could be used if you had no rods or the center of the shell tied to a limb above. Could always stake the last corner from inside. Great idea you had. Thanks
I spent many, MANY nights in a poncho hooch shelter. I would have totally carried the extra weight of the poles if I had thought of this back then. +1
Good on you!
Certainly could apply the same principles to a tarp.
Very clever man.
Thanks for the tip.
Looks pretty effective , thanks for sharing, don’t forget you can use the hood like a water collecting udder 👌inside the Bivy
Nice.
That is an awesome idea.
If the Alaskan man approves then so do I
I specialize in tarp shelter and hammock camping I can say this, never get a 5×7, unless if you are strictly A-frame (best way) or a lean to shelter, a plow point is ok but naturally it's off square so it's going to be a little awkward but it works, the 5×7 is the "hey at least I got something" shelter, great for urban camping to avoid detection but prepare to hot box yourself if you set it up any other way, great for retaining heat. But once you shape it to your liking you don't have very much room ..it's a great pop up in a hurry and have at least something to hide under temporarily. My experience with the 7x9 was great i could literally pitch anything and I had significant ground space to at least turn on my side without worrying about touching the wet ground, I found it easily to sit up in it, great for diamond, plow point, A-frame, triangle, C-frame, I could exit easier, coverage was beyond more than what I needed as a matter of fact in the A-frame position you could easily fit 3 people and gear easily..I decided to get perfectly square tarps because I hate off square tarps, so I bought two i found my 12×12 was just too big and setting it up in the a light wind was difficult in itself, it's great for a bunch of people but you spend more time walking around it staking it down and setting it up in any position, just too big, great for families, but for myself, I chose the 9.8 square tarp, I can almost stand all the way up, can lay flat in it with plenty of room and ventilation..easier to move around and set up time was not too long, plenty of room, lighter weight than my 12×12, and not much heavier than my 7×9..my advice is never get anything off square I found it harder to work with ...even if you have to special order it get a 9×9..it's a morale booster to have adequate head and leg room to sleep...ok I'm done now 😂😂
@@gimmedahhcookies4341 I have used both my 8 X 10 foot as well as my 12X12 many times as shelter, both open as well as closed. For my wife and I, I prefer the 12 X 12 size especially for enclosed use.
@@Far-North-Bushcraft-Survival awesome, yea the 12×12 was definitely great enclosed wise, it's always nice to have 2 people handling that thing though, I saw some of your videos awhile back, great content, not to mention the knowledge you share has been helpful.
Alpha tent a little too fancy of a name. I would call it the Turtle. Very cleaver way to weather an unexpected storm.
The guy who invented it (at least 26 years ago) named it and so it should stay. Click the link to see the full story...
www.alpharubicon.com/prepinfo/ponchotent.htm
You're gifted... anyone can have a home.
Well thought out fantastic info, thank you very much for sharing! Shelter weight for my bug out bag has been a constant battle over the years, to many bugs in my area to tie a tarp to trees, this seems like a great solution
I've seen this before. But I like how this shows this shelters effectiveness
Makes me want to get a tent and set up in the rain...so relaxing..great vid
If you hung your poncho liner inside, tying off the poles, you would add a thermal layer which would make it warmer and cooler in the sun.
Excellent footage. I had about 4 total ponchos I used in yhe field back in military days. Didn't have the poles to support but used 550 cord to connect the ends of 2 ponchos to trees. Other ponchos
Were over top a mini vented 1 man tent. Then inside had a wet weather proof sleeping bag with cover. Lastly it did rain storm hard overnight but I was super dry.
Men! That's your survival dog house when you get thrown out of your house by your wife😁😂😂😂
Nah that's the fishing shelter for hobo's, a shed or screened porch is the dog house lol
Daver G yes so manly to degrade women.
Steve Reynold Pussy wimp boy 👦
Steve Reynold < white knight
Not a white knight necessarily, just a programmed sheep spouting the false narrative. It’s not him who started that false narrative. We all need to get back to basic original values and get rid of the mainstream socialist media’s social dissonance and lose the leftist propaganda.
I had never thought about using poles like that. Smart! We were taught how to build a lean-to and ridgeline shelters using paracord because it’s what we carried, but this is a great reuse of the GI poncho. Thanks for this!
Interesting video! Haven't thought about using tent poles. You've got me thinking about handling a poncho. I thank you so much. :)
Don't take this the wrong way, but I get out of breath just hearing you breathe. Thank you for your product presentation.
Brilliant! Perfect for ultra light backpaking or as emergency shelter in case your tent broken
What a cool tent , I've never seen one like that. Great video dude!
That pretty cool. I was issued one of these back in the mid 80s. All I remember was the puke smell. I think I sweated in them better than keeping me dry.i put the. Liner in it and used it as a light sleeping bag.
WOW. A BACKYARD WARRIOR
Simple and effective. Thanks for showing
Now that's a neat trick ! I like that idea.
Brilliant idea brother. Love it. Iv got an old Irish Army Poncho the same dimensions (their rubberised). Iv been tying it to trees for years! Not any more though. Respect.
Longer poles to raise up the bottom for airflow and a second Poncho with longer poles could be used to create the 2 layer Poncho shade shelter from back in Antiquity. Sweat and Labor saving idea there.
do you think there’s any chance one could set up an inner (mesh + bathtub floor) and hang it from the point where the poles intersect on the inside? where I am bugs are an issue and that would also help with condensation
what i appreciate and will always remember, "it's eight per cent of the diagonal". i know he did his homework!
Anthony Lewis If you’re gonna always remember it at least remember it correctly, it’s “eight percent longer than the longest diagonal”.... which is somewhat different lol.
How many diagonals are there on a rectangle? If I'm not mistaken there are two of equal length.... oh woe is me! which do I pick?
Pick which one makes you feel better lol, but the pole still has to be eight percent longer than either of them - not eight percent of the length of the diagonal 😉
@@DUCato-ed3fw ah, now i see the error of my statement. good eye... and don't i feel like a fool. thank you. ahahhaaha, ok, ok, i'm a knucklehead.
questioning is smart, We all learn in different ways, Its knuckelheads that don't ask questions that are fools
Thanks for a great video clever idea keep up the good work brother 👍
Looks like you're ready to go on a SUPER COOL ADVENTURE!
8:40 PAUSE IT... That look is the look of I'm loving this. Great video and thanks!! LIKED!!!
never thought id want a USGI poncho again! heck of a survival shelter
Brilliant! Thank you for sharing!!! That's going on the bike this summer!
What a great idea! Thank you!
Wonderful video from all angles. :) thank you!
This video brought out that inner boy in me! I want to set one up in my yard now! Lol my wife would laugh!
Outstanding idea! Thanks for sharing.
Some thoughts. Tie off the hood, by holding it from the top portion of the hood, pulled away from the body of the poncho. Twist it, like wringing a towel, then fold it back over itself, and twist again if you can. Tie it off tightly using the drawstring cordage and/or 500 cord. Make it so it won't come loose at all. Do as you suggested, tie it off to something overhead, or angled up and to one side, to prevent leakage. Also, that ground cover you used looked like it had grommets in the corners as well. Lock those in with the poles on one long end. You can stake the other end down. As far as the corners of the poncho, where the poles are meeting it, have a loop or two of 500 cord on each corner grommet, and stake those down. As you presented it, the whole thing is unsecured, and any breeze has the potential of blowing it off you. Again, loops of 500 cord and you can use the same stakes already is use.
I slept under one (or more) of these for the entire six years I was in the Army, even in blizzard conditions. If possible when setting up, pick a spot with a slight slope. Using a hand shovel if you have one, and you should if you are going to be pooping in the woods, cut a channel around the hooch. On the upward end, about a foot or two away, you want to cut a V with the open end towards the hooch. At the bottom of the V, which is furthest away, cut a single channel away for another foot or two. It doesn't need to be deep, just a few inches. And on each side of the hooch, from the open end of the V, dig channels alongside down at least a foot past the end of the hooch. If you get any decent amount of rain, this will help the water flow around you, rather than run right through your sleeping area. You won't have to do this when you don't expect heavy rain, in my experience, I only had to do this a few times over six years.
As a soldier, ounces are pounds and pounds are pain. I would never suggest your method for field use. However, I think this method is definitely worth doing if you aren't hiking far, or car camping and want minimal impact on the surroundings.
You only had to dig a trench around your hooch a few times? WOW! Where were you stationed? It freaking rained or snowed almost every trip we made! I was woken up for fire watch one night at NTC and had 3/4" of snow on top of me! But it was always beautiful day to be in the Infantry! =]
Poncho multiple use tool,thanks. Good video!
Very nice 👍🏻 for a Quick shelter it looks like a good investment when your trail hiking
Former soldier, and we lived under these for the entire time we were in the field. For really quick setup, use bungees for the corners. Use tent stakes unless you have saplings or full grown trees to tie off to. Tie off the hood so it won't leak, and tie a length of cord to it, and toss it over an overhead branch, tying it back to a tree or itself. Ideally you want it to be at a slight angle. Bungees are really a lot quicker than using 500 cord for the corners. Since you mentioned hiking, you can use a trekking pole to lift one end to create an opening. Once ready for bed, drop the pole. You CAN sit up under these, but at the height we were setting up, low to avoid being easily seen, it's not comfortable. Since you wouldn't need to avoid visual detection, you could create internal vertical room by tying off the hood a bit higher. I could easily fit myself, a sleeping pad, my weapon and rucksack under one of these.
This is pretty cool I think I might get one
Great video, very informative on another shelter option I can throw into my ruck, Thanks!
I have done this before, and yes it makes a pretty good tent. Just a little cramped.
What I do instead, is to then take one side of it and prop it up on poles, making it a lean-to. Sometimes I will use pieces of parachute material, cut to size, to make ends for it.
Thanks for the 8% tip
Nice setup. I love sleeping in the rain. The noise puts me right to sleep.
Oh, FFS, he could have no arms for all I care. Any of you knobs making fun of the guy might want to contribute some instructional videos. And make sure you cover the mic. It’s sensitive.
i think this is awesome
Me too.
Well said sir! This video was brilliant, I'm a new subscriber
Honestly aside from the mic issue which lets be honest its a common mistake and issue but the whole idea of this shelter is just a nice idea imo for the diy approach which honestly is pretty damn cool and hell thinking about it some people just might have these extra things lying around so they might actually get use.
good shelter
its very easy to carry in my bag
& useful in emergency.
Very smart, I like your idea 💡
It’s not his idea. It’s from alpha rubicon and the guy that runs that site and channel.
That tent pole is smart idea!
That is pretty damn cool, sir. Thank you.
Wonderful idea. I just need a poncho.
and some rain
Very cozy, I like this video. Sadly, if the rain was that heavy I'd have trouble going to sleep😪😫
When I backpack 20 miles sleep is not a problem.
When you are tired enough ...trust me ...you will sleep .
That's clever! Thanks for sharing!
it is a really cool idea
Great solution! The finished tent! 🏕👍😍
Nice job!
Bloody awesome mate, Noice work!!!!!!
Very nice knowledge addition for my poncho.tym.hurrahh
That's a great idea
Good video and very didactic, good practice and test. Best regards.
This is a great idea. Paired with si bivy sac.
Need to get a pair of poles for my poncho. 🌧
This is awesome!
Greetings: December 2019
I just purchased ICS tent one man $98.00 with tax online. I own a camper but wanted this tent. I bought it, to really see if rain would stay out. Enjoy your tent videos.
Mr. Hahn, Los Angeles.
Pretty darn awesome 👍
Brilliant idea thanks mate I will give it a try
nice! thanks for the demo.
Thank you for the video!
Nice video man 👌great idea
Damn... Needed this vidoe 25 yrs ago. That poncho is the cats ass for kit.
I would imagine the bows on the side would allow enough ventilation to prevent condensation inside
I’ve spent many nights under my poncho. But I didn’t have the tent poles. Tied a line from the hood string to a tree overhead. Or the camo spreader.
Way Cool. Thanks for sharing.
Unfortunately these ponchos hold the heat in so well that you will get excessive condensation buildup and everything still gets wet.
Joel Johnson but the massive gaps at the bottom
Damn, heavy breather! you alright bro?
what a bloody good idea.
#USGIPoncho #Shelter thanks for uploading. !!
Enjoyed the orginal content 👍🏻🇺🇸
Not bad! Thanks for the demo.
I like it ! Thanks for sharing.
Great addition to the tarps setups "schemes" we all have in our heads, and one I would not have thought of. Kinda funny, as I have several tents which use the same collapsible pole setups. The use of poles is excellent, as suitable trees might not be available to string ridgelines or hang a tarp in a plow point type setup.
The possibility of using some small saplings as substitute poles out in the woods might also work. Nice job, and thanks for the great tip.
His heavy breathing lets me know he could live in the wild for quite some time
@grogdizzy No shit?
He breathes like an overweight person. Maybe life in the wild would help him to eat less
You could use your flip flop to remove all the water from under your body. If you can carry poles, you can just carry a tarp instead. However- i still like the invention and movie.
That thing looks like all it needs is a good wind and it's gone.
Hes gonna make a video about that
You can peg it down if need be. You could also tie the hood off to a tree or put a normal walking pole in the centre instead of those poles used.
High, a very good idea. I made a poncho-tent ( #27 ) too. Kindly Fiete
Perfect size
To be stealthy
#DontPokeTheBEARS!!! .... good luck #Thanks
Hum. Try that at 35 F, good breeze, keep that ground dry.
This was simply ingenas. Other than the weight of the poles this set-up is all that.
8% times the numerator, then carry the divisor and square not the root.
Thats it.
When I was in the marines we were issued a tent half and needed a buddy for his half to have a tent lol
I was in the army when I went out to NTC to the desert we had an odd number of people in our scout troop. I was the low man on the totem pole so I ended up with a shelter half instead of a shelter.
If it were somehow propped at an angle with extra poles it would make a great sun canopy, even at the beach.
Spiffy concept. Recycle heaven. UBIQUE
Awesome idea
Mate, if you need to use a poncho, then a few bungies or string from a tree, wagon; or an unused radio whip. But for TH-cam, you made me watch you get under a poncho in the rain so fair enough😂
Cool idea! Thanks!
If it had a floor, screen with zipper under a fly, it’s a tent!
Kids have you seen your father? Yeah he’s out back being a total dude...
Cool idea.