A dry-to-the touch, ready-to-use catheter assembly, comprising: a catheter having an insertable portion with a hydrophilic outer surface in an activated condition, the insertable portion of the catheter including an insertion end; a liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve covering at least the insertable portion of the catheter; an introducer tip adjacent to the insertion end of the insertable portion of the catheter wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve is sealed to the introducer tip; a funnel associated with a drainage end of the catheter located opposite an insertion end thereof, wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve is sealed to the funnel; characterized in: an amount of liquid disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter; the amount of liquid being contained by a liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) that substantially interferes with liquid flow; a vapor atmosphere within the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve, wherein the vapor atmosphere is produced by vapor donated from the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25); and the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) being disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter such that the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) substantially prevents direct liquid contact between the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) and the hydrophilic outer surface of the insertable portion of the catheter while permitting sufficient direct vapor contact to place the hydrophilic outer surface in the activated condition. a catheter having an insertable portion with a hydrophilic outer surface in an activated condition, the insertable portion of the catheter including an insertion end; a liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve covering at least the insertable portion of the catheter; an introducer tip adjacent to the insertion end of the insertable portion of the catheter wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve is sealed to the introducer tip; a funnel associated with a drainage end of the catheter located opposite an insertion end thereof, wherein the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve is sealed to the funnel; characterized in: an amount of liquid disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter; the amount of liquid being contained by a liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) that substantially interferes with liquid flow; a vapor atmosphere within the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve, wherein the vapor atmosphere is produced by vapor donated from the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25); and the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) being disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter such that the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) substantially prevents direct liquid contact between the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) and the hydrophilic outer surface of the insertable portion of the catheter while permitting sufficient direct vapor contact to place the hydrophilic outer surface in the activated condition. an amount of liquid disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter; the amount of liquid being contained by a liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) that substantially interferes with liquid flow; a vapor atmosphere within the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve, wherein the vapor atmosphere is produced by vapor donated from the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25); and the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) being disposed between the liquid and vapor impermeable sleeve and the insertable portion of the catheter such that the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) substantially prevents direct liquid contact between the amount of liquid contained by the liquid flow interfering element (20, 22, 23, 25) and the hydrophilic outer surface of the insertable portion of the catheter while permitting sufficient direct vapor contact to place the hydrophilic outer surface in the activated condition.