What is your preference and why?

Rain jackets - something breathable. I like to be able to zip it up or down as air and body temps fluctuate during the ride. I use an older patagonia snow shell during the cold weather and a lighter old rei packable rain jacket when it warms up. Neither are completely waterproof. The rei jacket isn't really waterproof at all due to the internal coating being mostly worn off. They both keep me warm (if not damp) when combined with wiking base layers of varying thickness depending on air temps.
A poncho might work well if it had a neck zipper, wasn't too flappy, and was a little breathable. If it is just plastic, perspiration will probably soak from within. In that case, wiking base layers will also be helpful.

How about a cape?

I haven't used one yet, but seems like a good compromise for warmer weather. The thumb loops keep it stretched out over your legs, leaving the whole bottom open to breathe.

I have started wearing a soft shell jacket (Marmot ATV) for everything except hard rain. It's got just the right amount of windproofness, and it wicks fantastically. It's black, so I recently got a hiviz reflective vest to go over it. The best part is that I can walk around in the jacket with the vest off and look totally normal. Haven't tried a poncho or rain cape, but I hit some seriously high speeds, and I don't think they'd do the job.

How 'bout both?

I've got a nice water resistant jacket and a rain cape from Campmor. My plan is to only use the cape when it's raining hard. Problem is, I've only had it a month and haven't tried it out yet. I just keep it in my bag and one day I'll use it.

On the other hand, if I take it out it will pour. That very day!

I used a poncho in Ireland. My legs got wet, but my upper body was dry, and it was breathable.

It's also a huge wind drag, billowing out behind you like a cape. Very visible to cars, but it did interfere with me checking over my shoulder.

I don't have the $$$ to buy a good rain jacket + rain pants, so I'll stick to the poncho.

Plus you can use the poncho as a tarp for a tent, and as a privacy guard if you need to change or use the outdoor facilities where people might be around.

Ponchos may be better for heavy tropical rain with a light wind. For almost anything else, jackets are more convenient.

Rain cape.

I used the J&G Cape this winter in San Francisco and it worked wonderfully. Granted this year the weather has been pretty mild and we didn't get any storms where the rain flew horizontally, the cape kept me dry. It has loops for the wrists and waist and is cut so it does not block my handle bar lights.

Jacket. I want it partially to keep me warm. If it's warm enough that I could wear a cape or poncho, I actually prefer to just get wet; it doesn't bother me at all and I kind of enjoy it. When I want to keep the rain off is when it's chilly, like < 55*F or so, and in that weather I want the jacket as a windbreaker even if it's not raining.

Rain Cape - IF (and only if) your bike has fenders, and you have rain booties.

This page : https://www.thirdwave-websites.com/bike/rain-capes.cfm has come rain cape photos and a bit of info.

The cape has the potential to leave you dry and cool, with some wetness about the feet.

I tried a rain cape briefly in the Seagull century. Hooking my thumbs through the loops was clumsy and I found it hard to operate the controls. I had to be very careful not to snag the arebar elbow pads. The cape billowed in the headwind effectively becoming an air brake. The back flapped up and got hung on my backpack.
I'd say thumbs down on cape. My winter jacket is water repellant and has worked in light precipitation. I also have a $10 performance rain jacket that works fine in cold weather.

great suggestion as to rain cycling. Don't forget the fenders, should you ride very often in the rain. Big plus. I prefer full rain gear , jacket and rainproof tights. Plus, don't forget the head cover. Chilly rain water going down one's neck sort of ruins a rain jackets effectiveness.
Again, rain jackets just breath better.

I have never had a rain jacket that breathed adequately. Maybe I just sweat a lot, but the only advantage a jacket has for me is that it keeps off the wind. I will be wet from inside.

A cape/poncho can be awkward to keep your thumbs in the loops, does not work real well for drop bars, requires fenders (unlike a rain suit) and a front fender flap, but it works best for me for commuting in street clothes. It breathes better because there is air flow from below, so I stay dryer.

I reviewed my rain cape in the thread, "Rain Cape in North America". Like others say, the cape is fine for commuting/errands when worn over one's 'regular' clothing. When I get my recumbent, I'll most likely get a rain jacket of some sort, as the cape will be useless for that application. And yes, fenders are a must!

I once saw a rider in Amsterdam using an umbrella in a light rain. He was holding it out in front with one hand. It didn't look like a good idea though.

I did that when I was in Japan...and, indeed, it is not a good idea.

In china they have handlebar mounted umbrellas.



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Waterproof and breathable all weather runners shell and pants. Alternatively, a poncho. Both are cheap but they work!~

Could you share the brand? I've never been able to find anything that wasn't a tradeoff among these three criteria (in fact, most I've tried seem to be a tradeoff between breathable and waterfproof, at any price).

Raincape & spats (covers shoe up to top of knee) with bike with fenders - front light on handlebar extension tube that drops it below the raincape over the handlebars.... cape does have a waist tie to keep it from flapping in the wind... outfit made by Burley in the 70's - sized s,m,l,xl etc.. vs current purchase options of "one size fits all". Outfit is relatively compact & easy to take on & off as rain comes & goes...

I have a rain jacket but got tired of legs getting wet - now shopping for rain paints and rain booties to have 2 options - rain cape & spats or rain jacket/pant/shoe combo.

i use a poncho. It works really well, its just like a tent.

Showers Pass...will be wearing it almost all of this week from the looks of the forecast.

where I live I never have expereinced a warm rain. It's always almost rain free all summer, where I have lived. Should I ever ride in a warm rain, I will ride without any rain gear. Warm rains are cool.

Truly.

Comments apply to Puget Sound weather...

I carry a cape in the summer because it doesn't rain very much, and I don't want to haul around a jacket.

But the fact is, I don't really like the cape too much. Maybe it's just me, but the rain tends to pool where the fabric is stretched between my arms and hands, until it gets heavy enough that it dumps on my crotch or shoes. Since I get so sweaty (wet) in the summer anyway, I may just leave it at home this year.

No contest in the winter, though. When it's raining, a cape won't keep even begin to keep me dry, and even when it's not raining, I wear my rain jacket (burley rock point) to keep warm.