A great option for those wanting extra room or coverage that can be easily shared with another person

We love the timeless design of this umbrella, but since you can’t stash it in your bag, it may be easy to forget and leave behind. Larger than the average umbrella, but not as large as a golf umbrella, Certain Standard’s The Large Umbrella offers plenty of coverage in downpours. Seattle residents are very familiar with rain, and Seattle brand Certain Standard is about creating high-quality products that are as beautiful as they are functional. The 46-inch canopy comfortably covers you—and maybe a friend—while the lightweight frame easily glides open and closed. It’s built for storms light and heavy, offering key versatility in an umbrella you’re sure to reach for again and again. Most umbrellas have a diameter between 30 and 40 inches, which is the measurement of the canopy from side to side. When shopping for an umbrella, consider your intended use. If you’re looking for a lightweight compact or travel umbrella, it will likely have a smaller diameter canopy and will provide less coverage. If you’re more interested in a standard umbrella and aren’t concerned with portability, they generally have a larger canopy and will be heavier. This is the quintessential umbrella. When closed, it's around 3 feet long—hard to store in a bag. The curved handle is exceptional, made of top-grain leather, and you get a nice button that tastefully opens the umbrella up (it closes manually). You're getting high-end materials through and through. The frame system is made of "wind-tension" fiberglass, the shaft is also fiberglass, and the canopy is among the largest in this guide, with a 44-inch diameter. It's meant for one, but it had no trouble sheltering my partner and me from the elements. Looks (1 to 3): Does the handle look elegant or cheap? Is the hardware sophisticated? Would you be embarrassed to be seen with it?When choosing an umbrella, you want one that’s easy to hold, especially when it’s wet. The handle should always have a comfortable grip and fit comfortably in your hand. Handles are made from a variety of materials—wood, cork, leather, and rubber—and rubber-coated handles and cork handles offer the best grip even when wet. Jason Sullivan from Certain Standard says cork is a sustainable option, too. “Not only do cork handles feel great in your hand, but we wanted to consider an eco-friendly option. Cork can be harvested from the bark of a cork tree without cutting the tree down, so we aren’t damaging the trees.” Materials matter as well. Gregory R. Bisconti, PGA Head Golf Professional at The Saint Andrew's Golf Club in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, suggests players seek out umbrellas made from lightweight components like fiberglass and nylon. "It's important to keep the weight manageable to carry," he says. Want something simpler? The Lanbrella Reverse Travel Windproof has a similar vibe minus the extra style points. While rather plain, the Lanbrella still offers an expansive canopy for a compact umbrella and is very affordable as well. If you live in a rainy climate, investing in a dependable high-quality umbrella is probably worth it. The Davek Elite Umbrella has a waterfall-shaped canopy, which is made of dense 210-thread-count fabric and treated with a water-repellent coating. The umbrella has a reliable windproof frame, and the slim handle is wrapped in genuine top-grain leather. The metal tip is an elegant touch. If this style feels outdated, consider the Blunt Metro with its unique shape. While the Blunt doesn't provide as much rain protection, it offers quality and is very easy to use.

What sets the ShedRain apart from its competition is its reverse-closing style — the umbrella folds up inside out, keeping water off you when you’re carrying it closed. It’s a great feature for when you’re coming in from outside and don’t want to put down or hang up a soaking wet umbrella. The ShedRain also did a solid job of keeping me dry while I was using it, and the single button that opens and closes the umbrella was easy to use. — K.I.A.

Conclusion

In addition to being on the longer and heavier side of the spectrum, the materials used aren't the most confidence-inducing as far as long-term use goes. The hook handle is made of plastic, and the ribs are quite thin. Ease of use also isn't particularly high with this model, as the manual slide can easily pinch the hands. Still, the totes Clear Bubble is good for casual use to and from your destinations, and we appreciate its fun and useful style. Golf umbrellas are designed to protect golfers and their equipment from the sun and rain. The extra width and depth allow for greater rain protection. They’re also big enough to share the canopy with another person. The G4Free Golf Umbrella is technically a golf umbrella, but it’s suitable for use by non-golfers, too. The 62-inch double canopy is vented to allow wind to blow through making the umbrella easier to handle, and the 210-thread count fabric is lightweight and water-resistant.

For players who haven't invested in one yet, there are a few factors they will want to consider. "What makes a good umbrella is the size of the canopy (the larger, the better), preferably over 60 inches," says Wesley J. Forester, PGA Director of Golf at Reynolds Lake Oconee. A double canopy is also an important feature. "The overlapping canopies allow wind to pass through the umbrella, so it does not collapse," Forester adds. "They reduce the feeling of a parachute as the wind lifts you up." Eight Strong Ribs: Make sure there are at least eight ribs and that the ribs are made of some type of fiberglass—it's a flexible and sturdy material, so it'll fare better resisting high winds. It's even better if the shaft is made of fiberglass, too. Whether at a wedding, graduation, football game, or another type of outdoor event, a nice, large umbrella is perfect for the family to huddle up under. The Sport from Blunt is a much higher-end option than the Blunt Coupe (see above). It has a fiberglass shaft and frame, and its 58-inch diameter can easily fit two people, maybe three if everyone squeezes in. It's too big and heavy to use as an everyday umbrella, though.

The Best One-Button Umbrella: Totes Titan

Impressively large for a compact umbrella, the Davek kept me mostly dry (although some wayward-traveling rain did seep in), leaving me a little unsure this could live up to its promise of keeping two people totally protected. In the wind, the steel ribs creaked a bit, but I never felt like the umbrella was at risk of turning inside out or breaking. Where the Duet truly excels is its sturdy feel, effortless open-close mechanism, and sleek style. The leather wrist strap was an especially nice touch. — K.I.A. Comfort (1 to 5): How onerous does the umbrella feel? Is it comfortable to hold or does it make our hand cramp? How smoothly does it open and close? How easy would it be tote around? The Prostorm Vented Travel Umbrella is pretty remarkable for the money—it's leagues better than the similarly priced models you'll find in corner stores on rainy days. The fiberglass and steel frame feels slightly more robust, especially since it has nine ribs to support the canopy than the usual eight. It has a deeper dome than you'd expect for better protection, and the open/close mechanism works well, though you sometimes have to shake the umbrella to let it fully extend out. It's double-vented with a 38-inch canopy that feels spacious for one person. My only gripe is the handle—the rubberized material feels nice (it comes with a strap!), but it's tiny in my large hands. This might not be an issue if your paws aren't as ginormous as mine (I'm 6'4").