Travel umbrella---take it or leave it home?

Your call, but you are more likely at that time of year to experience pop up thunderstorms than an all day rain. SO unless you want to carry it most of the time, it is likely to be back at the hotel when and if you need it.

ALso there are usually vendors around that will sell you an umbrella for 5 or so euros.

Consider too that you can use the umbrella in the hot sun- if that might be a concern for you.

That being said, I've never traveled to Europe with an umbrella. I do bring a hooded rain jacket (same for for over 10 years now) If the day's weather is iffy, the rain coat goes with me for the day.

Packing light, you really don't need the umbrella. You can take cover in a cafe or historical sight while it's raining, then venture out after. In all the times I've been to Italy, it seems the rain only lasts a short time, then passes on..the jacket comes in handy after the storm when the temps cool down a bit.

Always have found it a good policy to "hope for the best, but prepare for the worst". Find a small inexpensive umbrella and bury it in your bag, OR buy one over there, they are cheap and plenty full. Have a great trip. Bon Voyage!!

This is in the category of "you can always buy it over there". Instead of packing one, if you think the weather will be rainy, just buy one at a discount store - Coop and the like.

Thanks all for the input.

Kelley,

I also follow the rule of "hoping for the best but preparing for the worst". I usually pack along Rick's travel Umbrella as it's very compact and light so it's not hard to travel with. If I'm out touring on a day when rain might be likely, it's easy to take the Umbrella either in a Daypack or one pocket of my Vest.

Here's the link for the Umbrella if you want to have a look - travelstore.ricksteves.com/catalog/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&theParentId=126&id=260

I like to be prepared, as I found on a two month trip in the fall of 2006 that the only three days I encountered rain were all in Italy!

Happy travels!

I took an umbrella when I drove because I had lots of room in my luggage.Now that I travel with a carryon only I dont take it.I wear a rain jacket and hat,both waterproof and the jacket is windproof.My wife has a rain proof jacket with a hood.We both prefer this over the umbrella.The umbrella is hard to carry on crowded streets and if it is windy.

If you are looking for an ultra-compact and well-made umbrella, Knirps is a good brand. It is German made and comes in all price ranges. It can be bought at Bag 'n Baggage stores and online.

Here at home I find an umbrella is always in the wrong place. In my car when I'm not, at home when I'm at work, etc. But then, I'm usually just a short dash away from shelter. When traveling you may have to walk for blocks before you get where you're going.

The big dilemma-do you buy a cheap one that will likely break easily, or an expensive one that you will lose?

I packed one once…took up too much space. Leave it at home and buy a cheapo on the street when you need it. Don’t worry, street “vendors” will be all over the place as soon as it starts raining. They’ll want something like €5 for a piece of crap, but it will work for the rest of your trip. I negotiated down to a couple of Euros in Venice…just told the kid that’s all I had…take it or leave it. I got the umbrella.

I found a bunch of umbrellas that pack down to 6" but open up to full size (and they are less than an inch thick.

I keep one in my car, one in the house, one in my day bag for travel, one in my briefcase...$5 each. Totes Outlet Store

(I used to get ones slightly bigger at the dollar store figuring if they broke, who cares, they only cost a buck. But I like these smaller ones better.)

I also have a couple of ones built better that are 6" long and about 2 inches wide....$20) local luggage store but I think Magellans has them as well.

I went in November, and it did rain a few days. However, we did without umbrellas because I had a lightweight rain jacket with a hood. I figured if it ever poured enough that I couldn't stand it, I could buy an umbrella there, but the hood was plenty to keep me dry and comfortable, plus the jacket had other advantages such as being able to zip up and tie the hood shut when the wind picked up. Especially if you have a rain shell already, you might consider going that route instead.

Otherwise, like one of the other posters, I'm of the "that's something to buy there if needed" mentality.

Or, you could have the experience I had of being caught in rainstorm on the Champs Elysee and having to buy a pricey umbrella that fell apart after about 2 days. It was not a good deal. Don't assume you will find good, cheap umbrellas everywhere the minute it starts to rain.

I asked this same question on this forum a few months back & got similiar answers. I will be in Rome starting this Fri & I noticed that there's a 30% chance of rain forecasted for this Sat & as we travel north towards Lake Como, there's an increased chance of rain. So, I decided to pack it. I usually take it on every trip but I wanted to pack lighter this time & not take it...but as I've been packing the last few days, I realized that either way, I'm taking a lot of stuff & 1 umbrella is not going to make me or break me. I have a nice light-weight umbrella so it's not a big deal I guess. Happy travels. Sounds like we'll both be in Italy around the same time.

I pack a rain poncho, light-weight and compact. If the weather is iffy, I pop it in my day pack. It keeps me drier than an umbrella (and my back pack and camera) and leaves both my hands free. When the rain stops, I it up and put it in a plastic bag and pop it back into the day pack. No mess, no fuss.

Don't buy Rick's travel umbrella. His is an inferior quality for $24. I found a lighter weight, smaller and sturdier umbrella locally for about $12.

The rant posted today woke a thread last used in September 2009. Jane, I know this is your first post, and instead of asking a question you are having a go at a product - but would a better course of action not have been to have complained about the quality to the RS ETBD store and ask them for help? You said locally... where did you find your better umbrella?

I will be in those cities in couple of weeks and I'm bringing an umbrella, but not for rain (hopefully I won't have any.) I use an umbrella for portable shade.

Personally I don't pack things that I "might" need. I pack only what I know I will use. Space in my bag is too precious. This last trip, I took a lightweight hooded windbreaker. It rained a few times - for a few hours and that was all I needed. At the first sprinkle, the umbrella sellers appeared with umbrellas and ponchos for those so inclined to buy.

This is an old post from 2009

Get a very small travel umbrella and carry it in your purse! Not very heavy, doesn't take up much room. I was in Italy May-June and used it for the walk from the train station to hotel in Florence (it was raining), for rain in Pisa, and as a sun shield in Rome. Very glad I had it!

I never pack an umbrella. If I need one I can always buy one and then I have a nice souvenir.