I'm hoping someone has a good, reliable crystal ball...

I'm planning on not packing a rain jacket or umpbrella for Paris/Rome for late June. Is this risky? We have a couple of outdoor tours that will not be cancelled in the event of rain (a Segway tour in Paris, two Context Rome tours in Rome), but I'm thinking if it rains I can buy something there - but I hate buying clothes in Paris anyway because it is SO expensive - or just tough it out.

Well, what's the consensus? Thanks!

I can't help you with Paris, but for a trip to Sicily and Rome in May I am taking a tiny, very light collapsible umbrella that I can throw into my purse if it looks like there might be a chance of rain.

At that time of year, and even more so in June, I would find it far too hot to wear a rain jacket, particularly one that is not made of a breathable material.

It often rains in Paris, even in June. Buy an expensive (so it does not reverse upon itself) collapsable umbrella which is light weight too.

Do they sell cheap umbrellas on the street in Paris like they do in New York? I love that, because if it rains you just buy one of those and throw it away (and pray that it isn't windy!).

I packed a pullover hooded rain jacket (that I actually bought at Volcano NP in Hawaii) and had it in my backpack on the Fat Tire Bike Tour in Paris. I was VERY glad to have it. The tour ended with a boat trip on the Seine and it was very windy and chilly the last week of May and we were the only ones not freezing to death for a couple of hours.

Egads! Yes, I know my VNP logo was "touristy", but heck I was with tourists, any time I opened my mouth a listener would know I was a tourist... and I don't think being a tourist is a bad thing at all!

I would take something similar for the Segway tour. An umbrella won't do you any good on a Segway! Have you driven one yet? It's a very weird sensation. Cool, but weird. You're going to need both hands.

If I didn't have something like that already, I'd just go to Wal-Mart and buy a lightweight hooded rain jacket to tuck in the suitcase/ backpack. I can tell you we paid a pretty penny for our rain jackets in the park in Hawaii (but don't mind so much because it is a souvenir).

Yes, you'll find those umbrellas available in Paris and I've seen the street vendors have some pretty good days when they're ready for the weather and the tourists are not.

An umbrella will be of no use on a Segway tour.

starrsville:
Yeah, I am concerned about the Segway tour! No umbrellas! I'll have to write to Fat Tires because one place I saw that they have rain ponchos available, another place I saw said come prepared.My teens have no rain gear really, and I'm not buying any for them (too expensive as they need talls and they won't wear it at home). But then again, they don't really care about being wet either.

The Fat Tire folks give you the option of buying on of the disposable ponchos for a dollar or two AND will buy it back at the end of the tour if you don't use it. So, it's a no-lose situation.

I think the Segway tour goes out of the same office.

Your teens will enjoy the guides. Young, cool, really nice folks. It's a "cool" tour - not a grandmother's tour.

My reliable crystal ball says there will be exactly 12 days of rain in Paris in June equal to or greater than 0.25 mm and it will total 54 mm for the month. Rome will have 4 days with a total of 37 mm.

Actually, this come from:

www.bbc.co.uk/weather

I'm not sure what you mean by "rain gear". If you mean an umbrella, never EVER go anywhere in europe without a foldable umbrella. (My real rule is never ever go anywhere without a foldable umbrella - at least in the car.)

If by rain gear you mean a big yellow slicker and knee high ruber boots - I can;t imagine when you would ever need these.