Liteway Poncho Simplex — Ultralight Rain Poncho & Tarp

The Liteway Poncho Simplex is two pieces of gear in one: a full-coverage rain poncho on the trail and a flat tarp shelter at camp. For thru-hikers and bikepackers who weigh every item twice, that's a real win — one 225 g piece replaces both your rain shell and your tarp, freeing up meaningful pack space and weight. 

Why the Poncho Simplex works in Canadian conditions

One item, two jobs — rain protection on the move, shelter at camp, for a genuine drop in pack weight and volume.

Covers your pack — longer back panel keeps your backpack dry without a separate cover.Wind-secure fit — side loops plus an elastic fastex belt stop the poncho from blowing open in gusts.

Adjustable hood — dial in coverage for driving wet-coast rain.

Catenary cut — holds a taut pitch even when the fly sags from rain or heavy dew, so less re-tensioning overnight.

UHMWPE (Dyneema) guy lines — minimal weight, low stretch.

Seamless tarp body — the main panel is a single piece of fabric, so the tarp itself has no seams to leak (the hood does have one — see below).

Using it as a poncho

1.Pull it on over your head like a pullover.

2.Wrap the longer back panel around yourself and your pack.

3.Secure it with the elastic fastex belt.

3.Adjust the hood for fit and coverage.

Specifications

Use: Rain poncho + flat tarp shelter (1 person)

Fabric: 1.1 oz Levitex Silpoly 20D ripstop, 2000 mm waterproof rating

Weight: 225 g (290 g with guy lines and stuff sack)

Size: 272 × 144 cm — coverage area approx. 3.8 m²

Packed size: approx. 8 × 9 × 15 cm

Attachment points: 8 loops with linelocs, plus 2 poncho attachment points

Guy lines: UHMWPE — 4 × 1.5 m, 4 × 0.75 m

Compatible with: Simplex Mini Tarp footprint / Simplex Mesh 1P inner

Includes: Poncho Simplex, UHMWPE guy lines, 1 elastic cord with fastex, Silpoly stuff sack

Seam sealing

The tarp body is one continuous piece of fabric, so it has no seams to seal. The hood does have a seam, and it ships un-sealed to save weight. For sustained or heavy rain, we recommend sealing the hood seam with a silicone-based sealant — Gear Aid Seam Grip +SIL (formerly McNett Silnet) is the standard choice and is stocked widely across Canada. It's an easy at-home job.