Cozy, warm, packable poncho for outdoor adventures.
Light & Compact
Therm-a-Rest lists its Honcho Poncho™ Down as a “camp life” product, but I’ve been using mine as a post-swim coverup. I love it.
Most of my swim buddies have those trendy, huge post-swim parkas, but I’m very happy with my Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down because it’s so lightweight and compressible that I can easily stow it in my medium-sized gear bag. That’s important to me. I have a swim buoy as well as my gear bag. I need to keep all this gear light and compact so it’s manageable. (See photo of how small the poncho is when packed into its front pocket that doubles as a stuff sack.)
Get Warm Fast
My Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down has been a perfect post-swim garment for me this fall because it is so simple to use, it provides so much coverage, and it’s warm. When I come out of the lake I head straight for the hot outdoor shower. Then I remove my wetsuit while I’m in the shower. It’s usually pretty cold when I step away from the shower, so I towel off quickly, put on a warm hat, roll down the top of my swimsuit, then put on a full-zip fleece hoodie. Next, I pull on the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down. It hits about mid-thigh, so I get quite a lot of my body covered and warm quickly before I fully remove my swimsuit and pull on some track pants. I like having the coverage so I don’t flash anyone while I’m changing, and I love how warm it is. It’s like I’m wrapped in a big down blanket. And I kind of am.
I love the poncho style because it’s so roomy that I can have several layers under it if I need them. Plus, I can change clothes underneath it if I want to put on the poncho first. If I want more freedom of movement I can unsnap the sides to make it more blanket-like, but it’s spacious enough that I don’t need to do that. Bottom line, the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down provides instant warmth, which is critical as the temps are sliding down into the low 40’s and high 30s.
The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down is filled with hydrophobic down that stays puffy and warm even when the garment is wet. The shell is made out of recycled polyester, with a waterproof coating.
Cozy Comfort
The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down has a quarter zip on the front side that, when zipped up, cinches the hood together. I’m a big fan of the hood, even when I remember to put on a warm hat after my shower. I can’t stress enough how wonderful it feels, and how important it is, to feel toasty warm after those few freezing seconds.
I often run into friends at the lake, and because the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down keeps me so warm I can sit with them on a bench and talk for half an hour or more without feeling cold.
The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho™ Down is ideal for so many outdoor activities. It’s the ideal thing to wear at my friend’s daughter’s soccer games (it’s long enough to sit on so my bum does’t get cold from the bench), and it’s also a must-have for road trips when I’m not sure where I’ll be sleeping and want my own blanket with me (unsnapped, it makes a decent sized blanket).
Details
Available in a one-size-fits all design in three colors: OuterSpace Blue, Dark Olive, and Burgundy. I am 6’ tall, and found it plenty roomy.
Manufacturer: www.thermarest.com
$259.95