simjay

Hi. We leave for London and Italy on Wednesday. We will be in london for 5 nights then Italy for 3 weeks. So I am busy packing trying to pack as lightly as possible.
My question is, do I need to pack for rain and if so what would be suitable. Dont really think rain will be a problem in italy but having looked at weather in London over past few days still looks fairly cool and wet. Sbould we be packing rain jacket, umbrellas, ot just go with neither and hope for the best.
Thanks

Smeagol

It always rains here in the UK . I would have a light rain coat with you. It's not cold really at the moment but the last few days have been rainy. Next week is supposed to be a mixture of sunshine and showers.....

simjay

Thanks. Do umbrellas work well or is it best for rain jacket?

MissPrism

I find umbrellas a pain, especially in town, but people on this forum seem to like them. I'm quite small and have to try to avoid poking people in the eye. I like a lightweight jacket with a hood.
BTW, Rome is notorious for violent rain showers and Northern Italy can get spectacular thunderstorms.

Heimdall

I'm another person who hates umbrellas — much better to have a light Gore-Tex type jacket with a hood, as suggested by MissPrism.

Actually it's been quite dry here in the east of England over the last couple of weeks — the weather gods are probably saving the rain for Wimbledon fortnight. Whoops, I just looked out the window and it's now started raining! ;-)

DeborahAnn

When we were in Northern Italy last month with more than usual rains we had our small travel umbrellas and I noticed with great envy the large umbrellas many locals were carrying I pack both jacket and umbrella because sometimes it's nice to just whip out an umbrella for a short rain burst and not have to walk around with a rain jacket.

There are the LLbean style very light rain jackets that fold into their own pocket. That might be good to take for a warmer weather trip. Have wonderful and hopefully rainfree travels, simjay. Deborah

anyegr

Positive things about using an umbrella:
1. You can hold it in one hand and a camera in the other and not get the camera wet while taking pictures.

Negative things about using an umbrella:
1. You have to be careful not to hit someone with it.
2. If it's windy it can blow away or get turned inside out.
3. It's easy to forget it somewhere (in a bus or a restaurant)if it's not actually raining.
4. Some places get really upset if you put your open umbrella on their floors to dry, but if you fold it up when still wet you will have to deal with the problem later. And some hotel rooms are not large enough for that.

nytraveler

In any 3 week trip to europe you will get some rain - unless perhaps southern Spain in midsummer. Expect some rain in Italy too.

I always take a tissue weight hooded rain jackey that folds up very small, a sturdy tiny folding umbrella, and 2 pairs of waterproofed walking shoes. We have been in Rome in late June when we got a full day downpour - as in wet to the knees of our pants. Our shoes got so wet they were not dry the following morning.

I strongly reco against a raincoat - it's too big and heavy and too hot for almost all days - unless you are going to Scotland/islands. You should always take a light cotton sweater, even in midsummer, so if it's chilly you can wear that under the tissue jacket - but I think it unlikely you will need it.

flanneruk

Umbrellas cost a couple of pounds and are available everywhere in London. Buy one once you've got used to what we mean by rain and think you need one

As you've read, lots of people can't see the point of umbrellas. Few people spend much time truly outdoors: and there truly is little point for the five minute, max, dashes from hotel to bus to museum to pub to tube to restaurant in our extraordinarily benign rain (London gets less rain a year than almost any other major capital - including New York and Delhi, and spectacularly less than Mumbai - but has more hours of it than almost anywhere else. Think gentle atomiser spray).

There's a HUGE point in stoutish shoes, about which there really can be no debate if the forecast is for lots of rain. Pavements get splashy, and much footwear sodden, even with atomiser-strength rain.

If the forecast can be believed, of course. Which it can't be. Ever

anicecupoftea

<there truly is little point for the five minute, max, dashes>

There speaks someone who doesn't need to straighten their hair every morning only for it to puff into a cloud of frizz at the first suggestion of rain. My folding umbrella sits in the bottom of my bag in readiness at all times, just in case.

nytraveler

Sorry - we always take umbies - but we walk a lot - even if it is raining - only once or twice was the downpour heavy enough to discourage us.

But as New Yorkers - we walk in rain here too - and know we won't melt (even in the hideously teeming thunderstorms we can get in late afternoons in summer).

If you're going to stay indoors because it's raining of course you don't need an umbie - or a raincoat either.

jamikins

I always carry an umbrella. A heavy raincoat may be overkill...while it has been rainy weather, especially today, a heavy raincoat would be too hot for me. We were out today in a long sleeve tshirt and an umbrella. It's 20-22 degrees out and hot on the tubes and buses so layers would better than a heavy raincoat.

tuscanlifeedit

Like others, we each take a small folding umbrella, a very lightweight rain jacket, and a pair of sturdy shoes. We also pack a very lightweight rain hat.

This is Earth; it rains here.

Grindeldoo

A Londoner, I (almost) always have an umbrella with me. And a plastic bag to put it in if I've had to use it and the rain has since stopped and I've gone into a shop/restaurant/pub/museum or onto public transport. At this time of year you're likely to have short, sharp showers rather than prolonged gentle rain. An extra reason for decent footwear that will keep your feet dry.