Official Umbrella aficionados thread

[hysteria]

Hey all,

I'm not an umbrella afficcionado but I've never really owned a really hgih quality umbrella previously and looking for some recommendations for <$150. Not something I want to spend too much money on. I will be in Europe this fall and might get some rain in London and Edinburgh so looking for something solid. Those may also be good places to go umbrella shopping so any recommendations are welcome.

 

[Malthus101]

Hey all,

I'm not an umbrella afficcionado but I've never really owned a really hgih quality umbrella previously and looking for some recommendations for <$150. Not something I want to spend too much money on. I will be in Europe this fall and might get some rain in London and Edinburgh so looking for something solid. Those may also be good places to go umbrella shopping so any recommendations are welcome.

If you're in the UK, a Fox could be had new in that sort of price range (way less actually, depending on the model) I have one - excellent umbrella.

www.foxumbrellas.com - MAKERS OF THE WORLD'S FINEST UMBRELLAS

Fox Umbrellas Ltd, Keeping you dry since 1868 Umbrellas, Fox Umbrellas, Gents Umbrellas, Ladies Umbrellas, Raincoats, Walking Sticks, Hand made, Automatic, Private Label, Retail, Wholesale, Umbrella Manufacturers, Fox Frames, Top Quality, Exclusive, Bespoke, Individual, made in england...

www.foxumbrellas.com

 

[hysteria]

If you're in the UK, a Fox could be had new in that sort of price range (way less actually, depending on the model) I have one - excellent umbrella.

www.foxumbrellas.com - MAKERS OF THE WORLD'S FINEST UMBRELLAS

Fox Umbrellas Ltd, Keeping you dry since 1868 Umbrellas, Fox Umbrellas, Gents Umbrellas, Ladies Umbrellas, Raincoats, Walking Sticks, Hand made, Automatic, Private Label, Retail, Wholesale, Umbrella Manufacturers, Fox Frames, Top Quality, Exclusive, Bespoke, Individual, made in england...

www.foxumbrellas.com

Thanks for the suggestion.
These are the only ones that are even close to my price range.

Not knowing anything about umbrellas, I'm not sure how to choose. Any recommendations?
I care more about the sturdiness of the umbrella rather than fancy handles. Don't want to pay a premium because the wood handle is fancy.

 

[Malthus101]

The strongest umbrellas are made on a full "solid" wooden stick. This is different to the steel tubes that most umbrellas are made of, and also the two-piece wooden umbrellas.

But solid stick umbrellas are much more expensive:

Gents Solid

Fox Umbrellas Ltd, Keeping you dry since 1868 Umbrellas, Fox Umbrellas, Gents Umbrellas, Ladies Umbrellas, Raincoats, Walking Sticks, Hand made, Automatic, Private Label, Retail, Wholesale, Umbrella Manufacturers, Fox Frames, Top Quality, Exclusive, Bespoke, Individual, made in england...

www.foxumbrellas.com

They have a guide outlining the differences:

Tube, Stick or Solid

TubeThe tube umbrella is fitted with a metal shaft. This type of umbrella gives an elegant and slim finish. We offer a large range of various types of handles that are not available on a stick or solid umbrella. StickWith the stick umbrella, the handle and shaft are two separate pieces of...

www.foxumbrellas.com

I have a Fox steel tube and it's a very strong umbrella. The strength matters when it's windy and the umbrella will hold strong, not get blown inside out like cheap umbrellas do. This is to do with the tension on the canopy and what the ribs are made of (you want steel ribs)

Any Fox umbrella will do you well. For your price range, steel tube or wodden 2-piece should suffice.

 

[Malthus101]

Also, decide if you want an automatic or not. Automatic you press a button and the umbrella opens itself up - manual/traditional, you have to push it up until it locks into place.

 

[troika]

Ok I have a question about manual vs automatic. I was looking at Talarico from NMWA which is all manual. I have a manual and an auto from Fox, and vastly prefer the auto.

Can you get a solid stick umbrella with an auto opener?

 

[logboy]

Hey all,

I'm not an umbrella afficcionado but I've never really owned a really hgih quality umbrella previously and looking for some recommendations for <$150. Not something I want to spend too much money on. I will be in Europe this fall and might get some rain in London and Edinburgh so looking for something solid. Those may also be good places to go umbrella shopping so any recommendations are welcome.

at that price, you'll only find london undercover gets close to fitting the bill of a decent umbrella.

despite being solid stick, they're not strong enough to be used like a walking stick, as traditionally intended on british umbrellas, at the lower end of their prices.

i have several, and they look more decent than most umbrellas, but aren't as good as the better end of this part of the market, which would cost much more.

can't say i definitely recommend any that costs in the hundreds that's made in the UK though - there's doubts about the origins and quality of the materials possible these days.

Stylish, Yet Unique Umbrellas | London Undercover

With a celebration of Britishness at their core, London Undercover Umbrellas are made with only the finest materials and highest quality craftsmanship. Worldwide Shipping Available.

londonundercover.co.uk

 

[Lucy J]

Hey all,

I'm not an umbrella afficcionado but I've never really owned a really hgih quality umbrella previously and looking for some recommendations for <$150. Not something I want to spend too much money on. I will be in Europe this fall and might get some rain in London and Edinburgh so looking for something solid. Those may also be good places to go umbrella shopping so any recommendations are welcome.

I have two walking length Foxes, one is the metal shaft (approx £130) and the other the solid stick (Now approx £350). I think the strength of the frame is pretty much the same on both but I have heard that if they do get blown out the metal shaft can bend if the wind starts battering the umbrella whilst its inside out (a girlfriend of mine had her metal shaft Fox blown out in a storm and the shaft was bent at almost 45 degrees when she managed to get out of the wind). Also I have two London Undercovers and they are about £130 - I've not risked them in high winds but they are elegant brollies. I think it depends whether you just want a "good" umbrella or whether you want something that's almost an addition to your overall wardrobe. Another thing to consider would be a Fox or Brigg golf brolly. MUCH bigger but also very sturdy and my go to brollies if it's blowing over 30mph... They retail for about £130-150 I believe...

 

[Lucy J]

Have brought a London Undercover umbrella to the office today. Looking as though it will get a real test later when I walk home as the wind here in Brighton is really getting up and we are expecting rain by mid-afternoon....

 

[MattyS]

Does anyone have recommendations quality umbrellas one can travel with? These can be folding full-size umbrellas or something smaller that still looks as attractive as possible.

 

[duffyfluffy123]

Does anyone have recommendations quality umbrellas one can travel with? These can be folding full-size umbrellas or something smaller that still looks as attractive as possible.

Haven't tried, but you can check this out https://arterton.co.uk/products/arterton-dismantlable-umbrella

 

[Malthus101]

Does anyone have recommendations quality umbrellas one can travel with? These can be folding full-size umbrellas or something smaller that still looks as attractive as possible.

Best small umbrella I've ever had:

Balios Folding Umbrella Wood Handle Auto Open Close Vented Canopy Dark Navy : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

Balios Folding Umbrella Wood Handle Auto Open Close Vented Canopy Dark Navy : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion

tinyurl.com

 

[maxalex]

How long do these solid shaft umbrellas last? Can they be repaired or they are pretty much disposable?

They last until you lose them. Note that very high quality solid umbrellas (like my lemon wood model handmade by Mario Talarico in Naples) are quite heavy and can be tiring to hold open for long periods. Something to consider if you find yourself often walking in the rain for more than a block or two.

 

[Lucy J]

Hi

Does anyone have recommendations quality umbrellas one can travel with? These can be folding full-size umbrellas or something smaller that still looks as attractive as possible.

I've heard good things about Davek umbrellas and I know they do a folding version, but I've never used one so can't speak from experience. On the whole I think the folding frame inevitably makes the umbrella less strong than a regular frame. Fulton do a Jumbo umbrella which is folding but opens up to golf size. I've been through three or four of those in the winds we get here in Brighton but they give very good coverage if the wind is not blowing too much...

 

[Lucy J]

How long do these solid shaft umbrellas last? Can they be repaired or they are pretty much disposable?

I live on the coast in Brighton where we get a lot of really rough weather. My Brigg solid has needed to be repaired twice in about 12 years, and my Fox solid has needed to be repaired once in about 16 years. I can't imagine how many "ordinary" umbrellas I would have gone through in that time. And of course each time one of the brollies needed repair I had been using it in absolute full-on storm or squall line conditions, when I didn't have any right to expect any umbrella to hold up, but, as always, I was aiming to protect my hair and makeup and chose to fight the storm with my brolly rather than accept getting soaked. Of course the wind, if it's bad enough, will always win, and you end up getting soaked anyway. Both Brigg and Fox did complete repairs of the frame for about £75 so they really do last until you lose them. If you do get caught in rough weather try half-closing the umbrella which should reduce the pressure on the frame. Hope that helps.....