Looking for a good... umbrella..?

[lina]

Yeah, it's hard to imagine a less interesting post, I know. But I swear I have not owned a good umbrella for years, and as the rain comes down and down and down, figured I'd look for advice. Every one I've had in recent years either breaks at the tips or else the spring action isn't strong enough when closed, so it pops open when I get on the train or enter a room and haven't had a chance to snap or velcro it closed.

Anyway, looking for a reliable umbrella that, basically, will stay open when it's opened and closed when it's closed. I see the super high end ones for a couple hundred dollars, which are definitely not in the cards for me. But I'd be willing to spend, say, $70 or $80 for one that I knew would work well and last me for years.

So, if you've got a suggestion, do tell.. Cheers.

 

[Caber]

I would take a look at the fox Gents tube umbrella. They claim to be one of the oldest umbrella makers in the UK. The Tube is around 75 pounds which is close to 90 bucks give or take. there are a few other makers in the USA that may be around the same price. Ill try to find them

 

[Peacoat]

I'm going to move this to the General Attire section where it will get better traction.

 

[GHT]

Fox Umbrellas: For Understatement. https://www.foxumbrellas.com/
Lockwood Umbrellas: For the City. https://www.lockwoodumbrellas.com/
Swaine-Adeney Brigg: For Traditionalists. https://www.swaineadeneybrigg.com/collections/umbrellas-canes
James Smith & Sons: For the Country. https://www.james-smith.co.uk/
Pickett London: For Luxury. https://www.pickett.co.uk/collections/umbrellas-men

 

[Harris HTM]

I had this for many many years, unfortunately I forgot it somewhere in Germany:
https://www.senz.com/shop/?filters=product_cat[72]
It was designed and tested at the Delft University of Technology. I don't know if the quality is what it used to be, but mine (bought in 2008) was indestructible.

 

[ProteinNerd]

Honestly, it sounds like a gimmick but this umbrella is awesome, even as just an umbrella. I've had mine for over 10 years and its still like new...

https://unbreakableumbrella.com/unbreakable-walking-stick-umbrella-standard/

 

[lina]

Appreciate these suggestions! If anyone has suggestions for ones similar to the English tradition cane handles, but in the US, I'd be grateful. A few of those from the UK makers are in my price range -- except for shipping adds about 60 USD, which I can't quite justify.

 

[GHT]

A few of those from the UK makers are in my price range -- except for shipping adds about 60 USD, which I can't quite justify.

The add ons when buying abroad really can kill a sale. It's a lesson that I learned when I bought a hat from San Diego. But you might try this tip. There's a piece of technology that I saw advertised, again in the US, and again the add ons bump up the costs. So I emailed them asking if they had a UK outlet, and they did. The UK price is only just a fraction over that charged to US buyers, so this UK outlet must have some sort of wholesale agreement.

Email the company of the umbrella of your choice, explain that the carriage and import duties are such, that it's just not feasible to buy direct from the UK, chances are they may point you in the direction of their US agents. Good luck.

 

[Blackadder]

This is probably the cheapest wooden shaft umbrella you can find.
https://londonundercover.co.uk/products/black-and-white-houndstooth-classic-umbrella
These are still cheaper than Fox etc
https://www.european-umbrellas.com/umbrellas-for-gentlemen/manufaktur.html
If you don't mind metal shaft then I'd recommend taking a look at Marks and Spencer.
https://www.marksandspencer.com/cla...12851?color=BLACK#intid=prodColourId-22112851

 

[Edward]

The 'cane type' handled umbrella uise by John Steed is known as a 'Whangee handle umbrella". These can go for silly money, though I have one of these and it;'s very nice indeed if you're down with a steel shaft rather than a wooden one: https://www.saddler.co.uk/?cr=450&pr=938&pdesc=gentlemans_bamboo_whangee_handle_umbrella

If you just want something nice and respectable, the nicest option I've seen in the UK that's not Whangee handled is from the Fulton range:

https://www.johnlewis.com/fulton-g8...iUF_R9k-pOW4oVpTI7EaAi1sEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Bushman]

As tempting as a new "whangee" umbrella would be, I'm always hesitant drop good money on an umbrella. Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.

 

[GHT]

Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.

I always wondered what Chicago motorists put on their motor insurance report as to the cause of their distraction that caused them to collide with the car in front.

 

[Edward]

As tempting as a new "whangee" umbrella would be, I'm always hesitant drop good money on an umbrella. Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.

Same in Belfast. Ironically, that's how I started wearing hats full time during my university days: by the time the rain was heavy enough there for it to be worth putting up a brolly, the wind is inevitably too much for it to be anything other than a pest. A good cap was far preferable in the rain...

 

[Artifex]

If you just want something nice and respectable, the nicest option I've seen in the UK that's not Whangee handled is from the Fulton range:

https://www.johnlewis.com/fulton-g8...iUF_R9k-pOW4oVpTI7EaAi1sEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I can second this. In fact, that looks exactly like the model I've got.
Generally, a solid, smart umbrella at a very reasonable price. Better designed than my previous, which had vicious sharp latches on the shaft.

The most significant downsides I've noticed are purely cosmetic:

• The lacquer on the handle is brittle and easily cracked or scuffed (e.g. by leaning it against a wall). It does stay adhered to the wood though.
  
• The (gold?) plating on the tip wears quickly

I did manage to bend one of the spokes in a storm last winter, but it bent back easily enough and you'd never know. My fault for trying to use a brolly in high winds!

 

[Edward]

I can second this. In fact, that looks exactly like the model I've got.
Generally, a solid, smart umbrella at a very reasonable price. Better designed than my previous, which had vicious sharp latches on the shaft.

The most significant downsides I've noticed are purely cosmetic:

• The lacquer on the handle is brittle and easily cracked or scuffed (e.g. by leaning it against a wall). It does stay adhered to the wood though.
  
• The (gold?) plating on the tip wears quickly

I did manage to bend one of the spokes in a storm last winter, but it bent back easily enough and you'd never know. My fault for trying to use a brolly in high winds!

Yeah, I've had quite a few Fultons here and there because they're decent and look nice, but cheap enough that it's not the end of the world if it gets left on a bus! I did briefly have a very nice (and subtly branded) Piere Cardin auto-opener that I picked up for a tenner in TK Maxx in Covent Garden one very wet afternoon when I was caught by surprise. Lovelt solid piece, but alas I left it in a lecture theatre one monrning and when I went back to look for it it had gone. I guess somebody who needed it more thasn I did found it first.