Our Top Picks

MCL WaterSand Fillable Half Parasol Umbrella Base - Black
FURNITURE STORE MCL WaterSand Fillable Half Parasol Umbrella Base - Black
£27.99 FURNITURE STORE
Concrete-Filled Patio Umbrella Stand with Wheels
GARDEN SANCTUARY. Concrete-Filled Patio Umbrella Stand with Wheels
£33.99 GARDEN SANCTUARY.
Triumph Racing Umbrella
WEBBS MOTORCYCLES Triumph Racing Umbrella
£29.99 WEBBS MOTORCYCLES

There’s something quietly defeatist about being caught in the rain with an umbrella you hate. The inside-out corporate freebie. The cheap one that bends at the first puff of wind. The flimsy number that’ll keep you dry but everyone will know you’ve given up. We’ve all been there, and we reckon you deserve better than that. Let’s talk about why. An umbrella is one of those things everyone forgets they need until the second they find themselves wishing for one. At which point it’s suddenly the most important item in the world. Problem is, if you run into a shop and buy whichever is cheapest, that’s exactly what you’ll end up with; something cheap that knows it’s cheap and will probably only last you two seasons. We wanted to build an edit that addressed that; because when you get an umbrella right, it really is one of the most noticeable things you can carry. It’s held at eye-level, swinging out in front of you. It’s impossible to avoid sending a statement. So why shouldn’t that statement be a good one? Unless you’re a robot, your umbrella needs tick more than one box. Here you’ll find everything from compact styles that fit in your bag without overwhelming it (say goodbye to carrying around bulky things that make your bag look funny), to full sized canopies for when it’s blindingly obvious that weather means rain and you need coverage, not optimism. You’ll find windproof umbrellas for city streets and open coastlines where sudden gusts aren’t a question of ‘maybe’, but ‘when’. We’ve even taken care in how they look when they’re open. A great umbrella doesn’t have to be hugely expensive; unless you’re shopping for a designer logo. But a classic print or luxe solid colour will make you smile when you pull it out on a drizzly Tuesday morning. And that really does matter. An umbrella can be functional and look great without being expensive or impractical. Things that do both are what we’ve really gone for here. Which is why we’ve been picky. Not everything that claims to be ‘windproof’ can withstand being held by us, let alone an actual storm. Ultralight doesn’t have to mean cop stitched seams. We’ve narrowed it down to our favourite choices that tick all the boxes and then some. Shop confidently, rain or shine.