The Alpha Tent Poncho in heavy rain 

Was in Marine Corpe in 1972. This is the closest thing I ever saw to a tent when in the bush in Viet Nam. No polls, a stick in the middle, and staked lose on the corners. If we had to move in the middle of the night we could just grab it and go. Still carry two ponchos in my pack. One to ware and the other for a quick shelter. Snap them together for a larger shelter. Only carry a tent in cold weather.

I've carried a usgi poncho for almost 20 years and have some old tent poles laying around and never thought of combining them to make a make shift tent. Thanks for the info I will definitely add the poles to my kit for camping, hikeing and mountain biking to seek shelter in case of bad weather . Thanks again for the great information

Absolute genius idea especially where there are few trees.

I love poncho shelters. And this is an EXCELLENT IDEA

I e slept under one of these ponchos HUNDREDS of times. Always on bungees this is so simple and effective. Thanks for sharing bud I’m off to eBay to buy some extra poles 👍🏻 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Proof that we never really grow up. All men still just want to make forts in the backyard in the rain.

Good on you! Certainly could apply the same principles to a tarp. Very clever man. Thanks for the tip.

This is a great idea for a tarp tent in an emergency. A 2nd tarp could be used as the floor as you did, but tied/laced to the outer shell through the gromlets to lessen the gap and keep water out. Saplings could be used if you had no rods or the center of the shell tied to a limb above. Could always stake the last corner from inside. Great idea you had. Thanks

I spent many, MANY nights in a poncho hooch shelter. I would have totally carried the extra weight of the poles if I had thought of this back then. +1

That is an awesome idea.

Looks pretty effective , thanks for sharing, don’t forget you can use the hood like a water collecting udder 👌inside the Bivy

Well thought out fantastic info, thank you very much for sharing! Shelter weight for my bug out bag has been a constant battle over the years, to many bugs in my area to tie a tarp to trees, this seems like a great solution

I had never thought about using poles like that. Smart! We were taught how to build a lean-to and ridgeline shelters using paracord because it’s what we carried, but this is a great reuse of the GI poncho. Thanks for this!

Makes me want to get a tent and set up in the rain...so relaxing..great vid

You're gifted... anyone can have a home.

I've seen this before. But I like how this shows this shelters effectiveness

Men! That's your survival dog house when you get thrown out of your house by your wife😁😂😂😂

Interesting video! Haven't thought about using tent poles. You've got me thinking about handling a poncho. I thank you so much. :)

Brilliant! Perfect for ultra light backpaking or as emergency shelter in case your tent broken

Alpha tent a little too fancy of a name. I would call it the Turtle. Very cleaver way to weather an unexpected storm.

Simple and effective. Thanks for showing

What a cool tent , I've never seen one like that. Great video dude!

WOW. A BACKYARD WARRIOR

Don't take this the wrong way, but I get out of breath just hearing you breathe. Thank you for your product presentation.

Now that's a neat trick ! I like that idea.

Thanks for a great video clever idea keep up the good work brother 👍

That pretty cool. I was issued one of these back in the mid 80s. All I remember was the puke smell. I think I sweated in them better than keeping me dry.i put the. Liner in it and used it as a light sleeping bag.

Brilliant! Thank you for sharing!!! That's going on the bike this summer!

Wonderful video from all angles. :) thank you!

what i appreciate and will always remember, "it's eight per cent of the diagonal". i know he did his homework!

Outstanding idea! Thanks for sharing.

What a great idea! Thank you!

never thought id want a USGI poncho again! heck of a survival shelter

8:40 PAUSE IT... That look is the look of I'm loving this. Great video and thanks!! LIKED!!!

Looks like you're ready to go on a SUPER COOL ADVENTURE!

Brilliant idea brother. Love it. Iv got an old Irish Army Poncho the same dimensions (their rubberised). Iv been tying it to trees for years! Not any more though. Respect.

Great video, very informative on another shelter option I can throw into my ruck, Thanks!

Poncho multiple use tool,thanks. Good video!

This video brought out that inner boy in me! I want to set one up in my yard now! Lol my wife would laugh!

Very nice 👍🏻 for a Quick shelter it looks like a good investment when your trail hiking

This is pretty cool I think I might get one

Longer poles to raise up the bottom for airflow and a second Poncho with longer poles could be used to create the 2 layer Poncho shade shelter from back in Antiquity. Sweat and Labor saving idea there.

That is pretty damn cool, sir. Thank you.

Good video and very didactic, good practice and test. Best regards.

Great solution! The finished tent! 🏕👍😍

good shelter its very easy to carry in my bag & useful in emergency.

Nice setup. I love sleeping in the rain. The noise puts me right to sleep.

Thanks for the 8% tip

This is awesome!

Very smart, I like your idea 💡

That's clever! Thanks for sharing!

it is a really cool idea

Bloody awesome mate, Noice work!!!!!!

That tent pole is smart idea!

Nice job!

If you hung your poncho liner inside, tying off the poles, you would add a thermal layer which would make it warmer and cooler in the sun.

Very nice knowledge addition for my poncho.tym.hurrahh

Wonderful idea. I just need a poncho. and some rain

That's a great idea

Oh, FFS, he could have no arms for all I care. Any of you knobs making fun of the guy might want to contribute some instructional videos. And make sure you cover the mic. It’s sensitive.

Very cozy, I like this video. Sadly, if the rain was that heavy I'd have trouble going to sleep😪😫

Some thoughts. Tie off the hood, by holding it from the top portion of the hood, pulled away from the body of the poncho. Twist it, like wringing a towel, then fold it back over itself, and twist again if you can. Tie it off tightly using the drawstring cordage and/or 500 cord. Make it so it won't come loose at all. Do as you suggested, tie it off to something overhead, or angled up and to one side, to prevent leakage. Also, that ground cover you used looked like it had grommets in the corners as well. Lock those in with the poles on one long end. You can stake the other end down. As far as the corners of the poncho, where the poles are meeting it, have a loop or two of 500 cord on each corner grommet, and stake those down. As you presented it, the whole thing is unsecured, and any breeze has the potential of blowing it off you. Again, loops of 500 cord and you can use the same stakes already is use. I slept under one (or more) of these for the entire six years I was in the Army, even in blizzard conditions. If possible when setting up, pick a spot with a slight slope. Using a hand shovel if you have one, and you should if you are going to be pooping in the woods, cut a channel around the hooch. On the upward end, about a foot or two away, you want to cut a V with the open end towards the hooch. At the bottom of the V, which is furthest away, cut a single channel away for another foot or two. It doesn't need to be deep, just a few inches. And on each side of the hooch, from the open end of the V, dig channels alongside down at least a foot past the end of the hooch. If you get any decent amount of rain, this will help the water flow around you, rather than run right through your sleeping area. You won't have to do this when you don't expect heavy rain, in my experience, I only had to do this a few times over six years. As a soldier, ounces are pounds and pounds are pain. I would never suggest your method for field use. However, I think this method is definitely worth doing if you aren't hiking far, or car camping and want minimal impact on the surroundings.

I have done this before, and yes it makes a pretty good tent. Just a little cramped. What I do instead, is to then take one side of it and prop it up on poles, making it a lean-to. Sometimes I will use pieces of parachute material, cut to size, to make ends for it.

Thank you for the video!

Brilliant idea thanks mate I will give it a try

nice! thanks for the demo.

This is a great idea. Paired with si bivy sac.

Pretty darn awesome 👍

Way Cool. Thanks for sharing.

what a bloody good idea.

What modifications did you do to the poles other than the wire nuts and velcro did you do? You spoke of an 8%. Wasn't sure if one pole or both had to be cut down. Thank you

Damn... Needed this vidoe 25 yrs ago. That poncho is the cats ass for kit.

I like it ! Thanks for sharing.

Not bad! Thanks for the demo.

Unfortunately these ponchos hold the heat in so well that you will get excessive condensation buildup and everything still gets wet.

Nice video. Just a quick question: why not re-use the metal (aluminum?) ends that came with the poles instead of resorting to the taped on electrical wire nuts? Thanks.

Need to get a pair of poles for my poncho. 🌧

Damn, heavy breather! you alright bro?

#USGIPoncho #Shelter thanks for uploading. !! Enjoyed the orginal content 👍🏻🇺🇸

Awesome idea

Great addition to the tarps setups "schemes" we all have in our heads, and one I would not have thought of. Kinda funny, as I have several tents which use the same collapsible pole setups. The use of poles is excellent, as suitable trees might not be available to string ridgelines or hang a tarp in a plow point type setup. The possibility of using some small saplings as substitute poles out in the woods might also work. Nice job, and thanks for the great tip.

I would imagine the bows on the side would allow enough ventilation to prevent condensation inside

thanks for the video. a few questions, if you have answers to any of them: 1. how was the condensation on the inside? 2. do you think it would be possible to attach a bug net/bathtub floor inside? 3. how’s it do in hot weather?

I’ve spent many nights under my poncho. But I didn’t have the tent poles. Tied a line from the hood string to a tree overhead. Or the camo spreader.

Cool idea.

Cool idea! Thanks!

Only think I can say is BRILLIANT and thanks for the idea.

When I was in the marines we were issued a tent half and needed a buddy for his half to have a tent lol

Spiffy concept. Recycle heaven. UBIQUE

That thing looks like all it needs is a good wind and it's gone.

Perfect size To be stealthy #DontPokeTheBEARS!!! .... good luck #Thanks

Hi. Great video. Have you tried a similar configuration with only 1 pole diagonally?

Pretty cool!

You could use your flip flop to remove all the water from under your body. If you can carry poles, you can just carry a tarp instead. However- i still like the invention and movie.

8% times the numerator, then carry the divisor and square not the root. Thats it.

Thanks for the video! Did you cut each individual pole piece to the same size or just the two ends? Thanks again!

My poncho is 240cm long 140cm wide, what size poles should I buy in order to be able to get this same results? I am 6"3 by the way.

This was simply ingenas. Other than the weight of the poles this set-up is all that.

Brilliant! What percentage longer do the pole’s have to be

Greetings: December 2019 I just purchased ICS tent one man $98.00 with tax online. I own a camper but wanted this tent. I bought it, to really see if rain would stay out. Enjoy your tent videos. Mr. Hahn, Los Angeles.