Gear Review: Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Down

Cool evenings and misty mornings will have you digging in your pack for a sweater but as temperatures fluctuate throughout the seasons, sometimes you need a little more of a buffer. The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho is that versatile addition to add to your pack and now that there is a version filled with down feathers this might be your next piece of gear you will grab on every trip.

The original Honcho Poncho is fantastic for wet climates as it is filled with eraLoft Polyester Hollow Fiber, but for all other areas, the addition of down is a welcome option. Filled with RDS-Certified 650-Fill Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, the whole garment weights only 0.53 kg/1lb 3oz) and packs up small enough within it’s own kangaroo pouch (32 cm x 24 cm/13 in x 9 in) that you could consider using it as a pillow.

Toss it over your head, flip up the insulated hood and zip up the front half-zip to protect you from the elements while using the three side snaps to keep the wind at bay. The 100% Recycled 20D Nylon shell is coated with DWR to still keep you dry from light rain, mist or snow. It drapes nicely over you to still allow a large range of motion when sitting in camp chairs, or kneeling down to start a fire or pump water. All the while the down holds enough heat around you to keep you warm.

Kudos to the side snaps on this jacket, which sure gives you more options to adapt to the temperature than your standard puffy jacket. Depending on how many you do up or leave undone, you have far better venting combinations.

I frequently used the kangaroo pocket during the evenings with it being the go-to spot to store my headlamp and a book to read (with ample room to spare). You can also slip your hands in from the ends of the pockets to protect your hands from the wind’s cold touch. At night I would undo the side snaps and lay it flat over my sleeping bag as an extra layer of comfort.

Having something to protect you from the cold and the elements all while packing so small (feel free to compress it even tighter in a stuff sack thanks to the squishable down) is a handy tool especially when it’s so light to begin with. If you suspect the temperatures to be a little wonky on your next trip, I’d highly recommend grabbing a Honcho Poncho.