The 12 Very Best Umbrellas
From compact travel umbrellas to stormproof monsters with fiberglass frames.
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Many people think that umbrellas are so easily lost or lent out that they aren’t worth investing in. Over the years, I’ve actually found the opposite to be true. When I own an umbrella I really like, I care far too much to leave it in a cab or underneath a restaurant table. It comes along with me on every vacation, and hangs conveniently by the door when I’m at home. My Blunt Metro, for example, has been a loyal companion for seven years now. And I have every reason to hope I’ll be using it for seven years more.
While all umbrellas are designed to do the same things (keep your upper and lower body dry duringdownpours, withstand at least a gust or two of wind, and fold into a reasonably compact shape when not in use), they’re certainly not created equal. And most aren’t particularly durable. To find the best umbrellas — ones so good that you’ll put effort into keeping them on your person — I combed through our archives to find the most expert-recommended ones, then tested out those picks for myself alongside my fellow Strategist staffers. While you’re here, I’ve also written about the bestraincoatsandrain boots.
Updated on April 30, 2026
These umbrella favorites have been updated with the latest stock and availability.
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Whatwe’relookingfor
Weight and length
An umbrella should be sturdy but not so heavy that you have trouble holding it for extended periods or carrying other items at the same time. For that reason, I’ve taken note of how much each of these umbrellas weigh and also included each one’s closed length.
Arc
I also paid attention to how wide each umbrella’s open canopy was. A larger diameter doesn’t necessarily mean more rain protection (the angle of the ribs makes a difference, as does the quality of waterproof fabric used), but it is indicative of how much space you’ll be taking up on the sidewalk and how many people you can cram underneath if needed. As a general guide, look for arcs of at least 40 inches if you’re hoping to shelter someone else with your umbrella. For families or groups of friends, golf umbrellas spanning 50 inches or more are ideal.
Waterproofing
According to Jeff Blauer, the CEO and president ofShed Rain, one of the biggest differences between good and bad umbrellas is the type of fabric they use. Ideally, an umbrella’s canopy should be constructed from fabric that beads water rather than absorbs it. “It’s about how much water is left on the canopy when you’re done with the umbrella,” he says. “Shake a high-end umbrella when you’re done and you’ll see the water bounce off. There shouldn’t be much leftover. Buy an inferior product, you’ll see the water just stays there.” With this in mind, I’ve taken note of how different umbrella brands and styles have approached their waterproofing.
Wind resistance
The best umbrellas are built with wind as much as water resistance in mind. Different umbrella brands approach wind differently — but I looked for features like reinforced ribs that’ll resist the urge to turn inside out, as well as springs and vents. (Just note that although it’s annoying when umbrellas invert, their ribs are in fact designed to flex back into place — just because your umbrella turns inside out in the wind doesn’t mean it’s broken, experts told me, and all of the recommendations below are constructed sturdily enough to withstand a fair few storms.)
Best umbrella overall
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Weight and length:1 lb, 9 ounces, 35 inches |Arc:50 inches |Wind resistance:Inversion-resistant fiberglass frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
This investment umbrella is a longtime Strategist favorite and looks so elegant that I get excited to use it each time it rains. The curved leather handle is comfortable in the hand, and the umbrella opens with a majestic swoosh at the touch of a button, forming a tight canopy of soft yet highly waterproof fabric. It “looks and feels like a Bentley or some other fancy but tasteful British thing,” Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo says, especially due to distinguishing design details like the nylon sheath, which has been designed with a little hole at the top to let the tip of the umbrella through and a slit at the bottom to reveal the opener button. And, most crucial of all, she stays “ridiculously dry” while using it. So do I. Non-telescoping cane umbrellas can be hefty things, but this one is a breeze to hold, and is covered by a lifetime repair and replace guarantee should its mechanisms ever fail.
Best compact umbrella
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Weight and length:14 ounces, 12.5 inches |Arc:43 inches |Wind resistance:Steel frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
No fewer than six Strategist staffers use an Original Duckhead umbrella, and senior writer Emma Wartzman likes hers so much that she gifted her mother-in-law one last Christmas.The British brand is named for its best-selling telescoping umbrella design, which has a duck-shaped birchwood handle that’s adorable but, more important, lightweight and easy to grip with a big automatic-open button that unfurls the umbrella in one elegant burst. In general, a major difference between other compact umbrellas that I tested was the surface area of their handles;a slight curve (say, in the shape of a bird’s beak) really makes all the difference when you’re walking home in the rain. And varnished wood feels much nicer in the hand than rubber or plastic. Other aspects of this umbrella are similarly well designed and elevated looking, from the thick and shiny canopy fabric to the wind-resistant steel ribs. Rounded clear plastic tips also differentiate it from cheaper-looking designs.
Best less-expensive compact umbrella
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Weight and length:1 lb, 11.75 inches |Arc:46 inches |Wind resistance:Fiberglass frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
Cheap umbrellas proliferate on Amazon and in corner bodegas, but few of them will survive longer than a single stormy day. Not so with Prostorm’s super-strong nine-ribbed umbrella, which has a deep canopy that you can practically snuggle into when sudden rain storms strike. It is highly windproof, with thick silky fabric that beads water rather than soaking through. My favorite feature is the slightly curved and slightly grippy handle, which feels comfortable in the hand and makes the umbrella easy to use when you’re carrying other items at the same time. The automatic open-and-close button is large, centrally located, and easy to press with one finger.
Best compact umbrella with a lifetime guarantee
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Weight and length:1 lb, 12.25 inches |Arc:37 inches |Wind resistance:Fiberglass frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
Many umbrellas in the $20 to $40 price range have a disposable quality to them, but Repel provides a lifetime guarantee on its products. Unobtrusive enough to be tossed into a backpack or tote, its travel umbrella still forms a wide canopy when opened. It can hold its own against wind as much as water, and the fabric (which is a fair dupe of Davek’s) dries off quickly after rainstorms. The straight handle is smaller and less comfortable in the hand than Prostorm or Duckhead’s (it is also, it must be said, less appealingly duck-shaped than the latter), but the one-button open-and-close function has never failed me.
Best city umbrella
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Blunt Umbrellas Metro
Weight and length:13.6 ounces, 14.8 inches |Arc:39.4 inches |Wind resistance:Spring frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
Blunt’s Metro umbrella has a smallish canopy that’s designed for a single person navigating crowded city streets. So while other umbrellas provide greater coverage, this one is unusually nimble in urban environments. The springy metal frame is designed to flex in the wind, rather than buck against it, which makes the umbrella extremely durable. While most open umbrellas have such high tension that their ribs can snap when bumped against a hard surface, this one spins 360 degrees on the handle, reducing the force of such impacts. Per the name, the umbrella’s tips are blunt and covered in fabric, which means you won’t poke anybody’s eyes out in a crowd. Opening and closing it couldn’t be easier.
Best umbrella for serious storms
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Weight and length:1.8 lbs, 41 inches |Arc:62 inches |Wind resistance:Fiberglass vented frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
Gustbuster’s accurately-named umbrella is heavier than others listed here, but its wider and thicker canopy can hold up to serious storms. And its ribs are constructed from unflippable fiberglass. It is also so physically large that you can count on not getting wet, even when sharing the canopy with a friend. But I do dock points for its slightly tricky closure method: You really have to mash your thumb down on the switch at the top of the shaft.
Best oversize umbrella
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Weight and length:1.61 lb, 43.3 inches |Arc:68 inches |Wind resistance:Fiberglass frame, double canopy |Waterproofing:Excellent
If you want your entire body to stay completely dry when it’s raining, prepare to take up space on the sidewalk. As used byKendall Roy onSuccession, the G4Free is comically large (it has two Velcro closure straps instead of the usual one) but undeniably protective. Using this umbrellawillannoy people around you when navigating tight urban spaces, but the rudeness may be worth it for the total rain protection. The umbrella is heavy and its hugeness means it will catch a lot of wind, like a sail. But the venting does help.
Best teeny-tiny umbrella
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Weight and length:8 ounces, 34 inches |Arc:38 inches |Wind resistance:Inversion-resistant fiberglass frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
You maythinkyou’ve seen a small umbrella before, but they’re all normal size compared to Davek’s seven-inch-when-retracted Mini. It’s ideal for travel or keeping at the bottom of your favorite work bag and acts as a conversation starter. When I pull mine out, people unfailingly comment on how teeny tiny it is. And Strategist senior writer Lauren Rodoesn’t leave the house without hers:“It’s so compact that I don’t mind it taking up space in my bag even if it doesn’t rain a single drop all day.” Although the Davek Mini is as sturdy and inversion-resistant as the brand’s larger umbrellas, I wouldn’t recommend it for serious storms simply owing to its smaller canopy, which won’t do much to stop rain that’s blowing sideways in the wind. It’s an umbrella to have in your arsenal, not to rely on in all situations.
Best UV umbrella
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Weight and length:6.8 ounces, 35 inches |Arc:37 inches |Wind resistance:Flexible yet lightweight carbon fiber shaft and ribs |Waterproofing:Good
Six Moon Designs is an innovative hiking brand best known for making ultralightweight backpacks and tents. Its “trekking umbrellas,” which have UV-reflecting silver canopies that are just as effective at repelling rain, are worth considering for use both on and off the trail. Designed to be carried for very long,longdistances, they’re extremely lightweight and comfortable to hold, with a foam grip that’s similar to a trekking pole or bicycle handle. The UPF 50+ fabric will reflect light and heat whether you’re thru-hiking in Utah or enjoying a city vacation in Tokyo in August. And while this isn’t themoststormproof umbrella on the list, I’d absolutely rely on it during average downpours.
Best inverted umbrella
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Weight and length:0.9 lbs, 12.5 inches |Arc:47 inches |Wind resistance:Fiberglass and steel frame |Waterproofing:Excellent
ShedRain’s UnbelievaBrella folds in reverse, enclosing the wet exterior fabric. Corsillo tested one and says that this closure process can be a little tricky to master at first but is well worth it, especially if you want to stash your umbrella in your bag. “But at least I stayed dry in the process,” she points out. When the umbrella is opened, water and wind resistance is fairly high. Like all of the brand’s umbrellas, this one is covered by a lifetime warranty, should its functions ever fail.
Best clear umbrella
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Weight and length:1.25 lbs, 37 inches |Arc:51 inches |Wind resistance:Cane grip |Waterproofing:Excellent
A clear bubble umbrella has two advantages. First, you’ll feel like a Tokyo-based style blogger when carrying one.Second, you’ll be able to see where you’re going while keeping your upper body very dry. Totes is a brand that comes recommended bystylish Seattleiteswe spoke with who contend with rainy conditions for much of the year, and I’ve become a fan, too. The bubble-shaped canopy provides full-body rain protection, and the all-important curved handle provides excellent grip.
Best Dutch-style umbrella
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Weight and length:16 ounces, 31 inches |Arc:36 inches |Wind resistance:Windproof up to 80 miles per hour |Waterproofing:Excellent
We first wrote about this lopsided umbrella that’s popular on the rainy streets of Amsterdamback in 2016. Weirdly shaped, with one shorter side and one longer one connected at a 135-degree angle, it looks like an upside-down check mark but keeps the user very dry while also being essentially stormproof because the lower side of the umbrella prevents wind from catching. The aerodynamic shape will start conversations on the streets of New York City, where this design still hasn’t quite caught on yet. But it will also inspire looks of envy as you go about your day without wet clothes.
Ourexperts
• Jeff Blauer, CEO and president,Shed Rain
• Liza Corsillo, senior Strategist writer
• Lauren Ro, Strategist senior writer
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