These Gift-Worthy Umbrellas Are Nicer Than Anything They’d Buy for Themselves

When the weather is beautiful enough to break out the lawn games, having a high-quality umbrella on standby may be the furthest thing from one's mind. We say it's always smart to plan for less-than-favorable conditions to prevent any mad dashes for cover when the rain starts pouring down.

The umbrellas in this guide aren't just nicer than the bargain-bin brollies that you can find at the convenience store, they also make ingenious gifts for outdoorsy types and people who like to be prepared for whatever the day throws at them.

What to Consider

Size

Naturally, an umbrella's size is an important factor: You'll want to check the canopy diameter and the length of the umbrella's pole to get a sense of how much coverage your recipient will get from this gift.

However, checking the umbrella's length when closed may be the most important determing factor in how useful the gift is. A frequent traveler may prefer a more compact model they can stash in their bag rather than lugging around a giant golf umbrella. Consider the storage needs (and daily commuting routine) of your recipient to determine whether a 7-inch-long retracted travel umbrella, a 3-foot-long golf umbrella, or something in between would be the best fit for them.

Opening Ease

One key benefit of getting a higher-end umbrella as a gift is that its opening mechanism may be a little more sophisticated than cheaper options. Instead of sliding the canopy into its extended position, almost all of these umbrellas have a push-button opening function. While we've found this to be a convenient feature for quickly snapping the umbrella into position before dashing into the rain, those with limited hand mobility may find the slide-to-open feature to be less fussy.

Style

Why gift an umbrella if you're not going to swing for the fences with style? Our picks in this guide range from quirky-cute to quite sophisticated, and they're available in a range of colors and funky patterns. After all, when the forecast calls for a week of rain, do you want their umbrella to look just as dreary?

How We Chose

For this guide to the most giftable umbrellas, we’re presenting a range of sizes to accommodate for various users’ needs. We’ve had the chance to test out three of our five picks in rainy weather and have been impressed with their ease of opening, high-quality build, and resiliency in gusty wind conditions. We’ve leaned on user reviews touting these same features for those we haven’t had the chance to test in person.

Read on to check out the five most gift-worthy umbrellas you can buy.