The 10 Best Rain Ponchos
This wiki has been updated 26 times since it was first published in April of 2018. Whether you're planning for a music festival, a camping expedition, or any other outdoor activity, it is always a good idea to have rain gear on hand in case the weather turns bad. With options suitable for wilderness backpackers, schoolchildren, and families, these ponchos can help you prepare for the worst without taking up a lot of space or costing you a ton of money. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Charles River Apparel Pacific
2. Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2
3. Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano
Editor's Notes
April 23, 2020:
A poncho can be a convenient tool for getting out of the rain, and many people jump right to models like the Coleman Adult EVA as soon as they hear the word. That's definitely a worthwhile purchase, although probably not the longest-lasting choice. A clear upgrade in the same price range is the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2, which is lightweight and simple and strong and doesn't get as clammy or uncomfortable as many others do thanks to the special fabric it's made from. Speaking of fabric, the Charles River Apparel Pacific feels, to many, every bit as premium as the Frogg Toggs and even just a little more heavy-duty. That level of construction, plus its the Frogg Toggs' apparently less-than-ideal quality control, led to the Charles River taking the top slot.
If you're not specifically planning on using them multiple times, the Clear Harbour Just in Case and S.O.L. Heat Reflective are worth a look. They're both reasonably priced, so its no big deal if they don't make it through more than a use or two. Depending on what you're up to and where you're storing them, their especially small packed sizes can make them a real blessing. We wouldn't, however, recommend either for repeated use, or for hiking through the wilderness.
For that, we'd recommend the Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano and M-Tac Military as lightweight and rugged all-purpose solutions, respectively, while the Snugpak Patrol has actual sleeves that provide a little added tactical edge. The Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape goes in the other direction, allowing you to essentially wear your ultralight backpacking tent as a poncho and backpack cover for as long as it takes to escape or wait out the rain.
Special Honors
ZPacks Groundsheet Ponchos Most function as protection from the heavens both day and night, but this interesting design from an innovator in ultralight backpacking gear delivers technologically driven performance that separates your body from the ground and maximizes warmth, dryness, and comfort levels. zpacks.com
Canada Goose Field Poncho This is an extremely well-made piece of outwear, making good use of advanced fabrics and high-quality construction methods to ensure a luxurious and long-lasting garment. The only real issue with this one is that will cost you quite a bit of cash. canadagoose.com
4. M-Tac Military
5. Snugpak Patrol
6. Adventure World Globotrekker
7. Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
8. Coleman Adult EVA
9. S.O.L. Heat Reflective
10. Clear Harbour Just in Case
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.