Best Umbrellas UK: Tested in Wind & Rain on a 517m Hilltop (2025)

The best umbrellas in the UK for staying dry in the wind and rain – tested on a 517m hilltop

I noticed something while testing umbrellas over pavement and muddy hilltop: people are more likely to smile at you. Or perhaps I was more likely to smile at them, while feeling content and dry-headed under the canopy.

We Britons have loved brollies – previously an aristocratic luxury – since about the turn of the 19th century. Today, they’re a broad tent covering tight budgets and expensive tastes alike. You’ll see them sprout like mushrooms whenever rain hits the high street.

Most decent umbrellas will succeed in keeping you dry(-ish), but there are differences to be found when you peer under the canopy. Some have a stronger and smoother mechanism of ribs, stretchers, runner and frame; others are lighter and nicer to hold; and certain models reveal exceptional craft in details such as a smooth wooden handle or a shiny tip.

Of course, many of us care about the appearance of our umbrellas, too. Excellent finishing is an aesthetic consideration, as well as a clue as to the brolly’s longevity.

At a glance

Best umbrella overall: London Undercover Classic

£115 at London Undercover (https://londonundercover.co.uk/products/navy-windowpane-yellow-classic-umbrella)

As a regular umbrella carrier, I use these contraptions to stay dry on my soggy travels around the north of England. The best ones keep the rain off and are convenient to carry, whether in hand or inside a bag. I’m also selective about colourways, materials, design and construction.

If I’m under a brolly, there’s a good chance I’m either on my way to field-test a product or nipping to the library where I do much of my writing. I’ve extensive experience reviewing useful things, from travel pillows (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/nov/02/best-travel-pillow-uk) to reusable cups (https://www.theguardian.com/thefilter/2025/jul/30/best-travel-mug-reusable-coffee-cup-uk) , for titles including the Filter. For the past decade or so, I’ve devoted much of my time to working out what differentiates one product from the next, and what really matters to the user.

How I tested

Pete Wise stands on a rural hill holding various umbrellas – some have reversed in the wind (https://interactive.guim.co.uk/embed/from-tool/looping-video/index.html?poster-image=https%3A%2F%2Fuploads.guim.co.uk%2F2025%2F10%2F31%2FUmbrellaLoop1.00000000.Still002.jpg&mp4-video=https%3A%2F%2Fuploads.guim.co.uk%2F2025%2F10%2F31%2FUmbrellaLoop_1.mp4)

Throughout October 2025, I carried each umbrella and used it in daily life, noting how effectively it sheltered me from rain and wind. I considered how convenient each model was to use and carry. Did it cover my head, shoulders and torso adequately? Was it comfortable to hold? And would a sudden gust of wind turn its canopy inside out?

For a sterner test of resilience and wind resistance, I opened the umbrellas in strong winds (and clung on for dear life) near the summit of Mam Tor, a highly exposed, 517-metre hill in the Peak District, which overlooks part of the newly minted Steel Cotton Rail Trail (https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2025/oct/27/steel-cotton-rail-trail-walk-peak-district-sheffield-manchester). At an altitude greater than the height of any building in Europe, this seemed like an adequate testing ground to see how the brollies would handle a stiff breeze. (Thanks to photographer Christian Hopewell for capturing the fun, and to Alice Ostapjuk-Wise for helping it run smoothly.)

Of course, not all umbrellas are designed for use in extreme conditions. Each of the reviews below reflects the umbrella’s performance against the manufacturer’s claims, as well as how it fared during hilltop testing.

I assessed 15 umbrellas in total, and have featured the best selection here. After testing, I took the wind-buffeted brollies to my local Mind (https://www.mind.org.uk/) charity shop.

The best umbrellas in 2025

Best umbrella overall: London Undercover Classic

£115 at London Undercover (https://londonund{

Best Umbrellas UK: Tested in Wind & Rain on a 517m Hilltop (2025)

References