The Best Compact Travel Umbrellas

The Repel Travel Umbrella is the best balance of features, price, and packability. For an extra $10 than typical cheap umbrellas, it offers 9 ribs instead of the usual 6 - 8 which ensures it can stand up to gusts of wind better and a teflon coating so you can stay dry. The lifetime warranty is always worth a bit extra too.

• 11.5" closed
• 14.5 oz
• Lifetime warranty

Considering its low price, the Lewis N. Clark has a great balance of features. It's small enough at 11" closed and durable enough with 8 ribs to withstand most wind gusts. Best of all though it's lightweight at 10 oz, which is 2 oz less than most other travel sized umbrellas with auto open/close. It's not the smallest nor the more durable but for the price it's hard to beat.

• 11" closed
• 10 oz (0.63 lbs)
• 1 year warranty

Applying the idea of luxury to a utilitarian product like an umbrella might sound odd at first, but Davek shows that umbrellas are worthy of the attention and can be brought into the "buy less, but better" category. For a travel umbrella, it hits all the right notes: its a short 9" when closed, 12 oz, and stands up to wind fairly well with its steel shaft and 7 ribs. Its the small details like the leather handle and strap, attached clip, and an unheard of (for umbrellas) unconditional lifetime guarantee that make this worth checking out for those with the money.

• Great interview with the Davek founder
• 9" closed
• 12 oz (0.75 lbs)
• Unconditional lifetime guarantee