Choosing Your Favorite Online: How to Pick a Folding Umbrella for the Rainy Season

Just when it seems like the gentle rain will never stop, the sky clears up and suddenly your long umbrella feels like a burden—that's Japan's rainy season for you. When you know the weather is going to keep changing on you, many people prefer to carry a folding umbrella. But "folding umbrella" is actually a broad category, encompassing all kinds of shapes, materials, sizes, colors, weights, and mechanisms. You want to buy one that's just right for you, but if you're not sure which specs suit you best, shopping online can feel a bit uncertain. For those of you in that situation, here are some tips for choosing a "good folding umbrella" through an online shop.

(Article updated: May 17, 2022)

The rainy season is upon us—let's find a folding umbrella online that helps you travel light.

Miratore Folding Umbrella, Red

The rainy season has arrived. You may find yourself wanting a folding umbrella that suits you perfectly—maybe you already like the one you use, but you still want something well-made that will last a long time. However, umbrella specialty shops are few and far between, and even imported folding umbrellas often come in limited varieties. Even if you try to buy one online, there's so much information out there that it can be hard to know what to compare. In times like these, it's best to first figure out what type of umbrella you're looking for, and then pick out information accordingly.

Function vs. Fashion: Which Matters More to You?

What people look for in an umbrella comes down to two things: functionality and fashion. It would be wonderful to find one that perfectly matches your taste in both, but it's a good idea to first decide which one matters more to you—functionality or fashion.

Who Should Prioritize Functionality?

People who often carry a lot of luggage during their commute to work or school. People who spend a lot of time outdoors and frequently move in and out of buildings. People who want to carry an umbrella with them every day just in case.

Who Should Prioritize Fashion?

People who usually use a long umbrella but often carry a folding umbrella just in case, and who—since they're carrying one anyway—want something that looks elegant. People who want a bright color rather than a dark one, or something that makes them feel excited just to carry it.

If You Prioritize Functionality

If you use your umbrella for commuting to work or school and simply want something convenient, here are some features to look for. We recommend the brand【Knirps】.

Whether It Opens and Closes Automatically with One Touch

One-Touch Folding Umbrella T.220 2STRUCTURE

This type opens fully at the push of a button, right from its closed state, so you can start using it immediately. Just press the button at hand and the umbrella springs open all at once—very handy when your hands are full.

All-Weather One-Touch Folding Umbrella U.220 Sansan

When the umbrella is open, pressing the side button lets you close the canopy portion. Returning the shaft to its closed position takes a bit of force, but it allows for smooth, effortless opening and closing.

Whether It's Durable and Comes with a Warranty

One-Touch Folding Umbrella T.220 Ishidatami (Gray)

The T.220 series of folding umbrellas uses fiberglass ribs that are both lightweight and highly flexible. The shaft strength has also been improved over previous models, resulting in a structure that stands up better to wind. Every Knirps umbrella comes with a five-year warranty from the date of purchase. This makes it a great choice for anyone worried about ruining a good umbrella right away—say, if the shaft bends in the wind or the umbrella stops opening properly.

Whether It's a Lightweight Type

If you're going to carry an umbrella with you every day, it's a good idea to choose one that's as lightweight and convenient to carry as possible.

The X1 series, which comes with a dedicated case with a strap and a matching soft cover.

This umbrella weighs a mere 230 grams. There are even lighter umbrellas out there, but they often bend easily in strong wind or rust quickly, meaning they surprisingly don't last very long. The X1 series, by contrast, is built with an extremely simple design, and is a compact, easy-to-use folding umbrella with the strength to match. It's also a popular choice thanks to its compactness, which lets it fit even into a small bag.

If You Prioritize Fashion

When it's really pouring, you might reach for a long umbrella, but you still want a cute one to match your outfit—one that turns heads on the street. For people like that, here are some recommendations.

Choose a Two-Stage Folding Umbrella with a Beautiful Arch

Koshu-ori Folding Umbrella "Kasane," Brown/Blue

A "two-stage fold" refers to the traditional type of umbrella that opens by assembling its ribs one section at a time, with a satisfying click. These umbrellas have many ribs, giving them a gentle curve and a rounded, arching silhouette.

Koshu-ori Folding Umbrella "Kasane," Beige/Pink

A two-stage folding umbrella is convenient when you're stepping onto a train, entering a building, or using an umbrella stand—you can gather the tips of the ribs together and fold it up like a long umbrella.

Koshu-ori Folding Umbrella "Kasane," Navy/Purple

These days three-fold umbrellas have become the mainstream, but when it comes to appearance and the elegance of handling, two-fold umbrellas are actually the smarter choice.

A rich range of colors, and whether or not it's a sun-and-rain dual-purpose type

Guy de jean Folding Umbrella Rabbit (MARINE)

Few people carry multiple umbrellas in their bag, like a parasol and a rain umbrella together, but in the coming season, a sudden downpour can quickly clear up into bright, strong sunshine. At times like these, it would be wonderfully smart to have a single umbrella that works as a parasol when the UV rays are strong, and as a rain umbrella when it starts to pour. With such a charming design, you're sure to enjoy comfortable days whether it's rainy or sunny.

Guy de jean Folding Umbrella Cat (V.ROSE)

The waterproof-treated polyester fabric has been proven to provide SPF50+ protection under France's UV shielding test standards. In addition to the standard colors, khaki, pink, and beige are also available.

A handle with a wood-carving-inspired design — Guy de jean Folding Umbrella Dog (MARINE)

The handle features an animal motif. It's a chic yet charming umbrella that adults will want to carry.

Whether the fabric and design have been carefully considered, much like a parasol

Sun-and-Rain Folding Umbrella Three

When you think of a folding umbrella, you might imagine a plain fabric, but a rain umbrella with carefully chosen fabric and handle, much like a parasol, can be lovely too. This one is a sun-and-rain dual-purpose umbrella made with traditional koshu-ori fabric. Koshu-ori is a high-end, pre-dyed woven textile made in Koshu (Yamanashi Prefecture), praised alongside Nishijin-ori for its outstanding quality and beauty. Woven at high density with uniform precision, it achieves a lustrous, deep coloring along with an elegant, substantial texture.

A distinctive feature of koshu-ori fabric, found nowhere else, is its special weaving technique that uses doubled thread (twisted together) for the warp and single thread for the weft. Depending on how the light hits it and the angle from which it's viewed, you can enjoy a variety of different expressions.

For those who want a well-considered handle too, this one is also recommended. It's made from bamboo, using knotted kanchiku (cold bamboo) that only one company in Japan is currently able to produce. The handle, slowly bent over time, offers a comfortable feel in the hand, along with beauty and a sense of luxury. wakao's umbrellas are designed not merely as tools but as items to be cherished for a lifetime, with careful attention paid to achieving a balanced harmony of lightness, durability, and a beautiful form whether open or closed.

An umbrella cover is handy for folding umbrellas

Now, having looked at a variety of folding umbrellas, since these are umbrellas you'll be putting away and taking out often, figuring out how to store a wet umbrella becomes a real headache. Some come with their own case, and others let you gather the fabric neatly at the tip, but if you're still concerned, we recommend trying an umbrella cover.

Knirps Dry Bag Mat Cross

This 【Dry Bag】 is a storage bag for folding umbrellas that can hold umbrellas up to 29cm in total length and 17.5cm in circumference. It's not completely waterproof, but since the interior material is microfiber, you can toss a wet umbrella straight in. This prevents water seeping out of the umbrella bag on the train from ruining the other contents of your bag, letting you carry your umbrella without getting your bag wet. Even on a crowded train in the rain, your hands won't be tied up holding an umbrella, easing the stress.

It can hold nearly all Knirps umbrellas, with the exception of a few models.

【Applicable models】X1, T.200, U.220, and others

No matter where you are in Japan, online shopping lets you encounter "good things," whether MADE IN JAPAN or imported. Don't give up just because it's hard to picture an item in your mind — instead, gather the information you need and enjoy the rich selection that only online shopping can offer.

▽ Umbrella brands featured this time