A rain poncho keeps you, your clothes and your pack dry when you leave on foot in an evacuation or walk home in bad weather. Staying dry holds off chill and hypothermia, and the poncho can double as a ground cloth or quick tarp shelter.
A rain poncho keeps you and your pack dry on a long walk out. Pick one built for hours of walking in steady rain.
- Fit over a pack: Choose a size that covers you and a loaded backpack, and pack a child-sized poncho for each kid.
- Durability: Look for reusable ripstop nylon or heavy PVC, since thin disposable film tears on the first branch.
- Hood and closures: Pick an adjustable drawstring hood and snap sides that close the gaps around your arms.
- Grommets: Choose corner grommets so the poncho doubles as a tarp shelter or ground cloth.
- Packed size: Fold it into a stuff sack small enough to ride in an outer pocket where you can grab it fast.
- Color: Pick a bright color for a family evacuation so you stay visible to each other and to rescuers.
