Do you take your own umbrella.

We have a couple of small travel umbrellas we take with us...but then in 2012 when we were in Cinque Terre, it started raining and we didn't have our umbrella with us, so we ended up buying one from a shop anyway...so yeah...prob best to buy them there...

Thanks! i think that is what I'll do....I'm learning every ounce counts when packing!

I prefer a hooded raincoat / windbreaker. It doesn't get caught in a bad wind and turn inside out! LOL ! Hubby still insists we take umbrellas, but I'm hoping to slowly wean him.

I do take my own small travel umbrella. I use a carryon backpack only and it hasn't been a problem to take one. But once I did leave my umbrella behind in one place in Germany and had to buy a new one at my next stop. That worked, too.

Just don't plan on buying one from a street urchin.

You'll be lucky if it lasts the day.

a packable rain jacket is better, because it leaves your hands free. However, if you must, Travelsmith sells an umbrella that is really tiny.

Nah. Once when it was raining the hotel loaned me one. Another time I broke down and bought one that I didn't feel like carrying home, so I left it in the hotel.

Yes, we take our own travel-sized umbrellas, and been thankful to have them a couple of times. The hooded coat doesn't cut it for me when it is raining heavily for hours at a time. Have to keep my shoulder bag/ camera dry!

Yep, I take my own travel size umbrella. I have it in a quart ziplock bag in my purse (great when it stops raining) and I also have a waterproof rain jacket...in a ziplock,lol...in the purse pocket as well.

And, well, I hate to even mention this but uh...the umbrella more or less matches the rain jacket.

I don't take one. Like Toni I have a hooded rain jacket so I don't have to carry one. Now, if I were traveling in Italy in the summer, I might not have that jacket, but I would still not carry and buy one there. As for buying one from the urchin, in NYC we buy those cheap umbrella's all the time. They last a few storms and then you ditch them. So, how much is the urchin charging? If it's the equivalent of $5 then it won't last, but do you need it to last or do you need it at that moment?

Pam

Depends on where you are going, what you plan to do, how flexible your schedule will be. We bring rain jacket and rain pants because we like to hike -- and if you're 5 miles out and it starts to pour, you're prepared or you are very wet. But we also bring umbrellas which keep you dry in a gentle but steady rain, as long as it's not windy.

Nope. I also like to have my hands free.

I take a hooded rain jacket or a cagoule if really nasty weather is anticipated on the trip.

Sometimes I get wet. Amazingly, I dry out.

I duck under cover if it starts to pour, preferably in a nice place for coffee.

If it's still pouring and I feel like I have to get going I buy one on the street.

I take a small travel umbrella. I check the forecast for the day and decide to take it accordingly. I don't usually take rainproof gear, just rain resistant, unless I'm doing hiking outside the city. If it pours, there's always a glass of wine somewhere nearby with which to wait it out.

We generally always take one (if the long-range forecast at the destination calls for rain). Often packing the darn umbrella acts as a good-luck charm and keeps the rain at bay :)

But, our umbrella opens up to provide two-person coverage, and it has a handy, light carrying case that works beautifully over my husband's shoulder and/or it fits beautifully into my purse. It is amazingly compact and light-weight, yet sturdy at the same time. We've owned it for so many years, I cannot advise where to find one....likely no longer manufactured.

If much rain is predicted and it might be chilly, the Gortex jackets (with hoods that project out a bit over the forehead to provide good face protection for glasses) get packed. They are often better than an umbrella.

I take a small travel one that doesn't weigh much and fits in my messenger bag on days when rain is in the forecast. I actually prefer to wear a hooded jacket, that's usually worked best for light rain.

Lulu,

I always pack along a small travel umbrella, as it's very light and doesn't take up much room in the checked luggage. It seems to get used at least once (and sometimes more) on every trip. I agree with Nigel that it's not a good idea to buy one from one of the street urchins out of desperation, as it will likely be a piece of junk!

THIS model is similar to the Umbrella I use.

Re Umbrella vs "waterproof" jacket/coat. A FAQ topic on this forum involves petty crime. With pickpockets in mind:

Umbrella's require at least one hand to hold. That leaves only one hand to deflect pickpockets.

Jackets/coats do not require hands and when zipped longer jackets/coats cover pants pockets. Two hands are available to fend off pickpockets.

I prefer a rain jacket but inevitably leave the hotel without it on the rainy day. I have a number of small travel umbrellas as a result. I have also done the plastic $1 rain poncho but I am over my Smurf phase now.

Lulu, take if from someone from the rainy Northwest :) Don't pack an umbrella, pack a light rain jacket with a hood.

Umbrellas are a nuisance. They take up one of your hands, they take up a lot of overhead space and you end up bouncing off other people or things. Why pack an umbrella when a light jacket is much more useful!

There are a few things I'll make room for, and those are things that I need to perform well and that I don't want to experiment with while on vacation. That might include MY facial cleanser (but I'll use whatever for body and hair), MY hair dryer, and MY umbrella. I want to know that my umbrella is sturdy enough to stand up to a windy downpour. If I need an umbrella, I need an umbrella - not some flimsy thing that repeatedly flips wrong-side out. And worst of all - that 5+€ I just blew on a crummy umbrella could've been a glass of wine instead :-(

So unfortunately, I'll probably always carry a heavy umbrella. (And don't forget a garbage bag for your luggage!)

I have a few umbrellas that are about 6" long and take up no space. They weigh practically nothing. Rather than carry around a rain jacket in case of inclement weather, I'd rather just have my umbrella.

If I'm in a climate that has me wearing a jacket anyway, then I may take one with a hood to stay dry.

The bad part of a rain jacket is after it rains. You take it off and put it back in your bag getting the inside of your bag wet. Most of my day bags have a side pocket for a water bottle but I use it for a wet umbrella instead. Fits perfectly.

(editing problems)

Of course, if you could also use a jacket on your trip, take a rain jacket. It has to be pretty cold for me to be able to wear a jacket anywhere, so it's rare that I take one to Europe (even if I'm spending time in the mountains!) I wear a backpack as my main luggage, so I wouldn't want to wear that over my expensive rain jacket and ruin it, so I'm back to my umbrella (sigh). AND a bag for my backpack ;-)

I hate wearing hoods. Hate hate hate it. I only buy hooded jackets if the hood comes off, and then I throw it away. (For a while I used to keep them in a drawer, until I realized I had hoods to coats that I no longer owned.) So I take a small umbrella. But since I'm not too fussy about my hair, I only use it in a downpour.

I have an array of umbrellas that I have bought in Europe... not sure if they were from street urchins, but mine still work...
Even if I took one I would forget it unless it were raining as I left the hotel for the day... I just buy as needed.

Karen... need to think up a use for those hoods... that is hysterical as I used to have some as well. Finally used as painting rags:)

In going to Europe, and elsewhere in the US, we take only our 21" RS roller bag. In our day bag we pack a lightweight, hooded rain jacket along with a RS travel umbrella. This day bag is put into our roller bag when we check it for flying to Europe as the roller bag contains things that the TSA does not approve of. Both have come in handy on numerous occasions even when no rain is forecast but then it happens.

Umbrella etiquette:
http://www.advancedetiquette.com/newsletter/apr05.htm

Use the Right Umbrella

Avoid Umbrella Rage

Learn the Dance of Umbrellas

Keep It Closed and Dry Inside

Park Umbrellas with Care

Cautiously Look Both Ways Before You Open

Just Enjoy Windy Days

Prevent Umbrella Loss: Folks at any lost-and-found department will tell you they have hundreds of unclaimed umbrellas in storage.

I understand the desire and sense in packing light, but in reality, most people on this forum are not backpacking in the traditional sense. So, sometimes when I read about buying things you need when you have them at home seems like a waste of money to me. I do bring an umbrella, a small, travel size one. It's no big deal to tuck it in somewhere. During the day I use a small backpack and if need to, I put it in there. When we rent a car, it is easy to just leave it in the car.

Having both hands free to fight off pickpockets has never been a concern. They're not inclined to stalk tourists in the pouring rain, and you don't need the umbrella in the buses, metro or train stations.

Can't you beat the pickpockets off with your umbrella? Just whip it around and....oh, never mind. :)

I always pack a travel size one. They don't weigh much. And with all due respect to the Pacific Northwest folks, don't you all get a lot of mist and drizzle that's manageable with hooded rain jackets? Living where one can get torrential rains when fronts move through, I carry an umbrella 365 days at the bottom of my commuter bag, so it's no hardship to also put one in my travel bag when vacationing.

Like so many packing questions, do what's right for you. There is no right or wrong answer!

I always bring a rain poncho. I paid about $20 (Amazon). It weighs next to nothing and is very compact when folded up. It not only gives better protection from the rain because it covers you almost to the knees, it also covers your day pack and your camera, and keeps both hands free - to whip out the camera for a shot, to get something out of the day pack or a pocket . . .

We always pack hooded rain jackets and pants. However, ever since the time we got caught in a deluge in the Dolomites, we have packed a travel umbrella. That deluge was inescapable. There were lots of shops and stores; however, we had a very difficult time finding an umbrella. What a relief to finally get an affordable one and protect the camera gear we were so concerned about. I've got some ponchos somewhere as well. I should dig those out and throw them in.

You can buy some nice umbrellas in Europe. Which will remind you of the fun you had in Europe, when you're dodging the raindrops back home.

Karen, in my house, those hoods would have become kitty beds (sigh).

Thanks, Edgar ;-)

Rachel, I hear ya - living in Texas, I didn't ever see anyone besides police, etc., wearing rain gear, and it was usually a futile exercise. It's just too.stinkin'.hot! And it doesn't provides nearly enough protection. When the rain is horizontal, that rain hood is no good.

But...when I moved to Northern California, it used to rain :-( -- HORRIBLE, HORRIBLE DROUGHT -- And it's usually that drizzly rain you referred to. Perfect for rain jackets! And the humidity isn't 97% and the temps aren't 97F so one CAN wear a rain jacket without literally dying. So even I have to remember that most of the world gets actual rain LOL and not Super Drizzle. That's why I bring an umbrella when I leave home.

And unfortunately, I don’t remember what year I last used my rain jacket in CA :-(

I'm with Eileen and Lisa. I have one and don't want to buy another one when traveling. My trip is already expensive enough. So I bring it.

I do always also bring my light hooded windbreaker-type jacket (if it's the season) and often that does the trick instead of having to pull out the umbrella.

I'm often reminded of RS' lectures regarding packing where he asks, "will you be using it enough to make it worth bringing?" And about how if you don't bring something it'll give you a chance to do some local shopping and "pick up something that you think might be toothpaste" (as an example). I like to add to that by saying, do you have enough spare time on this trip to go shopping for things that you ended up needing but didn't bring?

I pack a small travel size umbrella...all part of the wheeled luggage. Some are lighter than others. There have been times when the weather looked/was sunny after breakfast, you leave the hotel, and within an hour or two, it starts to rain and stays that way for a few hours. At least in Germany in the summer. I don't wear hoods either, better carry that small umbrella than be drenched.