Rain Gadget Review: Simprella and Tidewe Rain Suit

Rain isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence here in Las Vegas, so when monsoon season rolled around, I took the opportunity to test two rain-related products. One is the ultra-compact Simprella umbrella, while the other is a bestselling Tidewe rain suit from Amazon. Both were put to the test in some actual desert rain, with very different results.

Where to Purchase

Below are links to the products covered in this video.

• Simprella
• Rain Suit

Testing Rain Gadgets

Simprella

I paid $45 for the Simprella directly from the official website. Its main selling point is its size. The company claims it is smaller and lighter than a phone, folds away in seconds, and uses a unique hook-and-loop design that allows it to collapse into a very compact package.

When I first opened it, I was surprised by how thin and lightweight it felt, although that probably shouldn’t be too surprising considering how small it gets when folded. Opening it was straightforward. To close it, I had to collapse the umbrella, gather all 12 tips, tuck them into the handle, shake out the canopy, and wrap everything together.

I expected that process to be somewhat cumbersome, but it actually worked quite well. After a couple of tries, opening and closing the Simprella wasn’t much of an issue at all.

The bigger question was how such a lightweight umbrella would perform in actual weather.

My first opportunity was during a light monsoon rain, which also included some wind, which was challenging for the Simprella. Even moderate gusts caused the canopy to invert, making it difficult to use. At times I had to point the umbrella directly into the wind just to keep it from flipping inside out.

I decided that wasn’t necessarily a fair evaluation of how it would perform in calmer weather, so I tried it again during another period of rain when the wind wasn’t as strong – at least at first. Under those conditions, it did better. It functioned as an umbrella and provided some protection, but I found the canopy rather small. I had to huddle underneath it, and parts of my body were still getting wet. As the wind picked up that day, the Simprella did not fare well once again.

I also wasn’t particularly impressed with the handle. It’s small and not especially ergonomic, which became more noticeable when I was trying to keep control of the umbrella in gusty conditions.

For comparison, I pulled out a BetterBrella that I reviewed way back in 2017. The difference was dramatic. The older umbrella was significantly larger, sturdier, easier to hold, and much less affected by the wind.

The biggest advantage of the Simprella is unquestionably its compact size. It really can fit into a pocket, making it much easier to carry around than a traditional umbrella. The downside is that some durability and coverage appear to have been sacrificed to achieve that size.

For light rain without much wind, I think the Simprella is adequate. In heavier rain or windy conditions, however, I would rather have a larger and sturdier umbrella.

Tidewe Rain Suit

The second product I tested was a Tidewe rain suit that I purchased on Amazon for $46.99. At the time of my review, it had a 4.4-star rating from more than 10,000 reviews and was listed as a number-one bestseller.

The suit consists of a jacket and pants and is made from high-density polyester and nonwoven fabric with sealed seams. It is advertised as 100% waterproof and suitable for both light and heavy rain.

My first impression was that the material was lightweight but somewhat noisy as I moved around. Walking around in it produces quite a bit of rustling. There was also a noticeable smell when I first removed it from the packaging, although that wasn’t a major concern and it dissipated quickly.

I ordered a large, and the fit was very good. The jacket has elastic around the wrists to help prevent water from getting inside, and the pants and jacket fit comfortably over my regular clothes. Despite wearing another layer underneath it, the suit didn’t feel particularly heavy.

My first test took place during a very brief period of light rain. After a couple of minutes outside, I was still completely dry. One thing I noticed quickly, however, was that the hood was somewhat uncomfortable against my bald head and had a tendency to cover my eyes. The material was noisy and scratchy as I moved my head around inside the hood.

There was also another unavoidable issue: heat. Temperatures were around 112 degrees during one of my tests, so wearing a full rain suit wasn’t exactly comfortable. It kept rain out, but it also trapped plenty of body heat inside.

The real test came when a much heavier monsoon storm arrived. I walked around in steady rain for several minutes while the Simprella struggled with the wind. I could feel the impact and coolness of the raindrops hitting the suit, but I never felt as though water was actually penetrating the material.

When I went back inside and removed the suit, my clothes underneath were dry. Other than some perspiration from the heat, I couldn’t find any evidence that rain had made it through.

I eventually went back outside as the a more intense storm arrived, and continued testing both the umbrella and the rain suit. Once again, the Tidewe kept me dry. My exposed hands, face, and shoes got wet, but everything covered by the suit stayed protected.

My only significant complaint involves the hood. Without wearing a hat underneath it, I found that the hood tended to fall forward over my eyes. The material can also be noisy and warm, but neither of those issues affected its ability to keep out the rain.

Overall, the rain suit was easily the winner of these two products. Even during significant rain, it kept me completely dry and performed exactly as advertised. The Simprella has the advantage when it comes to portability, but its small size and poor performance in the wind make it better suited to lighter weather.

Video Review

Check out my full video below.