Stupid umbrella question...I REALLY want opinions
Sep 17th, 2004, 03:13 AM
#1
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Stupid umbrella question...I REALLY want opinions
I'm only appx. 2 weeks from my trip and have started packing in earnest. And it is a good thing too. Having a "littttle" difficulty packing my rolling carry-on.
The beautiful fold-up waterproof raincoat w/detachable hood that has it's own pouch that turns into a pillow is hogging up an awful lot of room.
I could wear to the plane, but I have a different jacket that I plan on wearing because it is beautiful and would also take up too much room in the bag.
I figure if I work real hard at repacking the bag it will all work out.
HOWEVER, I had planned on purchasing a small folding travel umbrella. But now that I see how little room I have left I hesitate. I saw some neat small ones with their own cases and carry straps but I just can't stand the thought of carrying one more item. I'd rather leave the umbrella behind than one of my travel books.
Do I really need the umbrella since I have my fab new Travel Smith full length folding waterproof raincoat with detachable hood?
(And before anyone makes fun of me for asking this, where I live I don't spend much time walking around outside in the rain.)
Give me what yah got... (I could always buy an umbrella in Italy if I really need to, right?)
The beautiful fold-up waterproof raincoat w/detachable hood that has it's own pouch that turns into a pillow is hogging up an awful lot of room.
I could wear to the plane, but I have a different jacket that I plan on wearing because it is beautiful and would also take up too much room in the bag.
I figure if I work real hard at repacking the bag it will all work out.
HOWEVER, I had planned on purchasing a small folding travel umbrella. But now that I see how little room I have left I hesitate. I saw some neat small ones with their own cases and carry straps but I just can't stand the thought of carrying one more item. I'd rather leave the umbrella behind than one of my travel books.
Do I really need the umbrella since I have my fab new Travel Smith full length folding waterproof raincoat with detachable hood?
(And before anyone makes fun of me for asking this, where I live I don't spend much time walking around outside in the rain.)
Give me what yah got... (I could always buy an umbrella in Italy if I really need to, right?)
Sep 17th, 2004, 03:31 AM
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This raincoat seems to be a great point of pride/importance to you. Are you secretly praying for rain so you can use it? Where are you going this time of year that drives taking the raincoat? Take both items if you want to be sure and have 100% coverage.
Put the small umbrella in the carry-on or your personal bag and put the raincoat on top in your larger travel bag. If its raining cats and dogs upon arrival, you can always take it out.
What else is giving you extreme anxiety?
Put the small umbrella in the carry-on or your personal bag and put the raincoat on top in your larger travel bag. If its raining cats and dogs upon arrival, you can always take it out.
What else is giving you extreme anxiety?
Sep 17th, 2004, 03:49 AM
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Maybe I wouldn't be so anxious if this were not my first trip to Europe, things were not crazy at work and I didn't have hurricanes to worry about and the airlines would stay solvent.
Add into the mix that my parent's are a bit nuts and I am a detail oriented person.
Decision made: Will buy umbrella in Italy if need one.
Thank you for helping me decide.
Add into the mix that my parent's are a bit nuts and I am a detail oriented person.
Decision made: Will buy umbrella in Italy if need one.
Thank you for helping me decide.
Sep 17th, 2004, 03:49 AM
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If you MUST fit it all into a carryon: Wear the raincoat over your jacket whenever the airline employees can see you at boarding time. Then take it off in the plane. Or, leave the jacket home and take a thin warm sweater instead, and pack either the coat or the sweater. Wear any shoes that take up a lot of space, like hiking boots, and then remove them on the plane. Leave the umbrella home, and buy one if/when you need one. (You'll need to do that if the tiny delicate fold-up umbrella breaks in a windy rain anyway.) Or get by with just the ocat if it's not raining too hard.
Or, forget the idea of squeezing everything into a carryon, and take the next size larger luggage and check it through.
Or, forget the idea of squeezing everything into a carryon, and take the next size larger luggage and check it through.
Sep 17th, 2004, 04:06 AM
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We travel in March/April and Sept/Oct, and encounter some misty, some rainy days. I can't remember actually using an umbrella, although I usually take a small one. My outerwear jacket has a removable hood. I think we tend to duck in out of any rain, then move on when it stops. If you find you really need/want umbrellas when you get there, then buy them at that time. The jacket and rain coat are more functional.
Sep 17th, 2004, 04:45 AM
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An umbrella is far more elegant and grown-up than some plastic tent with an hood. Umbrellas keep you dry, yet don't make you look like some fisherman caught in a storm. Children on schooltrips use plastic macs.
Any umbrella will do, as long as it's a dark colour or for ladies a sophisticated print/pattern is very much de rigeur. I recommend an Asprey umbrella which will last a lifetime, from 200GBP.
Any umbrella will do, as long as it's a dark colour or for ladies a sophisticated print/pattern is very much de rigeur. I recommend an Asprey umbrella which will last a lifetime, from 200GBP.
Sep 17th, 2004, 05:01 AM
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Where are you going? If to northern Europe where it is cool, the rain coat might provide some warmth. However, for the most part, I'm with Ira. Ditch the coat and take a small, light weight travel umbrella. London Fog makes a good one.
Sep 17th, 2004, 05:20 AM
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My "travel" umbrella is exactly 8" long, approximately 2" in diameter and weighs almost nothing. It telescopes out into a nice large and very sturdy umbrella. I can't imagine not being able to tuck it into a corner of a suitcase, and I can't imagine traveling without it, unless I was planning a week long trip to the Sahara.
Sep 17th, 2004, 05:23 AM
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And you'll see in Italy that if you're in a tourist town, if it starts raining, all those men selling tacky souvenirs in the street will suddenly and miraculously change their wares for a stock of umbrellas; so you'll have no problem finding one to hand.
Sep 17th, 2004, 05:42 AM
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Personally, I'd leave the raincoat at home. I've never needed anything like that on a trip to Europe. I wear skirts and long pants, too, and I've never needed anything more than a 3/4-length very lightweight waterproof jacket.
Nor would I ever consider spending the equivalent of 200GBP on an umbrella - to me that's ridiculous.
My own umbrella is about the same size as Patrick's, ony it's conveniently built into the purse that I carry when taveling. There's a little pouch along the bottom of the purse, and the umbrella slips into a small opening at one end, with a small zippered enclosure around it. So it's always there when I need it, but tucked away out of sight. Of course, you have to be comfortable carrying your valuables in a purse when you're traveling for this to work for you, and many people on this board don't seem to be.
Nor would I ever consider spending the equivalent of 200GBP on an umbrella - to me that's ridiculous.
My own umbrella is about the same size as Patrick's, ony it's conveniently built into the purse that I carry when taveling. There's a little pouch along the bottom of the purse, and the umbrella slips into a small opening at one end, with a small zippered enclosure around it. So it's always there when I need it, but tucked away out of sight. Of course, you have to be comfortable carrying your valuables in a purse when you're traveling for this to work for you, and many people on this board don't seem to be.
