If you’ve always picked up the nearest umbrella you can find at a convenience store on a rainy-day then chances are you’re doing this way too often than you’d like it admit. A cheap umbrella – a one hit wonder if you will, is a mindless purchase decision that ends up in the bin by EOD.
News flash: buying an umbrella (that stands the test of time) is an investment – not a throwaway purchase.
However, buying a quality umbrella to battle the oftentimes moody Australian weather is harder than the rainfall that we’re experiencing right now. Our worse fear is investing in an umbrella only to find it flipping inside out with a single gust of wind.
"Consumers need to be selective when shopping for a quality product as many of the current umbrellas on the market are inherently not strong enough or more importantly, built to last," explains engineer and BLUNT founder, Greig Brebner.
Along with a sturdy frame and base, an umbrella needs to have strong tips to stop it from flipping or collapsing.
"The traditional umbrella design that has existed for well over a century, has weak points at the edge of the umbrella which make them extremely vulnerable to failure," notes Brebner.
"Add to that modern day mass production of those umbrellas has only emphasised this weakness."
Look out for umbrellas that reinforce typical weak points along the edge of the canopy.
Umbrellas are a hard product to master - this has resulted in a lot of brands creating non-branded offerings to distant themselves from liability, Brebner highlights.
So, if it wasn't obvious, always look for an umbrella brand that is willing to put their name to their product. Couple that with a product that is able to provide actual proof of performance and you've got yourself a winner.
"Style shouldn't come at the cost of performance, which is why we have made the strongest, most aerodynamic and protective umbrella on the market."
As the saying goes, quality over quantity. Repeatedly purchasing ill-designed umbrellas end up being a pain to your day-to-day life (and your wallet) in the long run.
"With any product you invest in there is always a necessary service element that needs to be attached to it which addresses after sale care. This commitment from a brand gives consumers confidence that the product they are buying is superior and will last a test of time."
If you're ready to dive into the world of quality umbrellas to help you stay dry for the rainy days (weeks) ahead, read on.
We’ve rounded up the best umbrellas you can shop right here in Australia – your new rainy-day accessory has arrived.
Shop now at David Jones
Retro chic – the Clifton Birdcage umbrella is designed to protect you from the rain while still letting light in. Featuring its distinct curved fiberglass frame making it durable even for the strongest of winds.
Shop now at David Jones
Small, compact and full of personality - the Original Duckhead umbrella is small enough to fit in your handbag. It features a sturdy solid wood handle made from sustainably sourced birch wood coupled with a high strength steel and aluminum frame. Plus, we can’t look past its adorable duck head design now, can we?
Looking for the strongest umbrella in the world? BLUNT is the cult umbrella brand from New Zealand that is worth all the hype. Unlike traditional umbrellas, BLUNT’s superior tension in their umbrella canopy structure makes all the difference.
"The patented BLUNT tips open like miniature umbrellas within custom pockets at the canopy edge and reinforce the umbrella in a traditional area of weakness by eliminating the point loading at the rib end where umbrellas typically fail," explains Greig Brebner, BLUNT founder.
So, if you’re weathering the moody Australian weather, opting for a BLUNT umbrella is well worth the investment.
The brand’s most recent collaboration with Safe Space Alliance marks their loudest and proudest limited-edition umbrella to date.
The BLUNT x Safe Space Alliance collaboration celebrates our beautiful rainbow community.
Safe Space Alliance is a LGBTQI+ led non-profit organisation that aims to help people identify, navigate, and create safe spaces for the LGBTQI+ community in Aotearoa and worldwide.
It is made up of thousands of individuals, organisations, and businesses all supporting a similar vision of a world where the LGBTQI+ community can freely express themselves without fear. $5 from every sale going direct to the Safe Space Alliance to continue their amazing work in the community.
Known for making high-quality travel luggage cases, this umbrella is everything you expect the brand to produce. Featuring a no-brainer automatic opening mechanism, coupled with a Teflon coated wind-resistant canopy, it’s everything you need in a compact umbrella.
Shop now at Catch.com.au
If walking under a floral canopy on a rainy day sounds like the perfect pick-me-up, then the Clifton Outside-In inverted umbrella needs to be on your radar – stat.
Given its name, the unique outside-in design means the frame opens in reverse, leaving collected rainwater inside the umbrella when it closes.
Gone are the days of leaving an unsightly pool of water wherever you go (and getting you and your clothes wet), instead, you can choose when, and where, to dry your umbrella – at a time that’s convenient for you.
Available in a wide range of colours – our pick being this sleek powder blue, the Repel windproof umbrella is a highly-reviewed crowd favourite. The Repel umbrella is fortified with nine resin-reinforced fiberglass ribs and a vented double canopy that flexes slightly to withstand powerful gusts without turning inside out.
Another great compact option to keep in your bag for when the rain strikes, unannounced.
The Fulton Stormshield umbrella is a full-size option with a windproof vent so your umbrella won’t flip even in the windiest conditions. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that Fulton umbrellas are Royal-approved, widely known as the umbrella brand sported by Queen Elizabeth II.
We found the strongest umbrella in the world
8 best ways to dry your clothes quickly
Plus, your chance to win
Plus, your chance to win
Treat yourself to a subscription-Save up to 25%