Shoppers 'ditching' umbrellas for 'light as a plastic bottle' gadget that keeps you dry in torrential rain

Shoppers are binning traditional umbrellas in favour of a gadget that's as 'light as a water bottle', but claims to be far more reliable for keeping you dry in the heaviest of spring downpours. Anybody who has a bog-standard umbrella will know that, generally, they're not exactly crafted to stand the test of time.

A large gust of wind will see many average umbrellas attempt to fly away, or worse, crumple under the pressure altogether. Then there's the problem of becoming too saturated with rain, which can often lead to soggy hair and wet clothes, despite attempts to avoid it.

But umbrella brand Gilley is being praised for its new gadget, which promises to withstand heavier downpours and gusts of wind. The lightweight and compact gadget not only folds down to the size of a water bottle, but claims to be lighter than one.

READ MORE: I found the 'ultimate' floaty floral dress for spring and summer weddings that's as stylish as it is practical

READ MORE: Amazon shoppers taken aback by £15 gadget hailed a 'godsend' for anyone who struggles to fall asleep

The smart umbrella is available in two timeless colourways - blue and cyan and blue and grey, and is perfect for typical rainy Manchester weather. And now it's on sale.

The Gilley umbrella has a large diameter of 98cm and folds down to 25cm x 5cm when not in use. It weighs just 400g and has been constructed from hardwearing reinforced aluminium alloy and fibreglass, which is ideal because of its lightweight but strong and durable properties.

The umbrella is undoubtedly a game changer. That's because it features a lightweight, watertight case that keeps you and itself dry with zero drips, perfect for carrying around in your handback or tote bag on an everyday basis.