If you tend to spend a lot of time outside, it is smart to be prepared to avoid rain-soaked clothes, shoes and other items — and that means putting on your favorite pair of rain boots and getting into the habit of storing a quality umbrella wherever you can reach it (cars, purses and work desks, to name a few). Affordable, flimsy umbrellas from your local drugstore can temporarily do the job while you’re trudging through the rain, but you risk it breaking or flipping during especially capricious weather. To help you avoid discarding your umbrella within a few months, I highlighted some top-rated and NBC Select staff-recommended umbrellas to keep you dry this year.
SKIP AHEAD How I picked the best umbrellas | Best umbrellas to consider | Why trust NBC Select?
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How I picked the best umbrellas
While umbrellas have one job — keeping you as dry as possible — there are plenty of other qualities that help an umbrella stand out. Below, I gathered what to keep in mind when shopping for a new umbrella based on NBC Select staff experiences.
- Size: Larger umbrellas, like golf and stick umbrellas, are best for extra coverage, but they can be a pain to lug around all day. Compact umbrellas — which usually fold down to under 12 inches and can be stored in a sleeve — are great to throw into a purse or backpack for upcoming storms.
- Opening style: You can choose between an umbrella that you can push open manually or one that automatically opens when you press a button. While manual umbrellas are typically more lightweight, automatic options are more convenient to open when you have your hands full or need to open it quickly.
- Durability: Finding last-minute tears or battling an umbrella that continuously flips inside out can sometimes be worse than the rain itself. The umbrella’s canopy and stretcher’s durability will dictate how it holds up in heavy wind and rain (steel or fiberglass frames are ideal).
- Appearance: With a variety of styles, patterns and colors on the market, including basic black umbrellas, vibrant yellows and oranges, kid-friendly prints and see-through options, you may want to consider what reflects your personality and style.
The best umbrellas of 2024
While umbrellas have one job — keeping you as dry as possible — there are plenty of other qualities that help an umbrella stand out. Below, we gathered what to keep in mind when shopping for a new umbrella based on NBC Select staff experiences.
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella
This lightweight, compact, travel-friendly umbrella from Repel folds into an included sleeve and weighs less than 1 pound. “This is a great one as far as portability goes, and it’s very sturdy — I think some small folding umbrellas can feel flimsy, but this one doesn’t,” says NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin. It has a large canopy and a Teflon-coated top to best repel water. While the brand boasts durability with a double-vented canopy and sturdy ribs, Repel does offer a lifetime replacement policy just in case. It comes in five colors and patterns, including slate blue, pink and pin-striped.
Size: 42-inch canopy; 11.5 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 0.94 pounds
Totes Signature Clear Bubble Umbrella
Totes is a popular option among our NBC Select staff. The largest option on this list, Totes’ Bubble Umbrella has an oversized dome shape that provides extra coverage for your upper body. It’s transparent, so you can see exactly where you’re walking. “This is my absolute favorite umbrella. The dome shape shields more of your body, and it acts like a wind blocker,” says Malin. Totes also sells a rainbow polka-dotted version of its bubble umbrella and multiple kids’ options with easy-grip handles and fun designs.
Size: 52-inch canopy; 37 inches long when closed | Opening style: Manual | Weight: 1.15 pounds
Amazon Basics Automatic Travel Small Compact Umbrella
I usually stick to more affordable umbrellas from my local convenience store. Earlier this year, I upgraded to this simple yet durable option from Amazon Basics, and so far it’s worked great. I love that it folds into a compact size and fits easily into the included sleeve, so I can throw it into my bag and take it on the go. The umbrella’s frame is constructed from alloy steel, making it a durable option. It also comes in various colors, including yellow, navy and green.
Size: 38-inch canopy; 11 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 0.87 pounds
Balios Folding Double Canopy Umbrella
As its name suggests, this folding umbrella from Balios has a vented double canopy, meaning there are vents on its top layer that allow strong winds to flow through the umbrella — ultimately reducing its chances of flipping, according to the brand. The frame is made from fiberglass for durability, and its wooden handle adds a touch of elegance. It comes in nine color options, including black to a vibrant yellow. It’s also highly rated, boasting a 4.5-star average rating from over 4,800 reviews on Amazon.
Size: 39.4-inch canopy; 13.75 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 0.85 pounds
Totes Auto Open and Close Umbrella
NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz likes this Totes umbrella because it’s “simple, auto-opens and has a compact design that fits easily in bags and backpacks, yet it’s big enough to cover you from 90% of rain,” he says. The umbrella is built with a durable metal frame and is backed by Totes’ lifetime warranty (if it breaks, you can return it to the brand’s warranty center).
Size: 43-inch canopy; 11 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 0.74 pounds
Weatherman Travel Umbrella
This Weatherman umbrella is built with fiberglass ribs and shaft and designed to withstand winds up to 45 mph, according to the brand. Weatherman offers a lifetime guarantee in case your umbrella has a defect or malfunction, but it doesn’t cover natural wear and tear or damages caused by improper care, according to Weatherman. The umbrella — which has a 4.5-star average rating from over 500 reviews on Amazon — comes in a dozen different colors, including purple, orange, red and green.
Size: 38-inch canopy; 12 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 1 pound
Davek Elite Umbrella
If you’re willing to shell out extra money for a good-quality option, this luxury stick umbrella — which is highly rated with a 4.4-star average rating from over 110 reviews on Amazon — has a durable frame system composed of steel, fiberglass, zinc alloy and aluminum that combats wind tension and avoids flipping, according to the brand. The Davek Elite also comes with a genuine leather handle for comfort that can provide a good grip for tougher storms. Davek also offers an unconditional lifetime warranty if your umbrella breaks for any reason, as well as loss protection that gets you up to 50% off one replacement. If you’re looking for a compact option that’s more affordable, the automatic Davek Solo Umbrella is another highly rated option worth considering.
Size: 44-inch canopy; 35 inches long when closed | Opening style: Manual | Weight: 1.55 pounds
Sy Compact Umbrella
At just 10 inches in length and weighing under a pound, this compact umbrella is ideal for storing in a bag. It has an auto open and close and the canopy is made of pongee, a material that repels water and dries quickly, according to the brand. This umbrella is available in 17 different colors and has a 4.4-star average rating from over 34,325 reviews on Amazon.
Size: 54-inch canopy; 38 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: .76 pounds
RoyalWalk Windproof Large Umbrella
Prefer a classic stick umbrella? This could be a good choice for you. WIth its 54 inch canopy width, it is also a nice option for those who regularly try to squeeze two people under an umbrella. The aluminum frame is lightweight and the material used for the canopy dries quickly, according to the brand. The umbrella comes with a carrying case that has a shoulder strap for easy transport and it comes with a two year replacement guarantee if you discover any defects. This umbrella has a 4.7-star average from over 4,200 reviews on Amazon.
Size: 41-inch canopy; 10 inches long when closed | Opening style: Automatic | Weight: 1.5 pounds
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm an updates editor at NBC Select who has written several stories about outdoor equipment, including the best rain boots, garden hoses and gas grills. For this article, I gathered NBC Select staff-favorite umbrellas and researched dozens of top-rated options on the market to recommend the best ones to consider.
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