Repel Umbrella Windproof Travel Umbrella - Wind Resistant, Small - Compact, Light, Automatic, Strong Steel Shaft, Mini, Folding and Portable - Backpack, Car, Purse Umbrellas for Rain - Men and Women

In shopping for a new compact umbrella, I prioritized durability and ease of use. I chose the Repel Windproof Travel Umbrella (also called the Repel Easy Touch Umbrella) based on several reviews but particularly based on the testing done by Outdoor Gear Lab web site, which rated the Repel highest for ease of use. I also considered the Lewis & Clark Travel Umbrella, but it wasnt available in navy blue. I think I made a good choice with the Repel. It is 11.5 inches long when collapsed, weighs 14 ounces, and the canopy has a diameter of 37 inches. It has 9 resin-enforced fiberglass ribs for support; they are gunmetal in color. Its entirely waterproof. The umbrellas best features are its automatic open-close mechanism and its handle. The auto open-close is very quiet and smooth. The handle is comfortable, textured for easy gripping, and has only smooth edges. There is no sharp edge at the top of the handle that I find on many compact umbrellas. The button to control the open-close is big but cannot easily be triggered by accident. The one difficulty I find with the Repel umbrella is that it takes some force to push the shaft into the handle to fully collapse the umbrella. The ribs close with the touch of a button. Then you need to place the palm of your hand on the top of the umbrella and push it into the shaft with your other hand on the handle. The instructions say this, but it is really the only way to close the umbrella. You cant pull the shaft down into the handle; you have to push it from the top. The umbrella weights 14.2 ounces by my scale, which is on the heavy side for a compact umbrella. But I like the quality of the handle and the entire umbrella feels sturdy, so Im not complaining. It comes with a matching nylon pouch or cover that is, as expected, a little difficult to get the umbrella back into. The trick is to twist in the direction that the umbrella folds while pulling the cover down over it. Still a nuisance to do while out and about, so I dont use the cover. Repel umbrellas have a lifetime guarantee, which is impressive for an automatic umbrella. I expect this umbrella to last a long time; it is a quality product, both in appearance and in actual operation.

A little difficult to close. It’s protective of user.

Nice umbrella! Works and looks fine!

I like this umbrella alot

I like it

it’s a great, well-made product and clearly these guys stand by them. I’ve had so many awful umbrellas over the years. This one’s obviously different… they honored the warranty when mine broke in heavy winds. Good umbrella, good company, worth buying

This is the second time I ordered the same umbrella. After constantly dealing with poor quality from Umbrellas I would normally grab out of necessity when walking out a grocery store on an unexpected rainy day, I finally decided to spend a little bit more money and get a decent product. After reading tones of great reviews, I ended up getting this product from Amazon. I was so happy with it that very soon afterwards I got a second one to put in my car as well. It is compact but sturdy and the color combo on the red and black version I got is elegant. Customer support has been excellent too. I had a small issue with the cover on one of my umbrellas and customer service was quick to respond and resolve the issue. I would highly recommend this product.

Good

Love the quality and size

Nothings perfect, but the customer service was great. I purchased two of these: one in 2018 and one in 2019. Im writing this in March of 2023. Both worked until a couple of days ago--hows that for timing! First, one umbrella would not close--the shaft remained extended and would not collapse. The next day, the other umbrella would not fully open. The shaft would extend, but the canopy would not expand. Yesterday, I emailed the company and provided my Amazon invoices (thanks to Amazon for keeping order information available--its a life saver!). I also included a photo of the umbrellas. (TIP: it turns out they need both the order info and a photo. So, to save time, include these with your initial warranty request). After a couple of emails back and forth, I received notice today that Repel (aka Upper Echelon Products LLC) has authorized the replacement of both umbrellas. I think getting the replacement authorization within 24 hours is impressive. I call that excellent customer service. Bottom line, yes, both umbrellas developed problems. Hey, an umbrella is a mechanical item. Mechanical things dont last forever. Nothing is perfect. However, the umbrellas were problem-free for 4 - 5 years, respectively. Whats more important to me is: Will the company stand behind its product? And will it do so without making it a nightmare for the customer? If I could, Id give customer support a 10 out of 5! They were responsive and made it relatively easy. So, in this review, I am reviewing not just the product, but customer support as well. Im just passing on my experience. Hope this helps.