How to Pack Light for Fall Travel When the Forecast Calls for Rain

It's almost fall y'all. If you're planning fall travel this September or October, unpredictable weather is our biggest carry-on challenge. So today I'm going to share a fall travel packing list with layers you might need in this autumn season and water-resistant picks. However, I'll show you some potential packing pitfalls so that you can avoid the top over packing mistakes that most women make this season. As a pilot's wife, I've only packed in carry-on luggage for 24 years. So these tips are going to help you because they have helped me. If you're traveling in the autumn, you've got to get your layers right. One potential packing pitfall is that just-in-case can be your enemy. So this is the wiser pick. There are three things. You're going to have at least one water-resistant or waterproof shoe. You're going to have one waterproof rain jacket or a strong travel size umbrella that fits into my crossbody bag. It's easy to pack like one of these seven ponchos in your bag if you'll be touring all day. One way to avoid the packing pitfalls of over packing is for long-sleeve tops. You're going to choose one or two long-sleeve shirts depending on your style and your activities on your trip. I'm going to show you mine and you choose your picks or a style that's already in your closet. One is a good old Oxford shirt that is white. This one is Tencel. It's by Quince. It's like a dolman sleeve so it hangs like that Risky Business t-shirt in the old movie that Tom Cruise wears. That can be an over shirt. That can be a base layer. It can look elevated so easily and it is humidity proof. If you still have the heat and you want to have that elevated look still, you can also wear this fishing type shirt. It is incredibly lightweight so it is quick drying. You've got all the different pockets. A hidden pocket in there as well that zips. You have airflow room in the back. It is you can roll the sleeves up to make them short sleeves like long short sleeves. That's a very versatile shirt that can be worn with jeans or with your hiking pants if you're walking in the woods all day. Or you can also choose just your basic long-sleeve tees that you like wearing with jeans or your hiking pants. Now we move on to warmer layers that you might need while traveling in September or October this fall. One of my favorite new ones in 2026 is this fleece by Quince. It is completely zip up. It is the kind that is roomy but it fits your body. So cold air is not going to get up in your fleece like between your fleece and your body. You can also just add a puffer vest and you will never believe it. I have it in a shoe compression cube. It is a puffer vest but it does not add bulk to my outfit look. And that light pink color is great for between summer and fall when you're still wanting the bright happy colors but you need a little bit of warmth. One of my favorite is the cotton cashmere sweaters that I have. I have a v-neck. I have a crew neck. I even have a cardigan version from Quince. They are cotton and cashmere and with that cashmere it means it cuts the cold immediately by adding just a lightweight layer. So you could wear a t-shirt and then that have that cotton cashmere sweater. You could also add a poncho that can be worn in three different ways as a scarf, as a wrap in the airplane, or as a poncho. It's thin enough to give you an extra layer almost like a thin airplane blanket without giving you bulk and it rolls up so seamlessly. So I'm going to help you avoid that packing pitfall by packing too many warm layers with this wise pick. You're going to choose two to three warmer layers but that will be based on your activities and your weather forecast. Whether or not you're going to have rain and if it's in the 40s versus 59, will you be inside or will you be outside most of the day? For a river cruise in Europe when I got back in the fall to our room I just took off the sweater and had my base layer teed. One travel tip for women is remember that these warmer layers are going to be on top of a base layer so those are not going to get dirty. Here's another packing pitfall for women when you deal with that sweaty workout scent after a long day of sightseeing. You don't stink but you have that that odor retention in your workout shirts that tells people that you've been sweating. My wise pick is a merino wool t-shirt. They come in short sleeves and long sleeves. Unlike other fabrics it will not hold on to odor. It will not hold in your moisture. It will immediately wick away moisture and I grew up in Georgia and lived in Houston, Texas for 11 years and I am telling you they work in humid weather. Do not let the word wool fool you. One quick tip is that if you get the quince ones which are very affordable and work you just have to hand wash them not in the washing machine. The Amazon one is washing machine safe but I air dry them both. I can't remember if I said this but they regulate your body temperature. In between seasons in September and October they are going to help you so much so that you can re-wear them with other outfits and merino wool is very quick drying if you want to sink wash them. This is where you have the freedom to pack as many shirts as you want to. A travel tip is that solid colors help you mix and match and wear these shirts again with your jeans or your hiking pants. A red tee, a blue t-shirt, a gray light gray t-shirt would be great or a more elevated tee like this sweater tee. This is a t-shirt but it's cotton cashmere so it's lightweight and feels like a t-shirt almost like you're wearing nothing but it's a little elevated if you need that kind of look. If you've been with our Travel Tips by Lori community you know that I love the bay leaf hiking pants. They're water repellent and they have three different lengths to choose from depending on your height. They have a soft elastic and they can cinch at the bottom and they are quiet when your legs rub together. For most of my trips in the fall season I wear a kick crop type jean and this one from Quince is brand new and fantastic. The zipper flapper does not open up. It doesn't poke out. It keeps your, I guess it's got tummy control or something. It's so good but the leg flattering part is that it flares just at the end for a little crop or you could wear your denim that is a flare type style or straight leg if you like wearing denim. You could also wear an athletic type pant that can go into a restaurant if you're using monochromatic or just a cashmere sweater on top like my athleta pants. These are very quick drying and they're stretchable and breathable but they also can be versatile. Your wise pick is to pack four maybe five t-shirts that you're going to be able to mix and match. Layers are great until you have a downpour in the middle of a trail but you've checked the forecast and you have packed for the what if. You could just pack a heavy line raincoat and wear it all the time but because of fluctuating weather changes there are only four or five that you really need. For outer layers you would pack a waterproof rain jacket, water repellent hiking pant that I showed. I also have these over pants and these are not pretty but you wear them over your pants like over your jeans but the best part about packing these over pants if you're going to Iceland or somewhere where it could pour down rain is they pack into this little bitty travel case and they're elastic waist and have pockets that are waterproof as well. Then you also need waterproof or water resistant shoes that you could also walk comfortably on slick pavement or loose gravel with. If you are traveling in the fall to the upper Pacific Northwest and they are going to have a chance of rain I would suggest packing a packable water resistant down jacket. It rolls up in its own little pouch in the jacket but another idea is if you just have a little packable jacket that's lightweight that you like as well just take a trash bag and stuff it in it and then just stuff it down under your seat. That one by Quince I'm wearing a large and it's perfectly perfect and it does actually roll up into its pouch. So to avoid the packing pitfall our wise pick is to choose at least one that is water resistant or waterproof. If it rains a couple of days you're covered. Here are three wise picks. Number one, choose one that can do double duty for your experiences. My new Nornavate shoe is completely waterproof. It is a sneaker that I can walk in all day comfortably but they also have a rugged sole. If I'm on loose gravel, slick pavement, it's wide enough to give me stable footing. Or another waterproof shoe is by Merrell. These are waterproof if I am going to be hiking on muddy trails that I need comfort in with arch support as well and waterproof ability then I would pack those. But my travel tip is I bet a lot of you really don't need a hiking shoe if you have a sneaker that has a grooved sole with solid step and is water resistant or waterproof. So the wise pick would choose which one of those would fit for this trip. If you want to add some fun and function you could pack like these ballet sneakers that are true sneakers. See how stretchy the band is? They would be great to wear for the long flight or during the day if your feet do swell. Or if you know it will be raining almost every day on your trip, you may want to choose the Blondo waterproof slide-in sneakers. They're waterproof. They give you a good solid step and they are comfortable. I have to add an arch insert to those and they run a little big so I always size down half with Blondo. They come in every solid color that you may need for your travel outfits. Either of those two shoes would be great after your excursions all day for just lounging on your river cruise boat or just lounging around town. But choose one of them. And here is a potential packing pitfall. There's a free printable down below in the description paragraph for you that has a fall packing list. But always check your weather and compare it with your activities. Do you really need those lounge around shoes if you already had tennis shoes that you've packed? The double duty tennis shoes that are also waterproof. You can lounge around with those as well and leave those fun and functional shoes at home. If you are not a sneaker traveler then just pack these loafers that have arch support for walking hours. They are so comfortable and you can wear them with 10 different tops and a pair of jeans every day and still be comfortable and have a casual chic outfit. When packing in the shoulder seasons there are two tips to always remember. Number one, limit the number of shoes that you pack. Choose three and wear one of them in the airplane. And the second tip is to have at least one thing that is waterproof or water resistant as your outer layer. Now you're ready for the what ifs and can ditch clothing and shoes that you really do not need because you used this packing list of essentials to really pull out what is essential for those activities for this vacation and your style. Based on the weather forecast of course. All right thanks for your time. Say hey if we have not met yet.