Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Review | CleverHiker

Bottom Line

Boasting a 3-in-1 design, the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho is the most versatile blanket in our test – serving as a throw blanket when fully unbuttoned, a wearable poncho, and a camp pillow. It stuffs back into its own zippered pocket in the shape of a pillow, making it convenient and packable for the trail. As a poncho, it offers a hood, 2 hand pockets, and complete coverage for unparalleled warmth. The Honcho Poncho was the warmest blanket we tested!

While it is convenient to wear the blanket, it is not the most attractive fit and creates a “cone-head” shape with the hood. However, if you prioritize warmth and comfort over style, then the Honcho Poncho is the perfect fit for men or women.

Furthermore, Therm-a-Rest uses durable and lightweight material that allowed the Honcho Poncho to excel at withstanding various environmental conditions, debris and moisture. Its low weight makes for easy carrying and convenience. The synthetic material is not noisy or loud when walking, which makes for a pleasant experience when taking out on the trail.

For a blanket that can do it all at one price, it is an excellent pick for all your future adventures! To see how the Honcho Poncho’s unique design and high-performance ratings compare to our other favorites, see our best camping blankets gear guide.

How We Tested

In the field, we tested this blanket during the winter months in Northern California, most notably testing its packability and performance as a pillow, throw blanket, and wearable poncho while out in the redwoods and on the coastal bluffs of Northern California.

We got the blanket wet and dirty to compare its water resistance and ability to shed debris. When back from the field, we completed a standardized warmth test where we wrapped the blanket around a heated hot sock for 30 min to track the loss of heat over time and rank its insulating properties.

Durability

The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Blanket boasts excellent durability with better water resistance than most other puffy blankets we tested. It is made of a thick snag-free and quality material that does require special care. It is recommended to hand wash or machine wash in a gentle cycle.

When we ooured water over the Honcho Poncho, it surprised us with its water resistance. While water beaded and rolled off the material immediately like it did with all of the puffy synthetic blankets, moisture didn’t soak into the Honcho Poncho with longer exposure and dried faster than others we tested.

During our shake test, where we covered the Honcho Poncho with a cup of debris in the redwood forest, we found that it shed easily off the material, leaving no snags, dirt stains, or debris stuck in the fabric.

Warmth

The Honcho Poncho ranked as the warmest blanket in our test!

In addition to experiencing the toasty warmth of the blanket in the field, we completed a standardized and controlled test, where we wrapped the blanket around a heated hot sock (136F) for 30 minutes in a 60F room. We then took the final temperature with an infrared thermometer and determined the amount of heat loss that the hot sock experienced to quantify the insulating ability of each blanket.

The heat sock in the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho had a minute difference of 0.4 degrees. 

With its plush and ample coverage, the Honcho Poncho offers immediate warmth when worn as a poncho. Its EraLoft polyester insulation works wonders at trapping body heat, while the dark color scheme absorbs heat from the sun to contribute to its warmth in the field.

Size to Packability

At 79” x 56” and just under 2 pounds, the Honcho Poncho offers excellent coverage, which contributes to its high warmth and insulation. It conveniently and easily packs up into its own zippered pocket in the shape of a pillow, perfect for backcountry or frontcountry camping.

It is not the most packable blanket at 11” x 17” for a packed size. Still, the material can be fully stuffed into a backpack, allowing it to take up slightly less space than the measured dimensions.

As a pillow, the Honcho Poncho is the traditional camping pillow size, smaller than what you would use at home but large enough for adequate support in the tent. 

As a blanket, it offers plenty of coverage to fully wrap around and trap in body heat.

Finally, as a poncho, the Honcho Poncho performs its best, hitting just above the knees and boasting large and roomy sleeves that fully cover the arms. Its hood is large and can accommodate a hat or even a helmet to fit underneath it.

Comfort

The synthetic puffy material of the Honcho Poncho is soft, plush, and cozy. When wearing the poncho, it doesn’t make any crinkly noises when walking like some other materials we tested.

As a pillow, the Honcho Poncho provides decent support for the neck, while as a throw blanket, it offers a comfy, warm, and durable layer. Yet, wearing it as a poncho provides the ultimate comfort with its attached hood and two hand pockets.

However, due to the large hood, it does create a “cone-head” shape, giving wearers a gnome-like look. Overall, the fit of the Honcho Poncho is not very attractive or stylish. However, we still highly recommend this blanket for those who prioritize comfort and warmth over fashion.

Features

With its 3-in-1 design, the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho ranks as the most versatile blanket that we tested.

Its carry case is a creative and functional design, as it packs down into a zippered pocket in the shape of a camping pillow. Stuffing the blanket back into its attached pocket is easy and doesn’t require any rolling or folding beforehand. This makes it one of the most efficient stuff sacks in our test, as we found that most of the blankets need to be rolled up to fit easily into their associated carry bag. Although the Honcho Poncho has an ideal stuff sack, it does not include any handles, so is best carried in a backpack. 

When fully unbuttoned, the hood of the poncho can be tucked away and the blanket lays out flat, allowing users to take advantage of the full dimensions of the blanket for warmth. The buttons are easy to snap and unsnap, making it a simple and easy transformation. 

When buttoned and worn as a poncho, there is an attached hood, two separate hand pockets and one main zippered pocket on the very front of the poncho. Therm-a-Rest packed in as many features as they could into this one single product.

Should You Buy the Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho Camping Blanket?

The Therm-a-Rest Honcho Poncho is made of plush, durable material, ranking as the warmest blanket we tested. With its versatile 3-in-1 design, it is an excellent pick for those looking for a multi-functional blanket who value comfort, durability and warmth over style and fashion. Those who prefer blankets that can be worn hands-free will fully appreciate the performance and convenience of the poncho style. We highly recommend this blanket for everything from camping trips to chilly hiking adventures. 

If you are bothered by the awkward fit of the Honcho Poncho, we suggest you peruse the other recommendations in our gear guide. If you are interested in a blanket that can also serve as a ground mat, we suggest you explore our gear guide for our reviews of the best ground blankets.

What Other Camping Blankets Should You Consider?

While we really love the Honcho Poncho, there’s a few others that are similarly great. Head over to CleverHiker’s best camping blankets gear guide for a complete comparison of the best of the best.

Horizon Hound Trek Review: The Horizon Hound Trek offers a budget-friendly price and a slightly more packable blanket option for similar (slightly less) warmth than the Honcho Poncho. It can be worn as a cape hands-free, however it lacks the additional features of the poncho. Both require more gentle care when washing.

Rumpl Original Puffy Review: The Rumpl Original Puffy comes at a slightly lower price with reduced packability and slightly less warmth than the Honcho Poncho. It offers a cape-clip option but lacks the versatility of the poncho.

REI Camp Blanket Reivew: Take a peek at the REI Camp Blanket, a slightly lower-priced option than the Honcho Poncho. The REI Camp comes in a similarly user-friendly and packable stuff sack, yet lacks any cape-clip option and the same level of warmth as the Honcho Poncho.