If you’ve ever huddled under a dripping canopy at a fall trailhead, juggling a dog leash, a half-empty water bottle, and a crumpled trail map while fumbling for your keys to unlock the car, you’ve probably wondered: do outdoor rain coats have pockets? As an outdoor rain coat supplier who’s spent the last 12 years designing gear for people who actually use it, not just display it in a store, I’ll tell you this isn’t a yes-or-no question. It’s a “how,” “where,” and “why” question—one that’s tied to the way we move, the weather we face, and the tiny, annoying problems that ruin a good hike. Outdoor Rain Coat
Early on in my career, I made the mistake of assuming pockets were just extra fabric. Back then, our first line of rain coats had two flimsy side pockets, sewn on the outside of the shell, that stretched to hold a single glove before tearing. I heard this from customers constantly: the pockets either dropped their stuff mid-climb, got soaked through by rain that seeped in from the top, or were placed so low you had to bend over to reach them—impossible when you’re balancing on a rock above a creek. One hiker told me they lost their emergency energy bar mid-backpacking trip because their pocket wasn’t reinforced, and another said they stuffed their phone in their coat only to have it slide out into a puddle when they leaned forward to step over a fallen log. That feedback stuck with me. We stopped guessing about pockets and started testing them like we tested every other part of our gear—by using them, in the rain, on 10-mile hikes, in wind so strong it threatened to rip our hats off.
Let’s get specific, because not all pockets on outdoor rain coats are created equal. The first thing to know is that outdoor rain coat pockets serve two very different functions: carrying small, needed items and sealing out moisture. A casual rain jacket for commuting might have soft, fleece-lined pockets to warm your hands, but that design falls apart for hiking or climbing. Fleece absorbs water like a sponge, and thin fabric rips when you’re shoving a water bottle or a camera in on a slippery trail. For our performance lines, we use two main pocket designs that work, and we skip the ones that look good but do nothing.
The first is the side seam pocket, sometimes called a “mesh gusset” pocket. This is the one we tested for six months before launching, because it solves two big problems: water seepage and mobility. Instead of being sewn onto the outer shell, these pockets are built into the side seam of the coat, with a small gusset (a triangular piece of fabric) that gives them enough room to hold half a dozen items without stretching. We line them with a thin, durable nylon mesh that lets air circulate so your phone or wallet doesn’t get clammy, but we weld the openings shut with the same waterproof tape we use on the coat’s seams—so rain doesn’t pour in when you bend over. I’ve used these pockets on 40-degree rainy hikes where I stuffed a hand warmer, a pack of gum, and a small multi-tool in there, and they stayed completely dry even when I sat down on a damp rock to tie my shoes. The key here is placement: they’re high enough on the coat that you don’t have to hunch to reach them, but low enough that they don’t throw off your balance when you’re scrambling.
The second must-have pocket is the chest pocket, often called a “hidden security pocket.” This one’s a non-negotiable for anyone who carries valuables outdoors. We used to place chest pockets on the outside of the coat, but rain would soak the fabric right through, and they’d catch on tree branches when we were walking through dense woods. Now we weld these pockets into the inner lining of the coat, with a small slit on the chest that’s just big enough to slide a passport, credit card, or phone through, and we cover the slit with a small waterproof flap. I’ve tested this on river crossings where I had to pull my coat up to wade, and my phone stayed dry even when waves splashed against my chest. We also make these pockets with a small loop inside, so you can clip a key or a headlamp to it—no more fumbling in the dark when you need to turn on your light at dusk.
Now, here’s where a lot of outdoor rain coat suppliers cut corners: pockets for activities that require more gear, like backpacking or alpine climbing. If you’re hiking with a 50-pound pack, your main pockets might be out of reach when you’re wearing a hip belt, right? So we added what we call “lower side pockets” to our backpacking line. These are positioned just above the hip belt of a standard hiking pack, so you can reach them without taking your pack off. We reinforced these pockets with extra fabric, so they can hold a small water bottle, a trail map, or a rain poncho stashed for emergency use. I’ve had customers tell me this was a game-changer for day hikes: instead of stopping, taking off their pack, and digging through their main compartment for a snack, they can just reach down, grab a granola bar, and keep going. That small convenience adds up on a 6-hour hike, when stopping to adjust your gear every 10 minutes can drain your energy.
Of course, there are pocket designs we avoid, no matter how popular they look on social media. Fleece-lined pockets for backcountry use? Skip them. They hold moisture, make your hands clammy, and freeze in cold weather, so you can’t feel what you’re holding. Exterior pockets with Velcro closures? Velcro picks up leaves, dirt, and pine needles, which wear down the fabric over time, and it’s not fully waterproof—rain seeps through the gaps when the Velcro is closed. Even the tiny pocket on the sleeve (the kind you see on some rain coats for holding a finger glove) is only useful for very casual use; we’ve found it’s too small for anything more than a lip balm, and it rips easily when you’re adjusting a backpack strap.
To make sure these pockets actually work, we test every single one with real outdoor conditions, not just lab water resistance tests. Last winter, we took a group of our team to the Olympic National Forest, where it rains 150 inches a year, to test our new line of backcountry rain coats. We had 12 hikers, each carrying a different set of small items, and we monitored how well the pockets held up over 5 days of hikes, including three hard rains and one day where the wind topped 40 mph. One hiker dropped their water bottle (we told them not to, but accidents happen) and it slid out of a poorly designed pocket, but in our coats, every pocket stayed closed and dry. We also found that our gusset pockets didn’t rub against the hikers’ hips, even after 8 hours of walking, which was a problem we’d had with our older models.
Another common question I get: do outdoor rain coats have hand pockets, for when it’s not raining but you’re still wearing your coat? Yes, but not the kind you’d find on a casual jacket. Our hand pockets are designed to be warm but waterproof, with a thin, breathable lining that keeps rain out but lets your hands stay warm. We also make them with a slightly curved shape, so they fit your hands naturally, no awkward stretching when you put them in. I’ve used these on cool fall evenings after a hike, when the rain stopped but the air dropped 10 degrees, and they kept my hands warm without being bulky.
What about for kids’ rain coats? That’s a whole different category, and we’ve put a lot of work into designing pockets that are safe and functional. Kids tend to stuff everything in their pockets—rocks, leaves, candy wrappers—so we make our kids’ pockets with reinforced seams that can’t tear, and we add small drainage holes at the bottom, so if rain does get in, the water can flow out instead of sitting there. We also keep the pockets small enough that a child’s hands can’t get stuck, which is a safety thing we take very seriously. I heard from a mom once who said her 7-year-old stuffed their Pokemon card in the pocket, and it stayed dry even when they sat in a puddle on the way to school. That’s the kind of small win that makes all the testing worth it.
Over the years, we’ve seen a big shift in what outdoor enthusiasts want from their rain coats. It’s not just about staying dry anymore; it’s about gear that works with their lifestyle, not against it. Pockets are a big part of that. A few years ago, we launched a line of rain coats for cyclists, with hidden pockets behind the shoulder that hold a bike tool and a tube, so you don’t have to carry a bulky bag on your ride. We tested these in rainy downtown Portland, where we’re based, and customers told us they no longer have to stop at a bike shop every time they get a flat on their way home from work. That’s the kind of impact a well-designed pocket can have—turning a hassle into something easy.
Now, if you’re in the market for an outdoor rain coat and wondering if it has the right pockets for your needs, here’s what to look for. First, decide what you’ll be using it for: if you’re hiking or backcountry camping, look for high side seam pockets, a chest security pocket, and lower pockets above the hip belt. If you’re commuting or cycling, look for hidden pockets that fit small tools or a phone, and make sure the closures are waterproof. If you’re buying for kids, look for reinforced seams and drainage holes, and skip any pockets that are too big for small hands.
At the end of the day, a rain coat’s pockets aren’t just extra fabric—they’re a small part of how gear fits into your outdoor life. They’re the place you keep your energy bar when you’re climbing a steep trail, your phone when you’re waiting for a ride, your emergency multi-tool when you’re miles from anywhere. When I started this company, I thought outdoor gear was about performance, about waterproof ratings and tear strength. But over time, I’ve learned it’s about the little, human details—the pockets that keep your stuff dry, the placement that works with your body, the design that doesn’t get in the way when you’re focused on enjoying the outdoors.
If you’re a retailer, gear shop, or bulk buyer looking for outdoor rain coats that are designed with real use in mind, we’d love to talk to you. Our line of rain coats is tested by hikers, cyclists, and families, and every pocket is built to stand up to the conditions you’ll face. We don’t cut corners on pockets, because we know how important they are to making a good outdoor experience great. Reach out to us to learn more about our products, bulk pricing, and custom design options for your brand.
Cycling Poncho References
- The North Face Outdoor Gear Innovation Report, 2022
- American Hiking Society Backcountry Gear Survey, 2021
- Outdoor Industry Association Functional Apparel Design Guidelines, 2023
- Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Industry, “Ergonomics of Rain Apparel for Long-Distance Hiking”, 2020
Huizhou Shengbida Technology Co., Ltd.
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