It is fair to say that it rains a lot in the UK - it can rain any time of the year and on any day. And so it is no wonder that an umbrella ...
It is fair to say that it rains a lot in the UK - it can rain any time of the year and on any day. And so it is no wonder that an umbrella is a trusted companion whenever you head outdoors. People usually do not prefer to spend a lot of money on umbrellas because many tend to either forget them on a train, in a cab, in the bar or at the bus stop. We all have done that at some time, haven't we? But how many times have you purchased an umbrella that only lasts a few downpours and then has to be disposed? I have been guilty of this many a times myself. But all this changed a few years back when I picked a beautiful Fulton umbrella. It cost around £20 then and was an automatic folding umbrella that served me well for a long time. Since then I have only purchased good quality umbrellas - umbrellas that have good water repellence, durability, are easy to open and close and look good as well!
Here are some key features to look out for before purchasing an umbrella.
Canopy - Understandably the most important part of an umbrella is the canopy. It has to be waterproof (I know this is quite obvious but I have still mentioned it here), made with a durable material and should be taut when the umbrella is opened up. Mr.H always holds the open umbrella up against light to check for any visible defects. A double canopy umbrella is a good choice as its vents allow the wind to pass through unlike a conventional umbrella where the wind can force the edges up ultimately flipping the umbrella. I like a good quality conventional umbrella while Mr.H prefers the double canopy ones like the Storm King Sport black gents umbrella by Soake featured below in the post.
Frame, ribs and rivets - Another important aspect of a good umbrella is the quality of the parts used (frame, ribs, rivets etc.). The frame should not be very heavy but it should be of a good quality and strong enough to withstand forceful winds. One of the most common failure points in an umbrella are the rivets which hold the various parts of the umbrella stretchers together. Along with the stretchers which are usually broken when the umbrella canopy reverses due to strong wind, the rivets and ribs also need to be checked.
Handle - This is one feature I always look at while buying an umbrella. Umbrellas are mostly used when it is raining and hard plastic handles tend to become slippery when they are wet. Rubberised plastic or cushioned grip handles are better options as they provide a comfortable grip. I like the handle on the Plain Grey Pagoda umbrella from Exquisite Umbrellas (see below). It is a plastic handle that is slim but looks cushioned and is comfortable to hold in either hand.
Model and size - This is purely a matter of personal preferences, I feel. Whether you pick a traditional full-sized umbrella or an automatic collapsible one (smaller size) depends on where and how much you intend to use the umbrella. I love traditional umbrellas but always have a collapsible one in my handbag. They are compact and convenient and can fit into even the smallest of handbags.
Price - Umbrellas are available in a range of prices; from basic models retailing for a few pounds to expensive ones costing hundreds of pounds. A while back I had seen one from Alexander McQueen that was priced at more than £300! Quality comes at a price but I would not shell out hundreds of pounds for an umbrella. Affordability and quality can go hand-in-hand as you can see from the affordable models (from Exquisite Umbrellas) below.
Exquisite Umbrellas are an online retailer of umbrellas stocking brands like Galleria, Soake, Fulton, Bugzz Kids Stuff and Harold Feinstein to name a few. Whether you are looking for bright and colourful umbrellas or children’s umbrellas or even gorgeous art umbrellas Exquisite Umbrellas have them all.
A classic gents umbrella from the Soake Men's Collection featuring a fully vented umbrella canopy. With an open diameter of 135cm, fibreglass ribs, an EVA handle and automatic opening, this one is a very well-made and durable umbrella. The large canopy offers good protection in a downpour and even though it is sturdily built, it is not very heavy. Mr.H gives it bonus points because it comes with a protective sleeve.
This one is a beautiful folding style umbrella featuring an attractive Poppy field design by Monet covering the canopy. The umbrella is lovely. It has an automatic Open/Close feature and fibreglass ribs. It has an open diameter of 100cm, is compact - a closed length of around 30 cms making it easy to fit in my handbag/ travel bag for unexpected rain. It has good water resistance to light showers but I am not sure of its resistance to heavy downpour as I have never had the chance to use it in heavy rain.
One of my favourites from Exquisite Umbrellas is this vintage style pagoda umbrella. With a peaked dome design and 16 steel ribs the umbrella not only offers added resilience against rain and wind but also looks stunning and elegant. It has colour contrasting ribs with a polka dot design and looks feminine. I love it. The umbrella has a manual opening mechanism, a faux leather handle and an open diameter of 95cm. It is very well made and such an affordable price too!
The plain grey pagoda umbrella is similar to the ribbed black pagoda umbrella above but with a few differences - it has a plastic handle as opposed to the faux leather handle in the model above and doesn't have the contrasting ribs. A beautiful model nonetheless.
One more from the Galleria collection is this beautiful walking stick style umbrella which features the London skyline on the canopy. With automatic opening, fibreglass ribs, wooden handle and an open diameter of 100cm, this one is a well-made and eye-catching umbrella. We used this one when we travelled to Norfolk a couple of weeks back and had three random strangers ask us where we had brought it from. So, it is truly an eye-catching design.
Other places featured in the 'Cities' collection from Galleria are Paris, Manhattan and the Amalfi Coast.
Overall, we are extremely pleased with all these umbrellas from Exquisite Umbrellas. The prices are affordable and the quality is very good. I am sure these will last a long time. The only thing I need to worry about is not forgetting them anywhere.
If you are looking for good quality umbrellas in a stunning range of designs and colours, then look no further than Exquisite Umbrellas. They stock a large variety of affordable umbrellas - umbrellas that are also built to last. Exquisite Umbrellas offer free standard UK delivery on all orders. Visit www.exquisiteumbrellas.co.uk for more details and to place your order.
Here are some key features to look out for before purchasing an umbrella.
Canopy - Understandably the most important part of an umbrella is the canopy. It has to be waterproof (I know this is quite obvious but I have still mentioned it here), made with a durable material and should be taut when the umbrella is opened up. Mr.H always holds the open umbrella up against light to check for any visible defects. A double canopy umbrella is a good choice as its vents allow the wind to pass through unlike a conventional umbrella where the wind can force the edges up ultimately flipping the umbrella. I like a good quality conventional umbrella while Mr.H prefers the double canopy ones like the Storm King Sport black gents umbrella by Soake featured below in the post.
Frame, ribs and rivets - Another important aspect of a good umbrella is the quality of the parts used (frame, ribs, rivets etc.). The frame should not be very heavy but it should be of a good quality and strong enough to withstand forceful winds. One of the most common failure points in an umbrella are the rivets which hold the various parts of the umbrella stretchers together. Along with the stretchers which are usually broken when the umbrella canopy reverses due to strong wind, the rivets and ribs also need to be checked.
Handle - This is one feature I always look at while buying an umbrella. Umbrellas are mostly used when it is raining and hard plastic handles tend to become slippery when they are wet. Rubberised plastic or cushioned grip handles are better options as they provide a comfortable grip. I like the handle on the Plain Grey Pagoda umbrella from Exquisite Umbrellas (see below). It is a plastic handle that is slim but looks cushioned and is comfortable to hold in either hand.
Model and size - This is purely a matter of personal preferences, I feel. Whether you pick a traditional full-sized umbrella or an automatic collapsible one (smaller size) depends on where and how much you intend to use the umbrella. I love traditional umbrellas but always have a collapsible one in my handbag. They are compact and convenient and can fit into even the smallest of handbags.
Price - Umbrellas are available in a range of prices; from basic models retailing for a few pounds to expensive ones costing hundreds of pounds. A while back I had seen one from Alexander McQueen that was priced at more than £300! Quality comes at a price but I would not shell out hundreds of pounds for an umbrella. Affordability and quality can go hand-in-hand as you can see from the affordable models (from Exquisite Umbrellas) below.
Exquisite Umbrellas are an online retailer of umbrellas stocking brands like Galleria, Soake, Fulton, Bugzz Kids Stuff and Harold Feinstein to name a few. Whether you are looking for bright and colourful umbrellas or children’s umbrellas or even gorgeous art umbrellas Exquisite Umbrellas have them all.
Soake Storm King Sport 135 Black Gents Umbrella, £24.00
A classic gents umbrella from the Soake Men's Collection featuring a fully vented umbrella canopy. With an open diameter of 135cm, fibreglass ribs, an EVA handle and automatic opening, this one is a very well-made and durable umbrella. The large canopy offers good protection in a downpour and even though it is sturdily built, it is not very heavy. Mr.H gives it bonus points because it comes with a protective sleeve.
Galleria Monet's Poppy Field Folding Style Umbrella, £27.00
This one is a beautiful folding style umbrella featuring an attractive Poppy field design by Monet covering the canopy. The umbrella is lovely. It has an automatic Open/Close feature and fibreglass ribs. It has an open diameter of 100cm, is compact - a closed length of around 30 cms making it easy to fit in my handbag/ travel bag for unexpected rain. It has good water resistance to light showers but I am not sure of its resistance to heavy downpour as I have never had the chance to use it in heavy rain.
Soake Ribbed Black Pagoda, £15.00
One of my favourites from Exquisite Umbrellas is this vintage style pagoda umbrella. With a peaked dome design and 16 steel ribs the umbrella not only offers added resilience against rain and wind but also looks stunning and elegant. It has colour contrasting ribs with a polka dot design and looks feminine. I love it. The umbrella has a manual opening mechanism, a faux leather handle and an open diameter of 95cm. It is very well made and such an affordable price too!
Soake Plain Grey Pagoda, £15.00
The plain grey pagoda umbrella is similar to the ribbed black pagoda umbrella above but with a few differences - it has a plastic handle as opposed to the faux leather handle in the model above and doesn't have the contrasting ribs. A beautiful model nonetheless.
Galleria London in Black and White Walking Stick Style Umbrella, £27.00
One more from the Galleria collection is this beautiful walking stick style umbrella which features the London skyline on the canopy. With automatic opening, fibreglass ribs, wooden handle and an open diameter of 100cm, this one is a well-made and eye-catching umbrella. We used this one when we travelled to Norfolk a couple of weeks back and had three random strangers ask us where we had brought it from. So, it is truly an eye-catching design.
Other places featured in the 'Cities' collection from Galleria are Paris, Manhattan and the Amalfi Coast.
Overall, we are extremely pleased with all these umbrellas from Exquisite Umbrellas. The prices are affordable and the quality is very good. I am sure these will last a long time. The only thing I need to worry about is not forgetting them anywhere.
If you are looking for good quality umbrellas in a stunning range of designs and colours, then look no further than Exquisite Umbrellas. They stock a large variety of affordable umbrellas - umbrellas that are also built to last. Exquisite Umbrellas offer free standard UK delivery on all orders. Visit www.exquisiteumbrellas.co.uk for more details and to place your order.
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