Waterproofing yourself and your gear is a huge part of perfecting your packing list, and ponchos can be a good solution for both. The best rain ponchos for backpacking can keep you dry in inclement weather and are lightweight enough to carry with you at other times (think: 9 ounces or less). Ultimately, the material a poncho is constructed with will determine just how durable, waterproof, and heavy it is, with plastic sheets or woven fabrics being the most common options. You’ll also want to consider what you want to cover, whether that’s just you, your pack, or even the ground.
While there is some variation across brands and materials, when it comes to woven fabric ponchos that have been specially treated, the waterproof level is often measured in millimeters. The higher the number, the more waterproof the material will be, but anything with a rating above 1,500 millimeters should be able to keep you nice and dry under most conditions.
