OT umbrellas

[vqdriver]

umbrella suggestions?
i've had the busted joints/busted seam thing too many times and put down for a quality golf umbrella with an overengineered canopy system that was supposed to withstand hi winds only to have the latch mechanism crap out on me so now i can't close it.

telescoping compact is a nice feature, but big coverage is more important. i don't mind paying for quality.
which brands should i be looking at?

[AngryScientist]

forget umbrellas, they're for girly girls in high heels. get a good rain jacket with a hood. :D

[vqdriver]

Yup got plenty of goretex but that doesnt help cover my kid when taking him inside or when I get caught out. Besides, water seems to run onto my slacks going in and out of the office.

[Ken Robb]

the Brits have been making wonderful "brollies" for hundreds of years. Brooks Bros. might sell good ones.

[rice rocket]

Besides, water seems to run onto my slacks going in and out of the office.
They make microfiber water repellent slacks now. ;)

[DRZRM]

Davek NY umbrellas, sounds like the Duet is what you are looking for. Lifetime repair (and they turn them around very quickly) and if you lose your umbrella they will replace it at half off their MSRP once. Auto open and close, they are fabulous. Customer service is outstanding. I once broke a rib tossing it open onto my concrete patio to dry (it just got that perfect angle and cracked) and they actually answer their phones, and they had me a new one in no time. great company, great product.

http://www.davekny.com/umbrellas.htm

[eddief]

I have one. It seems better made than most, but I don't need to use it that much:

http://www.amazon.com/GustBuster-Metro-43-Inch-Automatic-Umbrella/dp/B000AMXQVI

[deechee]

Personally I found the gustbusters a bit small, but I did buy two and gave them to my dad whom I think is still happy with them.

I go through enough umbrellas but currently I'm using a large shedrain model that folds and its great. Its a bit floppy (not rigid) but that seems to help it in strong winds. Its survived my beating so far! And it wasn't too expensive :)

[Idris Icabod]

I had an awesome one with a really nice J-bend wooden handle and brass fittings that was full sized with a pointy end and looked just like the one John Cleese used whilst dressed as a business man in the Flying Circus skits. Now some airport security fellow probably has it as it was confiscated at London Heathrow and was supposed to get put on the plane but never arrived in Denver. It was a few weeks after the 9/11 attack, they pretty much took everything off me, the umbrella though was never returned.

Sorry doesn't help you much (but I did buy it in the UK) but you opened an old wound.

[dogdriver]

I have this one

http://www.rei.com/product/719546

in my travel bag-- swear to god I could go flying with it if I could hang on. If the wind hits it too strong from the top, it auto-retracts until the gust abates. Bomber. Previously, I kept a stock of $2.00 Canal Street specials...

[PaulE]

Go to TJ Maxx and Marshalls and see what they have. Invariably there will be something nice at a nice discount. Buy a few and leave them in your car(s), office and home, so you won't get caught out somewhere. I use a backpack for work instead of a briefcase and also keep a small telescoping umbrella permanently in the side pouch, regardless of weather - it would also fit in a briefcase.

No matter how well an umbrella is made, sooner or later it will meet its match in terms of wind or get lost or permantly borrowed.

[christian]

Swaine Adeney Brigg. Whangee cane handle. Don't lose it.

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Swaine Adeney Brigg. Whangee cane handle. Don't lose it.

+100. Best made umbrella out there.

[fiamme red]

Never use one.

The rain it raineth every day
Upon both just and unjust fellers,
But more upon the just because
The unjust take the just's umbrellers.

[eddief]

http://www.amazon.com/MoMa-MoMA-Sky-Umbrella/dp/B002WUBAW8

[gasman]

Most of us in the PNW just say " What's an umbrella?"

[vqdriver]

Davek NY umbrellas, sounds like the Duet is what you are looking for. Lifetime repair (and they turn them around very quickly) and if you lose your umbrella they will replace it at half off their MSRP once. Auto open and close, they are fabulous. Customer service is outstanding. I once broke a rib tossing it open onto my concrete patio to dry (it just got that perfect angle and cracked) and they actually answer their phones, and they had me a new one in no time. great company, great product.

http://www.davekny.com/umbrellas.htm

thanks, exactly what i was looking for. lifetime warranties are nice.
just bought two.

[vqdriver]

Most of us in the PNW just say " What's an umbrella?"

on a related note, we have some friends down from your parts. "we left seattle for southern california and there's MORE rain?!?"

if the forecast is correct, it should clear up right about the time they're scheduled to return home

[DRZRM]

Glad I could help. I think you'll be very happy.

thanks, exactly what i was looking for. lifetime warranties are nice.
just bought two.

[steampunk]

a good solid umbrella is just one of those things a gentleman has.

anyway, how about the the "R" word again.

http://www.rapha.cc/umbrella

[Louis]

a good solid umbrella is just one of those things a gentleman has.

anyway, how about the the "R" word again.

http://www.rapha.cc/umbrella

I heard that one can use it while riding and it doesn't slow you down a bit. No drag at all !!!

That Rapha stuff really is amazing. Worth every pound.

[fiamme red]

I heard that one can use it while riding and it doesn't slow you down a bit. No drag at all !!!

That Rapha stuff really is amazing. Worth every pound.If only this man had been using a Rapha umbrella, he could have saved himself a lot of pain. ;)

http://i72.photobucket.com/albums/i183/seaeagle_2006/UmbrellaBike.jpg