.Survival Shelters with Vintage U.S. Army Vietnam Era Poncho: Practical Tips & Techniques”

Рет қаралды 18,834

Ай бұрын

Hello friends and welcome back to the GROUND POUNDER SERIES!
In today’s video, I’ll be showcasing my vintage Vietnam U.S. Army poncho and demonstrating the survival shelters I create with it. This trusty poncho has been with me since the 1970s and is still going strong.
First, I’ll show you how to set up a simple lean-to for sleeping in rainy weather, providing maximum coverage. Next, I’ll demonstrate a narrow but deep setup that offers more headroom for sitting up and working on cooking or other projects.
I hope you enjoy the video! If you do, please share and subscribe. Until next time, safe journeys!
Vintage U.S. Army Poncho
Vietnam Era Poncho
Survival Shelters
Bushcraft Shelters
DIY Survival Gear
Rainy Weather Shelter
Lean-To Shelter
Outdoor Survival Tips
Camping with Military Surplus
Poncho Shelter Setup
Vintage Camping Gear
Military Poncho Uses
Bushcraft Techniques
Outdoor Projects
Ground Pounder Series

Пікірлер: 72

@richardross7219 Ай бұрын

I had the rubber coated rip stop nylon poncho in 1973. I carried 2 so that one could be shelter and the other to wear on watch. Both of them disintegrated about 20 years ago. My jungle hammock disappeared about 25 years ago. The old air mattress let go at about the same time. Good Luck, Rick

@astarcom8 Ай бұрын

We have this exactly ponchos still in the Greek army.

@ericwitt4586 26 күн бұрын

That poncho fabric looks like my Vietnam jungle hammock made in 1968 I found in at an old junk store back in the late 1990s in a box shipped to my hometown it had at least 25 postage stamps on the box lol it’s been taken care of and I still use it from time to time hell it’s still got the sewing repair kit in it with extra skeeter netting too lol they made things that lasted back then !

@Idrivthetrain Ай бұрын

Just picked up one of these this morning. Perfect timing lol. Couldn’t believe I found it at yard sale still in a canvas pouch and in pristine condition. Lady asked for three dollars for it. I paid her more but I still got it dirt cheap.

@ed5042 Ай бұрын

my go to shelter/poncho/ woobie+or wool blanket wrap me up in cold rain, snow sleet , you name it! I look forward to lousy cold weather just so I can just wrap up in this thing and be absolutely protected and warm in foul weather!

@ed5042 Ай бұрын

AS SOON AS YOU PULLED THE SURPRISE SHELTER OUT I realized why the Germans had their Heavy Poncho! Of course the Germans after ww2 were supplied by the USA. Then they did their in country development and production. I have about 6 of these german ponchos and they are identical to what you are showing! Bulletproof is an understatement for those German ponchos! Great Video!

@ostekuste3646 Ай бұрын

The rubber liner inside the top flap of my old alice pack started cracking an flaking off. I cleaned it as well as I could and sprayed it with black Flex Seal from Lowes. Works better than the original coating.

@blackoracle69 Ай бұрын

yes that does a real good job i need to redo a tarp of mine for the same reason

@KevinSmith-yh6tl Ай бұрын

You know what's just as good if you can't find a Vietnam era one Blackie, is an older West German "Bundeswehr" poncho. Those things are built like a brick outhouse,are compatible with the US poncho, and are easy enough to find here in the States. Be warned though, for some it might be a heavy son of a gun to tote around.

@RandoCalrisiann Ай бұрын

I've got 3 nice ponchos from Nam like that. Solid as can be. Hot to wear, but will never let you down!

@blackboardbloke Ай бұрын

These ponchos are very similar to the British Army ‘58 pattern ponchos that were issued to troops up until the ‘90s when BASHAs (shelter sheet/tarp) and Goretex wet weather gear came in. Heavier and totally bombproof, at a couple of pounds (1kg) each, I used two surplus 58s from the mid 80s until 2011 for backpacking. One was extra wet weather gear in downpours plus fairish weather shelter, two snapped together to make a fully enclosed tent like shelter in foul weather or on a camp site. They wore out, so I replaced them with two genuine surplus USGI woodland camo ponchos because they weighed less (combined 1.2 kg) and were a more compact pack up. I still have and use them. All these ponchos were manufactured to a NATO spec standard size with standard spaced double sided snap fasteners for soldiers to buddy up to make two man or larger shelters for NATO allied forces meet ups.

@billp5292 Ай бұрын

Yes sir. Bomb proof for sure. And I got one off e bay a few years ago still in the package.

@asmith7876 Ай бұрын

That's the poncho I laid in the snow (in the desert I shit you not, mf-ing Ft. Bliss) in the 80s's to qualify with our M-16A1s....ultimately issued the nylon version, two of which I still have. Love my ponchos!

@Seamus3051 19 күн бұрын

If needing a temporary patch for rubberized fabrics, try several coats of rubber cement, which can be found at any office supply store; the more coats that are applied, the longer the patch lasts.

@timlacy2284 Ай бұрын

Blackie, Thanks for sharing. I haven't seen one of those in years. Thanks Again Sir for sharing , we go to the woods to smooth it. God Bless Y'all.

@kenhollandjr1251 29 күн бұрын

I am glad to hear that you’re from Alabama. My father was born in Birmingham, I lived by USS Steel by Pleasant Grove and dolomite, and also Pelham and alabaster. I’ve got relatives all over since my dad‘s mother and father had 24 brothers and sisters between them. I myself was born in Texas, at Fort Hood. I’m sorry to say I never served. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your time.

@brandyhouston2105 Ай бұрын

Got one, use too. I like the fun shots.😊

@michaelmerrick5472 Ай бұрын

Yep, have had one for about 50 years just like my USMC issue. Heavy but extremely durable, of course I have been very protective of it. Speaking of the lighter nylon coated one you mentioned that flaked off. I have one also and it did flacke so I washed it aggressively to get all the coating off and then did the silicone/mineral spirit coat and now that's my truck poncho. Heavy like the old one. Pitched that issue poncho up in many a configuration but one thing about where and when I was there was no such thing as paracord or much of any kind of string. I salvaged bandalier web.

@phillipfaile3122 Ай бұрын

Flex seal, maybe. I sprayed the rubberized inner compartment on an ALICE ruck, and it worked. I haven't taken it out. As I use smaller bags/ packs.

@57WillysCJ Ай бұрын

Probaly works as I saw someone make a ground sheet buy coating it with flex seal. It became a copy of the old gum blanket.

@stephenwest798 26 күн бұрын

There is an electrical brush on insulator that is flexible that may work to patch those pin holes.

@billvan5219 Ай бұрын

I'm always happy to hear what you have to say even if I never see one of those ponchos. The concept might come in handy in some other way anyhow 😊

@woodrowbrimm2805 Ай бұрын

I had one of those in 1974 to 1977 , the coating was always an issue .The Syl-nylon version they issued me when I re-enlisted in 1984 up until I Retire definitely tear easier but are much lighter to carry. I've still got a couple of the Syl-nylon version in my garage for camping .Unfortunately my Wife is now Handicapped so I don't get to get out anymore as I am now in my 70's.

@UncleNoah54 Ай бұрын

I bought one of these in 1972 from an army navy store for $1. Used it a few times as a poncho but like you said in Georgia it proved to be to hot. It would up being my shelter for years. After awhile because of thin spots/holes it got relegated to a firewood cover. I used it for about 30 years. Hated to see it go.

@magnusdarkhan974 Ай бұрын

Looks like a German military poncho.

@smoothvern165 Ай бұрын

It’s so cool to see the gear that you used back then! I love it! I wish I had saved more of the gear that I used in the seventies.

@jeffrichards5106 Ай бұрын

That's great, Blackie. Don't believe I've ever saw one of those heavy duty ponchos. That's cool that you still have one and it's still in great shape. 👍🏻👍🏻

@oldminer5387 Ай бұрын

Thank you Blackie..

@barbybushcraftskills 28 күн бұрын

Show. Ganhou um novo inscrito. Parabéns pelo vídeo

@SuperDonald64 Ай бұрын

I e got 1960s poncho rubberised canvas my fav kit

@blackoracle69 Ай бұрын

awesome

@davidr.8999 Ай бұрын

I had several of those and always thought they were a bit bulky. However the one you mentioned with the silicone type liner were really bad. I like the new ones much better, especially the Marine Corps ones.

@PlayaSinNombre Ай бұрын

That is one hell of a story, Blackie. Thanks for sharing.

@reneschaap8091 Ай бұрын

goedenavond Blackie !!!!👍

@quinntheeskimooutdoors6234 Ай бұрын

Thanks Blackie😊

@doug18d50 Ай бұрын

Try experimenting with rubber cement, which used to be sold as art/printing supplies. It acts as glue and/or sealant for lots of surfaces. I just have no experience with durability in outdoor settings.

@apar1560 Ай бұрын

Intresting tarp for sure. THANKS 👍👍👍 🇨🇱

@moorshound3243 Ай бұрын

The old rubberised German army ponchos are the same super heavy but bullet proof.

@Toga0707 Ай бұрын

303 Marine Aerospace Protectant is supposed to be really good. It's a little expensive in my opinion, but it will probably last a while if you're only using it once or twice a year on a poncho.

@shanelawson9490 Ай бұрын

Thanks Blackie, I think I have 1 or 2 of those Vietnam era ponchos in my collection. When I heard you say it's been in storage a long time I couldn't help but wonder if it had that really bad smell that so many of those old ponchos have. Peeeyuuu

@mrkultra1655 Ай бұрын

Thanks Blackie

@kennethmcdonald5278 25 күн бұрын

We used our shelter halves more than our ponchos

@MichaelR58 Ай бұрын

Good video Blackie, thanks for sharing YAH bless !

@user-yc6fz7ut1f Ай бұрын

Great Stuff. Thanks for sharing

@loremice6809 Ай бұрын

I have a similar 1958 pattern 👍

@markledford4370 Ай бұрын

THANKS BLACKIE 🙏🪖

@covenantking Ай бұрын

I found one in a thrift store not too long ago. In with the shower curtains! Still in pristine condition. Ok, i have a big head, and can barely fit it through the neck opening. Too uncomfortable for me for that reason. But i’ll try it as a tarp sometime.

@timpearce4255 Ай бұрын

AND... the added bonus was they never smelled like vomit (chemical coating breaking down with age like the later light weight poncho). If anybody knows how to rid a poncho of that smell and leave the coating in place it would make a good video. I am going to pull mine out to check the condition. Thanks Blackie

@BobSmith-ec8pn Ай бұрын

Blackie! Could you post the Poncho's label? (Noun Nomenclature, NSN, DLA, etc..) Greatly appreciated.

@stephenwest798 26 күн бұрын

We had those same ponchos in the sixties, I was in Germany and except for two weeks every summer I seldom use it but even if it was a little cool the damn thing would make your sweat and soak you. I currently own two in camo pattern and would use them for ground mat or tent but to wear one, no thanks.

@simonwinwood Ай бұрын

❤

@charlesmckinney Ай бұрын

I haven't seen one of those ponchos since 1970.

@keithmoore5306 Ай бұрын

Blackie that don;t go back to the Korea era i've got one from then and it's rubberized canvas!! and if you think that one gets hot!!!

@randybradley7427 Ай бұрын

This is the poncho I have. But I'm 6'3" knees down your soaked. I hate that I carry frog toggs or gortex suit I love it. Rather have a tarp than a poncho anytime.

@benterwellen Ай бұрын

Blackie, yea I did have one of those and yes very hot…

@gregorywitt887 Ай бұрын

Hi Blackie, you asked about something to protect that poncho, look at 303 Aerospace Protectant , I use it on my kayak

@1ronKnuckles Ай бұрын

fact check, at 1:13 when Blackie makes the claim vinyl ponchos are bullet proof I believe he is being metaphorical. Vinyl poncho do NOT in fact stop bullets...