corvus wrote:wT, Interested as to why you subscribe to and appear promote this poncho thread especially as you are based in Tasmania where I guess most of your walking is done.
I have carried the poncho for years, either in the spine of my day pack, in with the bladder in my camel back, in with the so called "weather proof" cover in my Lowepro camera sling, or tie to the bottom of my main pack or shoved in a pocket. It provides a quick ground sheet for kneeling or sitting; a throw-over when using a wet log as a seat; a ground sheet for my vestibule which is really handy and avoids kneeling on wet ground to come and go from the tent; a cover to wrap the pack in when I want to drop the main pack, or camera bag for a while and just walk around taking photos. And its also a great two-second rain cover, just put it over you, pack and all. I especially like the fact that I can wear my pack under the rain cover, so both the pack and I stay dry. This is very handy on day trips with just the camera sling. I can carry the sling on my back under the poncho, and turn the sling around to the front without any problem. I can even use the poncho as a tarp to work under with the camera and tripod in light showers. It measures 1.1m down the side seam and 1.4m across the shoulder seam. So it folds out to a ground sheet 1.4m X 2.2m. Very handy! It folds up to about 150mm square about 35-40mm thick and packs away easily.
Its not my main rain gear. I still carry a Goretex coat and waterproof trousers for the serious wet, but in light showers where precipitation is just a nuisance factor, the poncho allows me to walk and work and it keeps me and the gear dry. I'm not sure where mine came from - I imagine from Allgoods in Launceston many years ago - but it looks almost identical to the poly-cotton ponchos at Wellington Supplies. I also own an Outdoor Research pack poncho, but I don't like it much at all - and its not as versatile.