How to keep yourself and your gear dry during wet weather

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Wet weather is one thing we really dislike when we are in transit or when we travel. Cold and wet weather pretty much means hell for us. Why? Let me put it this way: while our clothes and shoes deal with rain pretty well, we always dread it when we have any electronics with us.

And yeah, we travel quite a lot during the shoulder and low season when, you guessed it, the weather is almost always cold and wet!

So far we have been drenched quite a lot of times but our electronics survived to tell the story. Which means we know some tips and want to share them with you. In case you need some ideas on how to stay dry and to avoid any dramas, read on!

Always pack back up socks

We are really light packers but we always pack extra socks! Even the best shoes may get drenched – ahem, somebody is good at not avoiding all the puddles – and let’s just say no one likes wet feet. So, put a pair of socks in your day pack when you go out to explore.

The mighty ziploc bag

Pack extra ziploc bags. Stash them everywhere! Raining cats and dogs and your phone is not water resistant? Put it in a ziploc bag before it gets wet! Your wallet takes on water easily. Yup, ziploc bag! Same goes for any papers you don’t want ruined, such as your printed boarding pass.

And the grocery bag

Laptops aren’t small enough for ziploc bags, so in comes the grocery bag. I have done this way too many times, even though my backpack doesn’t take on water. But, better be safe than sorry! Oh yes, I also used a grocery bag to protect my DSLR when I was taking photos in Pompeii during rain.

Don’t forget the trash bag, either

If you go camping or hiking, a trash bag is an excellent way to keep big items dry. When we got soaked in Budapest , we went to the store to by trash bags to insulate your tent. The next time it rained, we were the lucky ones in the camping!

Quick dry clothes

This is something we have just started looking into and purchasing. Our waterproof jackets and Alex’s shorts are quick dry and they are amazing. This summer we were caught by a downpour and our jackets were dry in about 5 minutes after it stopped!

A good waterproof jacket

I cannot stress this enough: a good, lightweight waterproof jacket beats any umbrella! The summer jackets pack really well and you can stash them easily when not needed. If the weather is not ideal, pack them in your day pack when you go out.

Waterproof boots

We all hate wet feet, so do yourself some good and invest in a good pair of lightweight hiking boots and make sure they are waterproof.

Your soft fleece can protect your gear

If the weather is both wet and cold and you don’t pack a towel, use a soft fleece to wrap around your laptop. It won’t get very cold like this and it doesn’t risk too much of a shock when you get inside. And, whatever you do, don’t turn it on until it reaches the room temperature!

Layers are great in cold weather

While getting soaked during summer is not that bad and you rarely feel cold afterward, getting wet in cold weather is downright horrible. So, wear layers. If you do take on water, get rid of the cold layer, put it in a bag, and go on with your day.

5 thoughts on “How to keep yourself and your gear dry during wet weather

  1. Pingback: 7 Best European Destinations to Visit in January | Looknwalk

    • I have two sizes of ziplock bags, too! 🙂
      I have been looking like crazy for a good waterproof jacket and was sooooooo happy when I found the one I have now. I admit I am a bit of a Decathlon fan (the store has a ton of useful stuff for travelers)

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