Best umbrellas to buy in 2024 for Australia’s rainy season
If you’re sick of binning weak umbrellas that break easily, we've rounded up the best umbrellas to buy - including the viral reversible umbrella that makes getting in and out of your car easy.
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I ask very little from my umbrellas and yet still past models have done nothing but disappoint.
Is it too much to ask for an umbrella that doesn’t fail you in the middle of a downpour?
To avoid wrangling with a soggy mess of metal and fabric, I’ve scoured the internet for the brands that loyal users swear by.
We've currently got our eye on the viral Lavacco Reversible Umbrella that has been declared "the best invention since umbrellas" and a "game changer" - this umbrella makes getting in and out of your car easier when it's raining, and helps ensure that you or your car aren't getting all wet.
Another umbrella to lookout for is the StrombergBrand's The Spectrum Umbrella. It has garnered over 7000 five-star ratings and has been described as being “inexpensive but durable”.
Whether you fancy something bright and playful or chic and subdued, there’s an umbrella for every budget and style, with options that keep UV rays off as well as rain.
OUR TOP PICKS
EDITOR'S PICK: BEST UMBRELLA
Lavvaco Reversible Umbrella, $22.95 at Amazon Australia
What You Need To Know
If you're sick of wetting yourself or your car with a wet umbrella, this viral umbrella will change your life. It's specifically designed as a reversible or upside down umbrella that keeps the raindrops captured on the inside (rather than outside like a traditional umbrella) when closed - so you don't have to worry about wetting your car and other things. This style of umbrella has a unique C-shaped handle that you can comfortable hold and conveniently hang a bag on it; it has since gained popularity on TikTok for being a "game changer", "unique" and "so handy", and there are a number of different designs to choose from.
"This design is the bomb. I have no idea why umbrellas haven't been designed like this forever. It really does make a huge difference getting in and out of a car or ducking inside. No more getting wet or getting others wet!" one five-star reviewer wrote.
"The best invention since the umbrella. Folding umbrellas have been around since the 16th century, but it took these guys to perfect it. It's so much easier to get in and out of doorways - especially cars! - when the canopy opens toward you and closes away from you. When closing it wet, the water drains into the folds, not down the outside where it drips all over you. The loop in the handle allows you to hold the umbrella while keeping both hands free... Nice sturdy construction," another wrote.
Blunt Metro Umbrella, $129 at THE ICONIC
What You Need To Know
We love this umbrella because the designers have thought about all the little things. It has an auto open button and the canopy is the right size for getting around busy areas without taking up more than your share of footpath space. It also has blunt ends so there is no risk of anyone getting poked in the eye as you navigate crowds and the company says the canopy's unique shape means it won't break even in the high winds. It fold up to just 37.5 cm so easily fits into a handbag and comes in a rainbow of colours that will cheer you up on gloomy days.
BEST BUDGET UMBRELLA
StrombergBrand The Spectrum Umbrella, $17.20 at Amazon Australia
StrombergBrand The Spectrum Umbrella
What You Need To Know
Available in loads of different colours and promising to be compact and travel-friendly, the Stromberg Umbrella is a great pick if you’re looking to save your cash where you can. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, plus the automatic opening button works a treat if you find yourself stuck in the rain unexpectedly.
Described as being the “perfect size” and “inexpensive but durable”, this umbrella is one of Amazon’s best sellers. It’s racked up over 7000 five-star ratings and an average score of 4.3 out of five.
BEST UMBRELLA FOR TWO
Lejorain Large Umbrella, $62.80 at Amazon Australia
Lejorain Large Umbrella
What You Need To Know
We’ve gone hunting to find the best umbrella overall and our pick is this one from the brand Lejorain, available at Amazon.With prices starting at just $49.99, this large umbrella won’t blow your budget. There’s loads of colours and prints to choose from, so you can pick one that suits your personal style. It promises be windproof, with an automatic open and close for convenience. It also promises to protect at least two people – but that doesn’t mean it sacrifices on portability. It folds down into a compact size and is still super lightweight.
If you don’t want to take our word for it, take a read through the over 2000 five-star reviews. It’s been described as being “durable, reliable” and “worth the purchase.”
BEST PORTABLE AND COMPACT UMBRELLA
Oroton Bamboo Small Umbrella, $69.95 at THE ICONIC
Oroton Bamboo Small Umbrella
What You Need To Know
If you’re looking for a chic and stylish umbrella that doesn’t sacrifice on functionality, you may want to spend your cash on the Oroton umbrella. The water resistant fabric is printed on a gorgeous monochromatic print that’ll brighten any rainy day. It offers a wooden bamboo handle and a push button release and closure for extra convenience.
The Oroton umbrella range is Senior Manager Ecommerce Content and Strategy, Edwina Carr Barraclough's personal favourite.
“I had my first one for around five years before it carked it. Now I’m onto my second one and I’ve got zero complaints.”
BEST AUTOMATIC UMBRELLA
Samsonite Windguard Auto Open/Close Umbrella, $63.92 at Amazon Australia
Samsonite Windguard Auto Open/Close Umbrella
What You Need To Know
So you’re juggling a million things at once and it just started pouring down rain – you need an automatic umbrella to get you covered fast.
The automatic umbrella from Samsonite is a great pick as it offers a quick button release and a windguard canopy.
Five star reviewers on Amazon have described it as being “compact and solid”, commenting on the fact that it “opens with a push of a button and collapses again with the push of a button … very well built.”
BEST GOLF UMBRELLA
Optima Double Canopy Solar Golf Umbrella, $49.99 at Rebel Sport
Optima Double Canopy Solar Golf Umbrella
What You Need To Know
For those who take their weekly golfing sessions seriously, come hail or shine – yes, father-in-law, I’m talking about you – it’s hard to go past this top-rated golf umbrella from Optima. It has a huge double canopy, is sturdy enough to withstand high winds and also offers UV protection when standing on the green. It also has an auto press button for opening and closing.
Highly-rated for comfort, quality, performance, ease of use, durability and features, you’ll find many a glowing five-star review for this model, including one titled, “One Umbrella To Rule Them All”.
“This is the biggest umbrella I’ve ever owned. It can cover me my wife and child with ease,” it starts. “It’s also sturdy enough to withstand a cyclone of torrential downpour.”
“If you are sick of wasting money on cheap umbrellas, get this one.”
BEST CLEAR UMBRELLA
G4Free Clear Golf Umbrella, $47.99 at Amazon Australia
G4Free Clear Golf Umbrella
What You Need To Know
Now you may be asking yourself … what’s the point of a clear umbrella? Well if you know it’s going to rain on a special event – think a wedding, photo shoot or birthday party – a transparent umbrella is a great idea because it won’t distract from your gorgeous outfit. Imagine taking wedding photos in the rain and all you can see is a big black umbrella - it's not ideal. We love the look of this clear golf-style one from Amazon, it's big enough to fit up to two or three people and it automatically opens with the press of a button.
"I ordered this umbrella for my wedding, and it was big enough for the officiant, bride, and groom to cozy up under! The quality was great, I ordered the “clear” because the “clearer” was not available soon enough, and it was a little foggy, but not a big enough deal for me, and the photos still turned out stunning!" one five-star reviewer wrote.
"The umbrella is well made and durable. It comes with a carry bag. The rim has a fabric trim. The clear plastic is not crystal clear see-through, but it is transparent. The clear plastic allows for me to see all around while covered by the rain. The size is large over sized and has a lot of coverage around me when I open it. It has a drawstring on the carry bag to keep the umbrella tightly inside. It has a manual push button to open the umbrella," another wrote.
BEST TRAVEL UMBRELLA
Goothdurs Automatic Mini Travel Umbrella, $27.64 (down from $36.12) at Amazon Australia
Goothdurs Mini Travel Compact Windproof Umbrella
What You Need To Know
If you’re one of the many Australians jet setting off for a vacation, you might find exactly what you’re looking for in a pocket-size form of weather protection. This mini travel umbrella measures in at less than seven inches long when closed, fitting easily in a handbag or your back pocket. Goothdurs boasts the umbrella is windproof and waterproof with UV protection, plus it comes with the added peace of mind of a lifetime replacement guarantee.
Don’t just take their word for it though – one five-star reviewer said “if you’re looking for a small umbrella that opens wide this is a good choice”.
BEST UMBRELLA FOR KIDS
Gift Junction Colour Changing Dome Umbrella, $29.99 at THE ICONIC
Gift Junction Colour Changing Dome Umbrella
What You Need To Know
This adorable umbrella will be stoked to use this umbrella when it rains as it has a colour-changing ability when wet and dry. It's available in a variety of designs to suit your child and it even has clear window panels so that they can see where they're going while being protected from the rain, plus it's easy to open and close, and the dome shape helps provide better coverage from rain.
Penny Scallan Dino Rock Umbrella, $17.47 (down from $24.95) at Myer
Penny Scallan Umbrella
What You Need To Know
Penny Scallan is known for creating adorable umbrellas for kids, offering a variety of prints. Just a few of the styles available at Myer right now include a rainbow days, loopy llama and dino rock.
There’s a bunch of five-star reviewers commenting on how it’s such a “great umbrella for kids” and how they are a “great size, great quality, easy to use and safe for children.”
Disney Kids Umbrella Frozen, $39.95 at Amazon Australia
Disney Kids Umbrella Frozen
What You Need To Know
With an average customer rating of 4.7 out of five, it’s safe to say this is one of the more popular options when it comes to finding an umbrella for your child. Offering a range of playful designs in Disney inspired prints, your child is not going to complain about holding this umbrella in the pouring rain. The push/pull handle opens and closes the umbrella and promises to be easy to use, especially for little kids.
This adorable umbrella has racked up an average rating of 4.7 out of five on the Myer website, with over 1,200 five-star ratings. It’s been described as being “adorable” and the construction “sturdy”.
WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN BUYING AN UMBRELLA
When choosing an umbrella, it's important to keep the factors in mind:
Size/Canopy: You'd ideally want an umbrella with a generous canopy that will keep your fully protected and covered from the rain - a canopy that's about 100 cm is a good and standard size that is enough to keep a singular person safe from the rain. However, if you intend to share the umbrella or need more coverage, you could opt for a golf umbrella which is generally 150 cm and above.
Material: It's a no-brainer that you'd want an umbrella that's waterproof and quick-drying - opt for an umbrella made from polyester or pongee as they're also lightweight and flexible.
Frame: The frame (shaft and ribs) are what makes or breaks an umbrella. Fiberglass frames are the best option as they're incredibly flexible and wind-resistant, and less likely to snap and break.
Weight: Depending on who you are, you'll want an umbrella that is a comfortable weight to hold - you don't want it to be too heavy as that could tire your arm out and get annoying easily. However, you also don't want a really lightweight and flimsy umbrella that won't be able to withstand wind.
Convenience: While a stick umbrellas may be sturdy and strong, a collapsible/foldable umbrella is a more convenient option for someone that is constantly on-the-go as you can easily pack it away and pop it into your bag.
HOW WE CHOOSE PRODUCTS
To help you find the best umbrella to protect you from the rain, our team of experienced writers spend hours researching an array of umbrellas to include in this article. We found out what factors make a good umbrella by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHAT IS THE BEST COLOUR FOR AN UMBRELLA?
While colour is a personal choice, black is generally the favoured colour as it's simple, sleek and can easily match with any of your rainy day outfits - plus they won't show any dirty marks or stains easily. Black umbrellas will also keep you cool in the sun as they absorb sunlight and heat. However,
if you want to stand out from the crowd, a coloured or patterned umbrella is perfect.
WHAT BRANDS MAKE THE BEST UMBRELLAS?
Blunt, StrombergBrand and Samsonite are great options considering their construction, price and the various reviews attesting to their reliability.
More rainy day essentials coverage:
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