The weather can be quite unpredictable in Australia these days, so whether you’re using one to shield yourself from the rain or sun, investing in one of the best umbrellas money can buy is a good idea as it’s an excellent companion for all seasons Down Under.
Besides being practical for keeping you dry on the move, a decent brolly can even be a fashion statement, complementing your look – long gone are the behemoth constructions of the past, when umbrellas came exclusively in black.
Whether you need a sleek, compact umbrella, or the biggest one in town for extra coverage, we've got you covered (pun intended). Here’s a roundup of the very best umbrellas to keep your head dry next time the heavens open.
The best umbrellas you can buy today
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Fulton hold a Royal Warrant due to the British monarchy using the company’s Birdcage brolly. This option, the wonderfully-named Stormshield, is a large vented golf umbrella, which should hold up against the strongest gales without letting you down. The umbrella has a ‘easy guide’ manual control opening and closing system (so no button-deployment here, which is probably wise given how large it is).
The shaft is made from non-conductive fibreglass, so you needn’t worry about being struck by lightning while in exposed areas during a storm, or on the golf course when the weather turns grim. At 104 cm wide, the canopy strikes a good balance between a full-size golf umbrella and one which can still be used in a crowd without getting in everyone’s way.
The funky styling of the Blunt Metro is mainly down to the rounded safely tips, so we didn’t feel like an accident waiting to happen using it on a busy commute. We used it on windy days and it didn’t even wobble – it’s aerodynamic handling is to be commended and it feels reassuringly well-made in the hand too.
The high tension canopy is perhaps the perfect size, keeping you completely dry without being cumbersome. It opens and closes instantly by pressing a single button and can also be had in a wide range of colours, making a welcome change to the sea of black umbrellas on the high street.
Golf umbrellas are brilliant for keeping you dry in a heavy downpour and holding chivalrously over a friend, but you can’t carry them around just-in-case. The Fulton Tiny 1 may not be the most macho, but it is light and compact, making it a great option to keep stashed in a bag in case of a shower.
Sure, it won’t keep you dry in a heavy downpour as the canopy is only 87cm in diameter, but it’s better than nothing! It's perfect for keeping in case of an emergency and comes in black as well as a number of patterns, if you’re feeling more adventurous.
If strong winds are your nemesis on a rainy day, this could be the umbrella for you. The Samsonite Windguard is built with extra steel ribs to withstand heavy wind resistance meaning you won't have to battle an inside-out umbrella in the next storm.
With a simple push-button automatic release, the sturdy Samsonite has a double canopy with just enough space to shelter two people. It's slightly larger than others on the market, but is still compact enough to fit in a handbag or backpack when travelling.
If you're looking for something a bit different in the umbrella world, Clifton’s inverted umbrella is a fancy design that is both eye-pleasing and functional. It features a 105cm diameter and dapper colour options and, with an inverted umbrella, there’s no need to awkwardly drip dry on a friend's floors – the water is caught within when closed, allowing you to open it up to dry at a more convenient time or place.
With a range of colours available, this is a solid choice for an affordable and different umbrella. Clifton also offers a full refund or replacement warranty for 12 months to put your mind at ease.
Once you’re in the umbrella – thanks to the funky full coverage dome design you feel like you’re in a bubble - you aren’t getting wet. The transparent cover means that despite this being the brolly offering the most coverage visibility is great. The build quality is impressive with fiberglass ribs for flexibility and strength in high winds.
The Queen uses one of these (Fulton are a Royal Warrant holder) and we can see why! Our only issue - it’s big at 94cm long when closed, 84cm when open which is great when it’s raining but it’s too cumbersome to carry everyday.
One of Amazon's bestseller travel umbrellas, the Newdora Windproof Travel Folding Umbrella has a number of attractive features. It comes with a storage case that contains an absorbent lining to quickly dry the canopy, so you can stick it straight in your bag and not worry about everything getting wet. And despite its compact size, it still has a canopy big enough to shelter two people.
The automatic open and close button means it's quick and easy to use, and the range of colours lets you pick one to match your style. It'll also give you decent UV protection on sunny days.
If you’re looking for an inexpensive take-everywhere-just-in-case type of umbrella this is the one for you – it even comes with a nice neat carry case. It’s much better made than those you can pick up anywhere for a couple of quid (or a few dollars) but it doesn’t have button opening or other fancy features. It doesn’t look cheap at all but it’s design is nothing special either. A good no-frills choice.
This Victorinox umbrella opens with the push of a button but you close it manually (unlike the Davek and Blunt models). Build quality is great – the strong frame held up very well in the wind despite being lightweight at just 0.4kg – a real plus if it’s going to live in your bag. We liked the look of the double canopy design which features the Victorinox logo and it’s very nice to hold with the moulded finger grips and rubberised feel of the handle. Said handle did show light general usage marks quite quickly though.
If you're looking for something extra compact you can carry with you anywhere, the Nooformer Mini Travel Umbrella fits the bill. At around six inches when folded, it can fit in the palm of your hand and is light enough to carry in your pocket. It might not be the most sturdy when it comes to heavy wind, but it does offer 95% UV protection against the sun.
With a range of colours available, it's a solid choice for an affordable, emergency option. And Nooformer also offers a full lifetime refund or replacement warranty to put your mind at ease.
Things to consider when buying an umbrella
It’s clear that there’s a great deal of choice to be made when picking the perfect umbrella, the kind of choice that is far better made in advance instead of dashing into the first shop you see in a downpour and ending up parting with a small fortune for something undersized and poor quality.
Size matters in the umbrella game, so take a solid look at what you’ll be doing when you’re most likely to get caught in a flash storm. If you’re often in the CBD, there is no benefit to getting the biggest boy in town, and if you spend all your time on the golf course you’ll want to make sure you get maximum coverage.
Colour is another big consideration, with a black brolly being the most ‘sensible’ choice, but some of the most fashionable options come in bright colours and patterns, sometimes with elaborate handles.
Lastly, look at your budget. While you don't want to pay more than you need to on an umbrella, if you're not willing to pay more than about AU$25, chances are you may end up an inadvertent TikTok star (opens in new tab) fighting an umbrella and losing.
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