How to choose a rain umbrella

In the modern world, a good umbrella has long ceased to be just a way to keep yourself and your clothes dry – no, today it has much more from an accessory than from a functional tool. A well-chosen umbrella will emphasize the status and taste of its owner, which is why they are so popular with both women and men. By the way, it would not be superfluous to understand the division of umbrellas by gender.

Differences between men's and women's umbrellas

While in a store or a shopping center, you rarely find yourself in a situation where you cannot determine by eye who this accessory is specifically intended for – a woman or a man. Despite this, it will not be superfluous to study a small memo on this issue.

1. Female models. There is nothing difficult in the classification of such accessories: lightweight construction, bright colors of the dome (monochrome or print), perhaps a decorative ornament in the form of lace and other non-functional elements.
2. Men's umbrellas. They have a massive structure and an enlarged dome – the ideal option is when two adults can comfortably accommodate under a men's umbrella, but not everyone likes this size. The design of men's accessories is also different, it gravitates more towards the classics: geometric patterns, restrained colors, lack of decorative ornaments.

There are also universal models – similar to men, but small in size and brighter colors, for example, rich blue – and children. We will not talk about the last group of accessories, since baby products are a subject for a separate discussion.

Types of umbrellas

So, if you want to understand this issue in detail in order to be able to buy a really high-quality accessory that will delight you with its functionality for many years, you will have to understand the classification a little. There are two large groups in total.

1. Umbrella cane. The design looks like this: a rod (frame) is attached to the handle along the entire length of the umbrella, and the spokes that hold the dome tightly fit to it. That is, both folded and unfolded, such an umbrella cane has the same length, which is why they are called 'non-compact'. The advantages of such umbrellas: durability, ease of use, presentable appearance and, as a rule, high quality – such umbrellas are above average, which means they are made reliable.
2. Folding umbrella. You have also seen such models many times on the street: when folded, they are 3 or even 4 times smaller than when unfolded – this is very convenient, as it saves space in the bag. There are only two drawbacks: a short service life (sliding mechanisms fail very quickly in cheap models) and a simple appearance, such models look poor in comparison with cane umbrellas.

Now, choosing a suitable model for yourself, you will already know the advantages and disadvantages of each of the options, but this is not all – further we will discuss a more subtle issue.

Varieties of umbrella mechanisms

This is a very important topic, because the durability of the model, ease of use and many other points directly depend on the complexity of the mechanism and its quality. Fortunately for all accessory lovers, the manufacturers have concentrated their efforts on producing only three varieties of umbrella mechanisms that gave them their name.

1. Mechanics. The mechanical type of addition is the simplest, and therefore the most durable, because it is devoid of dozens of unnecessary elements, each of which may fail at any moment. To open / close such a model, you need to apply some physical force, nevertheless it is small – both men and women love such umbrellas. Another advantage of the 'mechanics' is its compactness, folding models of the smallest dimensions, due to their design features, are equipped only with mechanical folding systems.
2. Semi-automatic. Similar to the previous version, but with one amendment – to open such a model, you just need to press a button, and it closes manually. The semi-automatic design is more complex, which means less reliable – this must be taken into account when buying.
3. Machine. Fully automated opening and closing of the umbrella dome – as a rule, more expensive accessories are equipped with such a system, because it in itself does not weakly increase the cost of the product. Disadvantages: firstly, if the system breaks down, you will not be able to open / close the product manually, and secondly, cane umbrellas cannot be equipped with full automation – you will have to choose only from folding models.

Everyone decides for himself which of the options he likes best – by and large, it all depends only on individual preferences.

How to determine the quality of an umbrella

Having read up to this point, you are already able to choose a suitable umbrella for yourself – as you can see, there is nothing complicated about that. There are only a few nuances left – the material for making the spokes, the frame and the dome.

1. Frame. Aluminum is considered the most economical, it is very light and costs almost nothing, so it is better to immediately abandon this option. The best price-performance ratio is carbon, stainless steel and their alloys.
2. Spokes. The larger the dome, the more spokes: there can be from 5 to 36, it all depends on the specific model. When choosing, it is recommended to do this: check the number of knitting needles (8-12 pieces are quite enough for any model, even a large size) and their quality – they should be straight and strong, no less strong than the umbrella frame.
3. Dome. Pongee, nylon, satin, jacquard or polyester – which of these is better, you can only determine empirically. Each of the options has its own advantages and disadvantages, but, fortunately, you can always change it – moreover, experts recommend doing this from time to time for preventive purposes in order to maintain the functional qualities of your umbrella.

Remember that the right approach to the choice of accessories speaks of your maturity as a person with taste and your own ideas about style, so do not underestimate the importance of such a simple thing as an umbrella.

Choose from comfortable and beautiful models and stay dry even in the rainy weather!

In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose the right size of gloves, a guide for choosing jeans sizes and specifics of choosing a shoe size.

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Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.