Buy Rain Poncho

My husband wears an XXL in the Columbia Watertight II Jacket, and he often comments positively on the cut and the coverage: He says the shape is great because he can wear it unzipped, and the hood will do its job without getting in his face. With other rain jackets, he has to be fastened all the way up to get the hood to function properly.

buy rain poncho

I tried all 21 coats in the rain and also ran dribbles of water down the sleeves over a sink to see how the water beaded and repelled from each one. I hung the coats on hangers to see if they looked wet or dripped excessively while air-drying. I also washed and dried the coats three times, checking for shrinkage, damage, or changes to their water repellency. I found that most of the coats barely shrank (some even stretched out a bit), and all of them completely maintained their water resistance.

We also noticed that the Disney poncho was great to wear with a backpack underneath. The poncho helped keep our backpack fully dry (without ripping, might we add) as opposed to wearing a raincoat or carrying an umbrella.

Most people would quickly make their way over to their next destination or take cover from the rain, instead of standing in it. So, you may not end up as wet as we did if you take cover appropriately. ?

Once the ponchos come out, you become invisible. 99% of the crowd are dressed exactly aline in Disney ponchos. Forget trying to identify your party based on the clothing they were wearing pre rainstorm. This is where a poncho bought anywhere else but Disney sets you apart and easy to identify by your party.

I bought Disney ponchos when they were yellow about 15 years ago. They are shockingly still quite usable. They may very well be the best purchase I have ever made in the parks. Folding them vertically and then rolling them tightly, like packing a tent, makes them quite compact.

One important step not mentioned is to bring dry socks or shoes to change into once the rain stops. The top of you may be dry but it sucks to slosh around the parks with soaking wet shoes that will never dry before you leave for the day.

We just gave away a couple of yellow Disney/Mickey ponchos we got probably 10 years ago. Used them for 3 or 4 week long trips. Carried them rolled up in large zip lock bags. Might be one of those things that use to be better made.

Want to really geek out on rainwear? For an in-depth look at the complicated science of fabric technology, check out our Rainwear: How it Works page. The fabric care section there is definitely worth a read because every jacket needs regular maintenance to keep on keeping you dry.

A step beyond rainwear, this design combines a rain jacket with a fleece jacket or an insulated shell. The inner component typically zips into the rain jacket, offering you the option of wearing either piece on its own.

Soft shell: The classic version integrates an insulating layer with a water-resistant shell. The goal is to have a single piece serving as both midlayer and outer layer. The tradeoff is greater breathability for lesser protection from rain, wind and cold. Soft shells are best for high-exertion activities, where perspiration is the greater concern.

No coatings are used here, just a membrane tightly sandwiched between a rugged face fabric and a liner. Generally, the most durable and breathable construction, 3-layer designs are used in rainwear intended for the harshest backcountry environments. These jackets will also command a premium price.

While the technology in the fabric is the biggest factor in the cost of rainwear, construction details also play a role. Jackets with a robust feature set will reflect that in their price. Weight is also affected, so you might see a jacket with a top-tier fabric but few extra features, especially pockets, if ultralight design is the goal.

Because even the most breathable rainwear can get overwhelmed during strenuous activity, almost all backcountry rainwear has pit zips (underarm vents). Some jackets go a step further, having mesh liners in torso pockets that can double as additional vents.

In addition to the hood adjusters noted above, jackets often have a drawcord at the bottom hem. Longer jackets might have a drawcord at the waist. Most technical rainwear will have wrist closures that adjust. All of these adjustments let you create tight closures to keep rain, wind and cold from sneaking into the openings of your jacket. The adjustments can also be loosened to increase overall jacket ventilation.

Bridging the gap between rain jackets and pack covers, rain ponchos leave no seam uncovered when it comes to foul weather. The best rain ponchos are the Swiss Army knives of precipitation protection. Keeping you and your gear dry from head to mid-thigh is reason enough to consider purchasing a poncho, and the fact that many can double as a shelter only sweetens the deal.

The Cedar Tree Packa is the most engineered poncho on this list and really aims to replace your rain jacket. The Packa is made to go over your pack, and then, without taking off anything, expand into a poncho that covers your arms, chest, and torso down to mid-thigh. This alone makes it over and above other ponchos, because the main issue with the poncho is how awkward it is to cover yourself AND your pack.

Then, when you get to camp, use your own trekking pole (not included) to set up a very simple shelter. The shelter has a zippered entrance, a floating canopy, an adjustable vestibule height for rain protection, and requires only six stakes. This poncho/tent is kind of ridiculous in its simple ingenuity, and it serves as an excellent emergency piece of kit. You do need to seam seal it, or pay for that, which increases the cost to $155.

Replace your rain jacket, tent, and pack cover with the ultralight Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape. Weighing 10 ounces and packing down to the size of an orange, this do-it-all rain poncho is like a rainy day Transformer.

The Sierra Designs Poncho has all the functional elements of a solid poncho, making it perhaps the most fully waterproof on this list. A full zippered front with storm flaps gives it a rain jacket edge, and it has a lot of snaps to adjust the length, yet is quite oversized so you can get full coverage if needed.

The fabric is only 2-layer, so breathability is not its strong suit, but it is 80D polyester, which is quite durable and will keep rain fully out. That plus the adjustable 3-piece hood and waterproof taped seams make it an easy choice. And you can use it as a tarp with the grommeted corners!

Canada Goose uses a 3-layer custom fabric called TEI, which is lightweight yet keeps water out easily. With sealed seams, one zippered pocket, snap-adjustable sleeves, and a fully adjustable hood, this thing will keep water out. And there are three internal pockets for further organization. We realize this poncho works for a fairly small group of people, but believe it deserves a place on this list as both stylish and highly functional.

This is where the far-reaching rain protection of ponchos leaves jackets in the mud. Beyond protecting you and your backpack from bad weather while hiking, the higher-quality ponchos can be converted into shelters with the help of a few tent stakes and a trekking pole.

Hi Janet! I wanted a second military poncho to match the one issued to me 15 years ago. There are a lot of knock-offs out there. The real one, from my experience, is made by Orc Industries. The best place to find them now are surplus stores. I got my second one from armynavyoutdoors.com. Good luck!

Kids love playing in the rain, but getting wet can lead to colds and coughs. You can protect your little one from the cold by covering them in a rain poncho. This will allow them to jump into puddles and have a great time.

Rain ponchos are also available in cute colors and patterns that your child will love. On the plus side, rain play is great for young kids, so these ponchos will keep your kids protected while they play.

Unlike rain jackets that are often too heavy, a rain poncho is more convenient and easier to wear. You can find them in disposable options as well, so you can easily discard them after use. Most disposable ponchos come in pocket-sized packaging.

This is another great set of disposable rain ponchos that can come in handy when you have company. You can choose from either a 5 or 10 pack of rain ponchos, enough to last you for a while. The best thing about these rain ponchos is that they are fifty times thicker than regular plastic ponchos.

A: Most rain ponchos are made of quick-drying material, but if you want to dry yours even quicker, you can give it a quick wipe with a tissue or a rag. This will wipe away any wetness and allow you to store away your poncho without making a mess.

A: Yes, they will still work, although it might not be as comfortable to wear them. Since a lot of disposable plastic is on the thinner side, the wind may make them flap around. If you have a thicker reusable poncho, you might not have to deal with this problem.

A: If you want your rain poncho to protect you and keep you warm at the same time, get one made from sil-poly or sil-nylon material. These are durable, heat-resistant, and affordable materials that can withstand extensive use.

Last year I had several rainy days in Rome a few weeks after you'll be there. I had brought a couple of those cheap plastic ponchos, and I also saw lots of guys selling them on the street, along with umbrellas, whenever it rained. That was in Rome. I think you'd be wise to bring something for rain in October, especially in smaller cities or rural places where vendors might not appear instantly on the streets.

Why not just bring a small umbrella that you use at home already, or a light thin raincoat or windbreaker with a hood? I've never found a cheap poncho to be particularly helpful when I most needed it (rainwater gets right in) and it's more plastic waste I don't want to contribute to. 041b061a72