Rainy Seattle split on umbrellas
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Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios
As Seattle settles into the rainy season, don't expect a sea of umbrellas on the sidewalks. Around here, they're as common as sunny forecasts in January.
Why it matters: In the Pacific Northwest, the humble umbrella isn't just a rain shield — it's a cultural lightning rod. For some, it's a beacon of rookie status, signaling a hesitance to embrace the city's "rain jacket only" ethos.
- But others see false pride sidelining a useful tool.
Driving the news: The majority of the 287 readers who responded to Axios Seattle's survey in November (82%) said they own an umbrella — yet only 6% reported using one exclusively when it's wet out.
- Instead, 60% opt for a rain jacket alone, while 29% prefer to use both.
What you're saying: Many respondents said the region's typical drizzle combined with gusty winds means "proper rain gear" — from jackets to hats, pants and shoes — give better protection, reader MG McManus told Axios. An umbrella is simply "more trouble than it's worth," wrote Patricia Duarte.
- Light rains rather than downpours make umbrellas unnecessary, said David Fleishman. "I've been in Seattle for 37 years and I have never owned an umbrella."
- Why bother, wrote another reader who didn't give their name. It's "just one more thing to lose. Or to poke in someone else's eye."
- When Suzanne Lorenz moved to Seattle from Northern California, she carried an umbrella out of habit, sparking local quips: "You must be new here."
The other side: Some readers pointed out that there are moments when an umbrella makes sense — like when braving the sidelines at a youth soccer game or protecting a sharp suit or a fabulous hairdo.
- "I commute to work daily via light rail in a suit. I wear waterproof shoes and carry the dress ones … and use an umbrella for dryness and convenience," wrote Dale Mingo.
- "The only time I use an umbrella is when I am dressed up for an event and I've curled my hair," wrote Sue DuBois.
Between the lines: The disdain for umbrellas is a newer phenomenon, noted third-generation Seattleite Tina Riss Christiansen.
- Thirty years ago, locals proudly carried vibrant umbrellas decorated with fish, flowers and stripes, Christiansen wrote.
- Another Seattle native emailed Axios Seattle: "I've always used an umbrella, and so did everyone I knew who grew up here. Please stop the umbrella shame."
The intrigue: The dictate for a parka instead of a bumbershoot may evolve as the city gets more extreme weather and heavier rain.
The bottom line: Perhaps we should embrace practicality as reader Roland Null suggests: "Use an umbrella when you need one to keep dry. You don't have to refuse to use one just to show your Seattleness."