EDC Umbrella

R

radioshaq

Joined
Jun 22, 2015
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138
Anybody has recommendations for a good EDC Umbrella?

i use public transportation in an urban environment. so everything i carry has to fit in a backpack. i've gone through MANY lightweight umbrellas that fit in the backpack, but all go bust within a few months. i don't mind paying up a bit for a good umbrella, but just don't seem to find quality material like i can find for knives, flashlights etc.

any suggestions would be much appreciated.
 
Interesting thread. I have a crappy umbrella that I have in my back pack and I like how i have it set up.

My back pack is a 5.11 Covrt 18 and has a water bottle fixture on each side. I keep the umbrella in one of those. Fits perfectly, the draw string will keep it snug and it keeps it away from everything else so it really doesn't get banged around by other stuff. Since it's on the outside, if I get caught in the rain I don't have to reach in and get the inside contents wet. If i started with a decent umbrella (remember mine is crap) I think it would hold up there for a good while.

Where do you keep yours in your back pack?
 
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Personally I have opted for a rain jacket and pants with a brimmed hat. An umbrella for my wife is a must have. I researched umbrellas and picked up a few to replace the cheap old ones.
2804e854e1cad796e8a23b918e4abc55.jpg

In the 2nd photo are the latest purchase
3 Blunt stick umbrellas (my favorites)
-Large black for formal and 2 person use
-medium yellow ideal for city use. Small enough to walk among people but still give coverage and light it very strong.
-medium black with reflective graphic. Good for rainy nights as the dots illuminate in the fog and heavy rain.

2 Davek collapsible
-larger black and lime kept in car
-Smaller red she keeps in purse

1 full auto Burberry (was a gift)

I would highly recommend the Blunts as well as the Daveks. The Burberry is nice as it auto opens as well as auto closes. Nice for getting in and out of cars but too costly.
 
benchwarmer380 said:
Where do you keep yours in your back pack?
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I used to carry it in the water bottle fixtures in my older backpacks, same as you :) but i just started using a briggs & riley relay convertible which i absolutely love for my daily commute needs, but doesn't have much storage and the bottle fixture is kinda small..
 
Elasticpurejoy said:
3 Blunt stick umbrellas (my favorites)
-medium yellow ideal for city use. Small enough to walk among people but still give coverage and light it very strong.

2 Davek collapsible
-Smaller red she keeps in purse
Click to expand...
wow thanks! seem like great options. i think my wife would really like the yellow blunt. how's the quality on the small Davek? will it last more than a few months?

i have tried the burberry type full autos, but the mechanics invariably fail in a few months - though the umbrella quality itself is good.
 
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Radioshaq my wife has the small Davek with her any time the weather is turning. It has been in use over a year now. Initially I thought it was a bit flimsy and would break. It hasn't and has been trough some rough weather. Just this weekend we were in the windy rain we received in Philadelphia. My wife had her umbrella in full use with no failure. It is a bit small for my use but she keeps it in her bag just in case. The other Davek is full size auto opener but bulkier and heavier.
 
Elasticpurejoy said:
Radioshaq my wife has the small Davek with her any time the weather is turning. It has been in use over a year now. Initially I thought it was a bit flimsy and would break. It hasn't and has been trough some rough weather. Just this weekend we were in the windy rain we received in Philadelphia. My wife had her umbrella in full use with no failure. It is a bit small for my use but she keeps it in her bag just in case. The other Davek is full size auto opener but bulkier and heavier.
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cool! thanks for the great advise - i was just browsing both davek and blunt websites and seems like blunt also has an xs model that looks very appealing and sturdy. have to choose between the two.. but in typical bladeforums spirit might get both :)
 
The small umbrellas break too easily as you said (wind mostly). I have gone to the golf sized umbrellas and keep one in the garage for trips to the mail box or whatever, and then one in each vehicle. Right now my umbrellas were sourced from Walmart. They seem to hold up, but I don't use them a lot. I know, this doesn't answer your question and I don't have an answer that is better than the run of the mill ones you find in places like WM.

I would look at Hammacher Schlemmer online as they seem to guarantee everything.
 
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How about light raincoat instead? I have vaude raincoat that packs itself to it's own pocket in to very small space. It allows me to use both of my hands and can also bicycle with it as it has handles that attach to your hands.

My suggestion, unless you are suit guy and need just quick umbrella thing.
 
A.L. said:
How about light raincoat instead? I have vaude raincoat that packs itself to it's own pocket in to very small space. It allows me to use both of my hands and can also bicycle with it as it has handles that attach to your hands.

My suggestion, unless you are suit guy and need just quick umbrella thing.
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i carry a patagonia houdini in my backpack and that generally covers me. wanted some options that would last as living in a city somehow (mostly the wife :) we keep on tracking umbrellas that end up with broken this or malfunctioning that. i would like an umbrella that won't have broken ribs or stretchers when required.
 
As a serious umbrella and nothing else, I have no complaints at all about the ShedRain WindPro Jumbo Umbrella Auto Open & Close....it compacts down to about 12" and is maybe 1 1/2" thick, comes with a slip cover. VERY tough and works well in Washington State wind/rainstorms.

For a "tactical" umbrella, I personally own the The Indestructible Umbrella in black fiberglass, but have heard excellent things about the Standard Unbreakable Umbrella U-115 Walking Stick W/Crooked Handle Self-Defense. They both cost over $100.00, but there really isn't much else out there in that class unless you go custom.

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I've had very good luck with Gustbuster golf-size umbrellas. I've got one of their little ones but never seem to need it. My $0.02.
 
Kohai999 said:
As a serious umbrella and nothing else, I have no complaints at all about the ShedRain WindPro Jumbo Umbrella Auto Open & Close
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i have tried a few shedrains i think - and they didn't end well.. not sure if it was the windpro jumbo. will keep my eyes out for them next time at marshalls or the like.
 
I never really thought about an umbrella as an EDC item. Interesting. I can see how an urban commuter not traveling in their own vehicle would have a particular need in rainy climes. I keep rain jackets and pants, and a change of clothes behind the seat of my truck. Kids and grandkids put an end to my having an umbrella stashed somewhere.
 
I've used an umbrella a couple of time in my life. Found them too cumbersome. Instead I use a raincoat/rain shell. They'll pack smaller than proper umbrellas. Plus I like having both hands free.
 
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