Picture this. You’re enjoying a nice day out on the town and get caught in an unexpected rainstorm with no umbrella. Or, you’re out sightseeing in a new city and a terrible windy rain storm hits, so you take out your umbrella only for it to fumble under the power of the wind. Which one is worse? Well, in both situations you’re screwed but both can be avoided by having a good quality travel umbrella handy.
You’d think that more people would have a travel umbrella handy, but surprisingly many do not. Many find them a nuisance to carry around, travel with or even a waste because of poor quality. But no one wants to get caught in the rain so investing in one of best travel umbrella will save a world of pain.
Repel Umbrella
What is a Travel Umbrella?
A travel umbrella is an umbrella that can be transported around easily, but also sturdy enough to withstand the worst of rain storms. They are compact umbrellas that should be able to fit in your suitcases, travel backpacks or even travel purses, depending on the make. They are extremely handy when traveling or even for your everyday life in your own city.
Regardless of where you use them, a good travel umbrella will save you a lot of stress when it comes to unpredictable weather. Our picks for the best travel umbrella are all lightweight, sturdy and made with windproof technology so that your day won’t be ruined on your next travels. When you have a good quality travel umbrella, you won’t notice it’s there but you’ll be happy you have it when the time comes.
Editor’s Choice: Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella with Teflon Coating
When it comes to travel umbrellas the best one you can get your hands on is the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella. While other umbrella’s shine in specific areas, the Repel gives you just about everything you need.
It’s compact and lightweight so you can fit it wherever you need to, weighing only 1 pound and measuring 11.5 inches long. It is also built to withstand strong gusts of wind during a storm since it has nine ribs rather than the typical 6-8 that most travel umbrellas have. The umbrella is also reinforced with Teflon coating so it repels the strongest rain pour and dries rapidly once not in use.
The Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is one of the best travel umbrellas because it’s sturdy, super comfortable to carry and opens and closes easily. This umbrella is ideal if you’re traveling to a rainy city like London or Seattle or if you reside in one.
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella Pros
Teflon coating to keep you dry
Umbrella will be replaced with the lifetime warranty
Made with 9 ribs to withstand strong winds
Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella Cons
Very small handle that may not fit for some
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Best Compact: Davek Mini Compact Umbrella
Our criteria for the best travel umbrella is for it to be as compact as possible. When traveling, you’ll need for it to fit in the smallest pockets or purses so that you can fit in the rest of your belongings.
The Davek Mini Compact is one of the smallest umbrellas out there that is also good quality when it comes to repelling the rain. When closed it measures at only 7 inches long, which is pretty impressive even in the travel umbrella world. The Davek can fit in most people’s pockets and some people’s hands. In addition to its compact size, it’s built to withstand even strong storms and keep you dry.
Davek Mini Compact Umbrella Pros
Extremely lightweight and compact
High-grade steel and fiberglass frame to last long
Available in several colors
Davek Mini Compact Umbrella Cons
More expensive than most umbrellas
Size may be too small for some people when open
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Best Lightweight: Lewis N Clark Automatic Travel Umbrella
The Lewis N Clark Travel Umbrella is the perfect travel companion because you don’t have to worry about it taking up too much weight in your bag. At a solid 10 ounces, this is the best travel umbrella for those worried about luggage weight. In addition to the lightness, it’s also a durable build and made to withstand torrential rain pour and gusts of wind. It’s made with quick-dry polyester and reinforced with a mildew-resistant canopy so you don’t have to worry about it smelling or deteriorating over time. On top of all that, this is also one of the most affordable travel umbrellas on the market, which you can’t beat.
Lewis N Clark Automatic Travel Umbrella Pros
Lightest travel umbrella on the market
The price is unbeatable.
Mildew-resistant polyester material
Lewis N Clark Automatic Travel Umbrella Cons
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Best Windproof: Bodyguard Travel Umbrella
As we mentioned before, most small compact umbrellas are made with 6-8 ribs which are the metal spikes that hold the canopy together. The Bodyguard Travel Umbrella is one of the most windproof umbrellas out there because it is built with 10 reinforced fiberglass ribs that are made to withstand the strongest of winds. The chances of the umbrella turning inside out during a storm are reduced greatly due to the Bodyguard’s construction and the Teflon coating will keep you dry. The best part? It also comes with a sleek leather carrier that makes this umbrella look like luxury.
Bodyguard Travel Umbrella Pros
Teflon coating to keep you dry
10-rib build to withstand storms
Automatic snap open and close function
Bodyguard Travel Umbrella Cons
Slightly longer than most travel umbrellas when closed
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Best Looking: Rainlax Travel Umbrella UV Protection Compact Umbrella
For the style-conscious travelers, Rainlax brings you a great travel umbrella with a unique design. The compact umbrella is easy to carry around on your travels or even for everyday life. The stong 8 rib design has been said to withstand quite the storm and if anything happens there is a lifetime replacement guarantee.
One of the perks to this umbrella is that it can be used during a sunny day too. The canopy has UV protection to block you from those harmful rays on a sunny day. Overall, the Rainlax is a versatile and stylish choice for a portable umbrella.
Rainlax Travel Umbrella Pros
UPF 50+ protection covering
Lifetime replacement guarantee
Multiple stylish designs to choose from
Rainlax Travel Umbrella Cons
Manual open and close
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Travel Umbrella’s Buying Guide
Before you go crazy looking for the perfect travel umbrella there are a few key things to be on the lookout for. The best travel umbrella may depend on the person, but overall it needs to be portable, lightweight and stand strong against the elements.
Protection
Not all umbrellas are created equally, although they all set out to do the same thing. When shopping for a good travel umbrella it’s important to find one that will protect you against the elements. There’s nothing more frustrating than sticking a wet umbrella back into your bag for lack of a better place to put it. With fabric like a quicky-dry polyester or Teflon coating, you’ll be kept dry during a rainstorm and your fabric will dry quickly after use so you don’t ruin the rest of your things.
The protection of an umbrella is a combination of water-resistance and windproof technology. If your umbrella isn’t sturdy enough, it will flip inside out during a bad storm which leaves you wet and in need of a new umbrella. Look for umbrellas with 8-10 ribs if you’re traveling to a place with strong winds or if you live in a city like Chicago, where winds regularly reach up to 50 MPH.
Size & Weight
When it comes to travel products, size and weight are one of the most important aspects to look for. A bulky travel umbrella won’t fit in your travel backpack or travel purse, so you need to find one that is compact. On our list of the best travel umbrellas, you’ll find umbrellas ranging from 10 ounces to around 1 lb. Generally, you’ll want to stick a lighter weight umbrella, like the Lewis N Clark, especially if you’re stuffing it in your carryon.
Length is also a huge thing to look for in an umbrella. Both when the umbrella is closed and when it’s opened. If an umbrella is too long when closed then it isn’t good for portability or for travel, and if it is short, you run the risk of it not being big enough when it’s extended. For most adults, you’ll generally want the canopy to be around 40inches when opened.
Durability
There is no point in spending money on an umbrella if it’s going to fall apart after only a few uses. Most manufacturers will claim their products are durable, but not all of them actually live up to those claims. Checking the reviews of a product is a good place to start, but it’s also important to familiarize yourself with all of the travel umbrella terminologies, like this review, so you can know what to look for yourself.
In general, a good travel umbrella will last long if it’s made with quality materials and with proper usage. In the event that your umbrella does malfunction, most of our picks for best travel umbrella offer great replacement warranty programs.
Choosing any of these five umbrellas will keep you safe and dry from the elements and will be the perfect travel accessory.
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