Best umbrellas for staying dry in the wind and rain

The best umbrellas can withstand heavy rain and strong winds, and open and close in an instant.

We tested popular options from Fulton, Radley and Totes and more, including large, dome and compact umbrellas.

Even a wind machine isn't strong enough to replicate a windy day. So to find the most windproof umbrellas, we use a force meter to see how much force it takes to invert each umbrella. A panel of left and right-handed testers also rate how easy and comfortable each one is to use. 

Our Best Buys have strong, quick-drying canopies, and are easy to quickly open and close. Our Great Value recommendation is also a worth a look at less than £25. 

The umbrellas we tested

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All the umbrellas we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view the best umbrellas from our tests.

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Blunt Metro Umbrella

Size 102cm (open canopy width), 58cm (pole length), 37cm (closed length)

Weight 410g

Need to know Automatic open and manual close, storage bag included, 22 colours and patterns available

Fulton Birdcage Umbrella

Size 82cm (open canopy width), 83cm (pole length), 92cm (closed length)

Weight 540g

Need to know Manual open and close, available in nine colours

Fulton Huntsman Umbrella

Size 108cm (open canopy width), 80cm (pole length), 91cm (closed length)

Weight 760g

Need to know Manual open and close

Fulton Vortex Umbrella

Size 125cm (open canopy width), 33cm (pole length), 54cm (closed length)

Weight 690g

Need to know Automatic open and manual close, storage bag with carry strap included

Ikea Knalla Umbrella

Available from Ikea (£5)

Size 102cm (open canopy width), 71cm (pole length), 81cm (closed length)

Weight 310g

Need to know Automatic open and manual close

London Undercover Automatic Compact Umbrella

Available from London Undercover (£45)

Size 98cm (open canopy width), 56cm (pole length), 29cm (closed length)

Weight 430g

Need to know Automatic open and close, storage bag included, available in nine colours and patterns

Stay dry on rainy days with our pick of the best waterproof jackets and best waterproof trousers

Next Large Umbrella

Available from Next (£20)

Size 112cm (open canopy width), 79cm (pole length), 91cm (closed length)

Weight 500g

Need to know Automatic open and manual close, available in two colours

Radley Responsible Handbag Umbrella

Size 91cm (open canopy width), 53cm (pole length), 28cm (closed length)

Weight 260g

Need to know Manual open and close, storage bag included, available in 11 patterns

TechRise Umbrella

Size 99cm (open canopy width), 55cm (pole length), 28cm (closed length)

Weight 340g

Need to know Automatic open and close, storage bag included, available in nine colours

Totes Eco-brella Clear PVC Dome Umbrella

Size 77cm (open canopy width), 83cm (pole length), 92cm (closed length)

Weight 410g

Need to know Manual open and close, available in three colours

Totes Eco-brella Supermini

Size 92cm (open canopy width), 52cm (pole length), 22cm (closed length)

Weight 220g

Need to know Manual open and close, storage bag included, available in 13 colours and patterns

Totes Eco-brella X-tra Strong Plus Auto Open

Size 104cm (open canopy width), 61cm (pole length), 31cm (closed length)

Weight 430g

Need to know Automatic open and close, storage bag included

How we test umbrellas

We buy the bestselling umbrellas and put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers.

Our panel of left and right-handed testers try each one to find which are the easiest and most comfortable to use. We also carry out a series of tests to determine which are the strongest and quickest to dry. 

We regularly revisit the umbrellas on sale to see if there are any more popular options that need testing. When we find them, we do. 

• Canopy strength Even a wind machine isn't strong enough to replicate a windy day – we tried this. So to find the umbrellas that will withstand a gust, we attempt to invert each umbrella, using a force meter to see how much force it takes to do so. The best don't turn inside out at all while the worst turn out with the gentlest tug.
  
• Ease of use We have a group of left and right-handed testers that assess how easy it is to open and close each umbrella. Our testers look for features such as automatic opening and closing, and storage bags that are easy to pop back on. 
• Comfort Testers also rate how comfortable the handles feel to grip and how easy they feel to hold up. The best are lightweight with handles that feel comfortable to hold for a long time, while the worst are heavy with small handles. 

• Drying time We drench each umbrella to replicate a rain shower and time how long the canopies take to dry. The best are dry enough to pop back in a bag within two hours, while the worst take up to four hours. This test also reveals that the canopy material on the all the umbrellas we test are waterproof. 

• Portability Each umbrella is weighed and measured when closed to see which will comfortably fit in a bag. 
• Durability We open and close each umbrella 100 times and check if the open and close mechanism can withstand this. Throughout testing, we also play close attention to any parts that bend or break.

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

Can you bring an umbrella on a plane?

Yes, if you're facing unpredictable weather on holiday, then you can pop an umbrella in your hand luggage.

However, we'd recommend that you check your airline's hand luggage restrictions to see if it needs to fit in your bag or can be carried separately. Our reviews include the measurements of each umbrella when it's closed, so you can find one that's small enough to do so.

Which type of umbrella is best in the wind?

Birdcage or dome umbrellas that have a more curved canopy are generally considered more windproof than their flatter counterparts. However, some 'standard' umbrellas performed well in our testing. 

To find out which windproof umbrellas earned our Best Buy and Great Value recommendations, log in or register for free.

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