How to choose an umbrella from the rain, sun and wind for men and women

Men's and women's, rain and wind, absolutely transparent or with a bright print - umbrellas are simply amazing with their variety. But we persistently grab the first liked model from the counter and give the money without even asking what the umbrella is made of. But it depends on it, how soon you will return to the store for a new one. Let's stop thinkinglessly to spend on unsuccessful umbrellas, and choose the most-most - one that will serve more than one season.

The best manufacturers of umbrellas - which company to choose

All of us, choosing an umbrella, first look at twothings: design and a label with the name of the manufacturer. To begin with, it's enough, because the umbrella is a simple accessory, and the quality of the workmanship largely determines the term of its service.

A good solution is to buy any model from such companies:

• Three Elephants;
• Fulton;
• Doppler;
• Happy Rain;
• Zest.

In our ranking of the best umbrellas you will find models of these manufacturers with a full description, as well as an analysis of their advantages and disadvantages. However, choosing a brand name, it is necessary to make sure of its authenticity, since many fakes are on sale.

But if you want to buy an umbrella that will not only be durable, but comfortable, you will need to pay more attention to small things.

Principle of operation and the device of umbrellas

Any umbrella, regardless of its purpose, consists of 3 main parts: a rod with a handle, a set of spokes and a tent( dome) that covers them.

1. The rod is the main structural element of the whole structure, and it is considered that the lifetime of the umbrella depends on it. In fact, a lot of these accessories are sent to the dump with a whole skeleton, and only frankly budget models can be bent or broken "live".Much more important is the design of the rod, because it determines the height of the umbrella and its size when folded. It can be solid or telescopic and have a length of 60 to 150 cm.

2. Spokes are certainly the most important part of any umbrella, as they support its dome. Depending on the size and shape of the model, they can be from 4 to 16, the optimal is the presence of 8 spokes. But the wider the dome, the more they will need to support the tent.

3. Awning is a soft waterproof fabric that forms a protective dome over your head. Traditional tents are round or close in form, but they can easily go in the form of some symbol or even an animal, if it's a children's model. No less important is the material from which the tent is made: it must be waterproof and strong enough to withstand gusts of wind.

Types of umbrellas

From the rain

The vast majority of umbrellas produced are designed to protect against rain and wet snow. They have a strong enough frame, which can withstand gusts of wind. But the main role here is played by a waterproof tent, which performs all the "work".

Pros:

• Waterproof and blowable dome material;
• Moderately strong design of spokes and rod;
• Huge assortment of different models;
• Wide price range.

Cons:

• With strong gusts of wind, the dome turns inside out.

From the sun

These are light lace umbrellas that protect the weak floor from scorching rays. Were in vogue a couple of centuries ago, when women valued aristocratic pallor, but in today's aggressive sun their use remains relevant.

Made such things from light, but rather strong materials, although they are not designed for bad weather. Nevertheless, among them there are models with a waterproof tent.

Pros:

• Attractive design;
• Good protection against ultraviolet radiation;
• Rain protection possible( depending on model);
• Light weight;
• Moderate cost, if this, of course, is not a designer thing made to order.

Cons:

• The design will not withstand strong winds;
• Few fashionistas dare to buy this.

From the wind

Even more rare type of umbrellas with a very unusual dome, more like a huge helmet or an asymmetric pyramid. This design allows the umbrella to keep its shape and not turn out, even with gusts of wind up to 30 m / s. But in general, these are all the same old umbrellas from the rain, only a very unusual shape.

Pros:

• Reliable protection against rain and strong wind;
• Thanks to the design features, it does not turn out and does not break the knitting needles;
• Reinforced frame.

Cons:

• Appearance of an amateur;
• Rarely found in stores.

umbrellas-walking-sticks

These are quite large accessories with a long( up to 150 cm) solid stem and wide opening of the dome, reaching a diameter of 1 meter. These umbrellas are not only designed to protect from the weather, but can also serve as a confit of your image. However, most of the children's models can also be referred to canes with some stretch.

Pros:

• Due to the lack of a folding mechanism, more reliable and durable;
• Mandatory handle-hook - convenient to wear on the elbow;
• The wide canopy protects head and shoulders reliably;
• Classic strict design;
• Can be used as an ordinary cane.

Cons:

• High cost;
• Overall and not very convenient to store.

Mechanical

These umbrellas are considered the most reliable in the whole family, but you only need to open and close them manually. To do this, it is necessary to stretch a ring along the stem, to which the spokes are attached at one end, while simultaneously drowning or lowering the tab of the lock. And the telescopic handle just pops out until it clicks. When folded, this umbrella has a length of 16 to 90 cm and does not take up much space.

Pros:

• Compact( up to 5 additions);
• High strength and reliability of a simple mechanism;
• Acceptable cost.

Cons:

• Need to fold and unfold the umbrella by hand;
• During assembly, you will have to make an effort.

Semi-automatic

These models are slightly more modern and more convenient to use than mechanical ones. They open when you press the button located on the handle, but you still have to manually fold the umbrella. Such designs are the most common, since they have an ideal price / quality ratio.

Pros:

• Moderately durable;
• Compact, like all folding models;
• Easily open with one click;
• Wide assortment;
• Adequate price.

Cons:

• Same as the mechanics - manual folding with some effort.

Automatic

The most user-friendly models that open and fold themselves - just press the button on the handle. Great option, if during the rain you need to quickly jump into the transport or the entrance, instead of becoming wet, trying to close the umbrella by hand.

Pros:

• Maximum convenience in use;
• Compact;
• Made of lightweight and durable modern materials.

Cons:

• The device is more complicated, so the risk of breakdowns increases;
• High cost.

Options for choosing an umbrella

Material of an awning

When choosing an umbrella, one should not only admire the print printed on it, but also ask the seller what its dome is made of. It depends on how long your purchase will last.

Today, accessory manufacturers offer such options:

1. Nylon is an inexpensive synthetic fabric with medium water resistance characteristics. It protects quite well from the rain, but it can break if the wind is strong. After a long use, it fades and fades.

2. Polyester( can go with Teflon impregnation) - more expensive and reliable material. This fabric does not "sit down", it perfectly protects from getting wet and dries very quickly. Regardless of the number of past seasons, such an umbrella will not lose the brightness of the paints, but, like nylon, it can tear in strong winds.

3. Ebonge is a mixed fabric of nylon and polyester. Reliable, durable and costly material. The dome from the pongee does not allow water to drip, quickly dries up, and most importantly - it does not rub and does not tear.

4. Satin with water repellent impregnation is the most expensive material that is used for elite umbrellas. Excellent protects the owner in any bad weather, does not tear and very quickly dries up.

5. Vinyl or polyethylene - these materials are used to produce transparent umbrellas( usually with a deep and narrow dome).Through their walls it is convenient to observe what is happening around, which is impossible with conventional models. Alas, thin transparent film is absolutely short-lived and easily torn even in a bag.

Spokes and rod

Spokes are the most problematic part of any umbrella. Therefore, when choosing, pay attention to their quality and the number of attachment points to the tent - this will help to understand how your umbrella is protected from breakage. Well, if they have a spring-loaded design, then when the dome is turned out, they just open in the opposite direction, but they will not break.

The spokes and the rod are almost always manufactured:

1. Steel - strong and durable, but very heavy. Such an umbrella will have considerable weight.

2. Fiberglass - has a certain elasticity and good wear resistance at low weight. On strength is second only to steel.

3. Aluminum is the lightest but short-lived material that can bend even in a strong gust of wind.

With regard to the design of the rods, if you want a folding model, you will have to look for a compromise between the compactness of the accessory and the length of its service life. Umbrellas can be folded from 2 to 5 times, and the more they have articulations, the higher the risk of breakage.

Which umbrella to choose

1. For a man you need a large folding umbrella or cane with a strict design and restrained color scheme. It should have a massive handle - under a wide palm and a strong steel frame. Men's umbrellas usually serve for many years, so it's better to immediately take an expensive model with an awning made of pongee or satin.

2. Women are suitable for umbrellas of medium size with a bright and interesting coloring. Convenient will be a narrow handle in the form of a cylinder or in the form of a letter U, if it's a cane. Rod and spokes are better to take from fiberglass, but you can save and limit yourself to aluminum. The ideal choice will be automatic and semi-automatic models, folding 4-5 times - to fit in a handbag. The material of the awning does not play a special role, since ladies often change umbrellas, so that ordinary nylon or polyester will be enough.

3. Children's umbrellas have a bright "cartoon" design and small size. The rod and spokes are made of lighter materials( aluminum or fiberglass), the handle is plastic, small and completely unhealthy. The ends of the spokes on the dome should cover the large pads that exclude accidental injuries due to careless handling. Folding here is allowed only mechanical - also for safety reasons of the child. As for the tent, look for an inexpensive cloth like PE, nylon or take a cool transparent model with a dome made of PVC film.

4. If you like summer walks in the country or on the beach, but have a very delicate skin, take an umbrella with you. It not only creates a shadow, but also does not let out ultraviolet radiation, protecting your skin. Also, lace umbrellas are often bought by brides who marry in the hot summer.

Cost of umbrellas

1. Male umbrella cane with mechanical layout can be bought within 600-17000 rubles, and the cost of stylish female models sometimes reaches 20 thousand. The same design, but with a semi-automatic device is presented in a wider price range - from 400 to 24000 rubles for men and not more than 15 thousand for women. Automation will cost from 1 to 7 thousand rubles for representatives of both sexes.

2. Folding umbrellas for men with manual layout are 300-4000 rub., For women there are chic accessories and at a higher price - up to 9000. Semi-automatic models start from 400-500 rubles and reach up to 13 thousand, ladies in this categorytraditionally cheaper - no more than 8,5 thousand rubles. As for folding automatic machines, here female umbrellas again break out ahead. Their price range is 500-10000, while the strong half of humanity will fully meet the sum of 800 to 7500 rubles.

3. For children, manufacturers offer inexpensive umbrellas - from 160 rubles for a simple nylon to 2500 for a stylish transparent dome. By the way, in the same price category were and women's lacy umbrellas from the sun.

4. Unusual models from the wind can be bought within 4-5 thousand rubles.