記事: Compact Umbrellas: How to Choose One Made Properly
Compact Umbrellas: How to Choose One Made Properly
A full-length umbrella is a fine companion on a day that begins with rain. On the many days that only might bring it, most of us want an umbrella that can be put away: in a bag, a briefcase or the door pocket of a car, and forgotten until it is needed. That is the work of a compact umbrella.
Because compact umbrellas are so often bought in a hurry and replaced just as quickly, it is easy to forget that they can be made with the same care as a full-length one. This guide explains what a compact umbrella is, what to look for in a well-made one, and when it is the right choice.
What Is a Compact Umbrella?
A compact umbrella is one whose shaft folds down, so that the closed umbrella is short enough to carry in a bag. The most common construction is telescopic: the shaft is made in sections that slide inside one another, and the frame folds with them. Folding umbrellas, travel umbrellas and telescopic umbrellas are names often used for the same kind of umbrella.
The Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella folds to 45 cm, a length that suits a briefcase, a tote or a weekend bag, and opens to a canopy 102 cm across.
Compact or Full-Length?
The choice depends less on the weather than on how you travel. A full-length umbrella gives the most generous cover and hangs easily over the arm or on the back of a chair. The Bucklesbury Classic Umbrella, for example, is about 91 cm long, with a canopy 106 cm across. A compact umbrella gives a little less cover in exchange for being easy to carry when it is not raining.
Many people keep both: a full-length umbrella for the days that begin with rain, and a compact umbrella in the bag for the days that might end with it. Our umbrella size guide sets out the dimensions of each Bucklesbury umbrella side by side.
What to Look for in a Compact Umbrella
- Folded length. Measure the bag you carry most often. At 45 cm, the Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella is made for the bag or briefcase rather than the pocket.
- Canopy size. A compact umbrella should still open to a useful canopy. This umbrella opens to 102 cm across, only a few centimetres less than our full-length Classic.
- Opening. An automatic opening allows the umbrella to be opened with one hand, which is welcome when stepping out of a train, a car or a doorway with a bag in the other. The Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella opens automatically.
- Weight. An umbrella that lives in a bag should not weigh it down. This one weighs about 0.5 kg.
- Canopy fabric. The canopy is made from Japanese-engineered fabric, the same as on our full-length umbrellas.
A Compact Umbrella, Made by Hand
Most compact umbrellas are mass-produced. The Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella is constructed by hand in London using traditional techniques, in small batches, and each one is individually finished by a craftsman. It is made in a traditional London workshop with umbrella-making heritage dating back to 1805, and carries our Rain Tested In England™ trademark. The handle is made in Germany.
The result is a compact umbrella with the character of a full-length one: an umbrella to keep for years rather than a season, and one that appeals to anyone who values its design and craftsmanship.
Choosing a Colour
The Bucklesbury Telescopic Umbrella is made in eleven colours, from black, navy blue and racing green to burgundy, orange and two shades of pink. The Telescopic Green Umbrella, the Telescopic Red Umbrella and the Telescopic Pink Umbrella are available now; the other colours can be pre-ordered for dispatch by 28 November. Black and navy sit quietly with tailoring, while red, pink and orange are easy to find at the bottom of a bag. All are shown together in our telescopic umbrellas collection.
Looking After It
A compact umbrella spends much of its life folded, so the most important habit is simple: never put it back in the bag wet. Leave it open to dry first, so that the fabric can breathe, and fold it only when it is completely dry. Keep it away from radiators and long periods of direct sunlight, and clean the canopy with plain water only. Our Umbrella Care page and our guide on how to care for a wooden umbrella explain each step.
A Gift for the Traveller
For someone who commutes, travels for work or simply never knows what the day will bring, a compact umbrella made by hand is a thoughtful gift. Each one is dispatched in a cotton cover and a Bucklesbury presentation box, and a gift note can be added when ordering. For UK delivery before Christmas, order by 16 December.
Made in London
A compact umbrella need not be a compromise. Chosen for its folded length, its canopy and the care with which it is made, it becomes the umbrella you carry most often of all.
