Seriously. It's...it's a busted umbrella. That's all it is.

The handle is supposedly the selling point. Unfortunately, the handle looks like a large chicken bone made of wood.

Know what doesn't surprise us?

Alright, folks -- for many of us, the rainy season is nigh, and that means breaking out the umbrella to protect the rest of your fabulous clothing. While I love the idea of having cutesy, happy ones, I have to tell you that I never remember to bring one inside with me unless it's already raining, so I don't generally end up spending too much on them.

However, for something that's reasonably cute and helps the planet, I might have to reconsider.

Are you too busy to carry an umbrella? Are your head and shoulders continuing to get wet despite every effort to keep them dry? Do you like looking like a total tool? Then you, my busy, wet, tool of a friend, are in luck.

Meet the Nubrella, the new umbrella for people that don't get smacked enough. It's sleek and futuristic and uses shoulder straps instead of a pole. Personally, I'm a pole man. Wait, what were we talking about?

Right, the Nubrella. For just $59.99 you can be a trend-setter on the streets of the city in which you live. That's a pretty reasonable price to be the driest guy at the comic convention.

I'm sorry, I can't help but poke the fun. The idea is sound, but it looks like a giant helmet, and not in a good way. It may work brilliantly, but is it worth looking like a dystopic bobblehead?

According to their website, the Nubrella is "The Ultimate Weather Protector". Nubrella is no ordinary umbrella. It protects you against rain, wind, sleet, snow and extreme cold.

Sounds like the perfect gift for your favorite mailman.

Even if you're lucky enough to live somewhere that doesn't get snow this time of year, chances are you're still getting rained on. And with April showers right around the corner, it might be time you looked into buying an umbrella.

But don't be deceived. This seemingly functional item doesn't have to be a bane on your fashion-forward existence. Instead of using the boring black tote you stole from a lost and found box back in college, or the incredibly lame giveaway umbrella you got at your last corporate conference, try one with a little class -- you might just enhance your look (in addition to staying dry).

Take the award-winning Senz Original Umbrella. It's unique, aerodynamic design can withstand winds up to 70mh (you know, just in case you get stuck in a hurricane) -- plus, it's sure to get you a little extra attention as you're strolling down the sidewalk on a rainy day.

[via Haute Concept]

I remember when I was first getting together with the woman who is now my fiance. We strolled through the streets of New York, clutching the same umbrella as the rain soaked us both. But we didn't care -- we were in love.

So yeah. That was a few years ago. We're past that now.

Of course, we're still in love, but after awhile you realize that romance is great, but so is not getting sopping wet every time it pours -- and let's be honest, one umbrella just doesn't cut it, no matter how cute it is to share.

But carrying two umbrella isn't much better, as you're forced to be so far apart that you might as well not be walking together in the first place.

Fortunately, designer Mark Owens has a solution: the Tandem Umbrella. Described as "An umbrella built the inseparable," this is the perfect way to keep to stay close to your loved one -- even when it's raining outside.

[via Stylehive]

Most musicians know a good thing when they see it. And by "good thing", I mean "way to milk the cow completely bone-dry." Rihanna, riding the massive success of her single "Umbrella," is doing just that by joining forces with Totes to release her own line of -- you guessed it -- umbrellas. The Rihanna umbrellas don't look particularly different from normal umbrellas. There's a pink one with her name plastered on the side and a black one with pink frilly bits that reminds me of some of her outfits, but that's about the extent of their uniqueness. At least the line is not outrageously priced, hovering somewhere in the $18 area.

For originality's sake, I wouldn't mind seeing an umbrella that plays the "Eh eh eh eh" part of Rihanna's song every time it is opened, even though that would probably drive me insane. At least it'd be something new.

After spending a entire childhood running around outdoors without any sunscreen, my girlfriend developed skin cancer in her early 20s. It was removed, and she's fine, but now that we live in Texas -- where the sun is seemingly inescapable -- she's constantly trying to figure out how to minimize her sun exposure.

I think I'll get her this. It's an umbrella made of titanium coated nylon with a double-tiered design for ventilation and stability -- that blocks 98% of UV. Not only will it protect you from the sun's harmful rays, but you'll be up to 15° cooler when hiding beneath it.

Plus, it seems easy to cart around. The ribs and spreaders are made of lightweight fiberglass (the whole thing only weighs 4 lbs), and the umbrella collapses to just 45" long.

So, if you're planning on spending some time at the beach this summer, or just want to ward off some UV while walking around town, maybe a Titanium Umbrella can do the trick!

Ever been caught in the rain in an unfamiliar city, scrambling to find your destination while trying not to get soaked? What if you could hop online, pull up a map, and be on your way -- all while you were walking down the street?

That's the idea behind the new Pileus Internet Umbrella. It works like a normal umbrella, only it's connected to the Internet, and comes with a large screen on the top surface, a built-in camera, a motion sensor, GPS, and a digital compass. In addition to helping you navigate, it also works as a social photo-sharing device -- all while protecting you from the rain.

The umbrella uses both Google Earth and Flickr, so as you walk, you can see where you're at online -- in real time -- while also taking photos, and uploading them for your friends to see within minutes.

I've always been in love with umbrellas -- as I think staying poised and comfortable in spite of the rain looks incredibly sophisticated. Now that my favorite fashion accessory is going geek chic, I'll be the glued to the Weather Channel, hoping for a downpour.

On a drizzly, gray day like today, I'm reminded that I am yet again no longer in possession of a working umbrella. (I seem to compulsively lose them within a week of their purchase.) I'm starting to think that perhaps the solution here is snagging an umbrella I like so much that it will be virtually unforgettable, as opposed to the bland, interchangeable black Totes models I've unconsciously abandoned year after year.

Through my search for an umbrella I can't forget, I've come upon some lovely finds. These Marimekko Umbrellas, as well as the whole of Pare Umbrella's collection, apply colorful graphic patterns to today's classic form, while Bella Umbrella employs a variety of unique, vintage styles from the early 1900s through the 1960s, and even include gorgeous jewel-handled models.

Umbrellas like these don't come cheap, however: prices start at $40 (for most of the Marimekko line), and run up to $200 and beyond for some of the more elaborate Bella models. Still, considering how many cheap, disposable umbrellas I go through in a year, I think it might be worth investing in one I'll feel compelled to keep a tight grip on.

Hollywood has trained us to associate romance with arm-in-arm, umbrella-sheltered walks in the rain. But have you ever tried walking with your sweetie in the rain when you are only carrying one umbrella? If you have, you'll know that there's absolutely nothing romantic about it. Inevitably, someone -- usually the person not holding the handle -- will have the umbrella run-off dripping down their neck. This problem could be solved, of course, with a tandem umbrella from Kikkerland. In a bright cherry red, this 'brelly built for two, features a steel shaft and aluminum ribs. These well-crafted structural supports ensure that a gust of wind won't flip your shelter inside out. Just imagine, walking arm-in-arm through the rain and not getting wet -- if that isn't romantic, I don't know what is. Price: $19.95.