14 tips for wet weather family trips

Wellie boots. Copyright Gretta Schifano

I’m not sure who first said: ‘There’s no such thing as bad weather, just people wearing the wrong  clothes’ but they were absolutely right. If I’m wearing the right clothes then I can cope with most types of weather.

When you’re out and about during the colder months it’s really important to keep warm and dry, especially if you have kids in tow. If anyone gets wet then they’re likely to feel cold and miserable and that can spoil everyone’s day. Cotswold Outdoor are sponsoring this post and have a huge range of outdoor gear. They could probably provide whatever you need to keep yourself and your kids warm and dry in any weather.

Here are my 14 tips for wet weather family days out:

• Make sure that everyone stays warm and dry.
• Take some small snacks with you just in case anyone needs refuelling while you’re out.
• Make sure that everyone has a coat that is fully waterproof (showerproof isn’t enough). Coats should have a hood and taped seams.
• If your kids don’t like wearing coats then buy ones which pack away into a bag. If it’s not too cold they can just put them on when it rains.

Waterproof coat. Copyright Gretta Schifano

• If you’re going to be outside for a while in cold weather then layers of clothes are the best way to keep warm. If you wear a base layer next to the skin it makes a real difference.
• Wellie boots are a cheap way of keeping feet dry. Buy boots a little larger than you need and wear extra pairs of socks to keep your feet warm.
• If you’re doing a lot of walking then get waterproof walking boots like these kids’ Northface Storm ones for £45.
• Take spare pairs of dry socks for everyone to change into when theirs get wet.
• If you’re going somewhere very wet then waterproof trousers are a good option. You can get them with an elasticated waist to pull on over your ordinary trousers.
• Take lightweight umbrellas with you for anyone who’s happy to hold one safely (young children can be enthusiastically hazardous with umbrellas so be careful here!)
• If anyone does get wet then try to find somewhere to dry off as soon as you can so that they don’t get cold.

Walking down Cadair Idris, Wales. Copyright Gretta Schifano

• Take a few plastic bags with you to put wet stuff into.
• Think about getting a waterproof case for your mobile phone so that you don’t have to worry about it getting wet.
• If you have a backpack make sure that it’s waterproof or get a waterproof cover for it.
• Use waterproofing spray on your wet weather gear every so often. You can buy this from supermarkets: it comes in an aerosol can and is easy to use.

Do you have any tips for wet weather days out?

Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Cotswold Outdoor but all of the ideas, words and images within it are my own.