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Looking for a good... umbrella..?

lina

lina

Practically Family
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977
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Washington DC
Yeah, it's hard to imagine a less interesting post, I know. But I swear I have not owned a good umbrella for years, and as the rain comes down and down and down, figured I'd look for advice. Every one I've had in recent years either breaks at the tips or else the spring action isn't strong enough when closed, so it pops open when I get on the train or enter a room and haven't had a chance to snap or velcro it closed.

Anyway, looking for a reliable umbrella that, basically, will stay open when it's opened and closed when it's closed. I see the super high end ones for a couple hundred dollars, which are definitely not in the cards for me. But I'd be willing to spend, say, $70 or $80 for one that I knew would work well and last me for years.

So, if you've got a suggestion, do tell.. Cheers.
umbrella.jpg
 
Last edited:
Caber

Caber

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120
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North of the Hanging judge
I would take a look at the fox Gents tube umbrella. They claim to be one of the oldest umbrella makers in the UK. The Tube is around 75 pounds which is close to 90 bucks give or take. there are a few other makers in the USA that may be around the same price. Ill try to find them
 
GHT

GHT

I'll Lock Up
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9,331
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New Forest
lina

lina

Practically Family
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977
Location
Washington DC
Appreciate these suggestions! If anyone has suggestions for ones similar to the English tradition cane handles, but in the US, I'd be grateful. A few of those from the UK makers are in my price range -- except for shipping adds about 60 USD, which I can't quite justify.
 
GHT

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,331
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New Forest
lina said:
A few of those from the UK makers are in my price range -- except for shipping adds about 60 USD, which I can't quite justify.
Click to expand...
The add ons when buying abroad really can kill a sale. It's a lesson that I learned when I bought a hat from San Diego. But you might try this tip. There's a piece of technology that I saw advertised, again in the US, and again the add ons bump up the costs. So I emailed them asking if they had a UK outlet, and they did. The UK price is only just a fraction over that charged to US buyers, so this UK outlet must have some sort of wholesale agreement.

Email the company of the umbrella of your choice, explain that the carriage and import duties are such, that it's just not feasible to buy direct from the UK, chances are they may point you in the direction of their US agents. Good luck.
 
Blackadder

Blackadder

My Mail is Forwarded Here
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China
Edward

Edward

Bartender
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24,779
Location
London, UK
The 'cane type' handled umbrella uise by John Steed is known as a 'Whangee handle umbrella". These can go for silly money, though I have one of these and it;'s very nice indeed if you're down with a steel shaft rather than a wooden one: https://www.saddler.co.uk/?cr=450&pr=938&pdesc=gentlemans_bamboo_whangee_handle_umbrella

If you just want something nice and respectable, the nicest option I've seen in the UK that's not Whangee handled is from the Fulton range:

https://www.johnlewis.com/fulton-g8...iUF_R9k-pOW4oVpTI7EaAi1sEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
 
Bushman

Bushman

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Joliet
As tempting as a new "whangee" umbrella would be, I'm always hesitant drop good money on an umbrella. Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.
 
GHT

GHT

I'll Lock Up
Messages
9,331
Location
New Forest
Bushman said:
Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.
Click to expand...
I always wondered what Chicago motorists put on their motor insurance report as to the cause of their distraction that caused them to collide with the car in front.
windy day.jpg
 
Edward

Edward

Bartender
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24,779
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London, UK
Bushman said:
As tempting as a new "whangee" umbrella would be, I'm always hesitant drop good money on an umbrella. Chicago's "Windy City" moniker may refer to its boisterous politicians, but it might as well be referring to the weather. It's not uncommon to see people fighting with an inside out umbrella in this town.
Click to expand...

Same in Belfast. Ironically, that's how I started wearing hats full time during my university days: by the time the rain was heavy enough there for it to be worth putting up a brolly, the wind is inevitably too much for it to be anything other than a pest. A good cap was far preferable in the rain...
 
Artifex

Artifex

Familiar Face
Messages
90
Location
Nottingham, GB
Edward said:
If you just want something nice and respectable, the nicest option I've seen in the UK that's not Whangee handled is from the Fulton range:

https://www.johnlewis.com/fulton-g8...iUF_R9k-pOW4oVpTI7EaAi1sEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Click to expand...

I can second this. In fact, that looks exactly like the model I've got.
Generally, a solid, smart umbrella at a very reasonable price. Better designed than my previous, which had vicious sharp latches on the shaft.

The most significant downsides I've noticed are purely cosmetic:
  • The lacquer on the handle is brittle and easily cracked or scuffed (e.g. by leaning it against a wall). It does stay adhered to the wood though.
  • The (gold?) plating on the tip wears quickly
I did manage to bend one of the spokes in a storm last winter, but it bent back easily enough and you'd never know. My fault for trying to use a brolly in high winds!
 
Edward

Edward

Bartender
Messages
24,779
Location
London, UK
Artifex said:
I can second this. In fact, that looks exactly like the model I've got.
Generally, a solid, smart umbrella at a very reasonable price. Better designed than my previous, which had vicious sharp latches on the shaft.

The most significant downsides I've noticed are purely cosmetic:
  • The lacquer on the handle is brittle and easily cracked or scuffed (e.g. by leaning it against a wall). It does stay adhered to the wood though.
  • The (gold?) plating on the tip wears quickly
I did manage to bend one of the spokes in a storm last winter, but it bent back easily enough and you'd never know. My fault for trying to use a brolly in high winds!
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've had quite a few Fultons here and there because they're decent and look nice, but cheap enough that it's not the end of the world if it gets left on a bus! I did briefly have a very nice (and subtly branded) Piere Cardin auto-opener that I picked up for a tenner in TK Maxx in Covent Garden one very wet afternoon when I was caught by surprise. Lovelt solid piece, but alas I left it in a lecture theatre one monrning and when I went back to look for it it had gone. I guess somebody who needed it more thasn I did found it first.
 
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