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Oct 19, 2024

12 Best Umbrellas (2024): Windproof, Cheap, Tiny, and Clear Bubble | WIRED

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more. It always seems to rain when you least expect it. That's when I'd usually hit a corner store here in New York

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

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. It's worth spending a little more on a high-quality umbrella that will last a while. I've researched extensively and tested more than 50 umbrellas over nearly four years—these are our favorites at various prices. 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 a Rain Jacket.

Updated March 2024: We've added a new version of the Prostorm umbrella and the Gilley umbrella.

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After testing Weatherman umbrellas for several years, I think it offers the best quality for the money. The Travel Umbrella is my favorite—an umbrella that automatically opens and closes is super helpful when you enter a building while juggling groceries and a cup of coffee. Thanks to its fiberglass ribs and shaft, it's sturdy, 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, a lifetime warranty for defects, and a little zipper pouch to store a Bluetooth tracker to help you find it if you leave 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.

The auto-open and auto-close Prostorm Vented Travel Umbrella is remarkable for the money—it’s leagues better than the cheap models you’ll find in corner stores on rainy days. That might be because it’s made by Davek, the same company that makes high-end umbrellas (see below). The original Prostorm version I tested has held up well over the years, and the 2024 model makes one big improvement—it’s 20 percent lighter at just 398 grams. Also new is a ratcheting system that lets you reset the umbrella to whatever part of the shaft you want—you don't have to bring it fully down immediately. This umbrella has a decently deep dome, meaning it’s not as flat and can block rain when it falls in varying directions. It’s double-vented with a 38-inch canopy that feels spacious for one person, and there is a fiberglass-and-steel frame with nine ribs to support the canopy. After using it for several months as my primary umbrella, it has functioned exceptionally well.

My main gripe is that you have to give the umbrella a small shake to let it fully extend. Even with the ratcheting system, pulling it down will require some effort. Also, the rubber handle (it comes with a strap!) remains small for my large hands. This might not be an issue if your paws aren’t as ginormous as mine.

★ Also great: The Balios Travel Umbrella Double Canopy ($27) is another excellent cheap umbrella that costs a smidge more than the Prostorm. It can automatically open and close with the push of a button—like with most automatics, you'll have to manually pull the runner down the steel shaft to 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. The vented double-canopy model did a surprisingly great job withstanding New York wind gusts. There's a single-canopy model too, and Balios has more fun designs than Prostorm.

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 ribs the better in 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.

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 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 (my model functions perfectly after four years). 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). 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, though it's frequently sold out (the company says it'll have a fresh supply in May). Read our Best Bluetooth Trackers guide for other picks.

★ Also great: The ShedRain Vortex V2 Vented Auto Open Stick Umbrella ($48) has the same lifetime guarantee as Davek, along with the same 44-inch diameter (from one end to the other when open). It has treated me well for several months. It's a tiny bit heavier but is made from 100 percent recycled polyester from plastic bottles. It has a fiberglass frame and a vented canopy, and the rubber handle is comfy to grasp. It doesn't have the style or luxe feel of the Davek, but it's much cheaper.

WIRED editor Adrienne So's kids have tested a few umbrellas, including the Weatherman Kids Umbrella and the Original Duckhead, but the Hatley Kids Umbrella is their favorite. In the words of her 6-year-old, the Weatherman is hard to open and close, but the Hatley doesn't have this problem, and it is smaller, has a nicer wooden handle, and features fun prints on the canopy. (You can even buy color-changing models when the canopy gets wet!) Even if the Weatherman feels sturdier in the hand and is slightly bigger, with its 29-inch diameter, the Hatley is their preference. It retains its shape in stiff breezes and has held up over a year of being shoved into backpacks, thrown in and out of lockers and cars, and occasionally abused as a cane or a sword. What more can you ask for?

Want the benefits of a full-size umbrella but in a smaller package? This umbrella routinely surprises me when I open it. It has a 50-inch canopy! That's actually bigger than our full-size pick above. It is heavier, but it's significantly shorter and can easily be stowed in the water bottle pocket of a backpack. (It just might stick out a bit.) It automatically opens, and the canopy is made from 100 percent recycled polyester, supported by a fiberglass frame. It's big enough for two people without being too cumbersome to stow.

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.

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. (I like the look and feel of the acrylic handle more, but it's pricier.)

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. Just make sure you keep it open for a while when you get inside—I've noticed it dries much more slowly than other umbrellas. It's fairly lightweight at a little more than a pound, and just plain cute. Everyone needs a clear bubble umbrella in their arsenal.

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 backpack, and it fares 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. I also have slowly watched the Coupe go up in price over the years, unlike other umbrellas on this list.

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 stepped 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. 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.

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 ($80) 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 when I took it to the beach. It's also about half the price.

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.

ShedRain WalkSafe Reflective Stick Umbrella for $60: This is a simple manual umbrella that opens and closes smoothly, has a circular handle that can hook onto things, and has a 41.5-inch diameter that covers a person (or two) fairly well. The reason to buy it is the reflective fabric—it'll brighten up quickly when a car's headlights land on it, so you can feel safe knowing you're visible to motorists.

Blunt Metro for $89: The Metro is the more compact and slightly lighter-weight version of the Blunt Coupe up above. It automatically opens (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 V1 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 it 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 Stratus Manual Stick Umbrella for $100: I've had no real problems with this umbrella, but it requires a bit of force to fully open (it's completely manual). You don't need to extend it all the way, just a quarter up the carbon-fiber shaft. I would have expected it to be even lighter than our stick umbrella pick from Davek, but alas, it's a little heavier. You get a 42-inch roomy canopy and a twill weave fabric with Teflon coating that does a pretty solid job of drying quickly. It has a nice rubber handle too.

Repel Windproof Double Vented Travel Umbrella for $25: 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 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 provides less coverage, although it does make it possible to stick the opened umbrella in your backpack and walk around covered and hands-free.

Not every umbrella is worth your time and money. We didn't like these options, so steer clear.

Gilley Umbrella for $64: The pitch for the Gilley is that you get a hard-shell case you can stuff the umbrella into to keep yourself and your space dry when you get indoors from the rain. No need to leave your umbrella open at the door! This isn't a new idea, but I have a few problems with Gilley’s implementation. First, stuffing the umbrella back into the water-bottle-esque plastic case isn't as easy as the company suggests. You have to nail wrapping the Velcro around the 34-inch canopy and cinch it tight or it won't fit well. When the umbrella is open, you’re supposed to affix the plastic case to the bottom so that it doubles as a handle, but this is not a comfortable handle at all because it's so thick. Yes, it does keep you dry when the wet umbrella is inside the case. But I came back to the Gilley after several weeks and found it still wet because I forgot to remove it from the container to dry when I got back home. Gross.

Amazon Basics Automatic Open Travel Umbrella for $15: 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.

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 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. When I moved, I misplaced the proprietary charger. Oops. If you have a family member who struggles with opening and closing an umbrella, this might be a nice option, but it's otherwise a bit too high-tech.

ShedRain AOAC Compact for $36: I have used this umbrella perhaps three or four times and one of its ribs has already broken. ShedRain has a lifetime warranty, but there wasn't any reason for the rib to break.

ShedRain Vortex V2 Umbrella for $40: I liked and used this umbrella for several months, then one day it stopped closing properly, and I couldn't fix it. I got another model to test and I'm still having issues. Despite being an auto-open/close umbrella, I still need to push the canopy and have it click into place manually to keep it open. The closing mechanism is just plain faulty as I'm already seeing it starting to fail again. It's relatively bulky for its size, but it's compact enough to shove into side backpack pockets. It has a nice strap and a comfy rubber handle. The canopy is made from 100 percent recycled polyester fabric and the frame is steel with nine ribs. It's unfortunate that its automatic functions keep failing.

ShedRain Stratus Chrome Umbrella for $90: 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.

ShedRain Mini Manual Umbrella for $38: This is one of the tiniest umbrellas I've tested—it's just 6.5 inches long when closed—and the canopy is 100 percent recycled polyester from plastic bottles. I just hate the handle on this thing. It's wide, short, and just not comfortable at all to hold.

When shopping for an umbrella, there are a few traits you should look for.

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.

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