I used to hate the rainy season. Until I changed my umbrella and bag.

The gloom of rainy days wasn't because of the rain.

I have never met anyone who likes the rainy season.

When I was a company employee, I would always feel down when this season arrived. I would check the weather forecast from the night before and sigh the next morning. Just the fact that it was raining made the day feel gloomy already.

But a few years ago, my feelings about the rainy season changed a little.

What changed it were my umbrella and my bag.

The accumulation of 'getting wet'

I thought the stress of commuting on rainy days was 'the rain's fault,' but when I thought about it, that wasn't the case.

Even with an umbrella, the back of my backpack would slowly get wet. When I closed my umbrella before getting on the train, water would spray onto those around me. When I tried to open my bag at the ticket gate, the zipper would be wet and get stuck. When I arrived at the office and took out my belongings, the edges of my documents would be wavy.

These are all small things. But when small things happen all at once in the first 30 minutes of the morning, it felt like the start of my day was thrown off.

Isn't there something I can do about this?

Thinking that was the catalyst for change.

The morning I changed my umbrella

The first thing I changed was my umbrella.

The folding umbrella I had been using until then would drip water when closed. If I held it on the train, a puddle would form on the floor. If I put it in my bag, the umbrella cover would get soaked.

The first time I became aware of the term 'super water-repellent' was the moment a friend closed their umbrella.

They gave the closed umbrella a light shake, the water droplets flew off, and it was almost completely dry. I asked, 'What kind of umbrella is that?' They said it was a Waterfront folding umbrella and it cost 1,500 yen.

1,500 yen.

While a bit taken aback by the price, I bought one the next day.

The next morning after it arrived, it happened to be raining. I walked with it open, closed it before getting on the train, and gave it a light shake. The water flew off. The umbrella was barely wet. I put it straight into the side pocket of my bag. My bag didn't get wet.

So that's what it was.

The rainy season when I changed my bag

The rainy season after I changed my umbrella, I also changed my bag.

My previous backpack claimed to be waterproof, but on days with heavy rain, moisture would seep inside. It felt like water was slowly getting in through the zipper. Since I carry my MacBook, I was a little scared every time.

I switched to a bag called the Coleman Shield 30. With its combination of waterproof material and water-repellent zippers, my belongings are completely protected during normal rain. The 30L capacity is just right, fitting my PC, water bottle, lunch, and a change of clothes.

When I arrived at the office on a rainy day and opened my bag, the inside was dry. It was such a simple thing, but it brought me more peace of mind than I expected.

The rainy season has changed, just a little

Since changing my umbrella and bag, my feelings toward the rainy season have shifted slightly.

I can't go so far as to say I don't hate it anymore. But it has changed from "depressing" to something like "well, it's fine." Even when it rains, I've come to think "it's okay" instead of "I'm going to get wet anyway."

When your tools change, your feelings change. I've always felt that with my desk setup, and it was the same with my commuting gear.

Before the rainy season arrives, I hope you'll at least try changing your umbrella. For 1,500 yen, your morning mood might change a little.

I wrote about how to choose and compare umbrellas and bags in detail on my blog.

Read also

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