Walking in the Rain

Walking in the rain is just one of many unique, fun, and revitalizing ways to reconnect with nature. 

Who didn’t walk in the rain as a child? While the adults huddled indoors or dashed from house to car, the children threw on galoshes, splashed in puddles, and tasted the water that ran cold down our faces.

We laughed at thunder and danced in the downpour.

To reconnect with nature, to get our metaphorical roots deeper into the earth, we must cast off some of the inhibitions and boundaries we’ve drawn between ourselves and the natural world.

Seize the Day

Connecting with nature means that we remain connected in all of her moods. If we waited only for perfect days, perfect weather, bright sunshine, we would spend only the smallest portion of our time outdoors.

To connect with nature means to occasionally brave the wind, the cold, the mud, and the rain, and to appreciate the beauty of those conditions. Walking in the rain allows us to experience many aspects and perspectives of nature we would otherwise miss, and it’s a richly rewarding experience.

We tend to think of rainy days as gloomy and melancholic, as days of forced inactivity. Walking in the rain is a way to shake off these perceptions.

One of the first things you realize when walking in the rain is how absolutely ALIVE everything is. The smells of nature are richer, heavy with life. The scents of rain, wet earth, warm pavement surround you. 

Woodland in the Rain

Achill Island, Ireland

The colors seem sharper due to the contrast between bright leaves, wet bark, damp ground, and gray sky. There is less light overall, but it seems concentrated in those spots of vivid color.

Texture is abundant – the wet grasses, the tree bark, the ripples on water, the low clouds scudding past, the pearls of water on a blade of grass.

Everywhere is the sound of water. Gentle showers on surfaces, the patter of water on leaves, the slow drip from eaves, the metallic tinkle of water in downspouts and gutters. 

Walking in the rain is an experience entirely unlike walking in any other weather, and the only way to experience it is to get out and do it.

Go Prepared

Making the decision to cast aside our inhibitions and go walking in the rain does not mean we shouldn’t go prepared. While we CAN cast caution to the wind and go for a stroll in a white t-shirt, it’s generally a more enjoyable experience when we make concessions to our comfort.

What you’ll need to prepare for walking in the rain has a few considerations including temperature, wind, rainfall rate, season, and venue. So consider each of these factors before you head out into the wild.

First, accept that you will get wet. It’s a prerequisite. And it’s both temporary and less uncomfortable than you are imagining. Put your phone or device in a waterproof case or a sealed Ziplock bag to avoid damage.

Your locale is also a consideration. If you’re walking in town or in the city, it’s easy to duck into a coffee shop or storefront to wait out a heavier shower. If you’re walking in a park or rural setting, you may need to plan to weather a brief downpour in the open.

Thirty-five degrees F and rainy has a different comfort factor than a light shower at eighty degrees. At the very least, pack a light raincoat or poncho with a hood. This means your legs and feet may still get wet, especially in a heavy deluge.

If the wind isn’t a factor, consider an umbrella or bucket hat.

Rainy November Walk

Rainy Hike in Cornwall

Look also at the sort of the clothing you are wearing. Denim jeans and cotton clothing (or underclothing) are not good choices for walking in the rain. These fabrics will absorb the moisture, cling to your skin, and take a loooong time to dry back out again.

Consider cotton/polyester blends and wools, which wick moisture away from the skin (most “workout” and outdoor clothing is designed with this in mind) and dry quickly. Wool maintains its insulative properties even when wet. 

Merino wool clothing is a popular outdoor choice as a cool, soft, breathable, but insulative fabric, even in wet conditions.

Galoshes, rainboots, and waterproof hiking shoes are great options for keeping your feet dry.  

Think ahead to other things that will make your rainy walk a pleasure. We love to carry along a thermos of hot tea with honey and a little milk. This is perfect for warming up the chest during a brief rest.

Walking in the Rain: A Memorable Experience

Some of our most memorable experiences in nature have occurred while walking in the rain. When you travel and have a limited time in a location, you plan to make the most of that time regardless of the weather.

We’ve traveled many places, taken many walks and hikes. We’ve made a lot of memories and have many scenes graven into our minds. But we’ve forgotten just as many. 

Raindrops on a Fallen Leaf

Rainy "Wishing Tree" near Avebury, UK

We’ve realized how many of those walks in the rain have stuck with us, how truly memorable those experiences are.

It drives the crowds away. If you want to experience nature in solitude, to get “far from the madding crowd”, step out into the rain. You’ll feel a sense of freedom, of shaking off the fetters of adulthood.

Tourist destinations, National or State Parks, and popular hiking trails will be considerably less crowded while walking in the rain.

That solo interaction with the world, the ability to focus and become mindful of the place and the moment with all its abundant sensations, will hold in the memory long after more temporary thrills have gone.

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