The importance of a reliable umbrella can't be understated. It should not only protect you from inclement weather but also be designed to last. This means not flipping inside out when the wind picks up or having one of its arms bend and break at the worst possible time.
As someone who's lived in both Portland, Oregon, and New York City, I've used a variety of umbrellas — and my experience hasn't been all positive. There are only so many torrential downpours to get caught in before buying a quality umbrella shoots to the top of your to-do list.
But before you run out and snag one from a local corner store, know this: All umbrellas are not created equal. The dependability and durability I mentioned above are key features but you also want to buy one fit for how you need to use it.
To help narrow down the best, I tested a variety of umbrellas and compiled my five favorites below.
Our top picks for best umbrellas
Best overall: Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella - See at Amazon
Best for travel: Weatherman Travel Umbrella - See at Amazon
Best large: G4Free Automatic Double Canopy Golf Umbrella - See at Amazon
Best heavy duty: Blunt Metro Travel Umbrella - See at Amazon
Best compact: LifeTek Windproof Travel Umbrella - See at Amazon
Best overall
The Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella sheds water and resists wind gusts better than many larger and pricier umbrellas, and it lasts longer, too. It isn't at an all-time low price during Prime Day, but it's still a great deal.
- Lifetime warranty
- Canopy resists wind
- Durable design
- Auto open and close functions
- Heavier than other similarly-sized options
The Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is supported by 9 resin-coated fiberglass ribs, which is what keeps it open and sturdy. Most compact umbrellas have six ribs, maybe eight.
The extra hardware here means extra performance and durability: The construction of these ribs lets them flex enough to resist damage in wind yet maintain the canopy shape in heavy rains or gusts.
The canopy itself is coated in Teflon, so raindrops, sleet, and snowflakes slide right off, adding no extra weight to your umbrella and never saturating the fabric. The umbrella also has an auto-open and close button to make it easy when you're headed out the door or back in.
Packed down, the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella measures less than a foot in length and weighs less than 1 pound. That compact storage size does indeed make it good for travel but its general quality makes it an overall good umbrella for everyday use.
Lastly, the Repel Umbrella is guaranteed to last a lifetime, outside of damage other than from normal wear and tear. If you've ever had an umbrella rib snap on you beyond repair, you know this is a big deal.
Best for travel
Weatherman's Travel Umbrella is a compact, lightweight option that's built durably with reinforced fiberglass and features a design capable of withstanding winds up to 45 mph.
- Durable components won't buckle under high winds
- Canopy has reflective features for increased visibility
- Repels water well and dries quickly
- On the expensive side
A quality umbrella should be easy to transport, remain durable in most weather conditions, and protect you from the elements — but it's hard to find all three of those features done well in an umbrella meant for traveling. Then I tried Weatherman's Travel Umbrella, a sturdy, storm-ready umbrella that impressively checks all three of those boxes.
For starters, the Travel Umbrella is built using reinforced fiberglass plastic that helps it avoid flipping inside out when a gust of wind hits it. Although I haven't taken it into weather with heavy gusts, it has performed well during a few fall NYC storms, and the Weatherman site says it's rated to withstand wind up to 45 miles per hour. (I look forward to putting this to the test even more over the coming months, too.)
The umbrella is also incredibly lightweight and easy to carry. Weighing just shy of one pound and less than a foot in length when collapsed, it easily fits into a backpack or a medium-sized briefcase. There's also a built-in wrist strap for anyone who goes bagless or just wants to carry it.
One of the clear drawbacks of any travel umbrella is its ability (or lack thereof) to keep you dry from any droplets falling off its canopy. Although the Travel Umbrella certainly wouldn't stand in for something like a golf umbrella, I did find it to do fairly well at avoiding too much run-off from hitting my shoes or the bottoms of my pants. I did still get a little wet but compared to other travel umbrellas I've tested, this managed to perform far better.
I also like that it's available in a variety of bright colors, such as salmon, pink, teal, or neon green (among others), and that it comes with a small tote bag that it can slide into when it's not being used.
It does have a lone downside, however, in that it often retails for around $59, making it one of the more expensive models in this guide despite being something smaller intended for traveling or commuting. Still, its quality and performance are undeniable, making it a purchase that I highly recommend.
Best large
The G4Free Automatic Double Canopy Golf Umbrella is rugged and big enough to keep you plus a friend dry, and comes with a lifetime warranty.
- Wide coverage area
- Sturdy design
- Lifetime warranty
- Heavy
Golf umbrellas may be a bit of a misnomer considering most people use them off the green. But when it comes to ensuring you'll stay completely dry — or you plus a friend — golf umbrellas are a go-to.
The G4Free Automatic Double Canopy Golf Umbrella has a 68-inch wide canopy supported by hardened steel ribs, and it comes with a lifetime warranty, which is a good first sign that it's something to trust.
Furthermore, it won't bend or break in strong winds and is particularly wind-resistant thanks to a double canopy design that lets wind through it while preventing it (and water) from coming down onto you.
There is a downside, however: The fact it's a big umbrella means it comes standard with nearly 5 pounds of weight. This isn't exactly a city option but if you're looking for a big umbrella to stash in the trunk of your car or to use on walks around town or at picnics, it's worth the added weight.
Best heavy duty
The Blunt Metro Travel Umbrella can withstand heavy rains and wind gusting at up to 55 miles per hour.
- Great wind resistance
- Durable construction
- Available in multiple colors
- Expensive
While all the umbrellas on our list are structurally sound to hold up against serious wind, some people have had one too many umbrellas break on them to trust just any ole product. The Blunt Metro Travel Umbrella is tough enough to resist flipping out of shape even in 55 mph wind thanks to a unique radial tensioning system.
The canopy is held in place by ribs much like any other umbrella, but it is reinforced with additional hardware to ensure it'll stay open and in dome shape even in the worst weather.
This reassurance comes at a cost: The Blunt Metro Travel Umbrella typically costs around $60. But you can't put a price on reliability and longevity, either. We tested it and found it to be worth the investment as both a durable and reliable umbrella option.
The 37-inch wide canopy provides plenty of coverage for one person, and at 14 inches when folded down and weighing less than a pound, this umbrella is ideal for commuters or travelers. Also, as it features no tips that could accidentally poke or scratch, it's a good choice for use in busy areas or around kids.
Best compact
The LifeTek FX1 Windproof Travel Umbrella packs down to less than 1 foot and weighs less than 1 pound, making it ideal for traveling or toting around the city.
- Very compact when closed
- Fluid opening mechanism
- Teflon-coated canopy
- Flips inverted easily
Whether you're headed on a rainy vacation or to run errands around town on foot, you need a small, light, compact umbrella to easily stash in your backpack.
The compact LifeTek FX1 Windproof Travel Umbrella is just 11.5 inches when collapsed and 15 ounces in weight, so this umbrella will tuck into just about any backpack, handbag, or briefcase. It'll even slide into your back pocket.
And while it may be small, open it up and you have a 37-inch canopy with a 42-inch arc. That's plenty of coverage and enough depth to tuck your head and shoulders into. It pops open fast at the push of a button and collapses easily, the blend of steel, aluminum, and resin-reinforced fiberglass hardware ensuring proper function and durability.
Coolest of all, though, is a grace note LifeTek added to the micro-weave fabric of the canopy by coating it with Teflon. This hydrophobic coating not only helps the umbrella shed rain but also ensures it's able to dry out quickly once you're done using it.
How we test umbrellas
Each of the umbrellas in this guide went through a series of tests to determine how well they compared against these four categories: Portability, build quality, coverage area, and value. Here's how each category specifically factored into which umbrellas made this guide:
Portability: An umbrella's ability to be portable is relative to how and where you intend to use it, so this category isn't specific to small models able to fit into a bag or backpack. Even larger golf umbrellas should be easy to collapse and carry, and able to be stashed in the back of a car or stored neatly at home in a closet.
Build quality: The build quality of an umbrella directly impacts its long-term durability and how well it performs in stormy weather. Even the most basic, cheap umbrellas protect you from light rain but once the wind starts picking up, you'll likely be fumbling with a buckling canopy while getting soaked in the process. Strong, durable umbrellas should maintain coverage, even in gusty storms, and be built of quality components that won't deteriorate after a few uses.
Coverage area: A quality umbrella, even smaller travel models, should provide ample coverage area to keep at least you dry. Of course, larger umbrellas do this better (while also allowing you to cover more people if need be). We also looked at whether the design of the umbrella's canopy pushed water away from us while using it or if anything dripped down onto the bottom of our pants or shoes while walking.
Value: We judge the value of an umbrella not just by its sticker price but also by how well it does across the three categories above. Furthermore, the true value isn't just about finding the cheapest option that'll get you through a few storms. We think that it's better to spend more on quality than to spend less more often.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
