Please help me find a long-term umbrella

December 24, 2006 1:32 PM

Can anyone recommend a folding umbrella that will last for many years?

I'm tired of buying a new folding umbrella every 2 or 3 years because the previous one has kinked, bent, dislocated a joint or otherwise busted itself. It doesn't have to be the fancy spring-opening kind, or super-thin. I just want an umbrella that folds up to fit into a tote bag or backpack, that's capable of long-term relationships.

Brand names, sources, and personal experience (e.g., "my umbrella and I have been together for 9 years now") would be greatly appreciated. Thanks and happy holidays!

posted by Quietgal to shopping (11 comments total)

I've been searching for something like this myself. I'm tired of buying and destroying those "tourist" umbrellas that last out sprinkle showers, but fail miserably whenever a little wind hits.

Good question! Hopefully someone has some solid recommendations.
posted by purephase at 2:02 PM on December 24, 2006

Being in the Windy City, I have found a great umbrella that won't flip out or bend. It's a little on the pricey side but it's carried me through at least five years of Chicago weather. The Shed Rain WindPro.
posted by MeetMegan at 2:06 PM on December 24, 2006

Folding Umbrellas. Some of the best umbrellas are made in London. These are just an example.
posted by shoesfullofdust at 2:10 PM on December 24, 2006

Aren't umbrellas one of the easiest things to lose? I'd imagine since you are not used to carrying them around, when you do bring one you don't have the "grab my backpack and coat" reflex. Given that, I'd probably want a cheap, almost disposible umbrella.
posted by tasty at 2:29 PM on December 24, 2006

Those WindPro umbrellas seem pretty decent. The reviews on eBags are pretty favourable.
posted by purephase at 4:10 PM on December 24, 2006

Many years ago my mother bought me a folding London Fog umbrella from a Macy's or JC Penny after I complained about the gargantuan umbrella she insisted I take to school when it rained (kids REALLY like to give people a hard time about ugly umbrellas I tell ya). That was over twelve years ago and I still have it! It still works perfectly and looks great after all this time.

I believe it was around $20. It may be that London Fog makes decent umbrellas, or maybe umbrellas that cost more than $3 just last a very long time.
posted by zippity at 5:57 PM on December 24, 2006

Brand names, sources, and personal experience

This excellent article from Slate offers all three. Upshot: thumbs up to the Windpro, but the top spot goes to Sharper Image's Windefeyer (unless you have $225 to spend).
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:00 PM on December 24, 2006

I have also been using a London Fog umbrella similar to this one for the past 5 years or so. Living in rainy Vancouver, it has seen a lot of use, and it still works and looks as good as it did when I bought it (at The Bay for around $30). It fits in a backpack easily, and is noticeably heavier than your average cheap "disposable" umbrella, which gives the impression of sturdiness, to my mind anyway. It's also automatic (meaning you push the button to open it, push it again to close it), which is nice when you're getting on a bus or something and don't have your other hand free to close it.

Yeah, $30 is a lot for an umbrella, but if I ever lost mine I'd buy another one without a second thought.
posted by good in a vacuum at 10:05 PM on December 24, 2006

Mine came from Sharper Image 5+ years ago and has been a fabulous umbrella.
posted by cainiarb at 8:31 AM on December 25, 2006

Strange, this Roots umbrella is only available from the Canadian site.

I've had one for four years (!!) now. It's got an all-metal skeleton with nylon canopy. Tri-folds so it fits in a jacket pocket. Very sturdy. As a Vancouverite, I carry an umbrella and sunglasses - and I absolutely love this umbrella.
posted by porpoise at 9:19 AM on December 25, 2006

Thanks, everybody, for the useful leads!
posted by Quietgal at 8:01 AM on December 26, 2006