Review: 2GoSystems B.O.B. Zip Poncho and Hybrid Field Blanket as a modern ranger roll

This is a double review of 2GoSystems B.O.B. Zip Poncho and Hybrid Field Blanket, which together form kind of "ranger roll" sleep system. These are not rebranded US military poncho and woobie poncho liner, but they do draw inspiration from that legendary item combination. More information about the products:
v3 B.O.B. Zip Poncho "Breathable Outdoor Basics" (Green)
"The v3 B.O.B. Zip Poncho is designed to be lightweight, breathable, portable and will keep you dry in the rainiest weather. It is flexible as It can be used as a poncho, ground sheet, bivvy, Hammock under quilt, emergency shelter or may others not listed here."
www.2gosystems.com/collection...
Hybrid Field Blanket
"This system is very lightweight and thermally efficient. This is accomplished with a system of hybrid insulation, combining a full synthetic polyester batting and a integrated and breathable reflective layer. It effectively keeps out the wind and cold, conserving heat by reflecting the infrared radiation given off by the occupant."
www.2gosystems.com/collection...
If you're interested how the original ranger roll works, check out this great video by ‪@GruntProof‬ "The Legendary Ranger Roll Sleep System & How to Use it in the Winter" • The Ranger Roll Sleep ...
0:00 Legendary ranger roll, modernized
0:59 Pricing and connecting the items together
5:27 Experiences with 2GoSystems products
8:49 Summary
#rangerroll #militarysleepsystem #2gosystems
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DISCLOSURES: At the time of this video, I was working with
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🔔 SUBSCRIBE: kzbin.info...
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Taival Outdoors is a channel about the great outdoors, spending time in nature doing everything from day hikes and overnight adventures to bikepacking and multi-day wilderness backpacking. Trekking is close to my heart, but I’m not tied to any particular "genre" like ultralight or bushcraft - instead I do what I've found through my experience in the wild to work the best for me. I'm also making gear reviews and skill videos based on what I actually use and how I operate in nature. Thanks for watching!

[@GruntProof]

Wow man that looks like an awesome setup! It certainly beats what we were stuck with many times.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Probably isn't as grunt proof as the original setup, but works for camping!

[@scottcatchot1598]

Thanks for the video. Your dog is beautiful

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@kurtbaier6122]

Use large safety pins to close up the end of the Ranger roll near the edge. I’ve used this type of system for years but slightly different. I noticed in my experiment that the shiny Mylar needs to be against your clothes and the blanket on top of the mylar so you won’t loose the heat from conduction when you want to go to freezing temperatures with seasonal clothing. I’ve been using the SOL heat sheet verses a standard Mylar blanket as it is quieter and resists tearing. I put small squares of clear packaging tape on the Mylar sheet in different spots and put a large safety pin through it to mate it with the liner. The tyvek is the way to go for a bivy. I’ll look into the poncho. I find that bringing two or three ponchos is more multipurpose. Liked the video.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Thanks Kurt, I agree that mylar and other reflectives work the best when they're close to the skin. However of course with this setup the main point of the poncho is to provide that water/windproof outer shell, so I take the reflective inside as a bonus.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

@@heretoday9975 That's a good question! I have not experimented with anything like that, so can't say for sure. Innermost layer should be used as the manufacturer intended, so the reflective side toward you. I'd test the outer blanket then both ways and see which would be better.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

I really like 2GoSystems stuff and I have been using it since the V1 Trifecta (which I gifted to a friend), one thing I would change on the blanket is add a hole like you suggested. Then this would almost be perfect!

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Trifecta V2 was my first one! Personally I don't miss the hole for the head, but I think there would be value if these items would be interchangeable with the real woobies/ponchos.

[@thewatcher611]

@@TaivalOutdoors If it all works together as a system, that'll do fine. Also, the real woobie....has no hole either. The term "poncho liner" has confused many people into thinking that it should be an insulation layer underneath, and worn just like the poncho. It only speaks as a liner in the situation where the poncho is folded and used as a sleeping bag. Snugpak is the only one that does this well, if you want insulation under the poncho while you are wearing it, the Snugpak patrol stuff has sleeves, and is worn together as insulation, and water proof outer.

[@alexdetrojan4534]

Great idea. I had been thinking of something similar. Think I'll steal this idea. 😉

[@TaivalOutdoors]

It's not mine to be stealen from, so go ahead 😁

[@KlausKallo]

Drinking game! Have a sip everytime you hear PONCHO! :)

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Enjoy!

[@overweighthikerwannabe901]

I've been an admirer of 2GoSystems for years. I have a Triflecta, not sure what version, an hope to buy more of their products as funds allow. When they do, if they work as well as I hope and if I ever decide I've lost enough weight and become fit enough, I hope to hike the PCT and may equip myself with said purchases for the thru hike.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Sounds good. Hopefully you get to experience PCT!

[@overweighthikerwannabe901]

@@TaivalOutdoors I hope so too. I'm a bit worried that with the increase in wild fires due to climate change I won't be able to, but I'll just have to see. My goal is to do it in 2025 but if the corvid pandemic causes more delay in my preparing myself it coukd be later than hat, or If I'm just slow for otherr reasons.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

@@overweighthikerwannabe901 We're not getting any younger, so I'd say stick to that schedule no matter what. You never know what will happen in a few years and it's better to be in shape and prepared when the time comes for you to head out to PCT.

[@ArmandoRodriguez-pu6pr]

Great vid mate, just what I was looking for. Do the 2gosystems materials have much issues with condensation?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Thanks. Condensation depends on many factors and that Tyvek material is supposedly breathable. Biggest thing of course is to make sure you're not breathing into the bivvy at any point. If you get condensation, just turn it inside out and it dries pretty fast as the moisture doesn't seep into the fabric.

[@elbowtko]

How much more difficult would it have been to zip up the other half up? Would you have had to zip from head to belly or belly to head? I was really wondering about how the zip poncho and the field blanket met together and this is the only video I saw. I was interested in it for the bivy configuration that also allows so many things. However I was hoping it could have zipped all the way around as well or atleast tie the bottom, but zipped on the sides fully. Do you have a video on how the ul velar bivy compares with the field blanket?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

It's not impossible, it's just a bit tricky since the other half then zips from head to belly (as it is the mirror image of the lower half). You could "tie up" the footbox by running one carabiner through all of the loops in there, I might do that mod myself at some point. Just came back from five day trip in the wilderness and had no issues with his setup. Velar UL's biggest selling point for me was the integrated bug screen, which I thought would be important for me, but I never ended up using it (found it less restricting to just sleep with a bug head net on).

[@paulblackburn4245]

That’s a nice setup. I’ve recently acquired the Swagman roll and am looking for a poncho to pair with it. This could be part of an EDC kit. What’s that piece of gear that you attached that roll to?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Thanks Paul. Backpack is 5.11 AMP24 and poncho is from 2GoSystems. I've heard a lot of great things about swagman roll 👍

[@johncrouch8988]

Hi 👋🏻 Nice review. As someone said. Why they didn’t put a zip to seal the blanket fully in the poncho I don’t know. A good idea but still needs a bit more thought to finish the job. 😀

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Good point. 2GoSystems is known to release new versions of their products quite often, so I think there will be some changes in the future for this.

[@johncrouch8988]

@Taival Outdoors if they do I’ll purchase one 👍🤷‍♂️ Thanks for the reply

[@kene3431]

Am I seeing a HPG kit bag? I just ordered the 2gosystems poncho based on your review. Been looking for ways to upgrade the rangerroll to be a little more modern/functional.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Yes you are! I have a full review of the kit bag and my loadout: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWKyh3SArqibl8U

[@MrDefaultti]

I would put one Carinthia (1 or4) sleeping bag in it, and you would be nice and cosy 😀

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Absolutely!

[@ReagerNu]

You make good films... I love the 5.11 amp series. Do have any good ways to attach blankets and sleeping bags on the outside of the bag? Have you tried the sidewinder?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

I have just attached them like you see in this video or then with a bungee cord like seen here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qn6WnKaJodqaf5o I have not tried Sidewinder yet, if you're referring to the flannel shirt.

[@ReagerNu]

5.11 made some attachment device called sidewinder..

[@TaivalOutdoors]

@@ReagerNu Oh ok, I haven't heard about that!

[@bushpig8109]

Great clip mate.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@MrTimGJ]

Got some 2 go gear and like it - however no new stock and the site seems to be selling off everything. Can't get the ponchos.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Actually I just noticed the same recently, also they've been very quiet on social media for a long time now. Shame.

[@JohnB-dr8sk]

@@TaivalOutdoors Thanks for your review mate. And yeah, sadly, it looks like 2GoSystems is on their way out. I think it is a combination of uninformed reviewers giving bad reviews because they don't understand the advantage of this system, coupled with 2Go cutting corners with the quality of the Tyvek material they used. Their Tyvek is not as tough as what SOL uses in their Escape Bivy, at least that is what I experienced using both in the field. Despite this, I still cherish my 2Go Trifecta Bivy because it has huge advantages and I just keep clear repair tape with mine for emergencies to keep it going. It's a real shame because 2Go is/was a true innovator.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

@@JohnB-dr8sk I agree. I'm still tempted to get the ARC bivvy for winter camping, I think it would have more room for my inflatable sleeping pad than Velar UL.

[@RobertsBulgaria]

I like this system. I like the look of your chest rig, what is it please? Subbed.

[@TaivalOutdoors]

It's Hill People Gear Original Kit Bag v2, I have a video of my full loadout here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWKyh3SArqibl8U And thanks for the sub!

[@RobertsBulgaria]

@@TaivalOutdoors Cheers, I'll check it out.

[@neilleggatt7729]

So zipper does not go all the way round the foot area making it waterproof?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

No, so it closes similarly as a regular military poncho. The bivvy configuration is so long/tall though, that you can tie the footbox together and tuck it underneath. But a ranger roll doesn't try to be equivalent to Snugpak Stratosphere or similar "bivvy tents".

[@neilleggatt7729]

@@TaivalOutdoors ok thanks for that man

[@kimurasquirrel]

Have you tried this in the rain? How well does it hold up?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

I've used the poncho as a poncho in rain, but not as a bivvy. I've used other 2GoSystems bivvies during the years in all conditions just fine. However, due to the way this closes up in the bivvy configuration, it doesn't offer similar levels of protection as a dedicated bivvy would.

[@jukepeke1]

Hyvä esittely video taas👌😊 mistä nuo kannattaisi tilata EU alueelta?

[@TaivalOutdoors]

Olen aina tilannut valmistajalta suoraan. Jos löydät EU alueelta jälleenmyyjän, niin kerro ihmeessä!

[@mattimatkalainen]

Jee rankeri rulla.