Brooks Brothers $60 stick umbrella - any good?

[johnny_flapjack]

I looked for threads on this, but only found one review in a SAB umbrella thread from lee_4406. This seems like it would be a decent deal at $60, especially with how hard I am on umbrellas. Anyone have any experience?

Brooks Brothers Umbrella

 

[Mathew J]

was thinking about that myself, looks nice.

 

[crazyquik]

I had $60 in Brooks gift cards and got one for free.

I haven't even opened it yet.

So . . . not much help. It is made in China.

Maybe I'll take a million pics of it tonight and post them on styleforum so people will think I'm cool?

 

[Eccentric]

Well they can't be worse than the junk most people buy.

 

[crazyquik]

Mine has a different canopy than the one pictured. The ones I have seen with a plain black canopy have a lighter-finished wood.

This umbrella is best described as a Swain-imposter. It looks like a sturdy stick-thru umbrella, but there are a few noticeable cheap spots. I haven't had an opportunity to use it yet and find out if it's functionally sturdy or flimsy.



Velcro closure with the Brooks label on it, instead of a button of faux-button. The balled-tip of each spoke seems like its metal.

While it appears to be dark wood, it's really sort of dark-painted wood. Either when I purchased it, or on the walk out to my car, a scuff developed on the handle, scratching it down to bare wood.

The collar at the end is plastic, instead of metal. It appears to be held in place with a single nail however.

Functionally it operates like any other stick umbrella, I guess. All the spokes you see in this picture are plastic, and seem rather pliable. Seems like they would spring back rather than bend or break in a wind. It opens and closes nice and smooth.

 

[chang]

I have this umbrella, and it has some cheezy looking construction in some spots, like the velcro and plastic, but functionally it seems to have worked just fine. Hasn't flipped inside out on me or anything crazy yet. I got it because I just wanted something that looked decent that I could throw in my car without spending a lot of money. Maybe one day, I'll get a Brigg, but until that day this will probably do the trick. It's also made in China, but that doesn't really bother me too much since I'm a ********.

Oh yea, the wood isn't terribly high quality as far as I can tell, it's probably just some heavily stained semi cheap wood.

 

[Johnathan]

I would just get the J.Crew one for half the price. This one doesn't even look as nice.

 

[grimslade]

Crazyquick, you are one cool dude. Thanks.

 

[DocHolliday]

That's a great review, CQ. The pics really illustrate your points.

There's a huge difference in the heft and sturdiness of say, a Brigg, and the Brooks offering. (Of course, there's a big difference in the price too.) My lasting impression of the Brooks was that it felt too light and, well, a bit cheap to warrant the price tag. It wouldn't be as much of an issue for me if it weren't trying to look like more than it is. I don't have much tolerance for that.

Personally, I would say there are much better values out there. I'd look for a vintage umbrella first, or save my pennies for something nicer.

 

[mafoofan Jr.]

To be honest, I think the best value in an umbrella is one of those second hand maple Briggs from that UK retailer. It's a one piece umbrella and is built like a tank.

 

[crazyquik]

Thank you, thank you for the compliments.

I would like to know how a Fox compares to the Orvis-Brigg compares to the BB model. I think a slim, slender Fox tube model will be my next.

As I said, mine was 'free' with gift cards and my Brooks birthday card. The gift cards even cover the sales tax.

 

[DocHolliday]

I returned the Orvis Brigg. It struck me as Brigg in name only -- too much plastic. The lifetime guarantee was nice, but that was the best thing it had going for it.

 

[2sweet]

I really can't see investing more than $20 bucks in any umbrella. I have yet to be able to keep one longer than a season. I invariably lose, forget, or misplace whatever umbrella I've bought within a year's time.

 

[Night Owl]

That umbrella looks like garbage.

 

[mafoofan Jr.]

It's a catch-22. Do you lose it because it's easy to replace? Or is it because it's cheap, you're less careful with it? Either way, it's like anything nice in life, you have to take of it. I would much rather buy something well-made, take the time to care for it, and be able to use it for a long time, even with the risk of losing it by accident.

Originally Posted by 2sweet

I really can't see investing more than $20 bucks in any umbrella. I have yet to be able to keep one longer than a season. I invariably lose, forget, or misplace whatever umbrella I've bought within a year's time.