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Stop buying £5 umbrellas: why a £20 Which? Best Buy could actually save you cash
Matt has been putting products through the mill for more than a decade, from complex heating systems, to his true passion, bikes and bike accessories
Tired of budget brollies turning inside out at the first sign of a breeze? Investing in a wind-resistant umbrella will keep you dry, reduce plastic waste and save you money winter after winter.
We’ve all been there: caught out in a sudden downpour, ducking into the nearest supermarket or train station kiosk to grab a cheap £5 umbrella. But when the winter storms roll in, those budget brollies rarely last beyond a gust or two.
Once the cheap metal ribs snap and the plastic canvas rips, that quick fix ends up in a street corner bin — a frustrating waste of money and a burden on the environment.
If you buy three £5 emergency umbrellas every year, you're spending £15 annually on broken plastic. Over three winter seasons, that’s £45 down the drain.
Whereas if you spend around £20 on a sturdy, wind-tested umbrella, you buy it once and keep dry for years to come. It isn't just better for your wallet, it also keeps unnecessary rubbish out of landfill.
At Which?, we put umbrellas through rigorous lab testing, including a strength test against strong gusts of wind, so you know exactly which ones can withstand the British weather.
Explore our full roundup of the best umbrellas to find the right choice for you
Why you don't need to spend more than £20 on an umbrella
Matthew Knight, Which? Testing Team Manager, says:
'While the best umbrella we tested is pretty expensive at £75, we tried one that is just as sturdy and only costs £20. It isn't quite as compact as the super premium option but it will keep you dry, and last through years of blustery winter storms.'
'All of the cheaper umbrellas we tested that were less than £20 proved pretty flimsy. But price is not the best indicator of quality, some expensive umbrellas from big brands like Radley and Totes also disappointed in our durability tests.'
What are the best Which? tested umbrellas for windy days?
The best umbrellas we tested have strong and sturdy ribs that will withstand even strong gusts without the umbrella inverting. They also have fancy button-push opening systems that will make you the envy of your fellow commuters.
Our best on test is compact and super sturdy, but it does cost £75. We reveal our Great Value pick below, which is just as sturdy as the best on test, just a little less compact.
Our pick: Next Large Umbrella (86%, Best Buy, Great Value)
Available from Next (£20)
- Wide colour range available
- Weighs 500g
- 91cm long when closed
- 112cm wide canopy when open
We like: Extremely strong canopy, automatic button opening system
We don't like: Doesn't fit in a handbag or backpack
If you're after a sturdy umbrella to take on walks or keep in your car boot, this Next option is fantastic and less than a third of the price of our top-scoring Best Buy.
It has one of the widest canopies of the umbrellas we tested, so it provides excellent coverage, especially in horizontal rain.
We wouldn't recommend it for commuting on public transport, though. At 91cm long, it won't fit in a bag and you may find the wide canopy tricky to navigate while weaving around other passengers.
If you want to know more before you buy, check out our full review of the Next Large Umbrella.
More Which? tested umbrellas for windy days:
- Blunt Metro Umbrella (90%, Best Buy), SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019755
- Totes Eco-brella X-tra Strong Plus Auto Open (88%, Best Buy), SQUIRREL_TEXT_50028775
- London Undercover Automatic Compact Umbrella (81%), available from London Undercover (£45)
- Fulton Vortex Umbrella (80%), SQUIRREL_TEXT_50019758
If you're looking for more ways to stay dry, take a look at our guides to the best waterproof jackets, the best wellies and the best waterproof trousers
How we test umbrellas
At Which? we're completely independent. We buy all bestselling umbrellas ourselves and never accept manufacturer freebies. Our male and female testers evaluate every umbrella for real-world usability, focusing on how comfortable it feels to hold and handle.
We rigorously assess how easy it is to open and close, looking for useful features like automatic mechanisms and hassle-free storage sleeves so they're easy to carry around. We look at long-term reliability, and every umbrella is opened and closed 100 times to test for mechanical wear, while we closely monitor for any frame components that bend or break under standard use.
Our testing pushes each umbrella's performance to its limits in terms of weather resistance, drying speed, and portability. Since standard wind machines fall short, we use a specialised force meter to measure the exact effort required to invert each frame, identifying which models resist turning inside out against heavy gusts.
We also fully drench the waterproof canopies to time their drying speeds, separating the models that dry within two hours from those taking up to four. Finally, we weigh and measure every umbrella so you know exactly which options comfortably fit into your bag.
Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.
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