It’s sometimes the little things that can make the biggest difference during a survival situation.
We’ve all seen them in the checkout line at the grocery store: Emergency Ponchos.
An Emergency Poncho can be a real lifesaver, and is something that everyone should have in their backpacks and emergency bags. While the cheap ponchos at your local grocery store are often pretty flimsy, if it’s all you can afford even that $1 poncho can be put to use in an emergency.
What to look for when buying an Emergency Poncho:
While those cheap grocery store ponchos will work in a pinch, a good emergency poncho should be made from ripstop nylon. Ripstop is a military weave that allows the material to be lightweight, without losing any of its strength.
While there are many different styles of ponchos available, I prefer a military style poncho made from waterproof ripstop nylon, with added grommets so you can tie the poncho shut or use it as an emergency tarp style shelter.
Recommended Ponchos:
- Helikon Waterproof Poncho Ripstop Camogrom
- Mil-Tec Waterproof Hooded Ripstop Poncho
- Rothco Woodland Rip-Stop Rain Poncho
Examples of Military Style Ponchos being used as Shelters
To see some more poncho shelter configuration options, check out our article on building tarp shelters.
a garbage bag with a hole cut in it, to slip your head through, can do as a “poncho” in a pinch!