How good is the T.200 duomatic umbrella from Knirps?
16.2.2026
Translation: Elicia Payne
The southern German company Knirps invented the folding umbrella around 60 years ago. Today I’m testing one of its bestsellers.
I’m not demanding when it comes to umbrellas. It should be able to do three things. Keep me dry, not turn inside out with every gust of wind and be easy to open and collapse.
One of the best-selling umbrellas from Knirps, the T.200 duomatic, can do it all, according to the manufacturer. In a wind tunnel, the company claims it withstands speeds of up to 150 km/h and is easy to operate thanks to a sophisticated automatic system.
Source: Knirps
The cover: nothing special
The umbrella comes in a lightweight cover with a zipper. Unlike the X4U Ultra Light, which I tested a few months ago, the case isn’t waterproof. Like the umbrella, it’s made of double-layer polyester. The cover only remains waterproof in light rain. A really wet umbrella soaks it within minutes – not ideal for your handbag or rucksack.
Source: Anika Schulz
The canopy: waterproof and flexible, very flexible
Let’s get to the key question: how does the umbrella handle the rain?
Before I continue, I just want to point out that I originally wanted to write this text in autumn 2025. After all, it ALWAYS rains in Hamburg. Well, think again. Last autumn and winter were the driest they’ve been for years. So the umbrella hung on my coat rack and smiled at me every morning. And I smiled back.
Until now.
The T.200 duomatic has a diameter of 98 centimetres, which is enough to cover most of my backpack and me. Everything under the polyester canopy stays dry. Even when my colleague pours a jug of water directly over the umbrella (and me).
I still get a bit wet from behind when I’m walking, but that’s not worth mentioning as I never hold the umbrella completely still when I’m walking. If I wanted more canopy, I’d need a walking-stick umbrella like the U.900 Golf XXL from Knirps. It has a span of 130 centimetres and is designed to keep two people dry.
However, I find walking-stick umbrellas impractical. They don’t fit in any pocket and are always in the way. The T.200, on the other hand, weighs just 300 grammes and is 28 centimetres long when folded. Walking-stick umbrellas are only great if you want to poke annoying people with them. Of course nobody does that. Or do they?
Back to the test.
What about how it performs in the wind? After all, rain rarely comes alone. Well, the manufacturer promises that the T.200 has been tested in a wind tunnel at up to 150 km/h. And that it can be closed up to 300 times without breaking, thanks to fiberglass rods. That’s good for the brolly – but bad for me. At the slightest breeze, this Knirps turns inside out. But to be fair, I must have owned dozens of umbrellas in my life, and none of them could withstand the stiff breeze here in Hamburg.
The automatic closing system: works well
Unlike manual umbrellas, the T.200 duomatic opens automatically. One press of the red Knirps button and the thing opens with a resounding «whoosh». It works just as well the other way round: the canopy folds up automatically at the touch of a button, so all I have to do is push the remainder of it together.
And, in case you’re wondering whether the umbrella can be pushed together smoothly or is difficult to get small, I can confirm the spring on the shaft is just as tight as it needs to be. Tight enough to hold the umbrella open. And loose enough to put it back together again without much effort.
Source: Anika Schulz
The design: lots of choice, lots of branding
The nice thing about best-selling products like the T.200 is that manufacturers produce them in many colours. This model here is available in cheerful black, sunny yellow, a dot pattern, checked pattern, stripes, a leaf pattern and much more. There should be something to fit every outfit and mood.
What I unfortunately noticed, however, was that the manufacturer didn’t skimp on branding. Two red dots shine brightly on the cover and on the canopy. The brand name’s also emblazoned once on the zipper, once on the umbrella handle, once on the canopy and twice on each of the eight tensioning struts.
If you ever forget which brand your brolly’s from, you won’t need to look far. For me it’s a bit excessive, but it’s definitely a matter of personal opinion.
In a nutshell
It’s just an umbrella after all
The T.200 duomatic from Knirps does what it should. It keeps you dry, is easy to use and is sturdy enough. However, if you’re after a really storm-proof brolly, keep looking.
Pro
- Automatic open/close mechanism
- Lots of different designs
- Large enough for one person (98-centimetre diameter)
- Lightweight (approx. 300 grammes)
Contra
- Collapses surprisingly quickly
- Too much branding
Header image: Anika Schulz
Anika Schulz
Teamleader Editorial
Anika.Schulz@galaxus.deAs a child, I was socialised with Mario Kart on SNES before ending up in journalism after graduating from high school. As a team leader at Galaxus, I'm responsible for news. I'm also a trekkie and an engineer.
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