Rain is a problem in the Spring. Be prepared. This deftly written article gives you a brief history and a guide to umbrellas of all sizes and, um, quality.
Windpro from ShedRain, $38: This brolly sports a 68" arc, making it the Hummer of umbrellas. The generous canopy also caused quite the Mary-Poppins moment on the ferry. The umbrella was forced open by the fierce wind and nearly blew overboard. Ferry riders gathered to watch me wrest control: "You're going to break your umbrella!" someone cried. When I finally closed it, the now-mini crowd erupted in cheers. If it weren't for its Brobdingnagian size and its stick handle, the umbrella—which received high marks for functionality, strength, and effectiveness—would have scored higher overall. Perhaps a smaller ShedRain would have fared better.
