Rain Poncho?

Last year I had several rainy days in Rome a few weeks after you'll be there. I had brought a couple of those cheap plastic ponchos, and I also saw lots of guys selling them on the street, along with umbrellas, whenever it rained. That was in Rome. I think you'd be wise to bring something for rain in October, especially in smaller cities or rural places where vendors might not appear instantly on the streets.

Hello Joyce, the ponchos sold on the streets are pretty filmsy. So if you don't want your hair/cloths dyed yellow/green/orange, buy some good ponchos at home and bring it with you.

I am going to bring mine 8-)

Why not just bring a small umbrella that you use at home already, or a light thin raincoat or windbreaker with a hood? I've never found a cheap poncho to be particularly helpful when I most needed it (rainwater gets right in) and it's more plastic waste I don't want to contribute to.

I personally do not like the ponchos, sorry, bit like walking around with a trash bag on you, I like a bit more style.

Not a cheap option, but would last you forever, I invested in a Marmot Goretex rain shell. It rolls or scrunches up into almost nothing, weighs little, and just stays in my travel bag. I use it in all seasons, if I add a fleece underneath, it is a good Fall/Spring layer, if colder, add a few more layers.

However, that is a significant cost, the ponchos would be a good option.

Joyce, the "cellophane" rain ponchos sold on the street and at the 99Cent Store last a day. My thinking was "hey, it's southern Italy, it can't be rainier than Arizona in spring" so I took a few cheap ones to Italy in May but it wasn't worth it. I looked all over a very rainy Italy for a decent rain poncho and finally found one in Sorrento half way through the trip. It's similar to the one sold on the RS site but much cuter, red plaid. If I was looking for a rain poncho again, I'd just buy the RS one to take with me and have it if I need it.
The umbrella I bought outside the Sistine Chapel, died in the wind the next day. I'd skip the umbrella.

Just pack whatever you wear when it rains something with a hood water resistant light weight like the North Face rain jacket. Umbrellas are harder to keep up with and easy to lose.

Why not just bring a small umbrella that you use at home already, or a
light thin raincoat

Umbrellas are harder to keep up with and easy to lose

And they get into other peoples eyes :-(

I support the suggestion for a light thin raincoat with a hood. Supplement it with a baseball cap under the hood and you are as protected as you need.

What do you wear at home in rain? Wouldn't that work in Italy as well?

Ditto the rain jacket with hood, baseball cap & maybe umbrella. Ponchos flap all over if there's any wind, the outer surface can thus share its wetness with your legs, even torso - bleahh. Bring your own tried & true rainwear. If your daybag isn't waterproof, keep a supermarket plastic bag inside, to become the outer bag when the drops start.

Ditto on taking a good quality rain jacket. It doubles as a light jacket, so it's not onerous to pack one--and I am a firm believer in staying dry!

A nice quality, packable rain shell or rain jacket and/or a small umbrella always seems to work well for us.
As for keeping up with a small umbrella, clip it or strap to whatever small day bag you carry, if it doesn't fit inside.

Inexpensive ponchos and rain jackets are pretty miserable to wear. They don't breath at all since they are just cheap plastic.
The nicer shells and jackets are made from breathable materials and are designed with ventilation in mind.

Umbrella vendors magically appear near many tourist areas as the first drops of rain hit, but I've had better luck bringing my own or buying one in a store. Those sold by the pop-up salesmen don't seem to last.

Well, silly me. I own a North Face "Hydrenalite" jacket that I believe will be perfect for this trip. I was under the impression that is was just a lightweight wind breaker until I poured some water on it & looked up what hydrenalite was. It is a rain jacket as well.

I live in Northern Colorado and don't spend much time in the rain as it really doesn't rain here that much. And when it does, I'm not one to go walking around in that kind of weather.

Thanks everyone for your feedback! I think I'm set now.

Yes! Hiking today in Cinque Terre we wished we had brought some!

Buy a proper breathable rain parka. It’s so much more versatile.

Richard, are you saying my North Face Hydrenalite jacket may not be sufficient? I’d like a little clarification on your post. I really don’t want to spend a lot as I doubt I’ll use it much at home. Thanks.

Joyce, I've bought a poncho like this REI one from REI and from Amazon, I guess the second one was a back-up. I never wear them here at home, it doesn't rain that much. But I take one when I travel and am likely to see rain. They are quite sturdy so think of it as an investment. What I like about a poncho is it goes over (and protects) my backpack and when it's chilly, over my fleece jacket as well.

I’m not big on ponchos unless you will be doing outdoor activities for much of a day. In towns and cities you will be in and out of museums, restaurants, and churches. On super rainy days you might aim more for inside sights, but generally rain is on and off through the day. Taking a poncho on and off is a pain, and where do you store it when inside a church? A hooded rain jacket and shoes that can hold up to water make more sense to me.

In October, my choice would be the multi-climate choice of weather jacket (Patagonia, in my case) that I already wear around town when it turns rainy or chilly. As mentioned above, ponchos are like trash bags, and after the rain stops, you get to throw them away because they cannot be refolded into the same compact package they arrived in. They become a wet trash bag, balled up on your day pack.

We were in a rain shower in Sorrento a week ago. Within a minute of its beginning, she shopkeepers began to display trays of ponchos and umbrellas (3 euros apiece for the umbrellas; dubious quality, but they worked in a pinch) for sale. After the rain showers passed, there wasn't an umbrella to be found.

I travel with a good quality windbreaker which doubles as an all weather jacket. I brought a good quality travel umbrella from home, but it was usually in a suitcase back at the hotel when rain threatened. I am rethinking that packing choice.

Just going to say a light weight rain jacket with a sweater or light weight fleece is very versatile. I bought the rain jacket for a trip to the UK this summer and wore it over a sweater to break the wind on days when it was cool but not raining as well as on days it rained. I did the same (except I had a light weight fleece this time) on trip to Alberta Canada earlier this month.

I also was going to say that telling people to wear what they do at home doesn’t always work. I live in Florida where there is a lot of rain at times and heat and humidity. I use umbrellas like everyone else. But I don’t go touring in the rain. I move quickly from a building to car. So for many people what we do at home doesn’t necessarily translate to being a well prepared tourist.

I take my 3/4 length raincoat. Since it would take up too much space in my carry on, I fold and roll it then attach it to the handle of my case and binge cord it. If attached right it fits in the overhead bin.

I bring a lightweight rain jacket. I hate ponchos

Take the hydrolite and a hat. You'll be fine. But make sure your shoes/boots are waterproofed...