Best ponchos for rain?

[Puffy2]

I purchased some dollar store ponchos...but I'm wondering if this will be good enough. Are the ponchos sold at disney better? How much?

 

[wddub2015]

I used disposable ponchos in travel packages that I had bought off of Amazon before our trip in the spring. They weren't anything we would be able to use multiple times, but did the trick just fine for a day in heavy rain. The ponchos you can buy at Disney looked to be much, much thicker and I'm sure stronger. I don't remember how much they cost, but it was much more than my cheap-o travel variety.

 

[jec6613]

The best poncho is the one you have with you when it starts to rain, not the one you buy once it's already started.

In all honesty, I bought an $180 poncho many (20?) years ago, and use it to this day - but not anymore at WDW, I got a jacket instead. Just remember that the thickness of the material doesn't necessarily translate to a sturdier poncho - the abrasion and tear resistance of the material does. I'd expect WDW ones to be among the best of the disposable kinds just because that's how WDW works, but my Gore-Tex model is thinner than they are.

 

[Debbie7452]

I got the Amazon disposable ones recommended here on the boards. They were really thin and so lightweight that they flapped around with any breeze(the hood wouldn't stay up). They didn't keep us very dry. My family was not impressed. They were better than nothing I guess. It didn't help us that it was very rainy during our visit. Except for our waterpark day, go figure!

 

[wininbid]

I bought some of the small $1 ponchos to carry because they were so compact. The first time we needed them, they were pretty weak. OK for the kids, but doesn't cover much for adults. We bought the ones from Disney that same year, and kept them for future trips. They are not real expensive, I want to say they were $8 or $9 when we bought them several years ago.

 

[NYCANC]

Dicks Sports has some decent ones for $5. Adult and youth size. I decided on the cheapy ones from Target (Coleman Emergency) just because I want to use it and throw it away. I don't want to have to worry about putting it back in my small backpack and taking up space. It's more for my kids than my DH and I.

 

[ChadInOKC]

I bought my wife and I some of the Frogg Togg ponchos at Walmart like these. I have used it several times and after drying out, you can put it back in the carrying pouch. They are the best I have found for the money.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Frogg-Toggs-Adult-Ultra-Lite2-Poncho/23554911

 

[bluezy]

I find the $1 ones to be good for Kali River Rapids and quick showers...maybe up to an hour or two of rain. If it's going to be an all day event, I prefer the Disney ponchos (or at least something more durable than the $1 ones). I think the Disney ones run about $10-11 each and you can get them replaced for free if they tear. The $1 ones tend to just cling to your skin and make you hot -- which I can tolerate for a little while. The Disney ones had more structure to them and didn't cling so I didn't feel as hot when we wore them every day for hours on end during one of our trips. I might consider buying some of those Frogg Togg ponchos at Walmart just to try out.

 

[ChadInOKC]

The frogg togg's are more like a cloth coated with some kind of rubbery stuff. They are pretty comfortable IMO.

 

[disnut8]

The Disney ponchos are the best because of the thickness and durability (you can take them home and wash them in the delicate cycle). However, that makes the Disney ponchos a bit heavier to carry around with you. But, we still have our Disney yellow ponchos from way back when those were still offered and they are going strong.

We have also used the cheaper dollar store ponchos since we can cram those into a pocket for a day when rain "might happen" and usually doesn't. But, we keep those or take them home to be recycled.

For a true storm, Disney ponchos. For a light rain, the cheaper ones.

 

[disnut8]

Forgot to add. For the "flying away" of the cheaper ponchos, pack a few binder clips and attach to the appropriate places where needed.

 

[nkereina]

The dollar store ponchos might be fine for a drizzle, but for any kind of Florida type shower, you'll want something more. Dollar store ponchos hit me at the waist (I'm 5'7"), they are sleeveless, and the hood does not stay up if you have hair. Keeps sliding off.

I did buy good quality Coleman ponchos for $5 each at Big Lots one year. Much better quality, but we hate carrying a bag so we didn't have them on us when it did start to rain. We ended up just buying the Disney ponchos which were something like $7, but the same good quality. Going forward, we will just buy the Disney ponchos when/if it starts to rain and use those. They will also replace it for free if it rips.

 

[Hootch]

We buy the inexpensive ponchos at Target. I think they are the Coleman brand. We carry those in our backpack every day. We are usually there in the summer when afternoon rains. We also bring rain jackets. If heavy and prolong rains are expected we use those.

 

[Polyonmymind]

Ikea's Knalla Poncho's are great. Compact as they fold into their own pocket. $6.00 price range

 

[bjck99]

The Disney ponchos are the best because of the thickness and durability (you can take them home and wash them in the delicate cycle). However, that makes the Disney ponchos a bit heavier to carry around with you. But, we still have our Disney yellow ponchos from way back when those were still offered and they are going strong.

We have also used the cheaper dollar store ponchos since we can cram those into a pocket for a day when rain "might happen" and usually doesn't. But, we keep those or take them home to be recycled.

For a true storm, Disney ponchos. For a light rain, the cheaper ones.

Agree with this 100%. Still have our Disney ponchos from about 10 years ago, and going with us in a couple of days for our trip.

 

[DonoMoose]

My experience with both: Dollar store are definitely annoying when it comes to those hard rain pours! I do have a few of the park ones and they have lasted me years, bought a new one 2 years ago and planning on buying one more, I feel they are much thicker and can take a better punch! As others have posted those dollar store ones are good for sprinklings like one wet rides! Have fun and stay dry!

 

[Mom2Stitch]

Ikea's Knalla Poncho's are great. Compact as they fold into their own pocket. $6.00 price range

I've considered these-I have a couple of questions-how easy is it to get back in the pocket? And how big is it folded up?

 

[Moonwolf]

We got the mid-level priced ponchos from Wal-mart/Target (~$5 each). They were sturdy enough to keep the rain out and we were able to shake the water off and put them in out bag to reuse on multiple days. And the price wasn't so high that we had any problems trashing them once they started to smell a little funny.

 

[Jess_S]

DH and I have rain suits I bought at Target that we use for all our travel including camping. (I believe they are Coleman brand). For a trip like Disney, we bring just the jackets. Disney ponchos are actually pretty decent quality though. My parents still have Disney ponchos from our 1995 trip that are in fine condition (i.e. no holes).

 

[minnie mum]

We use the Disney ponchos. Sturdier, reusable, and they've lasted through many trips. I hate the disposables with a passion- you get what you pay for. They're about as durable as a drycleaner bag, and cling to your skin like one, too.