Rain ponchos

Poncho or rain jacket?

The poncho covers the backpack and goes on over your clothes in seconds; it lets air in from below, so you sweat less. The jacket holds up better in the wind and doesn’t get in the way of your arms.

On a bike

Choose a poncho made for cycling, with hand loops or a short cut at the back. A long, loose poncho can get caught in the wheel.

The water column

This measures the fabric’s waterproofing: 1 500 mm is enough for a shower, 3 000 mm withstands sustained rain.

Storing it

A poncho packs into its pouch, but never when wet: let it dry flat, otherwise the coating peels off.