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

Our reviewer braved Peak District downpours to see which brollies – from budget to mini to windproof – stayed standing

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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.

Best umbrella overall:
London Undercover Classic

Best budget umbrella:
Doppler Zero 99