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This post is inspired by the recently-revived lightweight tent thread. Someone mentioned using tarps as an excellent lightweight solution.
When I was an Infantryman, we carried the notorious poncho and poncho liner. Or shall I say, two ponchos when the mission loadout permitted. Every milligram of weight counts when you are in a Light Infantry unit! We went to extremes to reduce the weight of our kit sometimes. But "the mission drives the gear" no matter what.
Anyhow, I referred to having two ponchos on purpose, and that is where the title to this piece comes in.
I don't remember where or whom it was, but a wiser, seasoned soldier somewhere saw some of us young and less-experienced guys setting up hooches with ponchos in a sunny and hot environment. He came over and struck up a conversation, asking who had a second poncho. Even though it was a training environment and weight discipline wasn't as tight as it was when we were operational, nobody had a second poncho, nor thought that there was a reason to. Some people carry some silly extras during training, but a second poncho wasn't in anyone's mind at that level in that unit.
The older gentleman smiled, and asked us to follow him to view his hooch. He had two ponchos rigged up parallel to each other and roughly a foot apart, one directly above the other. Both were guyed similarly and peaked in the middle, as we did to encourage moisture runoff. I think all of us green guys sort of looked at each other, as if to silently say, "alright, so what, this guy wants two ponchos above his head, why should we care?"
"That space right there might save your life," said the older soldier, pointing between the ponchos. He went on to explain some complicated scientific stuff about convection or advection of air, something like that. Bottom line is, on a hot and sunny day, the space between the ponchos greatly helps with cooling and will help keep a resting person cooler. Naturally all of us acquired second ponchos to try out the trick the next time we were in the field, and it seemed to work.
That was over 20 years ago. I am not sure of the reason why, but that extra layer above your tent or hammock seems to work. If I have a conventional backpacking-type tent, I will rig up a tarp or even a good ol' military poncho about a foot above the roof. I swear it works to keep things cooler and somehow move the air.
My two cents, would appreciate what others might add or comment.
When I was an Infantryman, we carried the notorious poncho and poncho liner. Or shall I say, two ponchos when the mission loadout permitted. Every milligram of weight counts when you are in a Light Infantry unit! We went to extremes to reduce the weight of our kit sometimes. But "the mission drives the gear" no matter what.
Anyhow, I referred to having two ponchos on purpose, and that is where the title to this piece comes in.
I don't remember where or whom it was, but a wiser, seasoned soldier somewhere saw some of us young and less-experienced guys setting up hooches with ponchos in a sunny and hot environment. He came over and struck up a conversation, asking who had a second poncho. Even though it was a training environment and weight discipline wasn't as tight as it was when we were operational, nobody had a second poncho, nor thought that there was a reason to. Some people carry some silly extras during training, but a second poncho wasn't in anyone's mind at that level in that unit.
The older gentleman smiled, and asked us to follow him to view his hooch. He had two ponchos rigged up parallel to each other and roughly a foot apart, one directly above the other. Both were guyed similarly and peaked in the middle, as we did to encourage moisture runoff. I think all of us green guys sort of looked at each other, as if to silently say, "alright, so what, this guy wants two ponchos above his head, why should we care?"
"That space right there might save your life," said the older soldier, pointing between the ponchos. He went on to explain some complicated scientific stuff about convection or advection of air, something like that. Bottom line is, on a hot and sunny day, the space between the ponchos greatly helps with cooling and will help keep a resting person cooler. Naturally all of us acquired second ponchos to try out the trick the next time we were in the field, and it seemed to work.
That was over 20 years ago. I am not sure of the reason why, but that extra layer above your tent or hammock seems to work. If I have a conventional backpacking-type tent, I will rig up a tarp or even a good ol' military poncho about a foot above the roof. I swear it works to keep things cooler and somehow move the air.
My two cents, would appreciate what others might add or comment.
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