Shopping for an Umbrella
How to choose an umbrella that will get you through those rainy days.
By Anna Wallner and Kristina Matisic
Forget heels or handbags: The average person will own more than 50 umbrellas over the course of his or her lifetime making it the most ubiquitous and yet overlooked accessory out there. If you're like us, you prefer to dole out for shoes instead. So take our advice and choose an umbrella that will get you through the many rainy seasons ahead?
What's Out There
Design
Your major consideration is between stick umbrellas and folding umbrellas. Stick umbrellas are inherently stronger than the folding variety and their larger, rounder canopies can withstand higher winds.
Folding umbrellas, on the other hand, are extremely portable and are by far the most popular style sold. But remember: Smaller and lighter can also mean more fragile — and easier to lose! — so you'll need to consider your lifestyle. If you drive to work and only use your umbrella to get from door to door, a small, lightweight umbrella may well be the right one for you. Longer outdoor treks call for something hardier.
Canopies
The most popular umbrella canopy fabrics are polyester and nylon. Teflon coated nylon is considered the most waterproof umbrella fabric around, though it is often more expensive. Less common fabrics include plastic — which is popular with kids' umbrellas — and treated cotton. While cotton can look great, it's less water-resistant than other fabrics and can become heavy when wet. It also takes longer to dry than synthetic fabrics.
Frames
Your choice is between plastic, steel, wood, aluminum, and fiberglass. Wood is more common in larger sized golf umbrellas; Aluminum and fiberglass frames are light and durable; Steel is well–priced thought it can be on the heavy side; Plastic is the least expensive and also the least durable.
Buying It
If you choose an umbrella with a metal frame, look for coated ribs, which will help guard against rust. Check that the tips can be pulled on and off the ribs — they last longer than tips that are sewn on.
Ever have an umbrella flip out in a windy downpour? A two–ply umbrella is the solution. This type of umbrella has a mesh layer that allows wind gusts to pass through and it held its own in our wind machine test. Also look for a spring coil at the top of the shaft. This means the umbrella will be able to snap back if inverted by wind.
An automatic open and close feature increases weight and price but we think it's money well spent.
And a note on style: We're not crazy about black umbrellas. They're as drab as a rainy day, and hard to identify in those umbrella stands found at the entrances of most stores. Opt for a distinctive pattern, colour, or handle.
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