An umbrella covers most rainy moments on a trip, but not all of them. On a boat, a zip line, a crowded tour or a trail, you need both hands. Your backpack gets wet from behind. Your phone lives in a pocket that isn't waterproof. A few small, cheap items fill those gaps.
Pack list
A poncho folds flat, covers you and your backpack, and needs no hands.
A backpack rain cover stretches over the whole pack. Covers come in sizes; check the capacity range against your bag.
A waterproof phone pouch for water activities and downpours. Check the pouch maker's stated waterproof rating and test it with a tissue inside before trusting it with your phone.
Your umbrella, for everything else. Start with our travel umbrella guide.
The picks
Hands-free backup
Hagon PRO Disposable Rain Ponchos
Disposable ponchos that fold small enough for a jacket pocket. Good for theme park rides, boat tours and sudden storms. Hagon PRO has no maker page we could check.
Backpack cover
LAMA Backpack Rain Cover
A stretch rain cover with an elastic edge that goes over a daypack. We couldn't find a LAMA page with specs; match the listed size range to your pack.
Phone pouch
Hiearcool Waterproof Phone Pouch
A clear pouch on a lanyard for keeping a phone dry around water. No maker page with specs we could confirm, so check the listing's waterproof rating and your phone size.
Questions people ask
Do I need a poncho if I have an umbrella?
For city walking, not really. For anything where you need both hands, yes.
What size backpack cover do I need?
Match the cover's stated capacity range to your pack's capacity, and choose the next size up if your pack is overstuffed.
Are phone pouches safe for swimming?
Only if the pouch's maker rates it for submersion, and even then, test it first. Don't rely on one for anything you can't afford to lose.
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