Good post, Fiacharry. In the sporting goods section at Wal-Mart they have very small, light rain ponchos for 89 cents. They are certainly disposable, probably won't last more than 1 or 2 uses and would be impossible to fold back up as compactly as they came. But at that price, it's like using paper plates for dinner. I think they're a viable option when you wouldn't be able to carry anything larger.