10 Best Travel Umbrellas in 2022 (RainMate, Totes, and More)

If you look at an open umbrella, you will see several thin metal rods attached to the center rod. These provide the framework for the material of the umbrella canopy, and they are called "ribs."

Typically, an umbrella has six or eight ribs. However, you can also find umbrellas that have nine or more. Generally, the more ribs an umbrella has, the more stable it will be. Umbrellas with nine ribs should be more resistant to wind and less likely to break. 

Umbrella ribs are commonly made from aluminum, steel, fiberglass, or a combination of the three. Steel and fiberglass are generally stronger than aluminum. However, metal components need to be coated so they won't rust in the rain. 

Although nine ribs made of steel or fiberglass are the best option, the strength ultimately depends on the manufacturing and the components' quality. 

Keep in mind that a high-quality umbrella with six aluminum ribs could be stronger than a low-quality umbrella with nine fiberglass ribs. The number of ribs and the material they are made from is a good guide to an umbrella's quality, but we recommend looking at reviews to confirm the quality.

One of the most important parts of an umbrella is the canopy. It’s usually made from a lightweight and waterproof synthetic material, such as nylon or, more commonly, polyester. Nylon is generally more durable and waterproof than polyester, although polyester is better against UV-light. 

Both materials are suitable for umbrellas, and the difference between them isn’t that significant. However, we suggest nylon if you're looking for longevity. If you want a sun umbrella, we would suggest polyester.

Although nylon and polyester perform well as the material for an umbrella canopy, a Teflon coating will make them perform better. This coating makes your umbrella dry faster, which is very useful when you’re moving from the rainy outdoors to the dry indoors. 

Giving a Teflon-coated umbrella a quick shake before you go indoors will knock most of the water from the surface and stop the umbrella from dripping onto the floor when you go inside. You may also hear these umbrellas referred to as "repel umbrellas" since the Teflon coating stops the water from soaking into the canopy material.

Teflon is also effective against UV rays and, depending on the thickness of the coating, can reflect the majority of rays. A coating that's half a millimeter thick can reflect 92 percent of UV rays!

Things get slippery when they get wet, and umbrellas are no exception. You may keep your head dry with an umbrella, but your hands may become wet while you use it. Handles made of wood look stylish, and plastic is durable; however, these handles can become slippery when water is involved.

A handle with a rubber or leather grip is easier to keep a secure grip on. This is especially the case with straight handles. Curved handles are also easier to keep a tight hold on, but we still recommend looking for rubber or leather grips.

Whether an umbrella opens manually or automatically does not influence how well an umbrella operates; it’s purely down to personal preference. Automatic mechanisms are quick and easy. You can open your umbrella with the press of a button with just one-hand. 

If you’re often outside with heavy bags, have your hands full with children, or are walking dogs, then being able to open an umbrella with one hand might be a plus. Just be careful when you close it, as the sudden closure action can spray water on anyone around!

Manual umbrellas generally need two-hands. Since they don’t need any additional parts to open the umbrella, they’re usually lighter than umbrellas that open automatically. You also don’t need to worry about the automatic mechanism sticking or breaking with a manual umbrella!

Travel umbrellas are made to fit into bags and are supposed to fold down to the smallest size possible. Before you purchase a travel umbrella, make sure that it folds down small enough for your needs. You may need to sacrifice a few inches of canopy size to get one small enough for your bag.

Another important consideration is the weight of the umbrella. It should be light enough to carry easily. The ideal weight depends on how much weight you can carry, but we advise that you go as light as possible. A fiberglass frame is generally lighter than a steel one, with aluminum being between the two.

Many umbrellas come with thin covers that slide over them when they are closed. These covers serve two purposes. The first is the most obvious, as a cover can protect your belongings from a damp umbrella. Some are even designed to dry your umbrella quicker and have a lining inside that absorbs water. 

The other purpose is that it keeps the umbrella closed and protected. Umbrellas have a tie around them that usually fastens with velcro or a stud, but it’s easy for this to come undone. It’s also easy for material to get caught on the tips of the canopy, putting unnecessary strain on the ribs. A cover protects against this strain, too.

One concern that always arises with travel umbrellas is how they cope with wind. It's very common for them to turn inside out or even break in strong winds. Strong materials and extra ribs can reduce the risk of these. 

Another option is to choose an umbrella with a double canopy. These have two layers of material and air vents that allow the wind to flow through the umbrella. This makes the umbrella easier to control and withstand the wind better. Double canopy umbrellas are usually more expensive, but they may be worth the extra cost in windier climates.