Don’t Succumb to the Allure of a Mini Umbrella

Rain or shine, our umbrella expert Claire Wilcox says you should leave that teeny-tiny umbrella at home. In our 10 years of testing, we’ve found that mini umbrellas (aka ultra-compact umbrellas) are not all that impressive. In fact, in a previous version of our guide, Wirecutter writer James Austin went so far as to say that an ultra-compact umbrella was “no better than a wide-brimmed hat.”

To be clear, when we say “mini umbrella,” we don’t mean just any compact umbrella (that is, an umbrella with a telescoping handle). We’re talking about extra-small compact umbrellas, models often called mini or ultra-compact umbrellas, which fold up to about half the size, or less, of a standard compact umbrella.

The biggest issue with ultra-compact umbrellas is, well, their canopies are often too small to keep you dry. Our guide writers (and other people who don’t want to get wet) have determined that an umbrella should at the very least keep your head and shoulders protected — and, depending on the angle of the rain and your height, possibly even your torso.

Our research and testing — which involved talking to experts, conducting wind tests, putting a mannequin in the shower, and having lots of real people walk around New York City in the rain — found that an umbrella’s canopy should be at least 37 inches in diameter to provide adequate coverage for most people.

We also found that ultra-compact umbrellas aren’t as sturdy as more standard-size umbrellas, which means they’re less likely to hold up against the wind. This is partly because mini umbrellas tend to have fewer ribs than full-size umbrellas.

Take the Davek Mini. Although we’re fans of some of the company’s high-end umbrellas, such as the Davek Solo, the mini version just couldn’t compete with any of our favorite umbrellas. Inadequate 34-inch canopy aside, the mini umbrella had only six ribs, in contrast to the eight ribs of many standard umbrellas and the nine ribs of some of our top picks, including the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella and the buy-it-for-life Davek Solo. The extra ribs made those umbrellas sturdier, a big plus in our testing.

And don’t expect a mini umbrella to last for the long haul. They tend to break more easily than larger umbrellas. Like a Transformer that rolls up into a tiny ball, these little guys have lots of joints — typically each rib has four joints instead of the usual two. If your knees have started to disappoint you, then you already know: Joints tend to give way early. They’re one of the weakest spots in an umbrella, so more of them means more possible points of breakage.

The takeaway: With drawbacks ranging from inadequate coverage to weak construction, mini umbrellas simply aren’t worth it, no matter how much space they may save in a bag.