The hatred for umbrellas is news to me. I always walk out with mine in the rain rather than – well – not.
I don’t any more, because I got thoroughly fed up with fighting the bastard thing for supremacy when it’s raining and there’s a 50knt wind, it’s impossible to see anyone walking towards me because they’re all fighting with their brollies, and there’s overgrown hedges and cars parked on the pavement making it impossible to squeeze through the minuscule gap thoughtfully left by the car drivers.
Easier to stuff a cheap £20 Peter Storm packable jacket in a bag just in case, and more stays dry anyway. Doesn’t drip all over the floor when you get home, either.