Balios Folding Umbrella Real Wood Handle Auto Open Close

I have had the worst luck with umbrellas in recent years - cheap ones invariably let me down, and I’ve long ceased trusting myself to remember an expensive umbrella on the bus or train! I’ve tried a number of brollys, from no-name emergency buys to major brands like Totes, and none have lasted - so with this in mind I did a bit of research and comparison before buying this one. My first impressions are that this is a well-designed and high-quality item, particularly when put side-by-side with a similarly priced umbrella from a well-known drugstore. The item came well packaged to protect the canopy and wood handle, and has enough heft to inspire confidence. The handle is made of a lovely dark wood, and is perfectly smooth with no imperfections or rough spots. It is exactly the right size for my (average-sized) hand which is a huge positive given how uncomfortable the tiny travel-style umbrella handles can be. The umbrella comes in a matching sleeve, which rather uniquely has a zip down the side to make it easier to get on and off - a small detail but suggests the thought and consideration put into the design of the product. Overall it is very elegantly designed and put together -they haven’t just slapped some fancy script font on a cheap brolly, but have paid attention to the details such as stitching that help it seem a bit more ‘high-end’. The umbrella itself is similarly well designed - pressing the open/close button expands the canopy forcefully, revealing the sturdy metal and fibreglass frame. It is definitely a step up from the standard, thin metal ribs you’ll find on a cheap model which gives me confidence this will last more than a few trips around windy West Yorkshire! The canopy is vented, which allows wind to pass through rather than stressing the umbrella frame - this is a great feature and definitely helps, although no brolly is really wind-proof so just bear that in mind. The canopy fabric is pretty standard and blocks water just fine - the light blue colour looks very handsome in person and goes well with the wood handle. Pressing the button again snaps the canopy shut, again with some force, which helps shake off excess raindrops. The brolly requires a surprising amount of force to fully retract into the collapsed form - on the one hand this is reassuring as it’s all very sturdy, but I do wonder if having such strong springs in the frame may raise the risk of something breaking down the line. However after years of flimsy umbrellas breaking on me I’d rather take my chances with something that might be ‘too strong’!! Overall I am very very impressed with this product - it has every feature I was looking for (fibreglass ribs, vented canopy) and some I didn’t know I wanted (zip on the sleeve)! It seems well-made and sturdy enough to last, without being too heavy and while having an elegant, smart appearance. My only possible note for improvement would be to add a carrying loop/strap to the handle itself - the included sleeve has a loop attached but it would be better for it to be on the umbrella handle itself so the brolly can be hung to dry. Such a minor point really, and definitely not a deal breaker by any means. This would be an exceptional product for £30, so for under £20 it’s one of the best deals out there.

I am now updating my review and revising up my score based upon some actual real world usage of the product and to reflect the excellent customer support I received in response to my original review. The original review can still be read below this new one. I've kept it as I think it's important to not whitewash my original observations as although my interactions with the manufacturer have had a very positive impression of the the product I still think those initial impressions are important. Firstly this umbrella is definitely more than your average travel umbrella. Its canopy is larger, the materials (canopy material, frame, wooden handle) are of a higher grade than most and its automatic open close action much faster and more consistent than other cheaper automatic umbrellas I have had in the past. Unlike those where the automatic action would fade over time (even the first 10 - 20 openings) this one has not had that issue and suspect it wont. Speaking of the canopy material this seems to be a very water resistant one, this combined with the speed and force of the automatic opening action means you'll never have to drip dry your umbrella again. Once you leave the rain just auto close and push the umbrella down to reset it and then open again. The force and speed will leave the canopy virtually free of water. Contrary to some of the other reviews I believe it does have better wind resistance due to the venting. The venting does not mean you can ignore the direction of wind, but it does give you more leeway on responding to it. Additionally, unlike some reviews my umbrella has not had any any issues with the venting letting rain through. The umbrella size and weight is definitely more than I am used to with any other travel fold up umbrella I've had. The canopy size is nice, you can cover two people walking side by side. I found the weight increase initially a bit annoying, but overtime you get used to it. I still think that if it were at all possible to redesign the umbrella with lighter materials that could still exhibit the strength and capability as the original (even if the price went up), it would be an upgrade worth paying for. Consequently the weight is the main reason given for why my fiancé won't buy one. The customer service was really surprising. Rick of ePorter contacted me with a long detailed response directly referencing my reviews original concerns with the product. He apologised for packaging and the less than stellar quality of some of the products manufacture. He welcomed my feedback, he really seemed to take to heart all of my comments and insisted he'd use the feedback to improve the manufacture of future umbrellas. Rick went the extra mile to reinforce his commitment to the quality of his product and see that I was happy, even going so far to send me another umbrella for free or the money back. I feel a bit guilty getting a free umbrella, but true to Rick's word this one had some marked improvements. The packaging on arrival was excellent being sent fully wrapped in bubble wrap inside a padded jiffy envelope. Rick had said in his emails that sadly he had little power over how amazon packaged things from its own warehouses, so this direct packaging showed his commitment to making sure this extra umbrella would not arrive with further disappointment. Once opened this new version of product addressed most of my original reviews concerns. It had a much better finish to the case and zipper, a more even finish on the wooden handle (and insignificant it may seem overall) no typos on the cardboard labels. Given my usage experience and the follow up customer support I can definetly recommend this umbrella and you can gurantee you'll be looked after by their customer support should you have any issues or product feedback. Original review: I have not used this in the UK's wind and rain yet so this review will be updated once I have. For now I'll review what I can based on delivery and first impressions. The parcel arrived day after ordered via amazon prime. Arrived in a oversized semi crumpled box, zero padding inside. The umbrella was presumably free to slide all around. The umbrella itself comes enclosed inside a nicely fitting case with a zipper, the handle wrapped in soft card. This zipper bag it's self comes inside of an outer fabric sleave with a draw string. From first glance the ensemble looks like a quality item, but there were/still are a couple of details that irked me from the off and differ from the product detail images and those of other customers reviews. Firstly the logo on the wooden handle is missing its registered trademark 'R', the grip is a bit lobsided (more of a visual annoyance as it does not affect how it holds) and finally the open close button text differs in style. These are quite noticeable differences to have on the one bit of the umbrella that is most unique, so it does bother me. Next I observed that the finish on the zipper bag is a bit rougher than I had expected, the zip stitching is rough and not great, enclosing the zip at it's terminating end rather than around it (as per the pictures). The cover is also missing the Balios tag and the overall finish is quite rough, it's shame because the materials and sizing are perfect and fit the umbrella well. Finally and minor though it is, the tags on the fabric sleave and zipper bag have some classic grammar and typo errors. "&Crafted" and "tpwards". Onwards to the actual Umbrella: it's quite weighty, heavier than any cheaper travel umbrella I've owned before, I hope the weight doesn't get annoying, the handle does seem like it would be better than a simple cylindrical grip, time will tell from real use. The automatic opening is unnervingly quick and has some serious power to it, same with the close, both actions are satisfying to use. Given I have not used it outside of the house yet I can't report on its rain and wind resistance,so I can't confirm nor deny the contrasting opinions from the five and one star reviews. I have however played around with opening and closing mechanism a number of times though and the automatic opening and closing action does not seem to be lessening any in that time, so although I'm a bit non plussed with some of the aesthetic finishes of the umbrellas handle and cover I do still hold out hope for it to fully fulfil its capacity to do its intended job.

I've been looking for a stylish, compact and effective umbrella for those "emergencies” when you haven't got your big brolly with you for quite a while now. I stumbled across the Balios Travel Umbrella and was immediately drawn to it. A fantastic range of colours, effective looking design, stylish, modern, not too expensive - perfect for leaving in the car or office... so I figured I would give it a go. I've looked at a few others on the high street or in larger supermarkets, but never really found one that looked like it would do the job. Packaging: The umbrella arrived safely in the normal Amazon packaging overkill style, although to be fair I know that Amazon likes to package creatively in order to make the best use of its delivery options. The umbrella itself was inside a drawstring protective bag, giving another layer of protection during transit. Inside this was the brolly itself, complete with zipped stowaway bag, and a wrap of paper around the handle (also to protect from damage during shipping). The zipped bag is easy to remove and replace but might be fiddly if the brolly is still wet. My new brolly is very YELLOW! In use: I live and work in the North East of Scotland - when it blows a gale and rains up here it does it properly. Safe to say that despite recent weather patterns having given us an unusually mild and dry spring (so far), I got the chance to try out my umbrella the day after I received it. In the past, I have taken my large "gustbuster" style umbrella for walks in the rain; it's tried and tested and gives an enormous coverage, but in true pioneering fashion I decided to try out my new travel umbrella. I was not disappointed in the slightest. Moderate gusts did not phase the brolly one bit thanks to the vents, it was big enough to give me shelter from the decent amount of rain pushing down on me, and as an added bonus the bright yellow was highly visible in the murk! In summary: The Balios travel umbrella is a solid, well designed and attractive brolly, well worth the £20 in my humble opinion! Would recommend to anyone.

I have now owned three Balios umbrellas. I will discuss customer service towards the end. I originally bought a Balios several years ago. A few months after owning my original, it jammed when I tried to close it, and I broke one of the umbrella ribs forcing it closed -- this was minor damage to the aesthetic and did not change the functionality of the umbrella. I had years of use after this issue, but lost the umbrella a few months ago. I liked my Balios and so I wanted to replace it like for like, and so I bought the new version of my previous (the new ones have a darker rosewood handle). The second, more recently, also jammed. I have been completely unable to close the umbrella. I contacted Balios, asking as to how to fix the umbrella, and they insisted on both sending me a replacement umbrella and on giving me a refund. Balios have then pestered me to delete this review (or write a new improved one, and even offered me instructions on how to so so), despite me telling them I am often busy. My review was on a product, and "good" customer service does not undo faulty products which can result in clothing, equipment, and my person being soaked due to an umbrella that unexpectedly fails after only a month or two. Would I recommend this umbrella to others? I am not sure. I would like to wait and see how the replacement lasts. If this review (updated: 13/08/2019) does not change, then yes, the replacement umbrella functions perfectly. It's a decent umbrella, buy one if you like the style. It's fairly compact but fairly sturdy, with a good weight. Balios umbrellas are "designed in Britain", they're not made in Britain. They are made in China. I'm getting tired of low-cost rubbish being sold on Amazon at a premium price. I have not renewed my Amazon Prime, as I am sick of low-quality garbage at the top of every search. It wastes peoples money and destroys the environment. Some products from China are perfectly fine. It comes down to distributors, like Balios, to insist on getting that quality. I contacted Balios to ask how I fix my umbrella. They appear to be fixated on image and asking me to change this review. Apparently, claim Balios, I should delete this review and write a better one if I want because editing a review will be pending forever. If Balios umbrella number 3 jams then I will certainly be back.

I bought this a a gift and it turned out to be a great choice. It fits nicely in a briefcase and packs away in a waterproof pouch. It feels sturdy and is easy to put up and down. The recipient is extremely pleased with it. It looks good, particularly the wooden handle, and appears to be of good quality.

In the past, I've avoided umbrellas. Not because I like getting rained on, but simply because I've - on the whole - had bad experiences from them. More often than not, the average umbrella will be bought in a hurry during a downpour from a nearby petrol garage, only to turn itself inside out within a matter of minutes, before being dumped in the bin. Well, I can tell you one thing straight away: Balios Umbrellas are *not* your average umbrella. As a lover of the finer things in life, I was absolutely delighted by the softness and beauty of the wooden handle, and as soon as I opened it up, it was clear this was a well-made, superior product that wouldn't let me down. Luckily (in a sense) it arrived through the post before I had to take my kids to school, and - this being England - it has already started to rain quite heavily. I pushed the button on the handle, my new umbrella unfolded itself with a smooth and impressive action, and I was off. Not only did I look great walking down the road with this elegant accessory, I was kept dry and safe from the downpour, too. The vents in the canopy allow the wind to move slightly through the umbrella, meaning there was never any danger of the item turning inside out and dragging me along the road. I was seriously impressed. I also love the smooth and sturdy mechanism of this device - it locks very satisfyingly back into place when you're done with it, and from there, you can keep it in its attractive carry case. I'm an absolute convert, and seriously won over the by affordable price and quality of this item. I would actually like to buy one for all my family members, too!

We love these umbrellas. They are really well made and feel super durable compared to most folding umbrellas. The real wood handle is comfortable to hold and feels premium, and the auto open and close button works smoothly and makes it very easy to use one handed. The vented canopy also helps in stronger winds. Worth calling out that we bought two of these years ago and only needed to replace them because we lost them, not because they broke. That says everything about the build quality. Would happily buy again and recommend.

Excellent, well made. Nice handle to hold. Also makes a present you would be happy to give knowing it’s going to work well.

Best umbrella I have found. Compact and easy on the eye. The umbrella has 2 cannopies and has held up in some serious NYC rain and wind gusts. The tunnel affect coming through the streets of midtown can be crazy due to the tall buildings. This umbrella is fashionable and functional and is under 25 bucks. The cover is easy to put on and off due to the sizeable zipper. Every other umbrella has had the cover tossed within 5 minutes because I cant stand shoving a whole umbrella into a small bag. This cover fits perfectly. Cant sing enough praises about this one button open/close compact, 2 canopy, strong fashionable umbrella.

Très beau produit -Prix justifié

Sono rimasto piacevolmente colpito dalla qualità di costruzione ed assemblaggio di quest'ombrello. Come già leto, già la fodera dimostra un'ottima attenzione ai dettagli. L'ombrello è piccol e si piò riporre agevolmente in borsa, zaino o 24ore, ma le dimensioni da aperto sono più che sufficienti per proteggere una persona coprendo anche un eventuale zaino. Le stecche ed il meccanismo di tensionamento per la chiusura automatica sono estremamente robuste e ben fatte, le migliori che mi sia capitato di vedere, ed anche il fusto è molto più robusto e strutturato della media dgli ombrelli che si vedono in giro (anche di marche blasonate e molto più costose). La calotta ha gli sfoghi per il vento, che ritengo comodissimi, e sembra effettivamente avere uno spesore ed una consistenza di tutto rispetto. Il manico in legno sagomato ed ergonomico è sicuramente un tocco di classe in più. Acquistato per un regalo, mi riservo di vedere come si comporterà nei prossimi tempi ma da un primo esame merita senza dubbio le 5 stelle. Consigliatissimo.

Buen producto y elegante, un poco cara, pero si se nota la diferencia de los paraguas convencionales.

Ottimo ombrello, robusto elegante e resistente anche a pioggia abbondante.. che dire ottimo acquisto