Montbell's Hidden Gem: The "Trekking Rain Poncho" Is a High-Spec Rain Gear You'll Want to Use for Your Commute, Music Festivals, & More

You can wear it over your backpack. Its great ventilation prevents stuffiness, and since you don’t need an umbrella, your hands stay free. For mountain lovers, a poncho is an incredibly practical piece of rain gear.

However, Montbell's "Trekking Rain Poncho" is a serious outdoor gadget, but it’s also gaining strong support among people living in the city.

Once you try it, you’ll understand why. It performs at a high level not just outdoors but also in daily commuting and at music festivals.

A Montbell must-have known to insiders. Let's dive into its real capabilities with PR representative Tetsushi Hosako.

Ponchos trace their roots back to the traditional dress of Central and South American people.

They were originally a type of garment called a "Kantoi" (pullover robe) made by cutting a hole in the center of a square piece of cloth and slipping it over the head. Crafted from materials like alpaca wool for warmth and wind protection, in modern times, ponchos are also widely used as outdoor rainwear.

"The key reason why trekkers continue to love ponchos is how easy they are to put on.

Rainwear that separates into tops and bottoms offers high waterproofness but is time-consuming to put on. By contrast, you can slip on a poncho even with a backpack, simply by pulling it over your head."

Montbell, founded in 1975, launched its first poncho, the "Hypalon Poncho," in 1980.

"Hypalon is a polyethylene-based synthetic rubber developed by DuPont in the US. It’s highly weather-resistant, and also strong against oxidation and degradation. Montbell achieved waterproofing by coating nylon fabric with Hypalon."

The current "Trekking Rain Poncho" model debuted in 2022.

"Through multiple redesigns, the poncho reached its present form. The current version uses 40-denier ripstop nylon for its excellent tear strength, and features Montbell’s original Hydro Pro® 2-layer waterproof coating made of high water-resistant polyurethane resin.

The seams are all taped to reinforce water resistance and improve peel strength. Another highlight is that its performance remains consistent even after repeated washing."

Water pressure resistance is a value indicating how much water pressure a fabric can withstand. It's a key metric in choosing rainwear, and this poncho boasts water resistance of 5,000mm.

"For typical rainfall, a water pressure resistance of 500 to 1,500mm is enough to prevent penetration."

Not only rain: the pressure on rainwear varies with movement as well. For a 75kg person sitting on a wet surface, about 2,000mm of pressure is applied.

This poncho, then, can withstand not only rainy walks in the field but also sitting on wet ground.

"If there’s a drawback to Hydro Pro® 2-layer, it’s that it lacks breathability. However, because ponchos are designed for excellent ventilation, they efficiently release humidity from inside."

Montbell Know-How Shines in Every Functional Detail

Next, let's check out the design and details.

"During hikes and treks, rain can strike unexpectedly. That's why we've made it so you can put this poncho on smoothly, even with a backpack.

As in the photo above, the hemline is cut longer at the back than at the front, so you can wear it over your backpack without restricting your movement."

The hood design shows thoughtful attention.

"Around the face is a spot where water tends to seep in. So, we adopted a snug-fitting dual-axle hood.

The drawcord lets you adjust both the fit around your face and the depth, and the rear Velcro strap lets you fine-tune the brim height as well.

A better fit not only blocks water but also keeps your field of view clear."

When not using the hood, it's best to store it using the loop and Velcro on the back of the collar. This helps prevent flapping in the wind and keeps water from seeping inside.

"Some people prefer to wear a waterproof cap or hat rather than the hood in the rain, so we've designed it so that those who don't need the hood can tuck it away."

Just like other Montbell outerwear, this poncho is easily packable for convenient transport—something you shouldn't overlook.

"You can carry it in the included stuff sack. Since we use lightweight ripstop nylon as the base fabric, we were also able to keep the weight down to 295g."

From the Mountains to the City—One Poncho for a Wide Range of Situations

Originally made with trekking in mind, the poncho's potential uses have grown recently.

"Many customers mention they use it for their daily commute. People appreciate that it keeps both their clothing and backpack drier than an umbrella does.

Recently, we've even seen more people buy it for music festivals or outdoor sports events."

At many music festivals, including campsites, umbrellas are completely banned. This is mainly because umbrellas can block people's view, injure others with their tips, or get blown away in strong winds.

For this reason, ponchos have become must-have items as a practical substitute for umbrellas at festivals and outdoor concerts.

It comes in four solid colors, along with two printed patterns.

"Because it's intended for outdoor activities, we've selected colors for high visibility. We also update our selection based on user requests—depending on the season, the range of options can change."

Every year, demand ramps up before the rainy season, and certain colors can sell out quickly.

"The reason so many people love the Trekking Rain Poncho is that Montbell's development philosophy of 'Light & Fast'—emphasizing both lightweight functionality and quick movement—shapes every detail, right down to the materials.

By keeping it as lightweight and compact as possible, our design philosophy is to enable fast and safe movement. That philosophy is woven into this poncho as well."

Even those who live in cities are facing more frequent typhoons and sudden torrential downpours these days. Having a reliable poncho as an alternative to an umbrella could be a smart lifestyle choice.