Balios Travel Folding Umbrella with Real Wood Handle Auto Open Close Vented Windproof Canopy - Designed in UK

This umbrella is among one of the nicest Ive seen for this price range. I was rummaging through a closet looking for an old umbrella when i was raining the other week. I found this one on amazon and jumped on it. As soon as I felt the wooden handle, I fell in love. I was walking through New York City and it started raining. I pulled out this umbrella and that one click of the open button and there I was, dry as could be. Walked into a store and the same process, one click of that same button and it was closed. Easiest and sleekest umbrella I have ever used. Someone getting on the subway noticed this and immediately wanted to know where I got it and how they could get one. This is the one to buy. This price would be fair for the handle alone. If I were you I would already have one of these ordered.

Very, very happy when I received this. I love the look of a long handled (or golf) umbrella, but its just not practical for me in the city on tight sidewalks and lots of other people with umbrellas. But I didnt want a cheap plastic umbrellas that would break either on the handle or from the wind. This umbrella is more than the perfect medium in between. The wood handle was important to me for looks, and its also very ergonomic and comfortable to carry. When its windy, the vent lets the air pass through, but more importantly, doesnt spray water through the vent. When its not raining, it fits nicely in my coat pocket without falling out. This is the umbrella I was looking for!

I thought I was buying a small compact large diameter umbrella. Turns out the measurements are incorrect and its a lot smaller than advertised.

I love the look of this umbrella! I have been traveling with it in Europe for 2 months now and it is fairly good for travel. It is lightweight enough and easy to strap to the side of my bag. On one of my first windy days, though, One of the arms did break though. It did not take too strong of a gust to break it. I havent had luck in poping it back into position, but it is still useable just not as aesthetically pleasing. Maybe dont buy this if you live in a windy city.

Update 1/29/19 Customer service followed through and provided a refund and replacement at no charge. However, it didnt arrive overnight. I will reiterate that this an attractive looking umbrella. Im also optimistic that it will perform a better endurance test. Am I allowed to share my opinion on any non-umbrella topics here? New rating: From 2 stars to 4 ---------------------------- I was initially pleased with this umbrella. Its attractive, feels good in the hands, and seems to be well-constructed. As compared to umbrellas in a comparable price range, it did not handle as well in high winds with strong gusts. It inverted on numerous occasions, and ultimately could not bear the abuse. The lock and release mechanism failed after a month of my purchase. Maybe I was unlucky or it was a particularly gusty storm, but as compared to previous umbrellas under similar conditions, this attractive little guy came up short.

This is a nice and well made travel umbrella. All the materials used from the very good and dense fabric, steel and fiberglass ribs, and handle are of good quality, and the umbrella is light to carry. It is designed with a vented canopy to help relieve the pressure wind gusts produce and can be a useful feature on the windy days. The handle has a very nice and comfortable shape to hold and is available in either wood or black rubberized material. I have the black rubberized handle which has a nice grippy soft touch feel. Travel umbrella canopies are usually small and so is this one at about only 36 inches in diameter across the flat sections, so it is small in diameter and that is why I did not give it 5 stars. If this came in a 46 inch diameter I would have rated it at 5 stars. This umbrella is a very good value for the price.

Great umbrella, but I wish the carrying strap was attached to the umbrella. There is a carrying strap but its attached to the sleeve. It would have been much better to have the strap attached to the umbrella itself so it can be carried around everywhere..

Revised February 22, 2019*** The company had contacted me to let me know that they are happy to ship me a complimentary umbrella that would suit the needs better - no folding umbrella but the walking one where its more wind resistant. I have not yet received it but it is coming my way. I have updated this review to a 4 star because of the phenomenal customer relations service that Dianne, from the family company had provided in contacting me, offering a seamless solution. Previous review: I really wanted to like this umbrella after reading some of the reviews online. Upon receipt, it was a rainy day in New York and the umbrella just got my entire pants sprinkled with rainfall. It didnt resist the wind even though it was average windiness. The handle is very nice, a wooden one (thats why I gave it 2 stars instead of 1), and has a signature carving on it to make it look classy. In terms of being practical, its just not useful. You will get rained on with it.

First, let me say that New York City is hard on umbrellas. I cant tell you how many times Ive gotten sprayed with the rain due to an upturned umbrella that couldnt handle the intense winds that often accompany our rainy days. That said, I took this umbrella on a test drive on a particularly windy, rainy fall day and no upturns! It held its own from the double layer design; this umbrella is sturdy! For a well constructed umbrella, its quite light, even with the wood handle. The balance of sturdiness and lightness is key for living in a walking city, and the dual open and close button makes this a God-send when trying to manage heavy outside doors, bags, and a soaking umbrella to get inside buildings. One of the better umbrellas Ive used, highly recommend!

Its a classy umbrella that looks like it will last, which is more than I can say for some in this price range. Makes a good defensive weapon too using either end. Warning -dont be standing near a person or precious object when opening. Read directions carefully before operating to avoid damage. Yes, its a quality wood handle. I would like some instruction on how to preserve the wood on this and the walking umbrella with bamboo handle. More Balios umbrella models and colors on Amazon please!