Best Umbrella

 

The Best Umbrella

The Repel Easy Touch folds up to an 11½-inch-long, 14-ounce package that fits easily into most bags and glove boxes. And it forcefully expands at a touch of a button to reveal an ample 37-inch-diameter canopy that protects your torso and head from precipitation in all but the windiest of conditions. 

Its lengthy, textured handle is easy to grip for hands of all sizes. We also appreciate that the Repel Easy Touch comes in a wide variety of colors, so you can more easily pick yours out of a crowded umbrella bucket. Finally, despite its affordable price, Repel backs it with a lifetime refund or replacement guarantee.The AmazonBasics Automatic Travel Umbrella with Wind Vent is available for less than the Repel, and its vented design and solid build shrugged off even the toughest gusts during our testing. However, it can be hard to get a handle on when it will be available. Representatives 

have assured us that it remains in the AmazonBasics product line, but since this model came to our attention in February 2017, it has gone in and out of stock several times. Each time, we’ve seen no online indication that it would be back. It’s a solid pick—when you can find it.The Balios Prestige Travel Umbrella looks and feels premium—

with a wooden handle and solid build quality—and it costs about the same as the Repel. But the wooden handle is more slippery than the Repel’s. This, coupled with the Prestige’s lack of a wrist strap, means you have to be careful about keeping a grip on it. It held up well to strong winds, and its 37-inch-wide canopy bounced back easily after it was forced to invert during testing. It deploys quickly, and the handle feels solid to hold.