I live in Florida and we get lots of rain this time of year. Sometimes we get heavy sideways rain for a few minutes to a few hours at a time, and sunshine or clouds between. The temperature drops below 80 F (26.6 C) while it’s raining but if you are out taking a walk the rain can disappear and the temperature jumps right back up at a moment’s notice, sometimes even to the low-90s (32-34 C). That’s a relatively hot day with an overcast sky and 70%+ humidity. A hot summer day a couple years back, my thermometers can read upwards of 100 F (37 C) despite it having rained that morning. I also think this summer is unusually warm, but maybe that’s just me.
I don’t like to go out wearing raincoats or jackets or rain boots, because I would probably drench myself with sweat in that kind of attire. Especially over my work clothes, which include pants (trousers for the international crowd). I’m not obese, but I do stay hydrated and an extra layer of clothing is quite foreign to me in all but the coldest days of December, for which purposes I own a light jacket. I know tourists use ponchos (large plastic tarps with holes for your head and sometimes arms), but those are unwieldy when it’s windy and water still gets in unless you cross your arms, tuck in the flaps, and bow your head while shuffling along, like a monk performing obeisance; besides, ponchos are still very hot and smelly (from your sweat).
So I use an umbrella, and not one of those compact umbrellas that fits in a satchel or purse. Those are absolutely useless in all but the most timid storms and find more utility as parasols. Neither do I use those bubble umbrellas that cover your head and shoulders with a half-sphere, because those don’t provide the spread necessary when the rain comes at an angle. I prefer a sturdy walking-stick umbrella: the old-fashioned kind with a wooden core and a wide enough spread to keep most of me dry in the face of heavy rain and 35 mph (56 kmh) winds.
Where I live in California we have very distinct dry seasons and rainy seasons. It’s generally completely dry from June until about October, so I don’t have any need for an umbrella right now. Since the rainy months are also the cooler months, I mostly use a rain jacket as my primary means of weather protection. I also keep one of those compact folding umbrellas in my backpack just so I’ll have it with me if I need it, say if I forgot to wear my rain jacket that morning and it starts raining in the afternoon, or if it’s raining so hard that the jacket isn’t enough. But most of the time I don’t use the umbrella at all; most (but not all) of the time the rain here is more like a light drizzle than a full on rain storm and the jacket is more than enough.
I have a variety of high tech fabric rain coats/jackets, dress or recreational, if being out is unavoidable. I keep a compact umbrella in the car to give my wife cover between the car and the restaurant/theater. But none of that matters if I’m wearing a pair of suede shoes as I am now, and it’s pouring rain as it is now. Guess I’ll just wait for it to let up.
My “going to work gear” included a small backpack. So a compact umbrella fits fine in it and didn’t have to worry about forgetting it. Also kept a knit hat in it.
If it’s raining hard enough that a (rain) jacket isn’t enough, can your compact umbrella handle the storm? Or are you talking about physically hard, like a light hail?
I had totally forgotten hail was a thing, even with that scene in Mexico it slipped my mind. I had been thinking the only heavy rain was lots of big raindrops, just enough to make for a nice massage if you were laying on your stomach.
If I’m just walking from the office to the car it’s usually good enough. For greater distances probably not, but I wouldn’t walk such distances in rain that hard anyway.
Rain gear. For me that generally includes a hat to keep rain off my glasses. If it’s not that heavy I also frequently just ignore the rain. I have significant experience that proves I don’t melt when I get wet.
Being in Florida I don’t use umbrellas myself due to the rain angle like you mentioned. When I know it’s raining heavily enough, I put on an extra layer of clothes and then make a leisurely dash in the parking lot, as even the heaviest rain won’t have enough time to penetrate to my actual layer. I then take off the outer, wet, layer when I am indoors.
Ah, but what do you do if you are going to the car? Do you take off the extra layer while in your front seat? Won’t you get mold when the water seeps into the seat?
When I was in school, that sideways rain negated the covered walkway to the carpool line. I remember we used to think the cover was built for Spiderman, because the dry spot was on the side of the wall.
ETA: Also I’m sure all your friends are jealous of your parking situation
I keep it on, it rarely gets wet enough to get the seat wet, or maybe it does get moldy and I don’t notice: that wouldn’t be impossible considering the cleanliness of the rest of the car. And as far as heat goes, the wetness on my face and arms cools me off so that despite having an extra layer on, it’s only as hot as it usually is with regular clothes on.
Hey me too. I live in England which, contrary to popular opinion, actually doesn’t get buckets of rainfall. Torrential rain is rare and noteworthy. What we get more regularly is the odd drizzle and spitting, so on my 20 minute walk to work, a compact kept handy is all I really need. I don’t think I’ve used it for a month.
Unless I’m forced out on a wet day to walk the dog. Then the wellies and waterproofs are coming with me.
