There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
The Product on Trial
The Tester
Brandon Carte, a car-free downtown dweller and daily walker who needed a quality umbrella
A Perfect Gift for Yourself or a Loved One
A barrage of storms has drenched California this year. There have been 12 atmospheric river storms since Christmas, and according to my colleagues at the San Francisco Chronicle, some regions have received more than 1.5 times a typical year’s worth of rain.
Which raises the question: When was the last time you bought an umbrella?
As for me, I have a beat-up umbrella that I purchased at T.J. Maxx back in 2011, and I keep a travel umbrella in my car emergency kit, and that one’s even older. Not to mention, my husky recently got ahold of it, destroyed the handle, and tore the fabric.
So, I invested in a couple of umbrellas from Weatherman. The company was founded in 2017 by Rick Reichmuth, an AMS Seal-certified meteorologist who serves as chief meteorologist at Fox News because he couldn’t find an umbrella that met his standards.
Pros
- Weighs less than a pound and is small enough to fit in a bag
- Opens and closes itself with a push of the button
- Backed by a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Expensive
Pros
- Big enough for two people to stand under
- Its canopy is vented to help it withstand strong winds
- Available in several color configurations
Cons
- Lacks auto-close feature
Typically priced between $50 and $100 depending on the size, they certainly don’t run cheap, but I promise you, they feel much more premium than any umbrella I’ve used — even fancy ones from hotels. The Weatherman umbrellas make for an excellent gift — because let’s be honest, most of us could probably use a luxurious umbrella that’s built to last, looks great, and comes in fun colors.
This social-media-famous umbrella at one point had a waitlist of 15,000 people long, but today the company sells four main models with diameters ranging between 38 and 55 inches. There’s a travel umbrella, a slightly larger collapsible umbrella, a classic stick umbrella, and a supersized highly durable golf umbrella.
How the Weatherman Umbrella Stacks Up
Compared to any run-of-the-mill umbrella, Weatherman’s are made from a Teflon-coated fabric that dries quickly and repels water, and its canopies are designed to withstand winds up to 55 miles per hour. They have fiberglass ribs and are backed by a lifetime warranty, so you can be confident that they’ll hold up over time.
I walk my dogs rain or shine for 1 mile every day and I’ve never had issues with the umbrellas flopping in the wind or turning inside out. The first time I used mine, it instantly reminded me of a windshield with RainX applied. I love that the rainwater beads up and slides right off like a marble.
I walk my dogs in the early mornings and at dusk, so one of my favorite features of the umbrellas is their 360-degree reflective trim. I even went the extra mile and ordered mine in neon colors, so I know I’m visible to drivers.
Which One Should You Get?
If you’re torn about which model to gift or buy, I fully endorse the travel and stick umbrellas. The former is just 11 inches long when closed, but still has a generous 38-inch diameter which completely keeps me (and my backpack) covered. For what it’s worth, I’m 5-foot-10 and have broad shoulders since I’m a swimmer. The umbrella weighs under a pound, comes with a travel sleeve, has a wrist strap, and easily can be stowed in a bag or backpack.
As for the stick umbrella, it has a slightly larger 44-inch canopy that’s vented, so strong gusts of wind can easily flow through.
Both umbrellas dry ridiculously fast. I never have to worry about my entryway getting sopping wet from them. Another nice perk is they have a push button to open them automatically, which is especially helpful since one of my hands is either holding a leash, smartphone, or coffee. The travel umbrella closes itself when you press the button a second time, too.
If you're gifting an umbrella to someone who needs additional protection, consider the Collapsible Umbrella. Testers at Outdoor Gear Lab raved about its ample canopy size, its stylish but durable design, and its convenient auto-open button, but remarked that it's surprisingly heavy.
Closing Argument
If you’re in the market for or hoping to gift an umbrella that’s built to last, you can’t go wrong with a Weatherman umbrella. The stylish and stormproof umbrellas come in a wide range of sizes and color options. Even better, they’re backed by a lifetime warranty that covers any malfunction or defect that impairs the umbrella, so their steeper price point doesn’t sting as much.
Brandon Carte has been covering technology at BestProducts.com since 2017, where he's been writing about the latest gadgets, appliances, and scouring the internet for the products that make life easier. His reporting has been featured on TopTenReviews.com, Good Housekeeping and USA Today. When he's not researching washing machines or testing robot vacuums, you can find him at concerts, swimming laps, or at the movies. He thinks smartphones are too big, prefers MP3s to Spotify, and misses his iPhone’s headphone jack.
