Pathfinder Poncho Poles!

Pathfinder Poncho Poles! Howdy Folks, this video will be focusing on the relatively new Self Reliance Outfitters, Pathfinder Poncho Poles. It is a handy little device that allows you to convert a USGI pattern poncho into a low profile "Bivy" style survival shelter. I add a couple tips and tricks I've learned to use in conjunction with the poles to maximize the poles potential.
Links:
Dave's introductory video: • Best Ultra Lite and Em...
Helicon-Tex Poncho: amzn.to/4aZ74Ex
Helicon-Tex Swagman Roll: amzn.to/3RoFyt2
Helicon-Tex Reversable Swagman Roll: amzn.to/4ciWBF1
and amzn.to/4cggVa4
Helicon-Tex Swagman Basic: amzn.to/4cecaOV
Heavy Duty Space Blanket: amzn.to/3VE95lg
Pathfinder Poncho Poles: www.selfrelianceoutfitters.co...

[@survivalcomms]

The original idea is called the alpha tent. It has been around a long long time . I made a video on how to do it yourself almost 7 years ago.

[@gjnezat]

Everyone seems to forget the idea was first publisized by Alpha Rubicon, on thier website. I used Alpha Rubicons idea in Iraq in 2005

[@survivalcomms]

@@gjnezat Yes many have. I cited them as the source in my video many years ago because I give credit where it is due.

[@boonedockery7220]

As I stated in the video, I was aware of it for a long time. I was not aware of any of the particulars listed in the replies below. Thanks for the education and posting it so others will be educated as well.

[@zachariahlee3393]

Yea I'm not gonna be that Guy to let you know it's been around for a long time. I'll be the first to thank you for your Service. I'm a ex -Special forces retired. If I could give you a hack on your bungee cords on your poncho garments. I have found threwout the years those pesty cord will snag a root or a low level tree limb at the worst possible time. What we would do in order too eliminate that happening.we would twist the cordage until it twisted it's self into twine like. While still able too unravel allowing a stake to be push threw.. then when removed it would twine back on its own. I like your idea of using bungee cord instead of paracord. Great video Brother.

[@zachariahlee3393]

Consider using 3M velcro too hold your Space Blanket to the poncho edge. I've adapted 6 ml clear painters tarp.. as what some call a super shelter. On LRRP missions we would sometimes dig out 3'x5 ' 4feet deep hell hole with a seat to sit on for observation inside hole. Then using saplings instead of poles constructing the Turtle shell. Came across your channel by accident..Some accidents can be useful.

[@HuntCreekBushcraft]

With age comes wisdom (usually). And with wisdom comes an appreciation for having a “conversation” vs. being talked at. This channel affords the former, and that’s why I subscribed and keep watching. I thoroughly enjoyed this video. Having purchased the Pathfinder Poncho Pole Set some months back, I appreciated seeing the adaptation of the HD space blanket, as I’d not experimented with that yet. I also will now swap out my bank line loops for bungee cord. Great stuff here. Including the Sasquatch Tortoise clip that the end! Hilarious! Thank you, as always for doing what you do, the way YOU do it. 👍

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank you Very Much! I appreciate your words! Have a great and blessed day!

[@rodtennant7603]

As usual, very professional, great presentation style, like the long conversational approach, great detailed demo, well done!!! Keep up the great work! Greetings from SA

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank You Very Much!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

I LIKE your presentation here and I LIKED Dave Canterbury's detailed explanation of how heat moves in conjunction with this setup. Naturally, we would have a roll of Duct Tape with us and I would use that to fasten the top edge of the mylar blanket to the poncho or tarp in places where things get saggy. I would carry two kits like this in winter weather to radiate/reflect heat from a smaller fire than Dave was using for his class.

[@boonedockery7220]

I Deeply Respect And Appreciate Your Insite And Advice Brother! Thank You!

[@jamesellsworth9673]

@@boonedockery7220 It's just an idea. By the way, the pole set is currently out of stock at SRO. I signed up for an e-mail when things change.

[@OregonMike]

IMHO it is the longwave radiation of body heat or preferably a fire being reflected from the upper space blanket rather than "insulation" that helps warm you. Excellent video, I had to show my wife the end part. She loved it. 🙂 I still need to send you something as a thank you.

[@boonedockery7220]

😆😅😄👍I'm glad you and your Mrs. enjoy it! If I didn't give you my address before it's P.O. Box 644, McArthur, Ohio 45651 Have a Blessed Day Brother!

[@DF4Trap]

Great review! Something Dave didn't mention is that these can be used to hide your heat signature as well. Using a non-flective camouflage poncho, with the space blanket can give you protection against both night vision and your thermal signature. It is quick deploying and can break up the bodies outline, keeping the heat dispersement low to the ground. The dual sided reflective nature of the space blanket is advantageous. However, a venting process is needed as eventually the space blanket and poncho can heat up. The use of bushes and / or, leaves can be helpful. There is a way to long gate the poncho shelter, I should probably do a video on it. I uses these as my go to shelters from FTX to dualsport, hunting, edc bag, you name it. I do recommend a pole repair sleeve, although the Ten-C's has got you covered. Great video, thanks for sharing.

[@boonedockery7220]

Very Good Point with the IR concealability! Thanks for sharing that!

[@boonedockery7220]

Just subbed to your channel. Look forward to watching some of your videos!

[@xMrBlack]

This would be pretty cool I'm sure, if they were in stock. I'll wait till someone else makes the same thing cheaper and actually available.

[@jimstewart5739]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing...

[@boonedockery7220]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@generatormike]

I have worth it my poncho was a little short so I added a couple leads with small bowlines to pick up the stoppers on the ends of the rods

[@rabidtaz1306]

Great video. I made this with Amazon tent poles about a week before Pathfinder came out with this kit. If I'd only known. Ha ha. Started with just the space blanket. Worked kinda, but in the end I use the same set up you have here. Thanks again.

[@boonedockery7220]

Great minds think alike right???😄😆😅👍

[@danielgrubb9668]

Good video. I’m going to have to try this out.

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank You! I thought it was fun and practical.

[@Robert31352]

Wilderness Inovation has been doing this for years.

[@boonedockery7220]

I have WI's Oversized Poncho and the 3.5oz. and 5oz. Osni, and I love all of them. I will have to check out their website and see if they have poles for the oversized poncho. That would be a perfect length for me to stretch out under.

[@nomadmarauder-dw9re]

I first saw this idea in a Ranger Rick green book. Volume 2 I think.

[@zoltannagy2920]

Excellent video BooneDockery. Slept under a Poncho Hooch many hundreds of times, wish I had that setup back in the late '70's and '80's, Thank You Sir!

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank You Very Much!

[@benterwellen]

I prefer your setup, and your ending..

[@boonedockery7220]

😉👍

[@craig2795]

Love this one - the concepts and the humour 😂. But I did learn a something so nice one 👍 Also takes me back 35 years when I travelled all over Europe on my local leave (Army Leave but you don’t head back to UK for it) I travelled all around Europe using just a Civy Pack and my Army Poncho and Roll mat to sleep under where ever I found somewhere.

[@boonedockery7220]

Very Cool! Thanks for sharing that!

[@zachariahlee3393]

That was great ending ending..

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank You! I try to keep things light when I have the opportunity. I try not to take myself too seriously. I'm just some guy... A little humor goes a long way when things all around us look very grim.

[@zachariahlee3393]

@boonedockery7220 copy all the. By the way did you receive my tarp hack I sent ya

[@slee2819]

Glad to see you posting! I hope all is well.

[@boonedockery7220]

Thanks, I'm just trying to keep on keeping on....😉👍

[@NorthGeorgiaSurvival]

LMAO at the end. Big John! You kill me, man! Hey, I was wondering if you tried attaching the pathfinder poles directly to the reflective tarp without the poncho. It seems to me like it would work, and in that case, I would just keep the two of those together because, like you, I like to have my poncho for rain at all costs. Another thing I have a question about, and please correct me if I am wrong: It seems to me like I would want to position myself with the shorter ends of the poles towards my head so that the poles bow up more in the shoulder area rather than towards my legs. I say that because when having the whole thing atop me in a rainy situation, my not-so-slender ass (5'11" and 220lbs) wouldn't fit so well vice versa. All in all, I am seeing SO many great uses for this thing, only regretting that I wasn't up last night late to see your video when it dropped, and now the poles are out of stock already. All good things come to those who stay up late and party with the big boys, haha! Ah, well... I was needing the sleep. Thanks for another great adventure through the mind of the great and notorious Boondockery! (the laugh at the end was awesome, too!). Cheers from Georgia!

[@boonedockery7220]

Thank you Brother! Yes, the short half of the "X" is over the torso and head. I tried just using the space blanket with the poles and it did not bow out it remained flat as the bungie cords just stretched straight out. Also, the HDSB material does not stretch. Have a Blessed Georgia Day!

[@Erforscher1]

I wonder if Dave developed this from using it as a sniper ?

[@jasonbailey9302]

Hahahahah ! He was a POG. Been nowhere, done nothing POG!

[@boonedockery7220]

Do you know Dave? Have you ever had a conversation with him? Have you ever hired a private investigator to provide you with a detailed analysis of his life from 1982 to the present? If you're prior service I'll leave the comment, simply because soldiers give each other "Shit" all the time. if your not prior service, don't ever post here again. This is coming from another Cold War Vet that has never been "No Where" and "Done" "Nothing". Every Veteran of the United States Military has Earned Respect. Either show it or go away! "Hahahahah"? Really? Sorry, but didn't find this humorous. And for the record. I know Dave, I am not a "Fan Boy", I Know Him, as a friend and human. Not as the "Celebrity" you apparently loath. Post some content, let's see what you can share with the world that desperately needs some serious help right now. I'd love to view it and comment.

[@alf3553]

Have you tried the crossbar’s with your Wilderness Innovations poncho? Perry sells a set of bars for the WI setup but just wondering if those would work. Walking around with that Alpha setup at the end was hilarious, ready for any emergency 😂.

[@boonedockery7220]

I have the long poncho. The pathfinder poles are too short. I'll check WI's website and see if Perry sells a set for the long poncho.

[@KevinSmith-yh6tl]

👍!

[@denisjoleary]

Hi there, I'm across the pond here in the UK. an interesting video. Surely this is a small emergency shelter only. Please check out the British Army Basha with basha poles. the basha weighs 2 pounds but is unbelievable quality. It is also twice the size 8ft4 X 7ft approx. Its adaptability with tie outs and grommits is worth the extra weight. The downside is it does not have a hood. the other bonus is the price. Army surplus $40 Poles (opptional) $25.

[@boonedockery7220]

I love the idea of the UK Basha! I have yet to find one here in the U.S. and shipping costs almost doubles the cost, so I've not ordered one yet. YET is the key word😉👍!

[@derbybushcraftandoutdoors3176]

Great video pal. I run the multi cam molle 2 packs myself as well. On my assault pack I run the but pack and if it moves around on me to much or it seems to be “flappy” I use the two main straps of the pack to wrap up underneath the but pack. It pulls it up closer to the pack and seems to steady it better. I also run two sustainment pouches on both sides of my assault pack. It really makes the pack that much more versatile. Definitely worth a try if you have a couple laying around. I just ordered my poncho poles today after waiting a few months for them to be back in stock. I have a Arcturus poncho and I was wondering how well these poles would work with it. You wouldn’t happen to have any insight would you

[@boonedockery7220]

Great tips with the pack! Thank you! I do not own an Arcturus poncho (I wasn't aware that they produced one) but I'm going to check them out.

[@terryqueen3233]

I want to apologize for not commenting for over a month. Over a month ago I had a collapsed right lung and it has taken this long to get it pumped back up. To make a long story short the VA found it pumped it back up and it didn't stay, I ended up in a hospital in Gastonia North Carolina and they ended up killing me literally bringing me back and almost killing me again until I got to the right hospital that got it back up. I was released the day before yesterday when they took the last tube out of my chest. It feels good not to have to carry a little box around with you in order to breathe. Had I had another way to contact you I would have told you there but this is my short story. Now as far as the get up goes that you're demonstrated well I may be sold on that. It would be good to get out of a quick rainstorm or to even hide your stuff and do reconnaissance. Doesn't look like a bad setup, thanks for the demonstration except for maybe that last part I don't know if I'd use it that way but you never know.

[@boonedockery7220]

Oh Dear Lord In Heaven Brother! I am so thankful that you survived both death events AND are home! God is Good! He needs you here a while longer! I just prayed for you and will continue to do so Brother! God Bless You Even More!

[@terryqueen3233]

@@boonedockery7220 thank you for your prayers and for caring enough to reply. I do believe he needs me down here still and I believe it's to teach my grandkids what I know about survival. Sorry it took me so long to answer. You're the only one that answered me out of the few that I told on KZbin that I watch, apparently they don't care enough about the people that watch them and follow them enough to say anything, thanks again. PS I no longer follow them

[@timtaler2826]

💥👍💯😜

[@robertbiddle449]

So that’s great. How much does this system weigh being an ultralight backpacker looks like something quick and easy to put up I like hiking long distance. I generally try to use shelters whenever I can but sometimes they’re sometimes you don’t make it and you need an expedient shelter to put up to get out of the weather.

[@boonedockery7220]

I'm not sure on the weight. As long as it's not too warm, a bivy bag works great as shelter.

[@gwpattrick]

Arcturus has these for their ponchos. But they do rip out corners. It's a good idea, but nothing new.

[@boonedockery7220]

Hmmmmmm, I'll have to check those out. Thanks!

[@lastspud7030]

Like a lot of Pathfinder ideas and gear, somebody was doing it long before Dave, he just dusts off the idea rebrands and makes money. Didn't he once claim to be former special forces ...

[@boonedockery7220]

I've know Dave since he finished shooting the first Dual Survival season. There are a lot of statements/rumors that are attributed to him which are false. I've always tried to ignore most negative information about people because it, in no way has any influence or impact on my life. If it did, I'd try to go to the source and get their side of the story "If" there was any truth to the story in the first place. I can understand that Dave might not be everyone's cup of tea (I'm not either) but the "Real" Dave is a pretty good guy, in MHO.

[@cordellkent4790]

Ffs! Just show us! Taking too long.

[@dianatousant9481]

Just fast forward the video!

[@boonedockery7220]

dianatousant9481 replied with a great suggestion!

[@cordellkent4790]

@@boonedockery7220 Did you do it? It was right on 1/2 way through that long video that you began to get to the point! Half way through! I don’t usually get fired up about poor management, but this one was extremely annoying.

[@bayouflats5054]

Appreciate. I don’t have poles or heavy space blanket. Just wondering out loud. Is it feasible to spray paint camo on heavy space blanket( or not) and only use it with poles for shelter. Then can use poncho as another layer on your person or light sleeping bag and still have to go out and about in - and have some protection from elements, plus be camouflaged? Always enjoy and I’m in no rush maaan. 🫵👍 the end was funny. I appreciate goofy 😁

[@mn5655]

very good point, i didn't think. This will make it easy to assembly and also you still have the poncho to go out. very smart

[@rabidtaz1306]

Arcturus survival blanket comes in woodland.I made this using Amazon tent poles and just the space blanket. It doesn't work so good as the space blanket has no stretch' but doable.

[@boonedockery7220]

I have never had much luck with pray painting similar materials. The paint always seems to flake off. rabidtaz1306 gave a recommendation that I was going to make. Arcturus makes a variety of colors, patterns, and sizes that you can choose from.