It’s tough to write about umbrellas in April without mentioning a certain colloquialism (cough, April showers bring May flowers). But it’s true, and you know what else is true? You’ll find rain in other months too! Which is why an umbrella is an incredibly useful, wonderful object to have on hand year-round. Raincoats may cover your top half, and rubber rain boots your toes, but the best umbrellas act as your first line of defense against a sudden downpour—sheltering your face, hair, and bodily possessions, while acting as shields against the wind.
Of course, not all umbrellas are created equal. If you’ve ever shelled out two bucks for a rickety umbrella that immediately flipped inside out and cracked at the first sign of a drizzle, you know what we mean. What you need is a strong, high-quality umbrella, and luckily, there are many options and types at your disposal—compact, travel-size umbrellas which are great on the go or tucked into a car door; old-school, walking-stick umbrellas that dandily swing from your arm; umbrellas that are transparent and that reverse-close; and more.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best-selling umbrellas on the market, so you can buy one, two, or as many as you need to stay dry at all times. Because you never know just what the weather will wreak.
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