Many "cane" umbrellas have a metallic tip, whether this is really metal or not I don't know ?

Question

but is it dangerous in a thunderstorm? It seems like such an important detail would be essential to the manufacturer, so I can hardly imagine it would actually be a metal point?

Answer 1

another important detail in the design would be an umbrella that doesnt wear to a nub after several minutes of walking with it as a walking stick.

so they use a tip which is hard.  eg steel

since most people would be walking around in a town, they would not be affected by the tiny increase in probability in being hit.

Answer 2

Even if it didn't, and the whole umbrella was made of plastic, it still gets wet and is, therefore, a conductor. You do increase your risk of being hit by lightning by using one. I live in the southwest US where rain almost always means lightning. Most people stay in when it rains, but if they do go out, they're more likely to wear a raincoat instead of carry an umbrella.

Answer 3

Most umbrellas have a steel centre anyway, so whether the tip is or not will not matter to a strike. Just make sure you're not the tallest thing around - otherwise it may strike you.