The Bodyguard Inverted Umbrella, currently on sale at Amazon for £17.99 (down from £24.99), has earned over 400 five-star reviews, with shoppers praising its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain.
The umbrella is available in a range of colours, including black, red and grey, and comes in two sizes: 46-inch and 54-inch. Its unique inverted design keeps the wet outer surface inside when closed, preventing water from running down and keeping floors and cars dry.
Design and features
The umbrella is reinforced with 12 resin-fibre ribs that flex slightly, as opposed to eight or nine aluminium ribs, helping prevent it from turning inside out. It features a one-button automatic system for one-handed use, and a 46-inch canopy with a reflective edge for ample protection.
When not in use, the brolly folds down to a compact size and has a wrist strap for easy carrying. The Met Office predicts that the global weather pattern El Niño will make this year's autumn and winter in the UK wetter and stormier, following an unprecedented tropical summer.
Shopper reviews
One user said: "Excellent umbrella! I would highly recommend a compact, low-profile umbrella. We put it to immediate use on the day of delivery. 30mph gusts, rain falling sideways, and the umbrella did its job."
Another fan of the brolly mentioned: "I travelled to Costa Rica and went to the top of Vulcan Poas to view the crater. It was full sunshine when we arrived, but within about 20 minutes, the clouds, the rain and the hail began. The wind was strong and the rain/hail was very heavy. This umbrella withstood the challenge and kept me dry, well, except for the large puddles and small rivers that I had to walk through to get back to my car. Excellent product. I love it."
Mixed feedback
Not everyone was impressed by its features, however, as one user deducted two stars from their review, and said they found it a bit too 'flimsy'. Another found the cover difficult to put back onto the umbrella: "Great quality BUT heavier than expected, does NOT fold down easily at all and ends up being too full to put back into the cover. I would say it is worth it in tough weather, but not so much for everyday use. You will get soaked/blown away trying to fold it down before getting into cover, which is a struggle to do!"
While most people use it for rainstorms, like this reviewer: "Great quality. The first time I used it, I was at a baseball field. The umbrella held up to pretty strong winds and torrential downpours." Others have found it useful for bouts of sunshine where shade is minimal.
