Open vs. Closed Poncho Towels: Which One Actually Works for Kids?

If you've spent more than five minutes shopping for a poncho towel, you've probably noticed that some have open sides and some are sewn closed — and nobody explains why that matters or which one you actually want.

So here it is. The whole thing, clearly.

What's the difference?

A closed poncho is essentially a pullover. The sides are sewn shut, leaving only a head opening and a split at the front or back. Think of it like a towel-dress or a wearable sleeping bag.

An open poncho hangs freely from the shoulders. The sides aren't sewn — so it drapes down like a cape, giving full arm and side access.

Both have a hood. Both dry off your kid. But they behave very differently in real life.

The case for closed ponchos

Closed ponchos are great for younger kids — especially toddlers — who need more containment. The sewn sides mean the towel stays on even if your kid is running laps around the parking lot.

They also feel cozier. More like being wrapped up. If warmth is the priority (think: cold water, early-morning swim lessons, Washington coast in June), a closed design traps heat better.

The tradeoff: they're harder to get on and off. You're pulling it over a wet, sandy, wiggly head. And if your kid needs to change underneath it, a closed poncho makes that genuinely difficult — which defeats one of the main reasons people buy ponchos in the first place.

The case for open ponchos

Open ponchos are built around one thing: ease of use.

They go on fast. They come off fast. And because the sides are open, a kid can actually change clothes underneath the towel without a gymnastics routine in a public parking lot.

This is the design the Poncho+ Towel uses — and it's a deliberate choice. When you're standing at the back of your car after a beach day with two sandy, wet kids and a parking lot full of strangers, you want the towel that takes three seconds to put on and comes off without a fight.

Open ponchos also work better as cover-ups. Your kid can walk around in it, eat a snack, sit on the tailgate — it functions more like a garment than a towel. That means you're carrying less: the poncho covers the "I'm freezing and soaking wet" window and the "I need to be decent while we walk to the car" window.

The tradeoff: on very windy days, open sides mean the towel moves around more. That's why the Poncho+ added side snaps — you get the open design's ease and the ability to close it up when the wind picks up.

One more thing the open design does: it's still a towel.

Because the sides aren't sewn shut, you can lay the Poncho+ flat on the sand. Use it as a beach blanket for a quick sit-down, a clean surface for snacks, or a place to set a baby while you dig through the bag. A closed poncho can't do that — once it's sewn into a shape, it stays in that shape.

It also dries you off like a normal towel if you need it to. Open the sides, use it like a wrap, and you've got full coverage without fighting with a tube of fabric.

And the hood? Genuinely useful for wet hair. Flip it on after the water and it absorbs while your kid is already warming up and walking to the car. It's not a turban towel but it does the job well enough that you're not dripping on the car seat the whole drive home.

The open design gives you a poncho, a towel, a cover-up, and a hair wrap — all in one thing. That's the actual case for it.

Which one is right for your kid?

Here's a simple way to think about it:

Go with a closed poncho if: Your kid is under 3 and doesn't need to change independently Warmth is the top priority over ease You're mostly using it for bath time or casual beach hangouts

Go with an open poncho if: Your kid needs to change clothes at the beach or pool regularly You want something that doubles as a cover-up or travel layer You're managing more than one kid and speed matters Your kid is old enough to put it on themselves (which they can, with an open design)

For most families doing real water days — swim lessons, beach trips, van travel, surf — an open poncho is the more functional choice. It does more jobs and creates less friction.

A note on fit

Whichever style you choose, fit matters more than most people realize. A poncho that's too small won't cover enough. Too big and it becomes a tripping hazard. Look for size ranges that match your kid's height, not just age — kids grow unevenly and a 7-year-old can be anywhere in a 2-size range.

The Poncho+ comes in four sizes: Ponchito (ages 3–6), Poncho (ages 6–10), Poncho Grande (tweens and teens), and Poncheron for adults. Each one is sized to actually cover the kid, not just technically fit them.

The bottom line

Neither design is wrong. But if you're buying a poncho towel to solve the "changing at the beach" problem, an open poncho almost always does it better. It's faster, more versatile, and your kid can actually use it independently after age 4 or 5 — which is the real win.

If you want to see how the open poncho works in practice, the Poncho+ Towel is here: https://onday.shop. It's built around exactly this: fewer steps, less fighting, easier days.

OnDay makes the Poncho+ Towel — a quick-dry, hooded open poncho designed for families who spend real time near water. OEKO-TEX certified. Made for parking lots, not photoshoots.