Dec 16, 2022 9:00 AM

The Best Umbrellas to Help You Ride Out the Rain

These picks will protect you from showers, withstand the wind, and hold up for the long haul.

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It always seems to rain when you least expect it. That's when I'd usually hit a corner store here in New York City to grab a cheap $20 umbrella. A few months later, I'd bring out the same umbrella and it would already have small rips on the canopy or the stretchers would break and make a floppy mess in the wind. Rinse and repeat.

I've wasted a lot of cash on cheap umbrellas, and I'm here to warn you not to make the same mistake. There are plenty of decent affordable umbrellas, you just need to know which brands to rely on. I also think it's worth spending a little more on a high-quality umbrella that will last a while. I've researched extensively and tested close to 40 umbrellas for nearly two years—these are our favorites at various price points. Now you just have to remember to bring it with you.

Be sure to check our many other guides, including the Best Rain Jackets and our tips on how to re-waterproof your rain jacket.

Updated December 2022: We've added options from ShedRain.

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Photograph: Weatherman
Best Overall
Weatherman The Travel Umbrella
After testing a few Weatherman umbrellas for nearly two years, I think the brand offers the best quality for the money. The Travel Umbrella is my favorite—an umbrella that can automatically open and close is especially helpful as you enter a building while juggling groceries and a cup of coffee. It's sturdy, thanks to its fiberglass ribs and shaft, and the Teflon fabric hasn't shown any signs of wear (it dries quickly!). I haven't noticed any issues with the open and close mechanism either.
It's one of the most compact umbrellas we've tested (save the Davek Mini below) and weighs less than a pound. That does mean the canopy is small—a smidge under 38 inches in diameter—making this a strictly one-person umbrella. It comes with a great strap, there's a lifetime warranty for any defects, and it has a little zipper pouch so you can store a Bluetooth tracker to help you track it down if you left it at a restaurant.
★ Also great: I like Weatherman's The Stick Umbrella ($84), which is much bigger (44-inch canopy), only opens automatically, and has a vented canopy to allow strong gusts to flow through. It has one of the biggest arced domes to shield you from droplets too. If you're in an area with high winds, consider The Collapsible Umbrella ($74). It's more compact than The Stick, with a 40-inch canopy, but does the same great job of resisting such conditions.
$69 at Amazon
$69 at Weatherman
Photograph: Prostorm
Best Budget Umbrella
Prostorm Windproof Vented Travel Umbrella
The Prostorm Vented Travel Umbrella is pretty remarkable for the money—it's leagues better than the similarly priced models you'll find in corner stores on rainy days. The fiberglass and steel frame feels slightly more robust, especially since it has nine ribs to support the canopy than the usual eight. It has a deeper dome than you'd expect for better protection, and the open/close mechanism works well, though you sometimes have to shake the umbrella to let it fully extend out. It's double-vented with a 38-inch canopy that feels spacious for one person. My only gripe is the handle—the rubberized material feels nice (it comes with a strap!), but it's tiny in my large hands. This might not be an issue if your paws aren't as ginormous as mine (I'm 6'4").
★ Also great: The Balios Travel Umbrella ($24) is an equally excellent cheap umbrella that costs a little more than the Prostorm. It can automatically open and close with the push of a button—like most automatics, you'll have to manually pull the runner down the steel shaft to completely collapse it. At about a foot long, it doesn't take up much room in a backpack, and the wooden handle is a nice touch; its generous size offers a comfortable grip. I preferred Balios' double-canopy model, which did a surprisingly great job withstanding New York wind gusts, but it's no longer available.
$20 at Amazon
Photograph: Davek
Best Upgrade
Davek Solo
The Davek Solo is exquisite. It automatically opens and closes via the push of a button. (It requires some effort to slide the runner down the steel shaft to close it completely.) The 37-inch-diameter canopy is nearly identical to the Weatherman Travel umbrella, the frame is reinforced with fiberglass, and there are nine ribs (the more the better against heavy winds). The handle feels really nice—it has a clip and a top-grain leather strap—but I wish it was a little longer. Davek also has a lifetime warranty for any repairs the umbrella might need, and if you lose it, use the special code that comes in a box to redeem a replacement for up to 50 percent off the regular price (it can only be redeemed once). Downsides? It's heavier and expensive.
$115 at Amazon
$115 at Davek
Photograph: Davek
Best Luxury Full-Size Umbrella
Davek Elite
This is the quintessential umbrella. When closed, it's around 3 feet long—hard to store in a bag. The curved handle is exceptional, made of top-grain leather, and you get a nice button that tastefully opens the umbrella up (it closes manually). You're getting high-end materials through and through. The frame system is made of "wind-tension" fiberglass, the shaft is also fiberglass, and the canopy is among the largest in this guide, with a 44-inch diameter. It's meant for one, but it had no trouble sheltering my partner and me from the elements.
This is a statement umbrella. It's ideal for formal events, though it's totally great as an everyday carry if you don't mind the fact that you can't keep it in a bag or strap it to your wrist. It's spendy, but it will last. As with the Davek Solo, the company's lifetime warranty covers manufacturing defects, and you can use the included code to redeem a replacement for up to 50 percent off the regular price (only once).
Bluetooth upgrade: If you're spending this much, you may want to grab Davek's Loss Alert Sensor ($35), which attaches to the canopy via a magnet. It pairs with your phone via Bluetooth, and the app (Android, iOS) sends a ping when you walk away from your umbrella. It worked well in my testing.
$159 at Amazon
$159 at Davek

Photograph: ShedRain
A Clear Bubble Umbrella
ShedRain Clear Bubble Umbrella
Bubble umbrellas are cute, and see-through umbrellas offer real utility in that none of your vision is blocked when you're using them—that makes this the best of both worlds. Of all the umbrellas ShedRain sent me, I've been using this the most. It automatically opens (you have to close it manually), the 38-inch diameter on the canopy is enough to cover my body and my backpack, and the plastic crook handle is roomy.
You get eight fiberglass ribs and a steel shaft, and the canopy is made from polyethylene, which is wrinkly but has held up well against strong winds and battering rainfall. It's fairly lightweight at a little more than a pound. It's just plain cute. Everyone needs a bubble clear umbrella in their arsenal.
$25 at Amazon
$25 at Bed Bath and Beyond
Photograph: Blunt
Smartest (and Safest) Design
Blunt Coupe
The Blunt Coupe feels so satisfyingly smooth when you open it manually. The 41-inch diameter is big enough to protect most of my 6'4" frame and a backpack, and it fares really well in high winds, thanks to its fiberglass ribs and polycarbonate frame. When you slide the runner down the aluminum shaft to close it, there's a locking mechanism so the canopy doesn't open up when it's not secured with the Velcro strap. But perhaps its best feature is the blunt edging at the tips. As I'm tall, my face has been privy to jabs from pointy umbrellas, so I'm glad I don't have to worry about poking someone's eyes out here.
Despite its length, the Coupe weighs just a pound, and I love the grippy rubber handle. However, the built-in strap broke off less than a year after I started using it. Thankfully, Blunt has a two-year warranty and a repair program—email the company about any defects and it will repair your model or send a replacement.
$89 at Blunt
Photograph: Davek
Best Tiny Umbrella for Travel (or for Kids)
Davek Mini Umbrella
An umbrella takes up valuable real estate in your backpack. Enter the Davek Mini. Its 7-inch size makes it the perfect umbrella to leave in your bag all the time or to bring when you travel. I had no trouble stowing it in my jacket pocket and even managed to pop it in the back pocket of my jeans when walking about (there's a strap so you can leave it on your wrist as well). This is not the umbrella to get if you're in an area with high winds and heavy rainstorms—the Mini does a good job of keeping my head, shoulders, and some of my torso dry, but with a 34-inch diameter, it can only do so much.
It opens and closes manually, and the steel shaft and fiberglass-reinforced frame feel sturdy, holding up surprisingly well against gusts of winds. But the best part about buying from Davek is the aforementioned lifetime warranty and loss protection. The Mini has been my go-to when I take my dog out on walks, and I frequently stow it in my luggage on trips.
$59 at Davek

Photograph: Certain Standard
The Prettiest Umbrella
Certain Standard The Large Umbrella
Bliss is the word that comes to mind when I carry the Large Umbrella from Certain Standard. It's my personal favorite out of all the umbrellas on this list. I love the colorful designs, and it's relatively lightweight (1 pound) for its size. The Portuguese cork handle is wonderful to touch too. It just feels airy and bright and is a great counter to the grim and moody atmosphere of rainy days. The frame is made of fiberglass and a composite polymer, with a powder-coated steel shaft, and you get a spacious 46-inch canopy to cover yourself and someone else. It manually opens just as smoothly as the Blunt Coupe above, and when you close it, the canopy stays closed even before you cinch it tight.
$75 at Amazon
$75 at Certain Standard
Photograph: NTOI
An Unbreakable Umbrella
NTOI Unbreakable Walking-Stick Umbrella
When I saw the word unbreakable, I just had to test that claim. I mimicked the test seen in Never-Thought-of-It's ad (minus the bulldog). I balanced the Polish-made Unbreakable Umbrella between two chairs and jumped on it. It did not break. But do you need such a strong umbrella? Probably not, but at least you can be sure it'll last a long time. It doubles perfectly as a walking stick and even comes with a rubber sole you attach to the tip for stability. The 47-inch canopy is enough to cover two people, and it smoothly opens up fully at the push of a button. (It closes manually.)
It weighs a pound and a half, which feels heavy after a while if you're just carrying it. And the button is too sensitive. I've accidentally opened it more times than I can count, but this might be a bonus if you or someone you love has trouble pushing buttons. The ribs are fiberglass, and the rod is made of a proprietary blend of polyester and fiberglass—it gave me no trouble in many a rainstorm. The price is steep, but it makes a great gift.
$180 at Amazon
$165 at NTOI
Photograph: Blunt
Best for Sporting Events
Blunt Sport
Whether at a wedding, graduation, football game, or another type of outdoor event, a nice, large umbrella is perfect for the family to huddle up under. The Sport from Blunt is a much higher-end option than the Blunt Coupe (see above). It has a fiberglass shaft and frame, and its 58-inch diameter can easily fit two people, maybe three if everyone squeezes in. It's too big and heavy to use as an everyday umbrella, though.
Sliding the runner up the shaft to open it is just as smooth as on the Coupe, and you get the same locking mechanism at the bottom to keep the ribs closed. The edges of the umbrella are blunt (get it?) so you don't poke people in the face, and the rubber handle is the perfect length for my palm. The whole thing is on the heavier side at more than 2 pounds, but it does come with a handy sheath you can use to sling the umbrella over your shoulder, no different from Geralt and his swords in The Witcher.
★ Also great: The ShedRain Vortex Vent Pro ($100) has a 54-inch diameter so it's slightly smaller (though it weighs the same) and its materials aren't as nice—it has an aluminum shaft with a fiberglass frame. However, it's a double canopy, which helped it fare well in high winds, especially one day when I took it to the beach.
$149 at Amazon
$149 at Blunt

Photograph: senz° umbrellas
Honorable Mentions
Other Good Umbrellas
There are a lot of umbrellas out there, and we're always testing more. Here are a few others we like that didn't quite make our list of top picks.
Blunt Metro for $89: The Metro is the more compact and slightly lighter-weight version of the Blunt Coupe up above. It automatically opens (and manually closes) and provides nearly the same amount of coverage. The canopy spins in 360 degrees to supposedly prevent damage to the core mechanism. My only issue with it is that when you fold it all down and cinch the canopy with the Velcro strap, it covers most of the handle, so you have to hold the Metro by the wet fabric or the wrist strap.
ShedRain Vortex Umbrella for $25: This auto-open/close umbrella works well, though it's nothing to write home about. It's pretty compact with a 38-inch diameter and does a solid job against heavy winds thanks to the vented canopy design. It doesn't look or feel particularly nice and the handle is a bit too small for my big palms, but at least there's a strap.
ShedRain Unbelievabrella Inverted Umbrella for $33: Frequently getting into cars? You'll love this umbrella. It's inverted, so when you close it, you won't get water all over your hands. Just close it and point the end to the ground to dump any excess water out. It's a really smart design, and I like the rubber handle. My main gripe is that the umbrella is too flat when it's open, so you'll have to angle it the way the rain is falling to prevent your clothes from getting drenched. The nearly 43-inch canopy is roomy enough for two. Just know that it doesn't open or close automatically; you need to manually do it.
Repel Windproof Double Vented Travel Umbrella for $30: This one is sturdy, handles high winds, and provides good coverage when open, collapsing down to just a foot in length. It comes in tons of gorgeous colors, and a single button opens and collapses the fiberglass ribs. But “It's. So. Dang. Hard. To. Close," according to my fellow umbrella reviewer, Louryn Strampe. Fully closing this umbrella is a two-handed operation, and she got so fed up with it during testing that she often just used the ground as leverage to push the handle all the way down. It's a problem across the lineup.
LifeTek New Yorker Umbrella for $40: This is a beast of an umbrella. The 54-inch canopy is more than large enough to keep you and someone else dry, and its fiberglass shaft and wind-resistant frame withstand gusts big and small. The handle has a rubbery grip and a single red button to open and expand the canopy. A Teflon coating ensures it dries quickly after the storm has passed. But between its awkward handle, the 1.5-lb weight, and the 3-foot length, my coworker Louryn Strampe felt the umbrella was too top-heavy for her 5'1" frame.
Senz Original Umbrella for $88: The first time I took this umbrella out, I overheard someone say, “That's such a cool-looking umbrella.” It is! It looks like a kite shield, and the aerodynamic design can withstand winds of more than 60 mph. On a windy day in New York, the Senz merely bobbed up and down. Unfortunately, the canopy is hard to collapse unless you use both hands, which are not always free. The narrow shape also provided less coverage, although it does make it possible to stick the opened umbrella in your backpack and walk around covered and hands-free.
Photograph: Amazon
Avoid These Umbrellas
No Good
Not every umbrella is worth your time and money. We didn't like these options, so steer clear.
Amazon Basics Automatic Open Travel Umbrella for $25: Yes, it's cheap. Yes, it has a vented canopy for improved wind resistance. Yes, it automatically opens and closes at the touch of a button. But it's also the most shoddily built umbrella I've tried. After more than a year of use, parts of the inner frame are rusting and the Velcro on the canopy strap is starting to fray. There's zero fiberglass here too—the material's flex helps the umbrella manage the wind. The Balios or Prostorm we recommend above are so much better for the money.
Certain Standard The Small Umbrella for $55: I wanted to like the smaller version of The Large Umbrella we recommend above. The design is nice, especially the Portuguese cork handle, and this model automatically opens (albeit a bit too forcefully). However, on one occasion, I spent several minutes trying to manually close it (the shaft just wouldn't stay down). I finally got it working again but was left annoyed. Just stick with the company's manual umbrella.
ShedRain E-Motion Electric Umbrella for $150: Er, you read that right. This is an electric umbrella. Yes, I know the irony. I, honestly, did not want to venture out into thunderstorms with a piece of aluminum and fiberglass mixed with a battery. The few times I did, the E-Motion did its job decently well. The Teflon-coated fabric feels durable and the nearly 40-inch canopy is spacious, but the motor is really loud and doesn't sound pleasant. This also means you need to recharge the umbrella and I just don't think we really need another thing to recharge. I haven't yet needed to plug it in, but even if I did, I might be out of luck. I moved several months ago and can't seem to find the proprietary charger. Oops. If you have a family member that struggles with opening and closing an umbrella, this might be a nice option, but it's otherwise a bit too high-tech.
ShedRain Vortex V2 Umbrella for $38: I really liked this umbrella for several months, then one day it stopped closing properly, and I couldn't fix it. It's relatively bulky for its size, but it's compact enough to shove into side backpack pockets. It has a nice strap and comfy rubber handle, plus it automatically closes and opens. The canopy is made from 100 percent recycled polyester fabric and the frame is steel with nine ribs. It's just unfortunate that it stopped working after a short period of use.
ShedRain Stratus Umbrella for $80: The auto-open/close umbrella felt a bit flimsy when I first tried it, and my gut was right. After months of use, the shaft has not held up all that well—it's jittery when it opens and closes.
Photograph: Getty Images
Umbrella Tips!
How to Find, and Keep, a Good Umbrella
When shopping for an umbrella, there are a few traits you should look for.
38-Inch Canopy or Larger: Unless you're going for something ultra-small like the Davek Mini, you ideally want a canopy with a 38-inch diameter or more to keep most of your body dry.
Eight Strong Ribs: Make sure there are at least eight ribs and that the ribs are made of some type of fiberglass—it's a flexible and sturdy material, so it'll fare better resisting high winds. It's even better if the shaft is made of fiberglass, too.
Double Canopy: If you’re in a windy area, a double-layer canopy (also called double vented) will allow wind to pass through much better than a single canopy, which means better resistance and less of a chance for your umbrella to turn inside out. If your umbrella does turn inside out, you usually can reset them by pushing the button to close them or by pulling down the shaft and pushing it back up.
How to Avoid Losing Your Umbrella
For the longest time, my problem with umbrellas wasn't just the shoddy quality of the cheap ones I bought. It was how I frequently left them behind after a night out. There's no secret trick to remembering your umbrella before you leave a venue, but there are some ways that can help.
Attach a Bluetooth tracker to the umbrella. This one from Chipolo can stick anywhere and you can see the last location of where you placed your umbrella, which might help when you're trying to relocate it.
Buy from a company that offers loss prevention. Davek is one of the few brands that do this. If you lose the umbrella, you get 50 percent off a replacement. Davek also has a Bluetooth tracker you can attach, too.
This is purely anecdotal, but whenever I've used a more expensive umbrella, I've always been more conscious about grabbing it before leaving a party or restaurant than the cheaper ones. Also, the larger the umbrella, the easier it is to see before you leave. I can't say that this will actually work for anyone else, though.

Julian Chokkattu is the reviews editor at WIRED, covering personal technology and reviewing consumer products. Previously he was the mobile and wearables editor at Digital Trends, steering coverage and reviews of smartphones and smartwatches, and an intern at TechCrunch. He graduated from Rutgers University with a bachelor's degree in English... Read more

Reviews Editor

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