Backpacking and Hiking with an Umbrella

[Warren Greer]

Thought about using an umbrella for a while. But I like using my poles better. Think I'll grow a third arm and then all will be good.

[Mark Hurd]

Been using my umbrella for 5 years now. Couldn't live without it in Oregon. Now in Texas and works great for the heat. I like using trekking poles so I have rigged my umbrella to my pack strap for most times, unless it gets windy.
Here's a pic from last Spring in Big Bend when temps were hitting 103 F. My hiking companion without an umbrella had mild heat stroke. Portable shade can be a life saver.
-Mark

[Warren Greer]

I wanted some way to mount one to my pack or even my body. Great idea Mark.

[W I S N E R !]

I have a GoLite Chrome Dome.

Every time I carry it I don't need it.

Every time I need it, I'm not carrying it.

I've had a hard time rationalizing the ~9 ounces and carrying it as standard gear, especially on shorter/faster trips.

On only one trip have the circumstances really made it worth carrying: an early summer 6 day solo on the JMT with alternating days of pouring rain followed by a day of intense sun. I remember a particularly beautiful lunch stop somewhere near Vidette Meadow in an absolute downpour, crouched under my umbrella beneath a tree eating a bagel, cheese, salami. I was happy as could be. A few days later I passed a sun-beaten, very weary looking group near Mather Pass. They were sure coveting my umbrella….

I think they certainly have a place. If I were to do a thru-hike today, I'd likely bring it. They sure make rain easier.

…I carried two hook and loop strips to secure it to the front of my shoulder strap. Never had any difficulties like this unless things started getting windy.

[a b]

I used an umbrella for my AT hike too.
Almost every hiker I met scoffed at it.. until it began to rain.
Despite being 5'7 and 3/16" tall my umbrella does not really keep me dry.
I just held my umbrella instead of attaching it to my pack which made it an almost thoughtless geusture to dodge Rhododendron on the AT.
I used trekking poles too, and simply lashed one of them to my pack and went mono-pole while using my umbrella.
My umbrella frees me from the claustrophobic hood of a rain jacket.
Most of the hike my umbrella was attached to my pack.
Sometimes i used it to create a "door" for my shaped tarp which allowed me to block wind but still allow plenty of ventialtion around the edges.
My favorite use for my umbrella.. and one that has not been mentioned here:
There is no finer rainy day wilderness toilet experience than to dig a cathole some place off trail and sit under an umbrella, blissfully and without hurry, "filling the hole" so to speak.
The umbrella makes the whole #2 experience into a sort of ritual in the rain.
I felt like: "Go ahead and rain, hail if you like Mr. Sky. I can squat here all day if i want".
It is not very common on the AT. In fact i only met one other hiker with an umbrella on the whole Appalachian Trail and she was a fellow triple crown hiker.
The umbrella is for me primarily a psychological booster even on the wettest darkest day.
Kinda like riding a mo-ped: It is not always practical but you cannot help but smile while you do it.

[David Thomas]

>"It is not very common on the AT. In fact I only met one other hiker with an umbrella on the whole Appalachian Trail and she was a fellow triple crown hiker."

That's one thing I notice about umbrella users. Invariably there are all the subtle signs that this is a one very experienced hiker who has arrived at their set up through a lot of experience and practice.

Maybe I'll get there myself someday. But instead, I think I'll learn from others and start using an umbrella sooner.

[BlackHatGuy]

"Kinda like riding a mo-ped: It is not always practical but you cannot help but smile while you do it."

A great line Matt. Made me smile reading it.

[Inaki Diaz de Etura]

> For rain though I think I'd rather just carry good rain gear that works

the problem here is whether that gear even exists if by "work" you mean keeping the hiker dry. And while I may agree some UL rain gear may be not up to the task I don't think it's just a matter of weight. Hiking in the rain with a pack on and doing so for hours means the hiker is gonna get somehow wet and I don't think there's any rain gear that will prevent that. Your (Harald's) urban experience as a bike messenger is surely valuable but IMO hardly representative of what happens on a multi-day backpacking trip in rainy weather. I guess you'd be very wet after a while hiking in that suit you used back then. And I guess we'd all wish it'd be so easy.

The umbrella helps and I use it often but not even the umbrella prevents from getting wet in the right circumstances. I think it's close to a consensus that hiking in the rain is not that much about keeping dry as it is about getting on well with being comfortably wet.

[jscott]

Luxury Lite packs are designed to hold an umbrella. I use hiking poles, so this set up is perfect for me: the umbrella is solidly attached to the pack and my two hands are free for my poles. I want an umbrella primarily for sun protection (I trust my rain gear). Here's what I've found:

–It doesn't take a lot of wind to disable an umbrella
–an umbrella attached to a pack will not always cast shadows across your face
–walking north in relatively calm wind conditions, an umbrella is an excellent source of shade
–actually for most hours and directions in relatively calm wind conditions, an umbrella is an excellent source or shade
–I'll probably leave my umbrella at home. A good sun hat and plenty of sunscreen will almost accomplish the same thing

I'm speaking about my experience in the Sierra, not desert or southwest conditions.
Again, I'm mostly concerned about sun, not rain protection.

[Francis Tapon]

Jeffrey,

Although I've never attached my umbrella to my pack, I would agree with your assessment. As my article states, you lose perhaps 50% of the benefit of an umbrella when you jury rig it to your pack. That's why, in your experience, it was easily blown away and often provided limited coverage.

If you hold it, you can angle it for optimal coverage (usually giving you shade from your knees to your head) and angle it to prevent it from getting blown away. Doing this requires constant micro adjustments as the trail twists and turns through the mountains (and the sun moves across the sky). That's why jury rigging is sub-optimal.

However, there have been a few comments on this thread from people who have suggested that there's a way to jury rig the umbrella that allows you to easily make minor adjustments while you walk. I haven't seen their setup, so I'm skeptical that it beats holding it in your hand, but backpackers who can't give up their trekking poles should consider their advice if you'd like to try an umbrella.

[David Maxwell]

I've been using my old beat up golite on the AT for over 10 years now. And I also hike with two poles. Unless I have to store one away to hold onto the umbrella during bad rain showers with wind. Otherwise it is attached to my pack.

[Warren Greer]

Attach it to your pack. Got any photos that'd help us see how you do it?

Thanks David.

[David Maxwell]

I can't find any photos right now. I'd I say most of you would say I cheat. … I use an external frame pack. I have velcro on the frame. But for the fast and easy, all I have to do use slide the handle under my sternum strap. This way is by far the easiest as long as the wind isn't going strong.

[Rakesh Malik]

I used the same approach when I was hiking in the desert over the summer. It was one of the BirdePedal metalized umbrellas in case it matters, but I pretty much just placed it alongside my torso and connected my sternum strap over the handle. It probably wouldn't have worked so well had it been windy, but for the sun it was great.

[Warren Greer]

I'll get an umbrella out and give it a try.

[jscott]

Francis: agreed. If your hands are free (no hiking poles) than an umbrella is versatile in sun/rain conditions. Also, if you use a tarp in blowing conditions. Or while cooking.etc.

With an umbrella attached to my pack, I could reach up and collapse it during windy conditions. Then, when the winds died down, I'd simply raise it again.

[Curry]

Ewww – TMI!

[John S.]

lol

[JW]

Hey Tapon, great article. You are always pushing the envelope. I remember that rock canopy shot from your Yo-yo hike. That's a great example of doing more with less and is where the philosophy of going lighter comes into play.

For myself, and I think for you too, there is a significant added value to being industrious and creative on the trail. Finding ways to use our skills and less gear to solve the challenges of enjoying a long hike with a very light pack. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but from talking to you and reading your articles that's my impression. You can correct me if I'm off base.

As many of the replies to this thread illustrate, there are lots of different types of backpackers. However, when you get down into the super ultralight weights (5lbs for avg male, +1-2 lbs for larger humans), it becomes more about the philosophy, the challenge and the minimalism approach that dictate our decisions. Using skill and ingenuity as opposed to relying more on gear. There is some irony here, funnily enough, because we do obsess about our gear even though there is less of it! Especially because if you are taking less, it better be well selected. Again, that's just my feeling and what makes going outdoors enjoyable for myself.

A backpacker without an sul mindset would find most of the SUL tactics absurd, because the choices and whole approach is so different, and so finding a consensus among that wide swath of a genre is unlikely.

In regards to umbrellas, if you use a poncho tarp, and it is deployed as shelter during rain, the umbrella is a life saver for those midnight bathroom runs; unless you use a pee-bottle while in your sleep system.

~Jhaura
Super Ultralight Backpacking Forums

[Diane “Piper” Soini]

I love my umbrella. I love the shade and rain protection.

So I can still use trekking poles, I attach it to my left shoulder strap using shock cord and cord locks. Here's a picture:

I used my umbrella in high winds in the desert. I simply held the front with my hands. This of course meant I could not use my trekking poles at the same time.

I had my umbrella flip inside out a few times in high winds. It's all plastic and flips right back. If I hold it down, it doesn't flip.

I bring my umbrella on day hikes when it's going to rain. Everybody is so jealous when they see how much fun and practical it is to hike with an umbrella.

I used my umbrella through the state of Washington on the PCT. It was not very good when the brush was dense as I would get slapped in the face by wet plants. I would still get slapped in the face without it, however. There are some situations where I think it's simply not possible to stay dry.

I forgot my umbrella last May on a trip that had a lot of rain. I do not even own a rain jacket. I ended up using my polycro groundsheet as a rain shawl.

Even though an umbrella is relatively heavy, since I have no rain jacket, it is crucial gear for me. I use a garbage bag for a pack cover and rain chaps for my legs. My forearms might get a little wet, but I've found subway sandwich bags attached with hair bands to my arms helps there.

I finally got a new umbrella after my old one had too many holes to work anymore. I found the first one in the trash in Kennedy Meadows. The fools! The amount of solar radiation it kept off my head at altitude was wonderful.

[Warren Greer]

For the photo. Pretty cool. I gotta give this a shot.

[Donna C]

So is Golite the only hiking umbrella out there? They have several styles, so not sure what would be best to give a try.

Well, I found this:
http://www.euroschirm.com/usa/index.cgi

[Dale Wambaugh]

The GoLight is strong and simple, but when it is all said and done, it is just an umbrella. The original reportedly follows Ray Jardine's criteria: light simple, with as little hardware as possible. Many people like Birdiepal umbrellas. I found a ShedRain umbrella that is has the same size canopy as the GoLite, but folds to 11 inches and weighs just 6.9oz. It is not as strong as the GoLite and more complex with all the folding joints, but easier to stow.

[Ben Wortman]

I am going to give this a try this summer in Colorado. I think I will use an umbrella with a DWR windshirt. Most of the time, the rain will only last 30 minutes or so in the summer. I can see that there will be many benefits such as a nightime nature call, or cooking in the rain. I also like the idea of being able to take pictures in the rain. I have a ULA curcuit, an hopefully I can rig the umbrella up to the water bottle holders on the sholder straps for when it is not windy.
Now I just have to make a pair of Tyvek rainchaps so I can ditch my rainpants.

[Gordon Smith]

Great article Francis!
I'm another very happy umbrella user, as you might guess from my avatar. I've been using that Montbell UL Trekking Umbrella for six years now, and it still works perfectly. My typical rain gear consists of the 6 oz. umbrella, a 4 oz. Patagonia Houdini windshirt, and a cheapo 3 oz. emergency poncho. I use the umbrella/windshirt combo while on the move, then have the poncho to use in camp or for rest stops if needed. I too find the umbrella/windshirt combo breathes very well, keeping me much drier and cooler than a proper rain jacket. When using the umbrella, I lash one trekking pole to my pack and just use the remaining pole as more of a hiking staff. This still offers a lot of stability and the extra "leg" to help break a fall. I haven't yet used it as a sun shade, but that's a great idea. I'll have to give that a shot on my next trip.
Thanks again!
Gordon

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