Built from Scratch: How a meteorologist built a better umbrella

Rick Reichmuth didn’t set out to start a business. He just wanted a better umbrella.

After 19 years as a Fox meteorologist, he knew how to predict the weather, yet he still couldn’t find an umbrella that could survive it.

Staring at racks of umbrellas on the streets of New York City, he was struck by a glaring gap in the market: While categories like bandages and tissues had iconic, trusted household names, buying an umbrella was a total gamble.

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After searching for a standout umbrella brand and coming up empty, he asked himself, “Why not create my own?” 

Nobody knows the elements better than a meteorologist, and with that, Weatherman was born.

Stepping out into the rain

Reichmuth started by taking apart hundreds of umbrellas in his New York City apartment. His goal was simple: He wanted to reverse-engineer how they worked, pinpoint why they failed and establish the blueprint for a truly great umbrella.

Armed with that research, he teamed up with an industrial designer friend to build a model that was strong, durable and built to withstand the elements.

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Yet, despite a lengthy career in meteorology, nothing had prepared him for the ins and outs of running a business. Reichmuth remembers looking at the very first Weatherman prototype and thinking, “Wow, I think the hard part is finally over.” 

As it turned out, the work was just beginning.

Weathering the storm

Running a small business tested Reichmuth in ways forecasting never did. He said it was a journey marked by steep trials and hard-earned lessons that he still calls the hardest thing he’s ever done.

When Weatherman debuted in 2017, the lineup consisted of just two designs: a collapsible model and a stick umbrella. 

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Both have since been retired, a testament to how relentlessly the brand has refined and upgraded its engineering over the last nine years. 

Entering a new industry without a product development background was intimidating, and early missteps hit hard. 

“Early on, a failure or setback could really knock me down,” Reichmuth admits. “Sometimes I’d spend weeks feeling stuck, second-guessing decisions or worrying about what went wrong. That paralysis often became a bigger problem than the original mistake.” 

“Admitting what you don’t know is actually one of the most valuable things you can do.”

Over time, learning to absorb those blows became Weatherman’s greatest catalyst for growth. Today, Reichmuth caps his frustration at a few hours before pivoting back to problem-solving. 

“Admitting what you don’t know is actually one of the most valuable things you can do,” he says. “Once you accept that failure is normal — not something to be ashamed of — it becomes a whole lot easier to keep moving forward.”

The sun comes out 

The ultimate validation didn’t come from TV ratings; it came on the crowded sidewalks of New York. 

“I’d be walking around and suddenly see someone carrying one of our umbrellas,” Reichmuth says. “That never gets old.”

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The sweetest moments, however, are the ones where customers praise the gear without any idea who he is. “They hadn’t bought it because they’d seen me on television,” he points out. “They bought it because a friend recommended it, or they discovered it online, or they’d heard it was a great umbrella.”

For an entrepreneur who started by tearing apart umbrellas in his apartment, earning that pure, organic trust was everything. 

Today, with Weatherman expanding and solidly profitable over the last few years, the journey has more than paid off.

Staying dry 

What separates Weatherman from the sea of disposable umbrellas? Engineering. Armed with heavy-duty fiberglass frames and water-repellent recycled fabric, the canopies are wind-tunnel tested to withstand gusts of up to 55 mph. 

They double as sun protection with built-in UPF 50+, and feature smooth auto-open mechanisms to spare users the classic rain-soaked struggle. 

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But the true differentiator is how Weatherman approaches design: by use case. Recognizing that a city commuter has different needs than a backcountry hiker or a weekend golfer, the brand organizes its lineup into distinct categories like Walk, Trek, Travel, Golf and Kids — outfitting each with specialized features like reflective trim or pocket-friendly sizing to match real-world habits. 

Rainbow on the horizon 

Today, Weatherman has expanded into sun shirts and ponchos for adults, kids and even pets — designed for real-life moments like youth soccer games or unexpected vacation downpours. 

Recognizing that not everyone wants to splurge on rain gear they hope to rarely use, Reichmuth and his team are developing a more affordable sister brand. 

Set to debut in 2027, it will bring Weatherman’s signature thoughtful engineering to a wider, budget-conscious audience.

Still, one thing is for sure: Forecasts aren’t always certain, but Reichmuth’s goal is to help people stay prepared when conditions take an unexpected turn.

Shop Weatherman

Pick the right umbrella for you, whether you’re hiking, hitting the golf course or just walking to work.