Comic Info:
January 17, 2011 - 1:47am
In spite of the fact that it rains nearly constantly for more than half the year here in Van, umbrellas are often more of an hindrance than a help. The obvious solution is the one that I used throughout University - forget the umbrella and just encase yourself in an impervious shell. Unfortunately, such coats are not very professional :(
Comments
Sounds like you need this kind of umbrella then...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQxaS0zmH4U
I would actually go for a nice long coat and a wide brimmed hat much nicer in wet and windy weather.
Plus when it's just windy you have the cool coat flapping in the wind effect :)
I really don't bother about the concept of 'professional' clothing - I just go for the encase-yourself method, regardless of what anybody might think, because I simply can't stand umbrellas. Apart from keeping both hands free, the other advantage of doing it this way is that you also get a bit of protection from careless umbrella users...
I'm definitely coming around to this. The biggest disadvantage is that the coat doesn't protect whatever it is I'm *carrying*. But AUGH, umbrellas! I am over them.
What about a rainsuit? Admittedly they can get a bit hot in the summer and can be inconvenient to get on and off in a quick cloudburst, but I find them to be better than a raincoat or bumbershoot. (To use the old British term.)
When in doubt, line the insides of your bags with a binliner and stick the stuff inside.
Looks a bit weird when you open your bag and pull out a binbag but it works a treat!
That's exactly what I do when I'm out backpacking. Albeit I use the hardcore contractor clean up bags (the 4 mil ones at that). Although I'll try and see if I can get my hands on a 6 mil garbage bag.
As for me when it rains really bad and is cold I wear; my wax coated "slouch hat", rain jacket and windproof "overpants" (in the North american sense....) or "overtrousers" (if you will....) if it gets really bad but in Vancouver I'm fine with a t-shirt and shorts when it rains.
As awesome as MEC is I actually got my windproof pants from another smaller shop across the street (this is on boradway where what I call the "outdoor adventure district" is).
this is why I liek my plastic dome umbrella. :D I dont NEED to lean it!
I always make sure I am dressed professionally when I go to work but I am really not concerned about what I wear on my commute, I don't think anyone is going to judge me for wearing suitable attire for the weather.
At least no more than they would judge me for turning up soaking wet and looking unprepared, at least this way I am dry ;D
Gustbuster umbrellas have worked fairly well for me in high winds before. Have you tried them out?
I haven't yet because they're hard to find, and usually pricey and too big when I do find them. (I know they have smaller models but the ones I usually run into are huuuge). It'd probably be worth the investment now, but I think I'd rather funnel that money into a nicer-looking raincoat!
You can order them online for a decent price. I got mine on Amazon, and it survives the SF winds quite well.
You know that we _need_an A3 poster of this strip now, don't you.
I can probably make that happen :)
Well, you'd have one customer :-) I must admit that the complete lact of response from other commenters might say something though. ::sadness::
I will buy one if you make it though.
This seems to work well, though look a little silly.
http://www.amazon.com/Nubrella-Hands-Free-Umbrella/dp/B001Q8RX0K/ref=sr_...
It does??? I read the reviews, and even the good one flagged up a number of issues that for me would make it a complete non-starter. Okay, I'm completely anti-umbrella. And one you have to remove with some difficulty, possibly with assistance whenever you go in a shop sounds like compounding a felony to me!
awwwwwws... :)