Is it ever price paying greater than £10 for an umbrella?
“Nothing is certain except for death and taxes”, goes Benjamin Franklin’s famous saying. Perhaps he could have added “and rain in Britain.” The Great British weather is nothing if not reliable. So as we enter the colder, wetter months, having one of the best umbrellas by your front door is a must.
Of course, not all umbrellas are created equal. A large golf umbrella is a surefire way to make sure you arrive at your destination as dry as when you left, but it’s not the most practical for nipping to the shops. Alternatively, a wallet-friendly pop-up umbrella might comfortably fit into your bag, but don’t expect it to survive even a mild breeze.
With luxurious models running into the hundreds of pounds, offering stylish wooden handles, steel frames, and even special windproof adaptations, you can spend an awful lot of money on a good umbrella. But is it a price worth paying?
I collected dozens of different umbrellas from a wide variety of manufacturers in a range of different styles and took them all out in the rain to compare. You can read the full reviews below. But if you’re in a hurry, here’s a quick look at our top five:
Which are the best umbrellas in 2024? At a glance
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How I tested the best umbrellas
There’s only ever one way to test an umbrella, isn’t there? By taking it out in the rain. For the past wet week, I’ve nipped out of the office for a walk around the block with an umbrella whenever I’ve seen rain starting to pour. I’ve faced everything from torrential showers to a breezy drizzle. I’ve compared each of the umbrellas in terms of not only its ability to keep me dry, but its size, comfort to hold, and how it fared when the wind started gusting.
Best umbrellas
1. London Undercover Navy City Lux
Best umbrella overall, 10/10
We like: The luxurious construction and overall style, plus it can be personalised
We don’t like: The price, and that it’s a little bit on the heavy side
Source: telegraph.co.uk
