Just wanted to share yet another practical use for poncho/tarps that I haven’t seen mentioned anywhere else.

If you have a jacket (eg. windshirt, fleece, hard/soft shell, etc) with a hem drawstring, you wear the poncho underneath your jacket. Then you pull up the excess poncho material (pull UP from the shoulder/neck area) into the jacket, taking care to distribute the excess material evenly around your torso, and then tighten the jacket’s hem drawstring to keep it all up there. Roll the hood as additional collar insulation, or just use the hood if you don’t have a hat, of course.

All that excess poncho fabric confined into this smaller space creates a chaos of fabric folds, accordions, wrinkles/crinkles, and bunching, that in turn, creates a myriad of small air pockets and dead airspace – effectively creating loft and insulation. It’s almost like wearing a down vest underneath your jacket. Of course, waterproof ponchos are not breathable, but perspiration should be minimal if you are cold.

Since I already EDC a poncho/tarp, this idea kills a few birds with one stone…. for me:
– results in a warmer torso than using a poncho as a single layer shell on the outside
– more effective/less annoying in windy conditions (assuming windproof outer jacket)
– doesn’t have the dorky appearance of wearing a rain poncho when it’s not actually raining, so I’ll be more inclined to use it (in public)
– unlike good insulations (eg, down/primaloft) it packs smaller and can be left folded/packed/stuffed indefinitely.
– adds no extra volume, weight, or cost to my EDC.

PS- also works great with Mylar space blankets (cut a head hole, reinforced with tape) although the crinkling noise will drive you (and others) nuts. Crumpled/rolled newspaper is another great option, if in a real pinch, and an urban area.