STROMBERGBRAND UMBRELLAS The Color Flip Inverted Folding Umbrella

Product Information

It's one of the most compact umbrellas we've tested (save the Davek Mini below) and weighs less than a pound. A few days later, during a sunny but blustery day, she did a second lap, this time pushing her baby in a stroller. 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. And she said this umbrella was a bit harder to close than others she tested (she said a friend lost a fake nail while trying to secure it).

Although this didn’t feel like the strongest shelter in the bunch, we really liked that it folded up into such a small package and it is the perfect size to lie dormant at the bottom of your handbag ready for a quick dash in a surprise shower. However, on one occasion, I spent several minutes trying to manually close it (the shaft just wouldn't stay down). The Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab reviews wet weather gear of all kinds, from rain jackets to rain boots, and we've made picking an umbrella a bit easier. You are protected for life from the rain, sleet and snow, through our lifetime replacement guarantee program. Clark survived our stress tests with very minor damage, and we’ve had no issues with the units we’ve been using for long-term testing.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. The Teflon-coated fabric means the Repel should be almost instantly dry once you shake off the excess water once you have arrived at your destination. Available in eight different colours and designs, the umbrella features a double-vented, wind-defying structure that makes it ideal for use in strong winds. 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.

This could, of course, be considered a flaw: Seeing your umbrella bend alleviates the fear that one sudden, harsh gust will break it. However, it's a double canopy, which helped it fare well in high winds, especially when I took it to the beach. But we don’t recommend ultra-compact models: Though banana-sized umbrellas do exist, their canopies are often too small to be effective. This compact offering from super-stylish brolly brand London Undercover has a lot to love in such a neat package.The umbrella ribs are made with fiberglass and are reinforced with resin for added strength and to prevent the canopy (top of the umbrella) from flipping during use.

Investing in a sturdy umbrella that can survive the wind and rain will ensure you’re not left sopping wet and miserable, clutching desperately onto a brolly that’s flipped inside out.But its wooden handle is more slippery than the Repel’s handle, and since the Balios umbrella also lacks a wrist strap, you need to be more vigilant in keeping a grip on it. Stick (or cane) umbrellas are taller and often have significantly larger canopies than their more portable cousins.

If you want an umbrella that looks and feels a bit more premium than our other picks, but you don’t quite want to upgrade to a heritage piece, the Balios Folding Double Canopy Umbrella is a great option. The clever design combines strength and flexibility with a vented double canopy construction and wind-resistant frame that ensures the breeze can easily pass through. 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.

For starters, we adored the bold neon orange shade, which proved to be both impossible-to-lose and the envy of everyone who spotted it.