RC Pet Products Rain Poncho Review: Does This $22 Packable Dog Raincoat Keep Pups Dry on Walks?

Introduction

Last week, I was walking my golden retriever, Max, and it started pouring out of nowhere. I didn’t have an umbrella, and by the time we got home, Max was completely soaked, and he shook all over my couch, getting water everywhere. I was so tired of that—every time it rained, we’d get home, and I’d have to bathe him, and clean the couch, and it was such a hassle. That’s when I ordered the RC Pet Products Rain Poncho, and after using it for a month, I put together this full dog rain coat review to see if it actually lives up to the hype.

Before this, I’d tried everything to keep Max dry in the rain. I tried those disposable raincoats, I tried putting a towel over him, I even tried just not walking him when it rained, but nothing worked. He hates getting wet, and he shivers so much when he’s cold, especially since he’s a short-haired dog, and his undercoat doesn’t keep him warm enough when it’s wet. I was this close to just skipping walks when it rained, until I found this poncho. I was skeptical, because I’d heard so many mixed things about dog raincoats, but I was desperate, so I decided to give it a shot.

What Is the RC Pet Products Rain Poncho? (dog rain coat review)

So, what exactly is this thing, anyway? The RC Pet Products Packable Dog Rain Poncho is a lightweight, water-resistant raincoat built specifically for dogs, to keep them dry on walks when it’s raining. It’s made of a lightweight polyester shell with a water-resistant PU coating, so it repels water, and it has a built-in hood to keep your dog’s head and ears dry, too.

It has a leash access hole, too, with a storm flap, so you can attach your leash to your dog’s collar, and the flap keeps rain from seeping through the hole. It’s adjustable, too, with velcro around the waist, so you can fit it to your dog’s size. And the best part? It folds up into a tiny carrying pouch, so you can put it in your bag, and take it with you wherever you go, so you’re prepared if it starts raining suddenly. No more getting caught in the rain without anything to keep your dog dry.

My Rainy Walk Test

When the poncho arrived, I was excited to try it, but I was also nervous that it wouldn’t work. I’d spent so much money on other things that didn’t do anything, so I wasn’t getting my hopes up.

The first time I used it, it was just sprinkling outside, the kind of light rain that doesn’t get you too wet, but gets your dog’s fur all damp. I put the poncho on Max, adjusted the velcro around his waist, and we went for a walk. And when we got home, he was completely dry. I ran my hand over his fur, and there was nothing, no dampness, no water at all. I couldn’t believe it. I took the poncho off, folded it up into the tiny pouch, and put it in my bag, ready for next time.

I tested it on my car, too—when we got to the park, I kept it in my bag, and it didn’t take up any space at all. I saw a review from a woman who keeps this in her purse, so she’s prepared for sudden showers, and that’s exactly what I did, too. I even tried it on a day where it was raining a little harder, and it worked great, too, kept him completely dry.

But it wasn’t all perfect. Last week, we got caught in a really heavy downpour, the kind where the rain is just pouring down. I put the poncho on Max, and we walked home as fast as we could, but when we got there, he was still a little damp. A lot of other reviewers said the same thing—this is water resistant, not completely waterproof, so it works great for light rain or sprinkles, but if it’s pouring, the water will seep through the fabric, and your dog will get a little wet.

And when it was windy that day, the back of the poncho kept blowing up. There’s no strap under the belly to hold it down, so the wind just lifted the back of it up, and Max’s back got wet. A lot of other reviewers said the same thing—if it’s windy, the poncho will blow around, and it doesn’t stay in place. I also had a little issue with the sizing— I ordered the medium, which was supposed to fit his size, but it was a little big, so it was sliding around a little bit. A lot of reviewers said the sizing isn’t accurate, so you have to be careful when you order it.

What I Like and What I Don’t Like

After using this for a month, I’ve gone through all the pros and cons, and I checked out hundreds of other reviews to make sure I wasn’t the only one with these experiences.

What I Like

• It’s packable, so you can take it anywhere: That’s the best part. It folds up into a tiny pouch, so you can put it in your purse, your backpack, even your glove box, so you’re prepared if it starts raining suddenly. I used to have to carry a big raincoat around, but this is so small, I don’t even notice it. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, they keep it in their bag, so they never get caught in the rain without it.
• It keeps your dog dry in light rain: For those light showers or sprinkles, this thing works perfectly. It keeps your dog’s fur completely dry, so you don’t have to bathe him when you get home, and you don’t have to clean up after he shakes all over your couch. I saw a review from a guy who has a short-haired dog, and he said this keeps his dog from shivering in the rain, which is exactly what I saw, too.
• It has a leash hole and a hood: The leash hole with the storm flap is so convenient, you don’t have to worry about rain seeping through, and the hood keeps your dog’s head and ears dry, too. A lot of other raincoats don’t have a hood, so your dog’s head still gets wet, but this one does, which is perfect.
• It’s so cheap: $22 for a poncho that you can use forever? That’s nothing. I used to spend so much money on disposable raincoats, or on cleaning my couch after Max got wet, but this thing paid for itself in one month.

What I Don’t Like

• It doesn’t work in heavy rain: Like I said, this is water resistant, not waterproof. If it’s pouring rain, the water will seep through the fabric, and your dog will get a little wet. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, it’s only good for sprinkles or light rain, not heavy downpours.
• It blows away in the wind: There’s no strap under the belly to hold it down, so if it’s windy, the back of the poncho will blow up, and your dog’s back will get wet. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, it’s not great for windy days.
• The sizing is off: A lot of reviewers, including me, found that the sizing isn’t accurate. I ordered the medium, which was supposed to fit my dog, but it was a little big, so it was sliding around. A lot of people said they had to order a size smaller than they thought, or return it and get a different size.
• It doesn’t cover the belly: The poncho only covers the back, so your dog’s belly still gets wet if it’s raining, which is kind of a bummer. A lot of reviewers said the same thing, it only covers the top, not the bottom.

Is This $22 Poncho Worth It?

So, is this $22 poncho actually worth the money? For me, absolutely— but that doesn’t mean it’s right for everyone.

If you’re like me, and you often get caught in sudden light showers, or you have a dog that hates getting wet, and you’re tired of having to bathe him and clean your couch every time it rains? This is a no-brainer. $22 is nothing, and it’s so convenient to carry around, you never have to worry about sudden rain again. It saved me so much time and hassle already, just in the first month.

On the other hand, if you live somewhere where it rains really hard all the time, or it’s really windy? Then this isn’t going to work as well for you. It doesn’t work in heavy rain, and it blows around in the wind, so if that’s the kind of weather you have, you need a heavier, more heavy-duty raincoat. But if you’re just looking for something to keep your dog dry in light rain, and something you can carry around with you? It’s 100% worth it.

If you’re interested in trying it out, you can check it out here: [buy link: RC Pet Products Rain Poncho] (affiliate link)

Common Questions

I got so many questions from my friends after I posted about this, so I wanted to answer the most common ones here:

Is this poncho completely waterproof?

No, actually. It’s water resistant, which means it works great for light rain or sprinkles, but if it’s pouring rain, the water will seep through the fabric, so your dog might get a little damp. It’s not meant for heavy downpours, just light showers.

Can I fold this up and carry it in my bag?

Absolutely! That’s the whole point. It folds up into a tiny carrying pouch, so you can put it in your purse, your backpack, or even your car’s glove box, so you can take it with you wherever you go, and be prepared if it starts raining suddenly.

Does this have a spot for my dog’s leash?

Yes! It has a buttonhole leash access with a storm flap, so you can attach your leash to your dog’s collar, and the flap keeps rain from seeping through the hole, so you don’t have to worry about water getting in there.

Final Thoughts

All in all, this RC Pet Products Rain Poncho has been a total game-changer for me. It’s not perfect— it doesn’t work in heavy rain or wind, the sizing is a little off, and it doesn’t cover the belly— but the pros way outweigh the cons. It solved all my biggest problems: I don’t have to worry about sudden showers anymore, I don’t have to bathe Max every time it rains, and I don’t have to clean my couch after he shakes all over it.

For $22, it’s the best investment I’ve made for our walks. I don’t have to panic every time the sky gets dark anymore, because I know I have this poncho in my bag, ready to go.

Do you have a dog that hates getting wet in the rain? Have you tried this poncho before, or were you skeptical about dog raincoats like I was? Tell me your story in the comments!

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A Quick Disclaimer

I’m not a vet or professional trainer. Just my personal experience.