Rainy destination packing list: what to bring and what to skip

What should you pack for a rainy destination? Pack for wet and for dry again, because the trick is getting dry overnight.

The rule

Everything you wear should dry in one night. Cotton jeans do not. Synthetic or wool tops and light trousers do.

Take:

• 1 hooded waterproof jacket
• 3 quick-dry tops
• 2 pairs of bottoms that dry fast
• 2 pairs of shoes, one pair already broken in
• 4 pairs of socks (wet socks are what ruins a day)
• A dry bag or zip bags for phone and papers

One reason this works

A hood stays on in wind. An umbrella flips. A jacket frees both hands for a bag and a map. Rain is rarely the whole day, so you want light clothes that do not stay damp.

What to skip

• Large umbrellas. Buy a small one there if you want it.
• Cotton hoodies. They get heavy and dry slowly.
• White trainers.

One exception

In a warm, short rain climate, a thin poncho beats a full jacket. Check the forecast for your dates. In heavy storms, follow local advice and cancel outdoor plans if the weather service warns against going out.

For the rest of your list, the weekend trip packing list gives the clothes counts, and how to do laundry while traveling shows how to dry things in a hotel room.