Shoppers 'ditching' umbrellas for 'lighter than a water bottle' gadget that keeps you dry in the biggest downpours

Shoppers are ditching their bog standard umbrellas for a nifty gadget that promises keep you dry in even the heaviest of downpours, and in windy weather, too. The lightweight and compact gadget not only folds down to the size of a water bottle, but claims to be lighter than one.

The smart umbrella is available in two gorgeous 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.

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the Gilley is undoubtedly a game changer in the umbrella world. 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. What's more, The canopy of the umbrella has been hand sewn, with ultra durable pongee fabric with a hydrophobic coating and double layered vents.

The performance of the umbrella has been extensively tested, with it being windproof up to 30mph, meaning that it is almost guaranteed to not turn inside out in heavy downpours. And you can even store the umbrella damp without damaging it.

That's thanks to its hydrophobic coating on the canopy, meaning most of the water slides off before you store it