For that added weather protection the Snugpak Enhanced Patrol Poncho and Insulated Poncho Liner are great investments, writes Mike Gormley.
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As I sit here writing this and the cold February rain batters down outside you can easily understand why I reckon these two garments from Snugpak are great items of kit to have in your inventory for when you have to be out in it. The poncho concept is perhaps man’s original form of protective garment, so this is not new, but as the name suggests the latest Patrol Poncho is an ‘enhanced’ variant of a simple design.
Made from DWR-treated waterproof ripstop nylon, with tape sealed seams and drawcord-adjustable hood, the Enhanced Patrol Poncho will do a lot to keep the rain on the outside. The sleeves have thumb loops at the cuff to help keep it all in place on a windy day and it comes with a pouch pocket on the chest to keep essentials to hand. The poncho packs down to a very small size in its own stuff bag and at just 360 grammes is easy enough to ‘take with’ for those times when you may need that bit of additional weather protection.
Talking of additional protection, you can either add the Insulated Poncho Liner underneath for extra warmth or use it as a stand-alone over-garment if conditions are dry. Very similar in design to the Enhanced Patrol Poncho, this has the addition of Snugpak’s Travelsoft ultra lightweight insulation. Highly compressible but with a good loft, even if damp, it will give you that much needed additional warmth when in a static position. This version is naturally more bulky and a bit heavier, at 950 grammes, than the Enhanced Poncho… but with significant added benefits as the polyester fabrics are antibacterial on the inner Paratex layer. Intended primarily as an inner layer, this garment does not have the zip-up neck or the front pouch pocket of the Enhanced Patrol Poncho.
Ponchos are those handy and capacious items of gear that can accommodate a pack when worn or simply be used to sit inside or cast over oneself to give that added extra protection layer. Ideal when on ‘stag’ or just sitting around at camp or even when just admiring the views on a chill day or evening. We opted for Olive Green, but Black versions are also available direct from Snugpak.com or from select specialist outdoor gear suppliers.
[images © Mike Gormley]
