A poncho can be extremely useful for many occasions: hiking, everyday use, festivals… The best part is they can be really cheap. However, price isn’t everything. Nothing is worse than ending up completely wet because your poncho malfunctions or gets damaged. Therefore, I did the research in order to create a list with solid cheap ponchos for every type of activity.
Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2
The overall winner
The Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite 2 is the first option you should consider when looking for a cheap poncho.
They do what they are designed to do for a very affordable price. Other ponchos with a similar price usually tend to leak or don’t last too long. The Frogg Toggs, however, scores impressive results.
You might be looking for a disposable poncho. However, a poncho like the Frogg Toggs tends to be more budget-friendly after x amount of uses. Also, they are more durable and more breathable.
It’s a one-size fits most model that’s large enough for most people + an average-size (50L) backpack.
It’s a good option for everyday use, festivals and outdoor activities like hiking. However, if you intend to use this jacket on trails where your jacket might get in contact with rocks or branches, you might consider a more durable alternative. The Frogg Toggs is a solid product, but it’s not really a poncho that’s made for extreme outdoor adventures. That said, if you want a more durable product, you will find a more expensive price tag on it.
Interested in this poncho? Feel free to check it out on amazon: Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2
Hagon Pro disposable
The disposable option
There are many reasons why a non-disposable is a better option than a disposable one. However, a disposable one will always be cheaper and might be the right choice for certain activities.
If you do decide that a disposable poncho is best for you, you can’t go wrong with the Hagon Pro Disposable. They come in a bag of 5 ponchos and are cheaper than similar quality alternatives.
The Hagon Pro disposable can be used for festivals and everyday use. However, keep in mind that on a festival a disposable poncho can also get damaged really easily. Personally, I would still prefer a non-disposable one.
Once you consider activities like hiking, the Frogg Totts would be the better option because it’s more breathable and durable.
Interested in this poncho? Feel free to check it out on amazon: Hagon Pro disposable
Anyoo
For you and your (large) backpack
The Anyoo is a solid competitor for the Frogg Totts. The Anyoo is (at the time of writng) a little bit more expensive (but it’s a small difference). However, they do perform as good as the Frogg Totts.
You can’t go wrong with either one as a cheap poncho. However, there is one specific reason why the Anyoo might be the better option for you: it’s really big. Especially for large males with a large backpack (+70L) the Anyoo might be a better fit than the Frogg Totts.
Also, if you can’t order the Frogg Totts (for whatever reason), the Anyoo makes a great alternative.
Interested in this poncho? Feel free to check it out on amazon: Anyoo
Snugpack patrol
The higher quality option
The snugpack patrol is a poncho that is a lot more expensive than the previous options on the list.
However, most higher quality ponchos tend to be even more expensive. This poncho is still a budget option within the higher quality section. That’s why it made the list.
So what are you buying for this increased price? In short, a better overall poncho.
This is the one to get if you expect to meet a lot of extremely bad weather.
It has been tested in very bad conditions and it turns out that it does keep you dry in extreme circumstances.
The only problem in these conditions -but this is typical for a poncho- is that if the wind gets underneath the poncho, it just wants to fly away.
I found a nice video where you can actually see the poncho in action.
Is it worth the additional money for everyday use or festivals in milder conditions? Probably not.
Interested in this poncho? Feel free to check it out on amazon: Snugpack patrol
What’s important for a poncho
In order to select a list with the best cheap ponchos, I considered a couple factors.
The most important factors are of-course price and waterproofness, but there are more factors to consider.
The selection is based on:
- Waterproofness
- Price
- Durability
- Toughness
- Breathability
- Weight
I always mention that durability is a very important factor when you care about your budget. Buying a cheaper alternative that breaks after 2 uses, it ends up being a lot more expensive than the spending a bit more on a very durable/tough product.
The toughness is mainly important for certain outdoors activities like hiking on a more challenging trail. However, even on a festival a low quality poncho can get easily damaged.
Conclusion
When you are on a budget, a poncho is usually the better option than a waterproof jacket to keep you dry during heavy rainfall.
There are a ton of options out there. However, many of them are not worth a lot more than a trashbag with holes in it. But some of them are surprisingly good value for money.
For most people the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 seems to be the best option.
If there are promotions online, the anyoo might end up being the cheaper option (in which case, it would be my number 1 pick). The best place to compare and check prices is amazon.
I did include a cheap disposable poncho for those of you who are specifically looking for a disposable one. However, for most people I would recommend to go with a more durable option.
If you would intend to use the poncho in sports-like situations, consider siwtching to a poncho. However, for mild hikes or other mild outdoor activities, everyday use and festivals, going with a poncho is definitely a good option!