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

I tried a lot of compact umbrellas and they all fell short until this one. It's a perfect size that can fit in your laptop bag but extends to a full size umbrella when you need it most. I love that it automatically unfurls and detracts with the press of a single button. The handle itself is also very nice. It looks luxurious and a lot more expensive than it actually is. I highly recommend it.

Great product

Excellent construction; looks like it will hold up well. Wooden handle feels nice in the hand, mechanism is robust, solid.

UPDATE:Balios customer service is fantastic, leading to a revision of my review and increase in the product rating. They reached out the day after I posted this review, offering an apology, a full refund, and a heavily-discounted replacement -- far more than most companies would consider providing. The replacement umbrella is more robust than the first unit and has held up admirably under gusty conditions with no inversions. With first-class customer service and return policies, the Balios is worth serious consideration as a low-risk purchase with polished design upside.==============================================ORIGINAL REVIEW:An elegant umbrella at a surprisingly affordable price, the Balios largely lives up to expectations, albeit with one very fatal flaw.The quick-drying canopy snaps to attention at the press of a button and closes just as readily, while the fiberglass and steel construction seems to be an asset to prolonged durability. The sleeve adds to the convenience, offering a rare zipped side that makes it significantly easier to reinsert the umbrella after use. And although I would definitely prefer an option for a golf-size canopy to accommodate two people and/or shield packages being carried, it's still perfect for the stated purpose of shielding a single person from the elements.Design-wise, it's suitable for a quick run to the pharmacy or a trip to the board room. The classic navy/black canopy remains taut, with clean lines and an opaque canvas that easily surpasses that of other umbrellas in this price range. Moving to the signature element of the Balios, the handle is well-crafted, with a comfortable grip and a rich, wood grain finish that gives it a truly refined look.However, the fatal flaw present in the unit I received is its failure to withstand even moderate winds. Despite being described as "windproof" and possessing a vented design for just such occasions, it immediately and repeatedly inverted in 15mph winds with 30mph gusts, leaving me out in the rain without a usable umbrella. Others have reported better experiences in similar conditions, so I'm being generous with my two-star rating in the hopes that I simply received a defective unit. No amount of design and longevity can overcome the inability of an umbrella to function should a rain storm present more than just precipitation. Unfortunately, I am just past Amazon's 30-day return window to request a refund.

Product is exactly what was advertized.

A gift for the Wife. She loves it but has not needed to use it yet. It works good though when we opened and closed it.

Amazing product

Somehow, I lived my entire adult life up to very recently without owning an umbrella. That changed when I moved to Bogotá, Colombia. Compared to what you might imagine about Colombia, this mountain city is cold and the only thing tropical is the rain. It rains just about every day, although usually only for an hour or so. The reason for that weather change is the wind coming off the mountains that the city butts up against. My first ever umbrella was hastily purchased in the street and needless to say, it was not the most sturdy piece of equipment. It seemed to have a confused identity, thinking it was some kind of reversable jacket or something. It took every gust of wind as an opportunity to show off its perceived abilities, however its frame was not quite up to these acrobatic feats.As my first umbrella was slowly dying, having flipped inside out more times than a contortionist at Cirque du Soleil, I decided it was time to order a replacement. This, my second ever umbrella has been a much drier experience. It feels solid in hand and the wooden handle looks great. The wood is a stained a little darker than in the pictures, but I don't mind. I'm not sure what kind of three-fingered being the handle was designed for (I guess a British one), I would have preferred a plain round handle, but it's still comfortable enough to hold.I've owned this umbrella for about three months now, I wanted to wait before writing a review. It holds out in both light & heavy rain & whenever I've felt that familiar tug from a gust of wind, it's never flipped inside out. It doesn't have a huge diameter, so any sideways rain might still be a problem & it's probably not a two-person umbrella unless you really want to cuddle. That said, it's very portable & easily fits in my backpack, along with everything else. When holding the umbrella at an angle, I sometimes get a few drips coming through due to the nature of the double canopy, however that definitely beats having it turned inside out.The button to launch the umbrella open is kinda fun, I could maybe distract a potential robber for a couple of seconds, giving me an opportunity to run if I had to. Pulling it back in is no easy task though. I can bicep curl 70 lbs for 4 sets of 10 and this is still a challenge. Definitely don't give this to kids. It's really just the last bit, locking it back in, if you try to grab the small metal part that comes in close to the handle, it can be difficult & your fingers can get pinched, however if you push from each end, it's not actually that hard.Overall, a really good umbrella. I think it's good value for money and should last a long time.