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Good ultralight, durable, compact umbrella?
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Gear (General) › Good ultralight, durable, compact umbrella?
- This topic has 15 replies, 14 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 9 months ago by Lester Moore.
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Jun 1, 2015 at 11:23 pm #1329493
A lot of times I prefer to use an umbrella instead of a jacket. I wear eyeglasses so I like that I don't get rain on the lenses when I'm using an umbrella. Wearing a hat sometimes doesn't work depending on the direction and angle the rain is blowing. Also, with an umbrella I don't have to worry as much about getting my backpack soaked.
Unfortunately, all of the compact, telescoping umbrellas that you can normally find in the store are all cheaply made and barely make it past a year before breaking. If they get inverted due to wind, they're as good as gone due to the cheap sheet metal construction and rivets.
Maybe something with flexible, solid plastic ribs while still maintaining a short, ~8 inch length that telescopes out?
If I could somehow mount the umbrella on the shoulder strap of my backpack so as to offer hands-free operation that would be wonderful.
Jun 1, 2015 at 11:49 pm #2204001http://www.euroschirm.com/trekking.php?session=Tg3X1fKdbOotl&sprache_land=usa
This is a good option to consider.
They may be the manufacture of the GoLite Chrome Dome, that is no longer available.
They have ones that are hands free with some sort of mounting kit.
Also telescoping options for you too.
Tony
Jun 2, 2015 at 12:22 am #2204009The Raines Skinny Mini holds up pretty well and is around $10. Mine weighs 5.3 oz.
Jun 2, 2015 at 5:23 am #2204025Montbell has several offerings in weight, features and price. Might browse their website for possibilities.
Ryan
Jun 2, 2015 at 8:44 am #2204063I think if you go to a dedicated travel store (like Magellan or something similar) you can find a higher quality umbrella. I found one at a local travel store once. It was very light and compacted down very small. Was made with silnylon. The only trouble was it wasn't able to handle the kind of wind you get on the Southern California PCT. The Go-lite umbrella can handle the wind a lot better, but it doesn't collapse.
Jun 2, 2015 at 10:03 am #2204077The old G Lite Chrome Dome was a great one; since Go Lite is no more, Gossamer Gear is selling the same product.
Here's the link:
http://gossamergear.com/chrome-umbrella.htmlI have the old Go Lite version,a nd love it!
Jun 3, 2015 at 9:58 pm #2204532Hi there Tony,
Do you happen to know of any source for the Euroschirm (aka GoLite Chrome Dome) other than direct from Germany? I accidentally ordered the wrong one from campmor–it's not the swing liteflex model but rather a heavier 11-12 oz variety.
Jun 3, 2015 at 11:34 pm #2204547David,
Campmor was the only site that I seemed to find them on.
Well, I found them on Amazon, but Campmor was the seller via Amazon.
There was Gossamer Gear: http://gossamergear.com/chrome-umbrella.html
But they seem to be out of stock.
http://search.ellaumbrella.com/mod_search/?catalog=yhst-130150434124801&query=euroschirm&x=0&y=0
This is all that I could find.
Tony
Jun 4, 2015 at 6:31 am #2204584Six Moon Designs sells their version now too.
Jun 4, 2015 at 7:23 am #2204599Tony,
Looks like Campmor has them, but not in silver. :( Gossamer Gear has been out of stock for a while. What to do?
Jun 4, 2015 at 9:09 am #2204629+1 Ken – there was another thread going on this same topic just last week and SMD was mentioned – it seems the SMD silver lightweight umbrella is the same 8 oz umbrella sold by the German company, with an SMD logo.
FYI Campsaver is supposed to get the lightweight silver model by the end of the month.
Jun 4, 2015 at 9:31 pm #2204779Our youngest daughter got one of these from Santa, and she loves it. It's not a kid umbrella, it's much better built. Weighs about 9oz iirc. I've been thinking of getting one for myself.
http://www.euroschirm.com/trekking.php
Hers is the small size I think.
May 31, 2016 at 8:54 am #3405991Hands Free Umbrella rigging Hemlocks Blog and Fall Risk’s rigging Video on the PCT.
May 31, 2016 at 8:55 pm #3406206Amazon link to the Swing Trek Lightflex: http://www.amazon.com/Swing-Umbrellas-Liteflex-Umbrella-Silver/dp/B001OPO7L8?ie=UTF8&ref_=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_t
Seller is not Campmor. I bought this from this seller late 2015 and recall that delivery was quick.
Jun 2, 2016 at 9:20 pm #3406682I just used a Montbell UL Trekking umbrella on Isle Royale and it was totally worth it. I’ll only put my jacket on for all out storms now.
Jun 3, 2016 at 9:55 am #3406760Matthew – how does your Montbell UL umbrella work for you in the field? Is it true that one has to manually extent each rib one at a time to deploy it, then reverse the process to fold it up? And do you think the 10d fabric will hold up well against wear and tear over time?
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