Traveling during a destination’s rainy season or monsoon season is a relatively easy way to save money when venturing abroad. While there can be some challenges, adequate preparation and packing will have you dancing in the rain in no time.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the items below, please use the links provided. A percentage of your purchase will go directly to Ventre’s Adventures Student Travel Programs.

Luggage

When I am not traveling with students, I am typically backpacking through my destination of choice. The type of backpack I use can make or break my trip, especially during rainy season. I am a huge fan of Osprey Packs. They are the most durable packs that I have ever used, and they have a lifetime warranty.

The two Osprey backpacks that I recommend to everyone are the Osprey Men’s Atmos AG 65 backpack, and the Osprey Women’s Aura AG 65 backpack.

          

Even though most backpacks are made with quick dry material, I would still recommend extra protection during the rainy season. A rain cover is perfect for the unexpected downpour, and an Osprey Airporter is for the accidental water and/or liquids spilled when your backpack travels through the airport.

           

Jackets

When deciding on the proper rain jacket to pack, there are a few aspects to consider. The first is quality. You want to make sure that your jacket can withstand the elements of your destination. For the most part, that means wind and rain resistance. The second aspect to consider is packability. You want to make sure that your jacket can easily fold up into a small, packable object. My two favorite jackets that I recommend are made by The North Face. While they can be expensive, the company offers great warranties for their products.

For men I recommend The North Face Resolve 2 Jacket, and for women I recommend The North Face Venture 2 Jacket. Both run true to size. If you like your jackets to be bigger, make sure you size up. Both jackets are wind and rain resistant, and they fold up into their pockets for easy packability.

           

Women’s Shoes

Cold & Rainy

When venturing to cold and rainy destinations, packing the proper shoe can be challenging. You need to make sure that your shoe has solid traction, thermal capability, and water resistance. In addition, packing bulky shoes such as these can be a pain. Typically I recommend wearing this shoes on airplanes and other travel days because they are difficult to fit in a backpack. In this category, Hunter and Sorel reign supreme.

Sorel Boots are my absolute favorite. Not only do they last forever, but also many of them already have thermal lining embedded in them. Sorel Boots have improved traction allowing them to be a safer option on slick surfaces. In addition, they are fashionable adding the perfect finishing touch to any outfit. Sorel runs true to size.

                       

Hunter Boots last for years, and they come in a bunch of super cute colors. They are also available in tall or short variations. What’s important to remember, though, is that these boots are not intended for active outdoor activity. They are great for strolling around on rainy days. If your destination is cold and rainy, be sure to purchase some thermal socks for your boots. Hunter runs true to size.

                       

Warm & Rainy

When venturing to warm and rainy destinations, packing the proper shoe is actually pretty easy. The type or types of shoe(s) needed depend(s) on your level of outdoor activity that you will be pursuing. Flip flops are typically not ideal unless you are casually roaming in the rain or going to the beach. I recommend three different options.

If you are going to be traveling through jungles or rice fields, you need a hiking shoe. I have provided two of my favorites. Some women feel more comfortable having their ankles covered, so the Columbia boot is a great option. If you are hiking in wet terrain, I recommend the Merrell hiking shoe. Both of these recommendations are water and terrain proof, meaning that they will withstand the elements of travel.

           

If you are simply walking around a warm and rainy area, my go to shoe of choice is actually the Chaco. While I find them to be absolutely hideous, they are the best option for warm and rainy travel. They are also great on boats, and are the easiest shoes to dry and pack.

Camera Gear

If you’re like me when you travel, then you probably take thousands of pictures abroad. Rain and moisture can ruin your camera gear if you’re not careful. I provided a few items that allow safekeeping of your camera, while still taking high quality pictures.

The camera cover enables protection of your camera when shooting in the rain. I personally find it to be quite annoying to have on your camera, BUT if you are shooting outdoor landscape in the rain, it is the perfect accessory.

The Nikon and Canon lens hood, to me, is the most important and easy to use. You can pop the hood onto your lens, and it will block the rain from creating white spots on your pictures.

If you’re looking for an overall high quality water resistant camera, the GoPro Session is my personal favorite. It can withstand all of the elements, while also capturing high quality pictures and videos. A word of caution. Just because the camera is water resistant does not mean that water does not adhere to the lens. You still need to properly clean off the GoPro Session, just as you would with any other camera.

                      

Miscellaneous

There are a few other items that I found quite necessary when traveling through rainy season. I didn’t realize I needed them until I was there. Hopefully you find enough room in your backpack to include these items as well.

When traveling to warm and rainy destinations, mosquitos are out in full form. Typically bug repellent is more expensive abroad than back home, especially in areas where there are high volumes of mosquitos. I use all Sawyer products when I venture outdoors, but their bug repellent is my personal favorite. Sawyer bug repellent contains thirty percent Deet, and the repellent is in lotion form. This means that you can carry it on an airplane.

Another item of usefulness is the floating dry bags. I didn’t realize I needed them until all of my clothes were soaked in South America. The problem is that once your clothes get soaked in a humid destination, it is virtually impossible to get them to dry completely. This means that eventually they may start to smell….gross. You do not want your wet, smelly clothes to mix with your dry, clean clothes. These dry bags are the perfect solution for that scenario.