Inspired by CA rain: Umbrellas or Raincoats

[pandorica]

It depends on the time of year and what I'm doing. If it's cold rain, probably umbrella because I want a warm coat. Also umbrella for walking to work because I don't want to be stuck with a rain coat on the walk home. If I'm doing stuff outside, mostly raincoat.

[InBetweenDays]

Mar 8, 2023 12:48:55 GMT -5 mpm said:

I’m confused by all of the “hanging outside in the rain” posts. If it’s raining, my dog just isn’t getting a walk that day and my kids’ outdoor activities will all be cancelled. Lol. Rain is why humans made inside.

Our kids sports and activities are never cancelled due to rain. Unless there is lightning. They play soccer September through December and Lacrosse February through May. If they cancelled every time it rained they'd miss probably 50% of their games. 

[puppyluv]

I dont own a rain coat and almost never have an umbrella with me. I do wear rain boots if we get anything more than a sprinkle though but thats only a few times a year.

[sillygoosegirl]

It really depends on the rain and the circumstances. The majority of the rain we get in Oregon is pretty dry and then on top of that it's often windy too... the umbrella is ineffective in that situation.

When I lived in the midwest though, you'd get a huge torrent of rain that could completely soak you in 2 minutes (if you were wearing a rain jacket, your top might stay dry but your pants would still get soaked from all the water running off the jacket), and then it would just stop. I felt like an umbrella worked better there, and the rain jacket less well.

So yeah, regional. But I think it's regional more because of weather being regional than because of culture.

[mrsukyankee]

Umbrellas can be useless in London rain - it includes heavy wind a lot of the times. I tried umbrellas for a while but they kept blowing inside out or other issues. Now, I just use a hood on a jacket.

[186momx]

We have rain gear which is different from a raincoat. There are times when we hike/walk in the rain because it can be rainy and gray here from October-early June.
DD has an umbrella and does use it if it is down pouring. She has a mile walk home and doesn't want her backpack to get soaked. She wears a hooded rain resistant jacket to school.

[Nonny]

Mar 8, 2023 12:21:53 GMT -5 cville said:

So, PNW people are very snobby about their "raincoat only" stance.

I've been in your rain. It's constantly drizzly with occasional heavier bands. Makes sense.

When rain is vacillating wildly between soft sprinkle and sideways knifepoint downpour, your raincoat is borderline useless without an umbrella. And during the sprinkles you're just hot and sticky. Or freezing because it's not warm enough.

Also, we can often just wait 5 minutes and that band of downpour will turn back into the drizzle. Most of the time I don't even bother with a rain coat here either.

I have a more waterproofed jacket from Costco, but it's not that slicked rain coat fabric. And I have an umbrella that came free with a purse but I've never actually used it.

[smock]

Seattle person who uses an umbrella checking in. Yes, we exist. 🤪

[sugarbear1]

I will use an umbrella at a baseball game if it's pouring, but in the 5 years that DS has played, I think I've gotten it out maybe twice. Instead I wear a knee length hooded puffy coat and a waterproof blanket.

[gummybear]

Depends on the situation. More often than not it’s a raincoat, now that I have a truly waterproof coat. Often paired with wellies. Umbrellas are a PITA. They turn inside out, the get lost, they infringe on others’ space, and I don’t have enough hands to walk the dog, pick up poop and hold one. That being said I do like them in certain situations. Mostly when standing still (bus stop, soccer field etc). But I’d also wear a raincoat. I would not be raw dogging it under the umbrella.

[hannahgruen]

Raincoat with hood. The wind will take out the umbrella pretty quickly, and then you're stuck carrying around an umbrella that might not close. Plus, walking in a crowd carrying an umbrella is a recipe for disaster.

We have dogs that have to be walked. We are dressed head to toe in Gore Tex, so we don't get wet at all. The dogs have short fur and raincoats.

[purplepenguin7]

I hate umbrellas with a passion so I am rain coat with a hood only. I will use an umbrella when absolutely neccesary but generally not. They are annoying to carry and always seem to be in the way. And don't even get my started with "sharing" an umbrella. That is a hard no!

[gardengal]

@@@@@@@@
Typically raincoat b/c it's typically windy OR I'm doing school pick up & then you're going to poke someone's eye out b/c side walk is so crowded. If it's coming down hard enough that most people will drive to pick up, then I'll do an umbrella & hold onto it so it can't flip inside out.

A bit of misting drizzle doesn't keep us from hiking or similar outdoor activity.

I kinda hate my raincoat though.

[dreamcrisp1]

Being in the Netherlands, rain coat. An umbrella doesn’t stand a chance here.

[msmerymac]

Raincoats are so sticky. I only wear one while biking, and even then it doesn't really keep me dry. Team umbrella all the way.

[donutsmakemegonuts]

I used to use just an umbrella, but a couple years ago I got a really nice trench raincoat and now I mainly use that. But for those really bad rainy days, I would do both. And rain boots.

[macmars45]

Rain is usually accompanied by wind so an umbrella is useless. I just wear a rain resistant coat. Thankfully I live in a semi desert so the rain is usually really light and doesn't last long.

[konapoppy]

I rarely use an umbrella. I have come to live rain coats/water resistant clothing.

[aspentosh]

90% of the time it's a raincoat- dog walks, just general being outside if it's not a downpour, etc. If I am out for a nice dinner or carrying a purse/bags, then probably an umbrella.

[aprilsails]

I’m a both person. Beyond that, I’ve even been known to wear full rain gear on a truly miserable day. The umbrella is condition dependent as I’m not going to bother on a windy day, but they do come in handy when it’s hot.

[chickadee77]

Depends. If I'm going to be outside for awhile, rain coat. If it's just popping in and out for, say, errands or something, umbrella.

[gastro]

Usually a raincoat. I’m in CA and never needed more than a raincoat. Lately I’ve been carrying an umbrella too because the rain can be so intense and I can’t make a run for it without getting soaked.

We had some serious showers this morning, gorgeous sun right now. We are all getting ready for tomorrow - flood watches and atmospheric rain forecasted!

[springchick32]

Both, otherwise I’ll melt 😂

[loira]

Mar 8, 2023 13:13:14 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Umbrellas can be useless in London rain - it includes heavy wind a lot of the times. I tried umbrellas for a while but they kept blowing inside out or other issues. Now, I just use a hood on a jacket.

I feel like I used umbrellas all the time in London. Yes, they did break all the time but I just bought new ones. But now that I live on Vancouver Island, which is equally rainy, I have a goretex raincoat, giant wellies, and generally don't use an umbrella.

[fivechickens]

I don’t think I have ever owned a rain coat.

I have bought my kids raincoats and they have use maybe once during the ‘rainy season’.

We use umbrellas and even then, depending on how hard it’s raining, we don’t even use those.

[Roc A Bee]

Are rain coats like plastic-y? Serious question. If so, I’ve never worn one. I’ll wear anything with a hood while I run from one place to another in the rain. I don’t typically use an umbrella unless the walk is long and NO wind. I hate an umbrella in the wind.

[mofongo]

Mar 8, 2023 11:24:41 GMT -5 sugarbear1 said:

Rain coat only, but I'm raised in Seattle. We don't do umbrellas. LOL.

The problem with rain coats, here, is it’s usually SO hot to be in one! Umbrellas suck b/c it’s always sideways raining. So, most of the time I just run! I do have rain boots for festivals.

[steamboat185]

Almost exclusively I use a rain jacket. I had an umbrella in my work bag when I worked in the office more, but honestly umbrellas don’t work well in most rain storms here. Most rain jackets now come with armpit zippers, which keeps you from getting hot. They are also amazing at keeping you warm when it’s windy and not raining.

[cricketwife]

If it’s solidly raining - raincoat. If it’s ,”hmm, I wonder if it’s going to rain today” then I bring an umbrella.

[InBetweenDays]

Mar 8, 2023 19:26:25 GMT -5 Roc A Bee said:

Are rain coats like plastic-y? Serious question. If so, I’ve never worn one. I’ll wear anything with a hood while I run from one place to another in the rain. I don’t typically use an umbrella unless the walk is long and NO wind. I hate an umbrella in the wind.

Some are. Like the yellow rain slicker type jackets. But those are usually not breathable and really stiff and hot.

I have two Gore-Tex rain jackets that are not plasticy and are very breathable. One is lightweight the other is insulated.