It's never wise to go anywhere without your travel umbrella whether you're traveling to the next county to attend a wedding or vacationing halfway around the world. I don't know if it's truly global warming, or Murphy's Law, but if you leave your umbrella home, it's guaranteed to rain. An unexpected shower can ruin the simplest of occasions.

There is a large variety of travel umbrellas available making it no hardship to carry one anymore. They come in every color under the sun. Many of the designers also offer beautiful prints that you simply can't live without. Many umbrella manufacturers are offering umbrellas in airplane aluminum to keep the weight extremely light. Some of the folding umbrellas are now available in a 5? size folded. These tiny umbrellas open full size, yet fit inside a small purse or briefcase. Most of them come with a limited lifetime warranty, so you don't have to worry about the quality. These companies simply repair or replace the umbrella should anything go wrong.

Folding umbrellas today come in automatic or push button opening as well as push button closing. This makes entering and exiting a car in the rain a simple transaction. You just push the button and you're immediately covered and protected from the rain. The same process closes the umbrella automatically, making a smooth entry into an automobile in the rain. The push button closes the umbrella quickly and economically without letting you get wet.

If you're traveling to an area like London known for furious rainstorms, or even to Boston where the winds can fly up to 50 miles an hour, you'll want to consider the umbrella known as the "Gust Buster." This umbrella is completely windproof up to 55 mile an hour winds. It has a double canopy design, which allows the wind to pass through while keeping the rain off. During hurricane season, or when a severe rainstorm is expected if you have to go out this is the umbrella you want to bring along. It will not flip "inside out" leaving you drenched.

Everyone knows golfers require oversized umbrellas. These are now available in the folding variety to take along when you need to stay completely dry. You can also fit more than one person comfortably under these super-sized umbrellas. These umbrellas are also extremely good looking and visible in bright colored stripes to gladden the gloomiest days.

Even the famous painters like Monet, Renoir and Degas seem to be involved in the umbrella designing movement. You can see their outstanding prints brightening a rainy day. With the huge assortment of umbrellas available today, there's never an excuse to be caught all wet, no matter what the weathermen are claiming.