Amazon Basics Round Travel Umbrella for Rain Compact Umbrella with Auto Open Close Strong Alloy Steel Frame Compact

Pros +Compact Design +Excellent Build Quality +Comfy Handle +Strong Umbrella Cons -Pop up action could be a potential problem -Good, but not excellent, wind resistant. -Plain Design Should you buy: Yes Actual Value: $20 AmazonBasics has always surprised me in that they provide a variety of products that are not only useful, but high quality and rivals and even beats the price of some other products. This umbrella is no exception and my expectations were high. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the best and most affordable umbrellas I’ve ever used. -Design- This is a no frills basic umbrella, so there isn’t much to talk about in terms of design. However, there are some small, subtle details that I appreciate Amazon added to it. For instance, the handle has a comfortable design and it is covered in soft touch plastic that adds a premium feel that you don’t find from a plastic handle. There isn’t much in the way of Amazon branding apart from the strap that holds the umbrella together when folded. It is also very compact, which makes it small enough to carry anywhere, such as in the car, in a bag, or in a backpack. But it is still large enough to cover 2 small people or, in my case, one big guy. -Function- The umbrella has a nice open/close button that works as advertised and opens the bag with a satisfying amount of force and closes the umbrella that makes it easy to fold. Granted, while this is a convenient addition, it does look like something that could potentially be a problem in the future. But for now, it is nice to use. The fabric used for the umbrella itself is great and water doesn’t leak and water flows nicely away. The construction itself is good and the frame feels really sturdy. I used it in the brief storm that we have right now in Los Angeles and it does resist the winds fairly well. However, it does feel like anything stronger than the winds that are outside right now will destroy it. Nevertheless, this is still great for this umbrella, especially given its price. Just don’t expect it to handle hurricane level winds. -Conclusion- I’ve used a couple of umbrellas that were in this price range that were flimsy and didn’t last more than a month. But this umbrella sets the new standard for cheap umbrellas that should be enough for most, if not all, people who don’t want to get wet in the rain. And with the wet season fast approaching, there has never been a perfect time to purchase an umbrella. Definitely a top pick for me and AmazonBasics once again delivers a great product. Read more

Compact, sturdy, and a real bargain at the price. The materials feel higher quality than I would have expected for $12. The press-to-close function lets you stay covered even as you duck into a car. Depending on how you grip the umbrella, you may accidentally trigger the close action, but so far this has only happened to me once. If I could change one thing, I would ask for a 'medium' sized variant with a diameter around 48 inches, as opposed to this model's 37 inches. When the rain comes down at an angle, taller users may find their legs getting drenched. I won't knock off a star for the size, as it was pretty clear what I was getting. If you want a high quality, compact umbrella that can hold its own against models costing 5x the price, look no further. Read more

This is cheap and does the job. It's actually quite sturdy, even without the wind vents, which I wasn't expecting from such an inexpensive umbrella. However, it's a pain to close. The button retracts the upper part so you can wrap it up, but you have to use quite a bit of force to snap it back into the handle. I usually push it against a wall because I literally can't do it otherwise. Also, the lubricant on the metal part has gotten on my hands with each use. I'm hoping both of these inconveniences are a factor of it being new, but if you want convenience right out of the box I would suggest paying $10 more for a slightly nicer umbrella. Read more

First off, I have been using this umbrella for about a year (based in NY so not on a daily basis). It is very sturdy against wind and has yet to flip inside out at any point. Material feels much stronger than any of those cheap umbrellas you find in the junk stores. Some people may not find it to be a very light weight umbrella but I don't see that as a big deal because I expect that from an umbrella you don't want to fall apart after one use. To open you press the button and it opens with no problem! To close you press the button and it closes the umbrella but you must push the umbrella back down to make it compact again. Pushing the umbrella back down requires some strength. That being said, it may not be easy for someone who is weak. It would probably not be easy for someone like my grandmother. Overall I think it was a great purchase for the price! Read more

It does its job and it’s convenient cuz it’s small and is good for one person. It’s build quality is nice and it’s easy to carry around and use. Read more

I don't know how long automatic umbrellas (or any umbrella) should really last, but 3 years seems pretty good. I'm actually more impressed that I didn't lose it. Anyway, it finally broke on one of the ribs. . .I just checked when I bought it. Dec 2016! I just ordered another and am hoping for the same lifespan. Read more

This is a great car and travel umbrella. It folds up into a very compact size. The buttons to open and close the umbrella work great and there is a lot of coverage underneath. Very sturdy and keeps you dry! Read more

Its nice and small and fits into a backpack. Used it on my trip to Iceland where it rained every day. Prevented me from getting wet. Read more