_The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships, so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase._ _[best umbrella]_ THE INSIDER PICK: * A RAINY DAY CAN RUIN YOUR PLANS, YOUR OUTFIT, AND YOUR MOOD, BUT WITH A GREAT UMBRELLA IN YOUR HANDS, RAIN NEED NOT PUT A DAMPER ON THE DAY. THE REPEL WINDPROOF TRAVEL UMBRELLA IS OUR TOP PICK BECAUSE IT'S IMPRESSIVELY RUGGED GIVEN ITS SMALL SIZE AND AFFORDABLE PRICE TAG. They were the inspiration for a sensational hit song back in 2007. They have been featured in Japanese woodblock prints and Impressionist paintings. They even played a pivotal role in the classic movie "Mary Poppins." Yet, you probably don't think about umbrellas all that much until the moment you realize that you need one, which is often followed by the realization that you don't have one. Humans have used umbrellas for more than 2,000 years at least, with evidence of umbrella use found in Ancient China, Ancient Greece, Mesoamerica, and beyond. In the 19th Century, Europeans carried umbrellas for both practical purposes and for style. Modern umbrellas have evolved to be lightweight, sturdy, and quite compact when folded down. With exceptions made for purely ceremonial objects, all umbrellas used in all eras of human history were designed with the same basic purpose in mind: To prevent foul weather or relentless sunshine from causing discomfort. A good umbrella can keep you dry in a downpour and will keep its shape intact even in high winds. A great umbrella can keep you dry on a rainy, blustery day and then also pack down small enough to be stored in a backpack, handbag, or the glove compartment of your car. That's why we've sought out a number of compact, lightweight umbrellas perfect for travel or for the commuter. Of course, there are those times in life where bigger is better, which is why our guide also features umbrellas large enough to shelter two or even three people beneath their mighty canopies. You're sure to find an umbrella or two on our list that will help keep you dry during the next rainstorm. The only issue is whether or not you'll remember to keep one close by. My wife and I keep an umbrella in each car and several in the house, and we have compact folding umbrellas along every time we travel. This is partially for our own comfort, but largely because if there's one thing young kids hate, it's getting soaked in the rain. Lesson learned. READ ON IN THE SLIDES BELOW TO LEARN WHY THE REPEL WINDPROOF TRAVEL UMBRELLA IS OUR TOP PICK AND WHY YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE THE HUNTER MUSTACHE BUBBLE UMBRELLA, THE TOTES COMPACT NEVERWET UMBRELLA, THE SAMSONITE WINDGUARD AUTO OPEN UMBRELLA, THE G4FREE AUTOMATIC DOUBLE CANOPY GOLF UMBRELLA, AND THE BLUNT METRO TRAVEL UMBRELLA. THE BEST UMBRELLA OVERALL Repel WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT: THE REPEL WINDPROOF TRAVEL UMBRELLA SHEDS WATER AND RESISTS WIND GUSTS BETTER THAN MANY UMBRELLAS THAT ARE LARGER AND PRICIER, AND IT LASTS LONGER, TOO. The first thing you need to know about the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella is that its canopy is supported by nine resin-coated fiberglass ribs. The construction of these ribs lets them flex enough to resist damage yet maintain canopy shape in heavy rains or gusts. The number of ribs is arguably even more important in keeping this umbrella in shape. Most compact umbrellas have six ribs, while some have seven or eight. This is the only affordable compact umbrella I know of that uses nine, and that extra hardware means extra performance and durability. As for the canopy itself, it's coated in Teflon, so raindrops, sleet, and snowflakes slide right off, adding no extra weight to your umbrella and never saturating the fabric. The canopy pops open with the press of a button and collapses with another press. Packed down, the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella measures less than a foot in length and it weighs less than one pound. That compact storage size does indeed make it good for travel, but its overall quality makes it an overall good umbrella for everyday use. With more than 4,600 reviews posted on Amazon at the time of this writing, the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella has a stellar 4.6-star average rating. An owner named Joseph called it the "best all-around compact umbrella" he could find, while a customer called Lee said it was "sturdily built with quality materials." The gear testing experts from The Wirecutter called it "solidly built" and loved how well it "holds up in high winds." PROS: Canopy resists wind, durable design, auto open and close functions CONS: Some users find button hard to press BUY THE REPEL WINDPROOF TRAVEL UMBRELLA ON AMAZON FOR $24 THE BEST BUBBLE UMBRELLA Hunter WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT: WITH THE HUNTER MUSTACHE BUBBLE UMBRELLA, YOU CAN STAY DRY AND SEE WHERE YOU'RE GOING, EVEN WHEN THE RAIN IS BLOWING SIDEWAYS. The Hunter Mustache Bubble Umbrella comes from the same brand that has been making iconic Hunter Rain Boots for more than 170 years, so they know a thing or two about fashion and function. Thus it's no surprise that this umbrella is both stylish and capable. The deep canopy and crooked handle call to mind vintage design, while the clear polyurethane used to construct the upper portion of said canopy allows for a clear view around even while rain is falling in buckets. This is a classic manual-open umbrella with a solid shaft, so you won't be tucking it away in a glove box or purse, but that also means there are fewer components at risk of failure. And don't worry much about failure here. The Hunter Mustache Bubble Umbrella is worth its rather elevated price tag, thanks to its durability. You can count on owning this umbrella for years even if you live in quite a rainy corner of the world and use it heavily. One satisfied customer said the Hunter Mustache "provided the best coverage of any umbrella [he had] ever used," while another said its "shape provides maximum protection and coverage" against rainfall. A review from Independent's IndyBest appreciated its "largely transparent" canopy and the "good grip" provided by the "rubber hook handle." PROS: Complete rain protection for head and upper torso, allows for easy view, classic styling CONS: Not good for use with more than one person BUY A HUNTER MUSTACHE BUBBLE UMBRELLA FROM NORDSTROM FOR $60 THE BEST LOW COST UMBRELLA Totes WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT: THE TOTES COMPACT NEVERWET UMBRELLA IS LIGHTWEIGHT AND COMPACT, BUT WHAT REALLY COUNTS HERE IS THE LOW PRICE. Chances are good that your Totes Compact NeverWet Umbrella isn't going to last you a lifetime if you live in Seattle or London, but considering the fact that it costs only sixteen bucks, this is actually a well-made little umbrella. It collapses down to measure just 11 inches long when not in use, so you can easily stash it in your car, in a drawer or cabinet, or in your bag. Deployed, the canopy measures three feet across, so it will keep your head and shoulders dry in all but the most pernicious, windy downpours. When caught by a serious gust of wind, this umbrella's aluminum frame will probably flip inside out. If that happens enough times, the hardware will eventually fail. But given its low price, you can just replace it when that finally happens. One more thing to note is that the canopy is plenty wide for one person, but it's rather shallow, so it only provides excellent shelter for rain falling more or less straight down. Those few negatives aside, most customers who have used a Totes Compact NeverWet Umbrella love it. It has almost a hundred reviews on Target and enjoys almost unanimous five-star reviews. One buyer called it "easy to open and close" while another said it was "very compact" and marveled how "water literally just drains off" the canopy." A writer from UmbrellaStar said this umbrella "will easily keep an individual dry" and praised the efficacy of its "NeverWet invisible coating." PROS: Very low cost, compact and lightweight, hydrophobic canopy CONS: Not as durable as other options BUYA TOTES COMPACT NEVERWET UMBRELLA FROM TARGET FOR $16 SEE THE REST OF THE STORY AT BUSINESS INSIDER SEE ALSO: * Amazon is having a big Kindle and Fire tablet sale for Prime members only right now * The perks of REI’s lifetime membership far outweigh its one-time $20 cost * The best strapless bras you can buy SEE ALSO: THE BEST WOMEN'S RAIN BOOTS YOU CAN BUY
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