Tactical umbrellas are an underrated product that many self-defense instructors swear by. They’re safer than guns and knives and less threatening to carry with you. And if you happen to be attacked on the street, you’ll have the element of surprise in your favor.
If you’re looking for an easy object for self-defense that’s legal for everyday carry (EDC), we’ll help you find the best option. They come in different sizes, ideal for men, women, and the elderly.
Why You Should Buy a Tactical Umbrella
A tactical umbrella looks like a plain and normal umbrella, and that’s why it’s a great self-defense weapon. It’s a very low-profile item and much lighter to carry around with you than most actual weapons.
When you use an umbrella for self-defense, only you know you’re carrying a weapon, so you take your attacker by surprise. This can buy you precious seconds to get away from your attacker and to safety.
Women who often travel for work benefit from keeping tactical umbrellas with them. You won’t be worried about your safety when walking at night in a strange city when you have a good self-defense weapon on hand.
And, of course, a self-defense umbrella will also protect you from the rain. This means it’s more likely that you’ll keep it with you.
Of course, you won’t win in a gunfight wielding a tactical umbrella. Everything depends on the situation, but here are some scenarios and people we think a tactical umbrella is great for.
- People who work and move around late at night.
- People who travel alone.
- Older adults who live in big cities.
- People who live in areas with security issues.
- As a self-defense weapon to have in your car.
- To keep at your workplace for special situations.
- People who don’t want to have a gun or knife but want to feel more confident.
Keep in mind that a tactical umbrella only looks natural in a relatively rainy city. While people likely won’t notice it in unpredictable New York or Seattle weather, it’s sure to catch strange looks in Arizona or California.
What To Look for
These are some of the attributes you’ll want to pay attention to when buying your tactical umbrella.
As with any product you carry with you all day, picking the right tactical umbrella depends on comfort. We’re all different in our body size and composition, as well as our daily habits, and not every umbrella will be right for everyone’s needs.
Material
Tactical umbrellas are generally made of super-tough materials, such as reinforced fiberglass or even steel. Steel has the advantage of being heavy, so you’ll get some more weight behind the umbrella when needed. On the other hand, it’ll be heavier to carry and may tire you over time.
These materials are sturdy enough that you’ll be able to stand on them or bend them any way you want without the umbrella breaking. This means you can rely on the umbrella to push or swing it.
Weight
The best self-defense weapon is the one you have with you when you need it. If the tactical umbrella you buy is too heavy, you’ll soon notice you’re leaving it at home or in your car. There, you won’t have much use for it if someone attacks you on the street.
Do remember that a tactical umbrella will always be heavier than a common umbrella, and that’s exactly why they’re so useful. You’ll be able to get more strength and power behind the umbrella if it’s heavier. Just make sure it’s still light enough so you won’t get tired of keeping it with you.
Tactical umbrellas usually weigh between one and 2 pounds. We recommend going for closer to 1 pound if you’re carrying the umbrella around with you every day. However, if you’re looking for an umbrella you can get more power behind, go for the heavier ones.
Size
Size is an important consideration when buying a tactical umbrella. Some of the models on our list are well over 35 inches long, so they may be uncomfortable to keep with you all day long. This depends on your height, though, and may not affect you at all if you’re closer to 6 feet tall.
Especially for shorter women and older adults who want to use the umbrella as a walking stick, it can be useful to measure yourself before buying. Knowing the distance between your hands and the ground will be useful for determining if the umbrella is the right size.
Also, take into account the opened-up size of the tactical umbrella you pick. If you want the umbrella to cover two people, a supersized model might be ideal. But in a big city with crowded streets, a big umbrella can get uncomfortable. Unless you’re much taller than others, you might bump into people too much with your umbrella.
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Carrying Comfort
Most tactical umbrellas come with some kind of a fabric cover or sheath. Sometimes they even have a strap so you can wear the umbrella on your back like a sword. This makes it easier to carry.
And how many times have you lost or forgotten an umbrella? Buying one with a carry sheath can be a guarantee that you won’t lose your tactical umbrella every time you get out of the subway. Just hang the umbrella on your shoulder, and you’ll have it with you wherever you go.
Walking Support
Some self-defense umbrellas are designed to double as walking sticks. For that purpose, they may include a comfortable, curved handle and a rubber cover for the tip. Others may be made of hardwood.
If you tend to leave your umbrella in your car for long periods of time, we recommend models with wooden handles. Wood is sturdy and generally doesn’t react to heat as other materials do, but rubber has the advantage of a comfortable non-slip grip.
Window Breaker
Some tactical umbrellas come with a specially designed metal tip you can use to break a window. This can be useful in an emergency, for example, if you have to get out of a car quickly or break a glass to rescue someone else.
For this purpose, having a tactical umbrella with a heavy steel tip can be the ideal alternative. Some models even come with a special, pointy window breaker made from steel to make it easier for you to break the window.
Knives
There are also sword umbrellas that hide a knife in the tip. However, depending on where you live, they may not be approved for everyday use, and they can be more dangerous overall. You want to defend yourself and escape, not kill your attacker or put yourself at greater risk.
This is why we don’t recommend umbrellas with knives in them. If you choose to use one, check out the regulations for your state.
Travel Appropriateness
The security umbrellas on our list are safe to take with you on a plane, so you can use them when traveling. If you’re planning on taking a trip to a dangerous location, a tactical umbrella gives you some peace of mind so you can enjoy your time.
You can usually keep an umbrella up to about 38 or 39 inches long with you, but check with your airline before your trip.
Maintenance
Umbrellas are generally easy to take care of, and the same maintenance tips apply to all the models on our list.
Avoid leaving your umbrella in a hot car if it has rubber parts. Rubber can get gummy over time, especially when in contact with high heat, and your hands will get dirty when using your umbrella.
As with any rain cover, you should always dry your tactical umbrella after use. Whenever you get it wet, leave your tactical umbrella opened up until the fabric is completely dry. Otherwise, you may get mold and eventually ruin your umbrella.
How To Use a Tactical Umbrella
An umbrella isn’t automatically a weapon like a knife or a gun. Instead, how well you’re able to use your umbrella depends on you and your abilities. When you purchase a tactical umbrella, it’s ideal for practicing some basic self-defense moves before you go out with it.
Ask a friend or family member to practice with you, throwing some easy, slow punches and kicks first so you can try to block the attacker. Just get a nice strong grip on the umbrella with both hands and push against the arm or leg coming at you.
This should do enough on its own to stop the punch, even if you’re not using a lot of force.
Some people think you should swing these kinds of self-defense weapons at your attacker. While this can be effective, if you swing the umbrella at a person, it may cause a significant, and even deadly, blunt force injury. This is why it’s good to try to limit the force and focus on repelling the attack.
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