[pct-l] Raingear: Parcho Questions

[Ken Marlow]

Thanks Steel-Eye, this helped-out a lot! The Parcho definately looks like a well thought-out piece of gear (thanks for turning me on to it). I switched to silnylon poncho and umbrella a few years ago, a great way to go in most conditions. The sleeves interior pocket and zipper of the Parcho really caught my eye as a great refinements of that system. Looks like I'll take the plunge and plan on breaking the sewing machine out!

 
On Mar 2, 2011, at 8:25 AM, CHUCK CHELIN wrote:

> Good morning, Ken,
> Greetings from the normally-rainy Pacific Northwest.  I regret the slow response to your Parcho question, but just as I was formulating a response we experienced a significant heavy, wet, snow event that caused my area to lose electrical power for most of a day. 
> 
> Here’s probably more than you want to know about my Bilgy Parcho:  Traditionally there’s a gear raffle at the annual American Long Distance Hiking Association – West (ALDHA-W) Gathering.  http://www.aldhawest.org/  Anyone can donate items for the raffle – members, vendors, etc. – and it’s a good opportunity for Gathering participants to buy tickets and score some good stuff.  The raffle rules may vary, but for several of the Gatherings the holder of the first ticket to be drawn got first choice of anything on the prize tables, with the second ticket choosing second, etc.  One year Bill Gurwell, AKA “Bigly”, a Triple-Crowner and gear innovator, very generously donated a Parcho to the raffle.  I spotted it right away, and kept my fingers crossed.  Fortunately, I had an early ticket selected so I immediately snapped it up. 
> 
> The Parcho that Bigly had at the Gathering was like a “floor sample” -- not the correct size for me -- so he measured my chassis while I was wearing an ultralite pack borrowed from one of the vendors to emulate my GoLite Breeze.  I totally relied upon his experience to provide the correct size, and a few weeks later my custom-built model arrived in the mail.  My only involvement in the project was after-the-fact application of seam sealer.  I couldn’t be happier.  If/when this one ever goes belly-up for some reason I will make or buy a replacement. 
> 
> There are some sizing attributes of the Parcho that contribute to its usefulness.  A good feature of the Parcho is the looseness that provides ventilation.   It is somewhere between poorly-ventilating fitted rain gear tops/bottoms, and a well-ventilated – but very floppy – poncho.  Contributing to this ventilation is the fact that the bottom side of the sleeve “arm pits” hang down approximately to wrist level. 
> 
> Specific to your posted question, my arms can freely move sideways and forward as far as I can reach while the “points” of the sleeve-ends continue to cover my gloved hands.  I can raise my arms sideways to about 5 degrees below horizontal with the slack in the sleeves, after which continued lifting of the arms easily raises the lower hem of the body a few inches without binding. 
> 
> Perhaps even more important to this sleeve configuration is the ease with which I may withdraw my arms from the sleeves and into the body of the Paracho.  This is every bit as easy as withdrawing arms inside a common poncho, but something not possible when wearing fitted rain gear tops/bottoms.  Adjacent to the Parcho’s front zipper are two very large – and valuable -- interior breast pockets; well protected from rain.  Once my hands/arms are inside the Parcho there is very easy – and dry – access to these pockets, as well as access to the small waist packet that contains my camera.  Items carried in the interior breast pockets are gloves, handkerchief, snacks, maps, etc. 
> 
> Another sizing-related feature is the space inside the body of the Parcho that allows me to be totally covered while sit on the ground, or on a rock or a stump, with my horizontal thighs or with my legs crossed.  
> 
> There are two features of the Parcho that I may not replicate if/when I make a replacement:  One is the adjusting Velcro taps on the back and sides of the hood.  They seem to work fine, but I’ve never found a need to use them.  Another feature is the small, lite, sewed-in stuff sack attached to the inside of the Parcho adjacent to the left-hand breast pocket.  It works fine, but in practice I just stuff the Parcho into one of the breast pockets instead.  This makes a larger, but more compliant and more easily packed, module. 
> 
> Stay dry,
> 
> Steel-Eye
> Hiking the Pct since before it was the PCT – 1965
> http://www.trailjournals.com/steel-eye
> http://www.trailjournals.com/SteelEye09