Most umbrella reviews bury the numbers in prose. The Guardian’s umbrella test by Pete Wise, updated on 28 October 2026, lists weight, folded length, canopy width and warranty for every umbrella it features, and describes how each one handled wind on an exposed Peak District hill and in windy West Yorkshire countryside. This sheet puts those numbers side by side so you can filter by the constraint that matters to you. We did not test any umbrella, and prices are left out.
The table
Folded length is the one that decides whether it fits in a bag; canopy width decides cover.
| Umbrella | Weight | Folded | Canopy | Warranty as listed | Wind result in the Guardian text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doppler Zero 99 | 99 g | 21 cm | 90 cm | 3 years | Highly prone to inverting; fine in a light shower |
| Davek Mini | 225 g | 17 cm | 86 cm | Unconditional lifetime | Held up longer than other folding models on the summit; not recommended for blustery weather |
| Fulton Minilite 2 | 236 g | 25 cm | 96 cm | All manufacturing faults considered | Prone to inverting in a breeze; frame wind resistant as promised |
| V&A blue Japanese | 285 g | 28 cm | 96 cm | 28-day returns period | Just about resisted inverting on trial walks |
| Knirps T200 Duomatic | 320 g | 28 cm | 98 cm | 5 years | Resists wind damage but inverts as quickly as other lightweight models |
| Lifeventure Medium Trek | 380 g | 32 cm | 97 cm | 3 years | Modest wind resistance for a folding model |
| Blunt Metro | 385 g | 37.5 cm | 100 cm | 2 years | Inverted on the hilltop, popped back easily; stood up to sudden gusts day to day |
| Shed Rain Vortex V2 | 431 g | 30.5 cm | 109 cm | Conditional lifetime | Did not invert in gusts of about 40 mph; the best folding result |
| Paul Smith compact | 433 g | 47 cm | 100 cm | 2 years | Little better than smaller folding models in strong wind |
| London Undercover Classic | 500 g | 91.5 cm | 105 cm | 1 year | Withstood strong gusts without inverting |
| Gillian Kyle Tunnock’s | 548 g | 90 cm | 100 cm | 60-day returns period | No wind result given |
| Oswin Hyde Joseph | 658 g | 92 cm | 112 cm | 6 months | Inverted without much coaxing, bounced back |
| Davek Elite | 708 g | 89 cm | 112 cm | Unconditional lifetime | Resisted inversion impressively |
| Fulton Titan 1 (golf) | 950 g | 98 cm | 136 cm | All manufacturing faults considered | Vented canopy resisted inversion in strong wind |
The Guardian’s test covers 19 umbrellas; the 14 above are the ones it gives full numbers for. All figures are the reviewer’s as published.
How to read each column
- Weight. Under about 400 g is easy to carry all day; over 900 g, the Guardian notes of the Titan 1, can make your forearms ache holding it into the wind.
- Folded length. 40 cm or less fits a handbag or day pack. The jump to about 90 cm is the difference between a folding and a full-length umbrella, not a small variation.
- Canopy. Wider is more cover, but also more sail. The two widest results here, the Titan 1 and the 112 cm pair, are the heaviest.
- Warranty. Watch the wording. “Returns period” is a refund window, not fault cover, and “conditional” lifetime means the terms decide. See our lifetime warranty questions and returns and warranty checklist.
- Wind result. One reviewer, one hill, one autumn. Compare it with our wind speed chart before trusting any single umbrella.
Three quick filters
- Must fit a bag. Keep rows with a folded length of 40 cm or less: Davek Mini, Doppler, Minilite, V&A, Knirps, Lifeventure, Blunt Metro and Shed Rain.
- Windy city, folding. Of those, the Guardian’s text favours the Shed Rain Vortex V2 on wind, at the cost of 431 g.
- Long warranty matters. Davek’s unconditional lifetime guarantee is the clearest in the table; Knirps lists five years.
For how the folding brands compare more widely, Calm Eden’s Blunt umbrella review reads four outlets on one brand, and its best umbrella brands of 2027 and umbrella lifetime warranty guide go through the brand and warranty side. Our own spec label guide explains the terms.
One example
XZVZX and Calm Eden share an owner. Calm Eden’s Haven Umbrella was not part of the Guardian test, so it has no row and no wind result here. For the same columns it folds to 40 cm (15.75 in) with a canopy of about 105 cm and a weight of about 390 g, on a frame of 30 carbon fibre ribs; the figures are the maker’s, not a test. It has a lifetime warranty and a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee that accepts opened or used umbrellas, with free returns. Every order includes a Haven Cover and the Wellness Journal (digital); Buy 2 Get 1 Free adds the UV Charm and the Rain Poncho, and Buy 3 Get 2 Free also adds the Haven SPF 50+ Silk Square Scarf.
Short version
- Folded length first (40 cm or less for a bag), then weight, then canopy.
- A returns period is not a warranty.
- One test is one test: use the wind column as a hint.
Sources: The Guardian, The best umbrellas in the UK (Pete Wise, updated 28 October 2026); read 5 November 2026.
Common questions
Which tested umbrella is lightest?
In the Guardian's 2026 test the Doppler Zero 99 is lightest at 99 g and shortest folded at 21 cm, but the reviewer calls it highly prone to inverting in wind and fine only for a light shower.
Which tested umbrella has the widest canopy?
The Fulton Titan 1 golf umbrella at 136 cm across, with a folded length of 98 cm and a weight of 950 g. The widest folding model in the table is the Shed Rain Vortex V2 at 109 cm.
Is a returns period the same as a warranty?
No. The Guardian's warranty row lists a 60-day returns period for one umbrella and a 28-day returns period for another. A returns period lets you send it back for a refund; a warranty covers faults that appear later.
Which tested umbrellas have a lifetime guarantee?
The Davek Mini and Davek Elite are listed with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, and the Shed Rain Vortex V2 with a conditional lifetime guarantee covering defects in materials or workmanship.
Does this sheet test the umbrellas?
No. It reads one published test, the Guardian's, and arranges the numbers it lists. We did not test any of the umbrellas, and we have left out prices.