Hands Free Umbrella

Wow, those pictures just get better and better the further you scroll down.

Wow, would anybody actually want to be seen in public wearing one of those things? I especially like the photo of the biker – the wind resistance would rip him backward off his bike.

You could have titled this post “Just get your friggin’ head wet.”

Dylan,

David Byrne avatar?  Well done sir!

Lester,

I think you’re failing to give this a fair chance.  They offer an integrated backpack.  I totally see this on the backs of FKTers this coming summer.

Can you say “Burn/Nero killer”?  I really like Ultimate Direction but the Nubrella will be the iTunes to UD’s Tower Records; their days are numbered.

Backpacking will never be the same.

3 pounds.

FKTers, almost spelt it correctly.

If it’s breezy what do you do – walk around with your upper body bent over in the direction of the wind? The obvious solution is to add a split ring equatorial mount so you can point the dome in any direction.

Doubles as a paraglider for ultra fast descents.

It has gust panels for wind.

Clearly inspired by my grandmother’s bonnet!

Sally Fields beat them to market by decades.

I love this thing, and think it’s quite ingenious. Make the back panel out of simple mesh instead of a too-burly padded cordura?, and make the frame out of carbon fiber instead of plastic, and you could probably easily cut a pound off the weight, maybe more. Would also be nice to have a reflective top for use in sun as well.

Let’s consider the possibilities here where something like this is incorporated into a legit overnight backpack or added on top of one, add Doug’s suggestions, and get the weight down to what a chrome dome would weigh, I’d buy it.

I notice there are no images of the horsey person actually wearing this while riding, because that would cause an instant horse “WTF!” panic flight, with said rider on the ground in 2.6 seconds.

I’m guessing it won’t catch on.

Saw a similar concept back in the late 90’s- early aughts that attached to your backpack. Some guy from California. Maybe the same guy who is behind Stikpic. Didn’t catch on obviously.

…panic flight, with said rider on the ground in 2.6 seconds.

Just grab on to the para-glider handles and float softly down for an easy landing… dual purpose!

…panic flight, with said rider on the ground in 2.6 seconds.

Just grab on to the para-glider handles and float softly down for an easy landing… dual purpose!

All that it really needs is to be made a little more aerodynamic. Here’s the hands-free umbrella that we made for our son’s Halloween costume, notice the sleek aerodynamic design that minimizes drag, as well as providing better coverage. The addition of safety lights was important in a hands-free umbrella for young children:

Hmmm, wait, it was a UFO costume, but it also doubles as a hands-free umbrella!

I think its highly likely that advanced, spacefaring species have widely adopted hands-free umbrellas.

What a fabulous costume!

There is actually a hands free umbrella for hiking. I’ve used their non-hands free version and like it.

I apologize for the lack of snark in this post. I have run out of snark for today, but I’m buying some more later this week.

Here is the SUL version.  Cammo.  Why Cammo?  Because, you know, stealthy.

Crazy Russian Hacker reviewed a couple. Forward to 3:03 for a wider version of Dave B’s suggestion or  look at a odd-looking hood/umbrella combo at 4:27.