With our winters set to get warmer and wetter, it's fair to say one of the most important purchases you can make (but one we never give enough time or thought to) is a really decent umbrella.
Not one that flips inside out at the first whisper of wind, or one that breaks at the first gust, leaving you fighting for your life in a torrential downpour. The best umbrella is lightweight, yet sturdy, easy to put up and down, extremely windproof and won't let you down when it matters most.
How we test umbrellas
To find the umbrellas worth snapping up before the weather turns, we've borrowed and verified some of the results from our sister Good Housekeeping Institute lab in the US, who've tested over 40 brands. They consider factors such as how easy they are to use, how much coverage they offer, and if they’re actually water-repellent (believe it or not, umbrellas have failed their water-repellency tests before).
We've also canvassed our editors and GHI experts here in the UK to find the ones they swear by, come wind, rain and hail. These are the ones that won't let you down.
Our top picks
- Editor's pick: Balios Folding Umbrella
- Best value: Samsonite Windguard Umbrella
- Best clear umbrella: Totes Signature Clear Bubble Umbrella
- Best for busy streets and best premium: Blunt Metro Umbrella
Pros
- Auto open and close
- Windproof double-vented canopy
- Wide range of designs available
Cons
- Quite heavy and bulky
Maddie, our GHI UK lifestyle writer, was gifted a Balios umbrella by her father in law the first time she visited her boyfriend's family in Wigan. The entire family owns one because it's the only umbrella that can cope with Northern downpours (you don't know rain until you've been caught in a Lancashire deluge).
Why is it so good? Affordability aside, this is a robust umbrella. It has a vented double canopy with a hardened steel shaft, which stops it flipping inside out in strong winds (the worst). It also has an auto-open and close and a real wooden handle that makes it feel very sturdy and good quality, despite the affordable price tag. Plus, it comes with a one-year warranty for added peace of mind. This brolly is built to last.
It weighs 395g and has a 40.5 inch canopy that folds down to 35cm long. This does make it a little bulky, so you'll need shopper to carry it in when it's not raining (unless you have a sizeable handbag) but we love the quintessential British design you get with this one and who are we to argue with Maddie's father in law?
Read Maddie's full Balios Umbrella review.
Samsonite Compact Auto Open/Close Umbrella
Samsonite has been one of the GHI's best luggage brands for years, but who knew it had extended its expertise to umbrellas. For under £50, this umbrella comes well-equipped with helpful features to keep you dry and comfortable.
With 38 inches of canopy coverage and a folded length of just under 12 inches, the umbrella is relatively compact but packs a punch. It has a full double canopy, so there are two distinct layers of material in the canopy to help it resist strong gusts of wind. However, it is compact and not quite as sturdy as the other featured umbrellas, so it wasn’t able to withstand as much force and inverted more quickly. That being said, I’ve taken this umbrella out in many storms without it flipping.
After trying the umbrella during her daily commute, a consumer tester shared, “I’ve never used an umbrella that made me feel as protected—it felt like a normal autumn day under this umbrella, even though I could see the windy rainstorm in front of me.” Still, it’s not quite as sturdy as other umbrellas we’ve evaluated.
The umbrella also excelled in water-repellency tests, preventing water from soaking through the material, so it should keep you nice and dry when you’re out braving a storm. It has a cover made of the same water-repellent material that slides right over the umbrella canopy when it’s collapsed too.
My favourite part: The umbrella has an auto-open and auto-close function. Most umbrellas are auto-open—you can click a button to raise the umbrella canopy, and it locks itself into place. But when it’s time to lower the umbrella, it’s your job to pull the mechanism down and compress all of the spokes. When this umbrella is open, all you have to do to close it is click the button again, which compresses the canopy. Then, give the top a push to collapse the shaft and lock everything into place.
The handle isn’t the most comfortable I’ve tried, but it does have a slight curve for a better hold. I’m 6 feet tall and have big hands, so it just fits my grip but could be more substantial.
Despite the umbrella being compact, the canopy is held into place with two hook-and-loop straps, which keeps it nice and secure when not in use. The wrist strap is comfortable, and the umbrella is easy to carry around without weighing me down, since it’s just 1.41 pounds.
Pros
- Clear for easy navigation
- Highly water-repellant material
- Fuller coverage design
Cons
- Bulky to carry
When it's raining sideways and you're using your umbrella as more of a shield than a canopy, it's especially difficult to see straight ahead, one of our biggest 'brella bugbears. Enter the Totes Bubble Umbrella. Unlike other umbrellas that have shallower designs and are made of opaque woven materials, this one has a unique dome shape that keeps your head and upper body dry from rain showers coming down from every angle.
It's made of a completely see-through plastic, so you're able to see all around you while you're walking. Plus, the transparency makes it a great option for rainy-day photos and special events.
Water rolled right off the surface of the material during our water-repellency tests, and we were impressed by how easy it was to wipe clean and dry afterwards. Because of the material, the umbrella doesn't fold down compactly, making it bulkier to carry around than other styles we tested.
The handle is also a traditional U-shape, which didn't feel as comfortable as the more modern designs. Putting the umbrella canopy up took a bit of effort, but it came down surprisingly easily with just a couple of clicks.
The GHI UK's homes writer, Jasmine, will wax lyrical about Blunt umbrellas to anyone who will listen. “I’ve been a big fan of Blunt umbrellas for years now,” she tells me. “The design is ingenious – those rounded corners (no poked eyes here) each contain a little pocket, where a sort of mini umbrella opens out and stretches the canopy tight. That, in combination with reinforced spokes, makes the structure really strong.
“Blunt often collaborates with artists from its native New Zealand to create limited edition designs too – I have a gorgeous floral one from a few years back. They’re a bit more of an investment than a flimsy pharmacy buy, but well worth it. They’re even repairable!”
The Blunt umbrella also has an auto-open button and 360° spinning technology that means it elegantly deals with knocks on busy city streets. With every colour and design imaginable, it's great for those who value form and function. Plus, it comes with a two-year guarantee.
What to look for when shopping for an umbrella
Buying an umbrella may seem simple enough – they're all meant to keep you dry. But there are several features you should consider before making a purchase.
✔️ Size: Most umbrellas have a diameter between 30 to 40 inches, which is the measurement of an umbrella’s canopy from side to side. Another common way to classify umbrellas is the arc, or the measurement of an umbrella canopy's coverage. Smaller arcs start around 30 inches, while some umbrellas may have arcs up to 70 inches.
Umbrellas vary in size and coverage depending on the intended use. If you're looking for a travel-sized umbrella that's lightweight and easy to put in a purse or suitcase, chances are, it will have a smaller diameter and arc and will provide less coverage when you open it. On the flip side, larger umbrellas that provide you with more coverage tend to be bulkier and heavier when they're folded down.
✔️ Opening mechanism: Your main choices are manual (you push it open and closed yourself), auto-open (you push a button to automatically open it, but close it yourself) or auto open/close (you can open and close the umbrella with the push of a button). This one's a matter of personal preference. Keep in mind that some of the manual umbrellas were still super easy to open in our testing.
✔️ Vented or double canopies: If you want to prevent your umbrella from flipping inside out in the wind, look for an option with a vented top or a double canopy. Vents are small slits or openings in an umbrella canopy, while a double canopy allows for a space between two layers of umbrella canopy for wind to pass through more easily. Without these vents, wind gets trapped against the umbrella and pushes the canopy outward, leaving you with an unusable umbrella and no protection from the rain.
✔️ Handles: Traditional stick umbrellas have a U-shaped or hook-like handle for you to grasp. While there's plenty of space for you to hold the umbrella, these handles aren't always comfortable. Most compact umbrellas or travel umbrellas tend to have smaller handles with a contoured grip that feel more natural in your hand. Also consider whether the handle has a rubberised coating for even more grip.
✔️ Price: While price isn't necessarily an indicator of overall product quality, you may discover that buying the cheapest option will result in having to buy more umbrellas in the long run. Some umbrellas just can't stand up to a lot of regular use.