Repel Umbrella Windproof Travel Umbrella - Wind Resistant, Small - Compact, Light, Automatic, Strong Steel Shaft, Mini, Folding and Portable - Backpack, Car, Purse Umbrellas for Rain - Men and Women

This is a tad heavier than most umbrellas Ive used, but it is very sturdy. Very quick and easy to expand. You need a bit of strength to close it up. For 90% of us, this umbrella is perfect.

I took this with me to Portugal and it held up against the heavy rain and winds there. My friends bought their umbrellas at gift shops And theirs got destroyed in a few days. This Repel held up. Unfortunately, it rusted after the first day when I got to take it out to air dry. It still works but there’s rust everywhere. Attempting to clean it. Debating whether I should look for another brand or try this one again.

Actually both rain and sun!

Nothings perfect, but the customer service was great. I purchased two of these: one in 2018 and one in 2019. Im writing this in March of 2023. Both worked until a couple of days ago--hows that for timing! First, one umbrella would not close--the shaft remained extended and would not collapse. The next day, the other umbrella would not fully open. The shaft would extend, but the canopy would not expand. Yesterday, I emailed the company and provided my Amazon invoices (thanks to Amazon for keeping order information available--its a life saver!). I also included a photo of the umbrellas. (TIP: it turns out they need both the order info and a photo. So, to save time, include these with your initial warranty request). After a couple of emails back and forth, I received notice today that Repel (aka Upper Echelon Products LLC) has authorized the replacement of both umbrellas. I think getting the replacement authorization within 24 hours is impressive. I call that excellent customer service. Bottom line, yes, both umbrellas developed problems. Hey, an umbrella is a mechanical item. Mechanical things dont last forever. Nothing is perfect. However, the umbrellas were problem-free for 4 - 5 years, respectively. Whats more important to me is: Will the company stand behind its product? And will it do so without making it a nightmare for the customer? If I could, Id give customer support a 10 out of 5! They were responsive and made it relatively easy. So, in this review, I am reviewing not just the product, but customer support as well. Im just passing on my experience. Hope this helps.

Best umbrella for quality and durability

This is the best umbrella Ive found for windy days - the vents really do seem to make a difference. Even apart from that, the umbrella is very sturdy and feels high quality. Unfortunately I did have an issue after a few months of use where one of the nail/screw things seemed to fall out of a spoke, but customer service honoured their replacement policy immediately so I have a replacement on the way. Even with the damaged spoke the umbrella works fine, its that well made, its just a bit more bendy on that side and I have to manually fold the spoke to put it away. I highly recommend this umbrella!

I bought the black with red lining. It looks very nice. It’s made of solid construction and operates with ease.

I bought this umbrella in April 2019. Im now on my 3rd replacement (so my 4th umbrella). I mainly use it when walking my dog when its drizzling. She wont go out in heavy rain, so the umbrella really doesnt get much wind or heavy use. I also usually store it by hanging it from the wrist strap, so its not getting buried or stepped on. Somehow, though, Ive had several problems: Once, it stuck in the closed position and become impossible to open. Another time, the ribs just disconnected without being taken in wind or blowing inside out. Most recently, only 9 months since my last replacement, the button will shoot the canopy forward but wont open it. It wont even stay open if I manually push the runner up the shaft. The other two things I dont like about it are the tiny handle. Its difficult to grip for long periods of time, so I often end up holding it by the narrow shaft instead. Also, its just a little too short for me, and the canopy often rubs against the top of my head if I hold my arm at a comfortable height. I know its supposed to be compact, but add maybe 4 inches total between a longer handle and shaft, and it would be perfect. But even with this thing randomly dying on me about once per year, I have to give it a good rating for the warranty. The last two times Ive emailed support, Ive expected them to tell me theres a limit on replacements and that the warranty only applies to the original umbrella. But theyve proven me wrong every time! Each time a replacement breaks, I send an email, they ask for my address and photos of what broke to help improve the product, and I get a new umbrella in the mail about a week or so later. I keep wanting to try a different umbrella that is taller and has a better handle, but Repel just keeps sending me replacements. I wish it were more bulletproof and lasted 5+ years before having issues, but its good enough as long as they continue to stand by the lifetime warranty.

In shopping for a new compact umbrella, I prioritized durability and ease of use. I chose the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella (also called the Repel Easy Touch Umbrella) based on several reviews but particularly based on the testing done by Outdoor Gear Lab web site, which rated the Repel highest for ease of use. I also considered the Lewis & Clark Travel Umbrella, but it wasnt available in navy blue. I think I made a good choice with the Repel. It is 11.5 inches long when collapsed, weighs 14 ounces, and the canopy has a diameter of 37 inches. It has 9 resin-enforced fiberglass ribs for support; they are gunmetal in color. Its entirely waterproof. The umbrellas best features are its automatic open-close mechanism and its handle. The auto open-close is very quiet and smooth. The handle is comfortable, textured for easy gripping, and has only smooth edges. There is no sharp edge at the top of the handle that I find on many compact umbrellas. The button to control the open-close is big but cannot easily be triggered by accident. The one difficulty I find with the Repel umbrella is that it takes some force to push the shaft into the handle to fully collapse the umbrella. The ribs close with the touch of a button. Then you need to place the palm of your hand on the top of the umbrella and push it into the shaft with your other hand on the handle. The instructions say this, but it is really the only way to close the umbrella. You cant pull the shaft down into the handle; you have to push it from the top. The umbrella weights 14.2 ounces by my scale, which is on the heavy side for a compact umbrella. But I like the quality of the handle and the entire umbrella feels sturdy, so Im not complaining. It comes with a matching nylon pouch or cover that is, as expected, a little difficult to get the umbrella back into. The trick is to twist in the direction that the umbrella folds while pulling the cover down over it. Still a nuisance to do while out and about, so I dont use the cover. Repel umbrellas have a lifetime guarantee, which is impressive for an automatic umbrella. I expect this umbrella to last a long time; it is a quality product, both in appearance and in actual operation.

Very sturdy