I've lived here long enough to know there's no perfect answer, but after this morning I'm ready to hear what everyone does. Rain came sideways around 8:00, so I got on the 6 with one of those compact umbrellas that won't close flat no matter what. I tried holding it straight down by my ankle, but every lurch drips onto the person next to me. I did the plastic tote bag thing once, but then the bag leaked. So what's the move? Shove it under the seat? Prop it against the door? Wrap it in a Metro? I've seen the shower-cap trick and that seems genius, but then you're carrying a wet shower cap. I'm not trying to be a jerk here; I just want a system that doesn't make me the villain at 8 a.m.

I've been wondering this too, especially after getting side-eyed on the Q last Tuesday. I tried one of those compact umbrellas with a sleeve, but the sleeve barely holds the water and then my tote soaked through. I read the older thread Dollar vans on Flatbush: do I just wave like a cab, or is there a stop? "Dollar vans on Flatbush: do I just wave like a cab, or is there a stop?" because I thought maybe it had a good rain tip in the replies too, but no, just vans. Anyway, does anyone make an umbrella that drains into a little pocket? Or is the shower cap actually worth trying?

Long-time wet commuter here. The shower cap works, but not the thin hotel kind—it'll tear around the spokes by the third use. The better move I've settled on after too many soaked bags: keep one of those plasticky reusable grocery bags folded flat in the bottom of your work bag. When the umbrella is wet, put the tip down into it, fold the handle side in, and twist the top closed once. It doesn't have to be watertight; the plastic just has to hold the drips for a normal ride. For compact umbrellas, upgrade to one with a rubberized sleeve instead of that flimsy nylon. Not a magic fix, but it helps a lot.

Don't prop your umbrella against the doors. I watched a guy on the M86 lose his out the rear door at Central Park West after it fell into the gap. It's bad for you, worse for the person who has to dodge it. If you're standing near the door, hold the umbrella close to your shin and point the tip toward the floor groove if there is one. And when you get off, shake it out over a puddle or near a trash can, not at the top of the stairs.

Caveat: if you're on a packed 4/5/6, just close it tight, wrap it in whatever you have, and accept that your shoes are already wet. The goal is keeping the drip contained, not staying perfectly dry.

I was the shower-cap guy for a full winter. landmark_lina is right about the hotel ones tearing; I doubled them up and still ended up with a slow leak onto my work shoes. Now I keep a cheap trash bag folded in my backpack and toss the umbrella in whole. Looks like I'm carrying yesterday's takeout, but no one gives me the stink eye. One thing I'll disagree on: propping it against the door is fine if you're only going a stop or two. Otherwise it just becomes the train's problem.

Okay, I just tried the plastic grocery bag trick this morning and it worked better than I expected, but I forgot to tie it and dripped on my own shoe by 14th Street. Still learning. Does anyone know if the rubberized umbrella sleeves are worth hunting down, or should I just use one of those thick takeout soup containers? I have a ton of those and they seem like they could catch the tip. Also, would it be crazy to keep a little car sponge in the bottom of my tote? I'm new here and still figuring out the unwritten rules of wet commuting.