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Many people think that umbrellas are so easily lost or lent out that they aren’t worth investing in. Over the years, I’ve actually found the opposite to be true. Now that I own an umbrella I really like, I care far too much to leave it in a cab or underneath a restaurant table. My Blunt Metro comes along with me on every vacation, and when I’m at home, it hangs conveniently by the door. It has been a loyal companion for six years now, and I have every reason to hope I’ll be using it for six years more.
While all umbrellas are designed to do the same things (keep your upper and lower body dry during downpours, withstand at least a gust or two of wind, and fold into a reasonably compact shape when not in use), they’re certainly not created equal. And most aren’t particularly durable. To find the best umbrellas — ones so good that you’ll put effort into keeping them on your person — I combed through our archives to find the most expert-recommended ones, then tested out those picks for myself alongside my fellow Strategist staffers. While you’re here, I’ve also written about the best raincoats and rain boots.
What we’re looking for
Weight and length
An umbrella should be sturdy but not so heavy that you have trouble holding it for extended periods or carrying other items at the same time. For that reason, I’ve taken note of how much each of these umbrellas weigh and also included each one’s closed length.
Arc
I also paid attention to how wide each umbrella’s open canopy was. A larger diameter doesn’t necessarily mean more rain protection (the angle of the ribs makes a difference, as does the quality of waterproof fabric used), but it is indicative of how much space you’ll be taking up on the sidewalk and how many people you can cram underneath if needed. As a general guide, look for arcs of at least 40 inches if you’re hoping to shelter someone else with your umbrella. For families or groups of friends, golf umbrellas spanning 50 inches or more are ideal.
Waterproofing
According to Jeff Blauer, the CEO and president of Shed Rain, one of the biggest differences between good and bad umbrellas is the type of fabric they use. Ideally, an umbrella’s canopy should be constructed from fabric that beads water rather than absorbs it. “It’s about how much water is left on the canopy when you’re done with the umbrella,” he says. “Shake a high-end umbrella when you’re done and you’ll see the water bounce off. There shouldn’t be much leftover. Buy an inferior product, you’ll see the water just stays there.” With this in mind, I’ve taken note of how different umbrella brands and styles have approached their waterproofing.
Wind resistance
The best umbrellas are built with wind as much as water resistance in mind. Different umbrella brands approach wind differently — but I looked for features like reinforced ribs that’ll resist the urge to turn inside out, as well as springs and vents. (Just note that although it’s annoying when umbrellas invert, their ribs are in fact designed to flex back into place — just because your umbrella turns inside out in the wind doesn’t mean it’s broken, and all of the recommendations below are constructed sturdily enough to withstand a fair few storms.)
Best umbrella overall
Weight and length: 1 lb, 9 ounces, 35 inches | Arc: 50 inches | Wind resistance: Inversion-resistant fiberglass frame | Waterproofing: Excellent
This investment umbrella (that’s covered by an unconditional lifetime guarantee) looks so elegant that I get excited to use it each time. The curved leather handle is comfortable in the hand, and the umbrella opens with a majestic swoosh at the touch of a button, forming a tight canopy of soft yet highly waterproof fabric. It “looks and feels like a Bentley or some other fancy but tasteful British thing,” Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says, especially due to distinguishing design details like the nylon sheath, which has been designed with a little hole at the top to let the tip of the umbrella through and a slit at the bottom to reveal the opener button. And, most crucial of all, she stays “ridiculously dry” while using it. So do I. Non-telescoping cane umbrellas can be hefty things, but this one is a breeze to hold, adds former writer Lori Keong: “It’s lightweight enough to hold in one hand with a full bag of laundry slung over the other shoulder — and miraculously wide enough to keep your entire body and that bag of laundry dry to the touch.”
Best affordable compact umbrella
Weight and length: 13 ounces, 11 inches | Arc: 37 inches | Wind resistance: Vented frame | Waterproofing: Good
On the opposite end of the price spectrum sits this compact travel umbrella from Amazon Basics. It might look like a cheapie from the drugstore, but its wind and rain performance is far superior. Plus this is one affordable umbrella that “will actually last,” promises New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff. She also praises its wind vent, which is unobtrusive yet makes it much less likely that the umbrella will flip. Opening and closing it is a breeze, and the comfortable handle rivals Davek’s designs. And yes, the price is right — you won’t feel too bad about leaving this one in the back of a Lyft, and the driver will thank you later.
Best affordable two-person umbrella
Weight and length: 14.4 ounces, 11 inches | Arc: 42 inches | Wind resistance: Double vented canopy | Waterproofing: Good
I also tested this larger yet similarly affordable umbrella during a heavy spring storm in Brooklyn last month. It has much more wind venting than the Amazon Basics style above, though the frame did eventually invert as I navigated through the extreme weather. The umbrella easily snapped back into shape, though, and its canopy was big enough to keep me very dry even as the streets completely flooded. It would also work well for two people.
Best everyday city umbrella
Weight and length: 13.6 ounces, 14.8 inches | Arc: 39.4 inches | Wind resistance: Vented frame | Waterproofing: Excellent
Blunt’s Metro umbrella has a smallish canopy that’s designed for a single person navigating crowded city streets. So while other umbrellas provide greater coverage, this one is unusually nimble in urban environments. The springy metal frame is designed to flex in the wind, rather than buck against it, which makes the umbrella extremely durable. While most open umbrellas have such high tension that their ribs can snap when bumped against a hard surface, this one spins 360 degrees on the handle, reducing the force of such impacts. Per the name, the umbrella’s tips are blunt and covered in fabric, which means you won’t poke anybody’s eyes out in a crowd. Opening and closing it couldn’t be easier.
Best umbrella for serious storms
Weight and length: 1.8 lbs, 41 inches | Arc: 62 inches | Wind resistance: Fiberglass vented frame | Waterproofing: Excellent
For a more traditional but still very windproof golf umbrella, go for the Gustbuster. This umbrella is heavier than others listed here, but its wider and thicker canopy can hold up to serious storms. And its ribs are constructed from unflippable fiberglass. As Keong commented after testing one, the umbrella is “so physically large you can count on not getting wet unless you’re sharing with two large adults.” But she did dock points for its slightly tricky closure method: “You really have to mash your thumb down on the switch at the top of the shaft.”
Best travel umbrella
Weight and length: 1 lbs, 12.25 inches | Arc: 37 inches | Wind resistance: Fiberglass frame | Waterproofing: Excellent
I’ve tested slightly more compact travel umbrellas than this, but they tended to have comically small canopies that didn’t do much to protect anything other than the top of my head. Repel’s umbrella (which has a lifetime guarantee) is a nice compromise. It’s unobtrusive enough to be tossed into a backpack or tote but still forms a wide canopy when opened. It can also hold its own against wind as much as water. “The fabric barely fluttered even as I walked directly into the wind,” says Strategist editor Maxine Builder, who tested one out. “And I had no concerns about the umbrella flipping inside out or straining.”
Best oversize umbrella
Weight and length: 1.61 lb, 43.3 inches | Arc: 68 inches | Wind resistance: Fiberglass frame, double canopy | Waterproofing: Excellent
If you want your entire body to stay completely dry when it’s raining, prepare to take up space on the sidewalk. As used by Kendall Roy on Succession, the G4Free is comically large (it has two Velcro closure straps instead of the usual one) but undeniably protective. “You press the button and it slowly slides open like you’re powering up a lightsaber,” says former Strategist writer David Notis, who tested one out. “I got a lot of weird looks walking around the East Village and taking up all of the sidewalk’s air rights, but honestly it felt kind of nice knowing that the rain wasn’t going to touch me or basically anything within a three-foot radius.” The umbrella is heavy and its hugeness means it will catch a lot of wind, like a sail. But the venting does help.
Best reverse-close umbrella
Weight and length: 0.9 lbs, 12.5 inches | Arc: 47 inches | Wind resistance: Fiberglass and steel frame | Waterproofing: Excellent
ShedRain’s UnbelievaBrella folds in reverse, enclosing the wet exterior fabric. Corsillo tested one and says that this closure process can be a little tricky to master at first but is well worth it, especially if you want to stash your umbrella in your bag. “But at least I stayed dry in the process,” she points out. When the umbrella is opened, water and wind resistance is fairly high. Like all of the brand’s umbrellas, this one is covered by a lifetime warranty, should its functions ever fail.
Best clear umbrella
Weight and length: 1.25 lbs, 37 inches | Arc: 51 inches | Wind resistance: Cane grip | Waterproofing: Excellent
A clear bubble umbrella has two advantages. Firstly, you’ll feel like a Tokyo-based style blogger when carrying one. Secondly, you’ll be able to see where you’re going while keeping your upper body very dry. Totes is a brand that comes recommended by stylish Seattleites we spoke with who contend with rainy conditions for much of the year, and Swerdloff was pleased when she tested the brand’s clear bubble umbrella out for herself: “Because it’s a bubble, I could rest it on my head at stoplights and use both my hands to check my email.”
Best Dutch-style umbrella
Weight and length: 14.9 ounces, 35 inches | Arc: 36 inches | Wind resistance: Windproof up to 80 miles per hour | Waterproofing: Excellent
Former Strategist editor Jason Chen first wrote about this lopsided umbrella that’s popular on the rainy streets of Amsterdam in 2016. Weirdly shaped, with one shorter side and one longer one connected at a 135-degree angle, he says it “looks like an upside-down check mark” but keeps the user very dry while also being essentially stormproof because the lower side of the umbrella prevents wind from catching. The aerodynamic shape will start conversations on the streets of New York City, where this design still hasn’t quite caught on yet. But it will also inspire looks of envy as you go about your day without wet clothes.
Our experts
• Jeff Blauer, CEO and president, Shed Rain
• Maxine Builder, Strategist editor
• Jason Chen, former Strategist editor
• Liza Corsillo, senior Strategist writer
• Lori Keong, former Strategist writer
• David Notis, former Strategist writer
• Alexis Swerdloff, New York deputy editor
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