I’m going to UC Davis this fall, so I wonder what I’ll need for the rain in terms of clothing, as I currently live in southern California.
Questions:
I’m a guy by the way.
@123DavisfromSocal It rains ALOT in NorCal. I live in Sonoma County, and, in fact, it rained here this week, which is kind of unseasonable but not unexpected.
I would look online on a site like REI or the REI outlet store for a good rain jacket. Look for something with GoreTex, or a Precip material by brands like NorthFace, Columbia, or Marmot. I do own rain pants but really only wear them when I know I will have to be out of doors in heavy rain to walk the dog or go on a hike. The previous brands also make pants, and you can find them online on REI too. Check out Sierra Trading Post, MooseJaw, and Dick’s Sporting Goods too. Make sure it has a hood. You will also be close to the Sierra and snow which will make a jacket important. You can always layer under a decent rain shell with a lightweight down jacket. It can also get cold up here, but my son wears sweatshirts most of the year - it is generally mild (maybe low 40’s average) but it is nice to have a heavier warm jacket for colder days.
As far as footwear, tennis shoes are fine unless you are really going to be trekking a lot outside.
You might find some hiking boots, but most guys up here don’t wear much in the way of waterproof footwear like the women do with rain boots.
As far as biking in the rain, that’s a personal choice but a cheap rain poncho would fit over your backpack. It can rain very hard up here, can be slippery, and walking might be a better way to get around when it is really pouring.
p.s. this might be a good time to find closeouts on rain stuff as we have dry summers (generally!).
My dd attended and graduated from Davis-we are very southern cal.
She had all kinds of rain gear depending on the type of rain.
For wet, heavy rain, she had one type of jacket, slicker like, and weather proof with rain boots, gloves-REI, no biking just walking, with intermittent bus use. Biking with the boots was hard.
Light consistent rain, another type of jacket with hat. She, as well as her friends and a number of students, covered their bike seats with grocery plastic bags or tarp-like materials-sometimes large rain ponchos covered her with warm jacket underneath and waterproof gloves.
Order online because in her first year, we were looking all over and it was really dry in September in the Woodland and Sacramento areas. (You are going to like going to the Woodland Costco.) They have an REI in Sac, near Costco. You may still find some stuff now.
Must have a bike fender to avoid the freshman stripe. Make sure you have a strong bike lock. There are bike shops everywhere up there as well as the Bike Barn. Lots of good used bikes. (Target is east of campus). From her 2nd-4th year, she had two bikes. One was on the northern part of the campus-to access that area and the trader joe’s etc. The other was on the southern part of campus-to access In N Out and all parts south.
@auntbea aren’t rain boots only really worn by girls?
Regarding biking, you will watch the weather predictions closely. 
It rains a lot but it doesn’t always pour. It might be dry when you bike to class and raining after class.
Mens’ construction work boots. Your cross trainers will get soaked.
You have to watch the weather predictions.
Any other perspectives on these questions?
My daughter is there now. People bike in all weather. You’ll need a light rain jacket for sure. Rain pants help in heavier storms, obviously. I never thought my daughter would wear rain pants, but she swears by them. Nobody cares about looking nerdy, btw. Dry is preferable!
It is generally NOT cold when it rains, however, so don’t get anything with lining (you can always layer sweater or fleece underneath). Costco has had a great set of rain jacket/pants. Daughter has rain boots, but I’m not sure what guys wear. Also, get the fenders installed on your bike BEFORE the rain starts, maybe even before school starts. A plastic trash bag to tie one the seat of your bike is handy and get a U lock (not the cable type) and always lock the frame to the bike rack. For the backpack, get a water resistant one–she’s never had an issue with the backpack, probably because you’re biking INTO the rain, and it doesn’t hit the back as much as the front…?? Also, laptop tends to be packed closer to the back. Good luck!
Regarding bike locks, I would recommend a U lock AND a cable so that both tires are locked. People will steal parts from even the cheapest bikes. Make your bike less easy to steal than the bike parked next to you.
@lkg4answers Definitely agree about using both locks, but if it’s one it should be the U.
@123DavisfromSocal - I’m a Southern Californian who works in Sacramento during the week and flies homw for weekends. The weather isn’t hugely different there - just colder and wetter most of the year and Hotter/more humid during the summer. But it’s like 10-15 degrees off most of the time not 40. Light but good-quality rain jacket and a good pair of waterproof shoes kept me pretty happy this year (admittedly, I only walk outside for a couple of blocks at a time, I don’t bike). For shoes I recommend looking at Keens waterproof. I learned about Keens from friends in Seattle - they look and feel like normal shoes but you can walk through water up to a couple of inches and your feet stay totally dry. Wore mine most of last winter and loved them!
My daughter had U-locks made by Kryptonite.
Make sure your bike tires aren’t quick release and your adjustable bike seat is locked as well.
Like what was mentioned in post #12 it’s not going to be that much hotter or colder. Wetter, probably in the winter and early spring. The only specialty shoes my UC-Berkeley kid has is his Air Jordan’s for basketball playing and football cleats. Sandals for inside the dorm and plain ol running shoes for normal walking around, rain or no rain. And a few umbrellas and lots of hoodies. A couple of them waterproof. No jacket. No special pants. A very nice waterproof backpack that compartmentalizes his 15” laptop and books and has an emergency USB charger. He didn’t bring his bike so can’t comment on that.
It really depends where in So Cal you live. We are on the coast and it has been in the 60s here whereas Davis is in the 90s.
I think the biggest difference is that we get around in a car in So Cal while in Davis you are on a bike. If you take the bus in the rain then you are walking to and from classes in the rain.