What a durable umbrella. How to choose a quality umbrella

So let's help you choose an umbrella together. An umbrella is a necessary accessory that can save you in rainy weather or protect you from the sun. In addition, a stylish umbrella can serve as an accessory that perfectly complements the image. How to choose an umbrella that will go with your wardrobe? What to look for when buying, and how to care for this product?

Fashionable and beautiful umbrellas

When choosing, pay attention to the name of the manufacturer, be sure to read the reviews about the model. Open and close the umbrella several times, make sure that it is convenient for you to use it.

Choosing an umbrella: what are umbrellas?

If you are looking to upgrade your umbrella, be sure to check out some parasol search options.

Types of umbrellas

Women's umbrella

These are stylish models with a wide choice of colors and various decorative elements. The accessory has a narrow dome.

Male umbrella

Men's models are usually presented in a standard dark color scheme, while they have a strong curved handle and a laconic design.

Children's umbrella

These are bright small models that open and close easily. The accessory has a lightweight design for comfortable use. Children's umbrellas are separated for girls and boys.

Umbrellas for girls are models in light or bright colors, which can depict funny animals or cartoon characters.

Children's umbrella with cartoon characters

Umbrellas for boys are compact accessories with an attractive design. Superheroes, cartoon characters, cars and motorcycles are just some of the images that can be on the canopy of these umbrellas.

Beach from the sun

Presented in light colors (the model is made of lightweight fabric that passes air well). This option has a light design and is made of lacy thin fabric, in most cases the accessory is made in light shades.

beach umbrella excellent protection against. Beach products have a dome of a deep concave shape, which additionally protects from the sun's rays. Large multi-level models are stable, so they can be easily installed on the sand, in addition, they can protect several people from the sun.

Beach umbrella

wedding umbrellas

White lace umbrellas with a graceful curved handle will be a great addition to the bride's outfit. act not only as a decoration: openwork fabric can protect the bride and groom from the sun's rays in summer weather.

garden umbrella

Vacation option. The bright colors and large size of the dome make it possible to use it as a gazebo: you can read a book under it or relax after gardening.

garden umbrella

Choosing an umbrella: umbrella designs

By type of design, umbrellas can be divided into two categories, most models have a folding design and compact size, but modern manufacturers and fashionable cane umbrellas.

• folding model, there are models from 2 to 5 additions.
• umbrella cane.

umbrella mechanism

Folding umbrellas according to the method of functioning can be:

Such a model can be assembled in automatic and mechanical modes; when buying, you should pay attention to the manufacturer, the strength of the frame and the quality of the material. For frequent use, it is better to take a small model that fits easily into a bag.

Mechanical: operate in manual mode

Mechanical models are considered the most inexpensive, but they are less convenient than modern umbrellas (mechanical accessories open manually, you will not find buttons on them).

Semi-automatic folding button

Semi-automatic umbrellas also open manually, but closing occurs by pressing a button. The button folds the dome of the umbrella, while the rod itself must be folded manually.

Automatic works only by means of a button

Automatic models open and close in a few seconds with the push of a button. This is the most convenient option, but poor-quality structures break quickly, so you should choose such an umbrella very carefully.

Dome diameter

The diameter of the dome of an umbrella is an important characteristic of an umbrella. You should pay attention to this criterion, because it depends on how convenient and functional the umbrella will be during use. The diameter of the dome have the following dimensions:

Mini dome, diameter 0 to 85

Mini Dome Umbrellas useful for those people who prefer to constantly carry an umbrella, it takes up less space, weight and fits in any purse or outerwear pocket, when folded it has a length of about 20 cm;

Small, diameter from 86 to 95

Small canopy umbrellas are still small but more functional than mini canopy umbrellas. These umbrellas provide sufficient protection even when it rains. They are compact, light weight and do not cause trouble during carrying;

Classic, diameter from 96 to 102. Enlarged, diameter from 103 to 110,

Umbrellas with a classic dome are the most popular, since this diameter of the dome is the standard. A medium-sized dome has men's and women's cane umbrellas, classic folding umbrellas and other umbrella models designed for the mass consumer.

Large, diameter from 111 to 135. Huge, diameter from 136 and more

Large, very large umbrellas, the dome of which is over 111cm. will be useful for couples in love, friendly companies, obese people, in general, for all buyers who dream of a big and reliable roof over their heads.

Manufacturer

Which brand of umbrella is best? Japanese, Dutch (Trust and Impliva) and French (Chantal Thomass) manufacturers are the best on the market. In terms of strength, the leading positions are occupied by trademarks from England (Zest, G&W, Fulton), Germany (Happy rain, licensed Esprit and Pierre Cardin), Austria (DOPPLER), Italy (Almax, Epsilon, Poppler, Top N.C, Perletti);

Fulton (a well-known English manufacturer), Three Elephants (a domestic company), Doppler (the company uses high-quality alloys and various shades for decoration) are the most popular umbrella manufacturing companies. Manufacturers must provide a guarantee for their products (the average warranty period is 6 months).

Frame (spokes + rod)

The best umbrellas have a frame made of plastic or carbon fiber. The umbrella should include 10 or more spokes made of durable material.

Textile

The optimal fabric is satin or sponge (they are distinguished by their aesthetic appearance, water-repellent characteristics and quick drying).

Pen

The best models have a wooden handle, while the material must have a varnish coating, and the part itself must lie tightly in the hand and not slip.

How to choose an umbrella according to your appearance

The red shade of the umbrella will refresh the pale complexion, and the green one, on the contrary, will give you a sickly look. Universal black models are suitable for any appearance.

How to properly care for an umbrella

How to dry?

To dry, open the dome and leave it in this state for several hours; dry the accessory away from heat sources. After the drops of water have dried, leave the umbrella for a while in a half-open position.

How to wash?

Summer umbrellas and other models are washed with a soap solution and a soft sponge, after which the dome is thoroughly washed with water so that there are no streaks.

How to clean the dirt?

All dirt can be removed with clean cool water and soap, it is forbidden to use cleaners with abrasive particles.

How to store?

Umbrellas are stored completely in a dry place, away from sources of heat and sunlight, it is recommended to place the structure in a special case.

Video for the article

An umbrella is an irreplaceable little thing that protects from the rain and complements the image. I dedicate this article to the search for an answer to the question of how to choose a high-quality and durable rain umbrella.

Companies that make such products are not without imagination and taste. We have a range of materials, designs and colors available.

Sometimes, under the influence of a strong wind, the spokes break easily, but the umbrella was bought recently. Or, after some time, the fabric burns out and wipes off, and the pen tends to “break the relationship” with the rod. To avoid such a fate, before going to the store, study the recommendations regarding the choice. Having become acquainted with the characteristics of products, you will recognize a fake and protect yourself from breakage.

Umbrella cane - the most durable

The umbrella-cane is considered the most durable, from which even when folded it exudes elegance. It protects from the vagaries of nature thanks to its large and rounded dome. But there is a drawback: it does not fit in a bag.

Foldable - practical and compact

Fits in a bag. True, the design of the rod is collapsible, which increases the likelihood of breakage.

Mechanics

• mechanical model. Opens and closes manually. Such umbrellas are more durable than automatic ones.
• The semi-automatic model has a special key. To open the dome, the key is held down.
• Automatics have a lot of fans. To open the dome, just press a button. You have to close yourself.
• Double automatic - a miracle. After the first press, the umbrella will open, after the second it will close. Reliability and durability depend on the quality of mechanics.

8 highlights

How successful the purchase will be depends on knowledge in the mechanisms and materials. The success of the operation is determined by the ability to test umbrellas.

1. First of all, pay attention to the material of the dome. The appearance of premature rubbing, tears and other oddities of an unpleasant nature depends on its quality.
2. The undisputed favorite is nylon. Characterized by durability and wear resistance. Hard to the touch, but lasts a long time.
3. Polyester is an expensive option that looks like silk. Sometimes cotton is added to it. It is characterized by elegance and reliability, but inferior to nylon in terms of wear resistance.
4. Pongee. The material is similar to raincoat fabric. Selected by Japanese manufacturers. The main advantage is that the water does not linger and rolls off.
5. Teflon fabric is a French innovation. Thinner pongee. Changes color depending on the level of illumination.
6. An important element is the frame. Choose umbrellas with a strong frame that can withstand strong gusts of wind. Steel construction does a better job, but aluminum and fiberglass frames are not much inferior.
7. Choose a handle made of wood. Make sure it fits well in your hand and doesn't slip. The ideal option is a wooden handle with ribs.
8. Almost all umbrellas are made in China. Even if the label indicates a German, Italian or English manufacturer, there is a high probability that the umbrella was assembled in China.

Video tips

When choosing, be guided by the aesthetic side, because the right umbrella is a fashion accessory that can cheer you up and bring a little color to the image.

Choosing a women's umbrella

Women's umbrella is a rain protection and part of the image, a comfortable, durable and functional product, combined with clothing.

• Design . Complements the female image of an umbrella-cane. The product is modern, durable, fashionable and comfortable. You can’t put it in a fashion bag, but you can’t lose it in your hands.
• Models of automatic or semi-automatic type. Compact and comfortable. However, I have doubts about the reliability.
• spokes. Titanium-coated steel spokes are the leader. You can buy an umbrella with aluminum spokes, but they bend and do not cope well with gusts of wind. A product with steel knitting needles for a lady is heavy, but there is an alternative - combined knitting needles with carbon fiber tips.
• I recommend umbrellas with an anti-wind system. It can be used with an umbrella in stormy weather.
• Material. Should dry quickly and allow drops to run freely.
• In the selection process, be guided by hair color and skin tone. People who match an umbrella to their outfits are impractical. It is more effective to choose a trendy color.

When choosing, be sure to open it, hold it in your hand and evaluate how the color scheme of the umbrella affects the skin and make sure it is comfortable.

We select a men's umbrella

It’s good when the weather is sunny outside, but rain is also needed, because water is the source of life. True, caught in a downpour without an umbrella, he will not agree with me.

As practice shows, the average person buys fifty umbrellas in his life. For a man, the design of an umbrella plays the last role. Representatives of the stronger sex buy the first model that catches their eye. As a result, an ugly and low-quality product turns out to be in the hands.

1. The mechanics determines the speed at which the umbrella opens. The range of men's umbrellas cannot be called chic. The market offers canes and folding models.
2. The cane does not fold, it is uncomfortable to wear. But such a product is a reliable and stylish accessory that goes well with fashionable suits.
3. A folding umbrella is more convenient and fits easily into a small bag, taking up little space. But in strong wind it turns out.
4. In the selection process, pay attention to the quality of the material. Expensive and reliable umbrellas are made from coated nylon. The budget models are based on polyester.
5. Taking the umbrella you like in your hands, inspect the frame. It is made of aluminum, plastic, metal, wood. The material determines the weight and cost.
6. If you decide to purchase a product based on a metal frame, study the knitting needles. They must be coated with an anti-corrosion compound.

I recommend buying a quality product with a long service life. So you save. If you buy a budget option, it is possible that next year you will have to choose a new umbrella.

Automatic umbrella - protects clothes from getting wet and keeps a fashionable hairstyle.

1. The Automatic Umbrella is a fashionable accessory that fits easily into a lady's purse. Ladies who keep up with fashion need to remember that an umbrella is an important element of the image, like shoes, a bag or a dress. Strive for unity of style.
2. If you want to express your mood, opt for a bright model. Business women should look for a suitable option among strict and calm shades.
3. Functionality is also important. Decide on the type of automatic umbrella: semi-automatic or double automatic. The second option is more convenient, with one click it unfolds and folds the mechanism.
4. Decide on the dome material. Nylon is considered a favorite - cheap, durable and resistant to wear. There are automatic umbrellas made of pongee, characterized by excellent water-repellent qualities.
5. The most expensive umbrellas are covered with Teflon fabric. There are models made of polyester, reminiscent of satin. They look great, but the service life is shorter.
6. Be sure to check the degree of tension of the material. To do this, shake the product. Do not take a model whose canopy wobbles. Weave should be securely sewn to the knitting needles with strong threads.
7. Before purchasing, test the mechanics by opening and closing. If the structural elements move smoothly without delays and squeaks, buy.
8. Umbrella with springs supporting the spokes, durable. If the spokes are covered with titanium coating, even strong hurricanes are not afraid of the product.
9. It's great if the design of the automatic umbrella includes a locking system that prevents unexpected opening. The presence of a plastic cover will not hurt, which will protect the contents of the bag from rainwater.

Don't try to save money on your purchase. It is better to buy a real thing once than to buy cheap junk every year. I will add, an automatic umbrella is a great gift for March 8, a birthday or a holiday.

Umbrella Care Instructions

When they buy an accessory, they want it to serve for a long time and not lose its original appearance. It's real if you take good care of it.

Drying

Dry your umbrella properly. Many dry in the unfolded form, so it is impossible. When deployed, the wet dome stretches a lot, which loosens the spokes. Do not cover a wet umbrella, it will not dry out and will let moisture through.

Wash

Thanks to human efforts, pure rainwater is rare. It contains impurities that leave traces and stains on the dome. Wash your umbrella periodically in soapy water with a rinse.

Freshness of color

After rinsing, refresh the color of the umbrella with a foam sponge and a solution of acetic acid. For a liter of water, take two tablespoons of regular or apple cider vinegar. If it was not possible to remove the stains with conventional means, remove the stains with a solution of water and ammonia.

One of the most necessary accessories that can protect us from autumn troubles is an umbrella. But in order for this thing to really turn out to be truly useful and not contribute to adding unnecessary problems to us, we need to be able to choose it wisely. Let's try to figure out what technical characteristics of the product must be taken into account when buying.

It happens that you really liked the umbrella lying in the window, but when you take it in your hand, you get the feeling that it is out of place. And, no matter how hard you try, you can not intercept it comfortably. This situation means that the handle of the umbrella did not fit you anatomically. This product, no matter how you like it outwardly, is not worth buying, because, despite a number of its possible advantages, when using it, you will constantly experience inconvenience, up to pain in the wrist joints.

Of great importance is the material from which the handle is made. Currently, the most common umbrellas with wooden, plastic and rubberized handles. The most unreliable of them are plastic ones, which often break off when an umbrella falls unsuccessfully. The wooden handle is more durable, but when buying, you should still carefully examine it and make sure that it is not damaged in the form of dents and cracks.

You should also try to get an umbrella with a handle that is not too bright in color, because in the case of a poor-quality coating, when wet, the paint may remain on your hands. Ideally, the wooden handle should be varnished. But the most convenient and practical, of course, is the rubberized handle, which will not slip out of your hands even in strong winds, and if you accidentally drop the umbrella, there will be no traces of falling on it.

The stem and spokes are the most important parts of an umbrella and should be the first thing you should pay attention to. If the umbrella has a decent enough weight, and the shaft and spokes are shiny, then most likely they are made of steel. This metal, of course, is inferior in flexibility to aluminum, but in terms of strength it has no equal. Therefore, if you purchase such an umbrella, you can not worry that with a strong gust of wind it can turn inside out (and this often happens when using aluminum spokes). On modern umbrellas, the spokes can be made of resilient fiberglass, which bends well, resulting in a strong and reliable construction. Folding umbrellas often use a combination of steel and plastic. The number of spokes in different models can vary from 8 to 16, and their number has the greatest impact not on strength, but on the appearance of the umbrella, on the roundness of its dome shape. An important detail that you should definitely pay attention to: on high-quality umbrellas, the knitting needles are fixed with the concave side up. Otherwise, with gusts of wind, the umbrella will turn inside out. The spokes must be attached to the dome in several places: this moment affects the reliability of the umbrella and does not allow the wet fabric to sag.

You can sometimes hear from the seller that the dome is equipped with special springs that prevent eversion in strong winds. In fact, such springs are used so that the process of opening and closing the umbrella takes place with less effort. Springs have no effect on the reliability of the umbrella, reliability depends precisely on the spokes - on their design and the material used. The rod is also an important part of the product. And if there is nothing to worry about when choosing an umbrella-cane design - the rod is solid there and in order to break it, you need to try very hard - then in folding models everything is much more complicated. They should use a multi-faceted rod, and the more faces, the better. To check, you can try to slightly shake the open umbrella from side to side: if there are no loose joints, then the product is of decent quality.

When buying an umbrella, you should ask the seller about the type of material that is used in the process of making the umbrella dome. For cheap models, in most cases, nylon is used, which tends to shrink after getting wet. In addition, a poor-quality rain umbrella can shed and stain your clothes with iridescent streaks. In more expensive models, polyester impregnated with a special water-repellent compound is used to make the dome. A good option is also a pongee dome - a mixture of polyester and cotton. Such a fabric in appearance resembles a dense raincoat fabric and has good water-repellent properties and high wear resistance. Rubberized satin also has similar characteristics. The most fashionable umbrellas at the moment are made of polyester impregnated with Teflon, which change color when the lighting changes. You can find out exactly what material was used in the manufacture of the dome from the label sewn into the umbrella. Its absence on the product should sow doubts about its quality. When buying, you should carefully examine the seams - they should be neat, without breaks and hanging threads.

If you are undecided about which umbrella you should choose - a cane or a folding one - remember under what conditions you will have to use it mainly. The cane umbrella is quite large in size, it is not very convenient to travel with it in public transport and it is easy to forget it there. But on the other hand, canes have a number of advantages: they break less often, because they do not have joints on the rod and spokes, and have a more convenient mushroom-shaped dome, thanks to which water rolls better and the umbrella dries faster. Folding umbrellas are more compact, easily fit into ladies' handbags, and traveling with them, of course, is much more convenient. But the more it has places of addition, the more likely it is to break. It is worth choosing folding umbrellas only from high-quality materials - then they will serve you for a long time.

According to the method of opening and closing, umbrellas are divided into automatic, semi-automatic and mechanical. The most convenient to use are automatic machines - they open and fold with the help of a button. The semiautomatic device is opened by pressing a button, but it has to be folded manually. Mechanical umbrella manually and opens and folds.

Before you give money for the selected umbrella, carefully inspect it again. Twist it in your hands, open and close it several times to make sure that the mechanism is working properly. Make sure that the opening umbrella is easy to push, and that the fabric of the canopy is evenly stretched and there are no sagging or visible damage anywhere. Sagging fabric indicates a low-quality product that is not worth paying money for. The dome should have the correct shape, and all the spokes should be even, without bends and the same length. The fabric at the tips of the knitting needles must be securely fastened, and for children's umbrellas, for safety reasons, the tips must be hidden under plastic ones. Make sure the umbrella handle and canopy cap are securely fastened. Fabric should not peek out from under the cap, it should be removable, and not tightly attached to the rod, and better - metal, then it will last longer and will not break if you accidentally drop the umbrella.

Color also matters. Under green, the face can appear tired and sick, red will refresh the face but imperceptibly get on your nerves, and white, yellow and pink tones, although they look attractive, are impractical. Universal, suitable for both women, and is black.

The purchased umbrella will serve you faithfully for a long time if you follow the simple recommendations for its care. The umbrella should always be dried only in the open state, even if the rain was very weak and it almost did not get wet. A folded umbrella can become moldy and lose its color and water repellency. Do not put an umbrella under heavy things in your purse - the knitting needles can bend from this. To remove dirt from the umbrella, you need to open it, lather it with soap and lightly rub it with a soft one, and then wash off the soap foam with a shower. After that, the umbrella should be thoroughly dried.

Such simple rules, if followed, can prolong the life of your umbrella, and provide you with a good mood even on the most rainy day.

Spring and autumn in Belarus are the rainiest times. Summer, however, is also not always happy with sunny weather. In such conditions, every Belarusian should have a good umbrella in their arsenal, and choosing this accessory is not at all easy: there are many subtleties that not every seller will tell about.

A Sputnik correspondent asked Vitaly Malinovsky, director of an online umbrella store, what nuances should be taken into account in order to choose the right umbrella.

The most reliable

The largest and most reliable umbrella is a cane, it has a solid stem and solid spokes. It is believed that the fewer joints and rivets, the less likely the umbrella will break.

"If a person wants an umbrella-cane, then he first needs to decide on the size. There are family-type umbrellas, they have a spoke length of 76 to 80 centimeters. Such umbrellas have a very large windage, so they should have as many spokes as possible, for example , 16 pieces," Vitaly Malinovsky explained.

In theory, the more spokes, the smaller the size of the sector on the dome of any umbrella, the internal wind pressure extends to them, and the umbrella is harder to bend or break. In ordinary reeds, which have a smaller dome, the standard eight spokes are sufficient. There are canes with an anti-wind system, and there are with double domes and slots. These holes are for pressure relief. This is an anti-storm option.

© Pixabay

With the right umbrella, no rain is terrible

"Cane umbrellas can be mechanical - they open by hand, and semi-automatic, which are opened by pressing buttons. But there are fewer and fewer mechanical umbrellas, because people are becoming more and more lazy, and they want everything to open and close by pressing a button" - said the expert with a smile.

There is also a difference in the fabrics that are used in the canes. “It can be nylon, polyester, satin, jacquard, printed pongee, velvet, twill, and others. More expensive cane umbrellas are made from Teflon-impregnated polyester or pongee,” Vitaly listed.

According to him, the handles of cane umbrellas are also made from different materials. It can be plastic, soft touch coated plastic, wood, bamboo and even leather. "True, natural leather is rare," admitted the interlocutor.

The smaller the umbrella, the more fragile it is.

The reliability of umbrellas directly depends on their size: the more additions, the more fragile it is. The smallest umbrellas - five additions. They are considered super compact: they weigh between 160 and 250 grams and are designed for women's handbags. True, such umbrellas cannot be called durable.

"Folding umbrellas have different lengths of spokes and, accordingly, different diameters. For some, this matters, because when the rain is direct, you can walk under a small umbrella, and if the rain is oblique, it is more convenient to take a larger umbrella so as not to get wet ", - said Vitaly Malinovsky.

Small umbrellas are mostly made from polyester because the fabric is thinner and the umbrella weighs less. Standard tri-fold umbrellas are made from jacquard and satin. The jacquard dome is quite dense, the satin dome is shiny. “And the cheapest fabric is nylon. It is placed in budget Chinese umbrellas, it is not at all durable and stretches over time,” the director of the umbrella store shared the subtleties.

Among folding umbrellas there are mechanical, semi-automatic and automatic. “Automatic umbrellas both open and close by pressing a button. Under no circumstances should they be closed manually,” Vitaliy explained.

Handles in folding umbrellas are also different in shape and material. “The main thing is that it fits comfortably in the hand,” the specialist emphasized.

Made in China

Some of the most famous umbrella companies sold in Belarus are Three Elephants, Trust and Zest.

“The umbrellas of all firms on the Belarusian market are made in China. The label usually indicates the manufacturer’s data and the country of origin. The country of the brand can be Japan, while the umbrella itself is made in China,” Vitaly Malinovsky revealed the secret.

According to him, many buyers come and say they want an umbrella made in England or Austria. "But European-made umbrellas are an order of magnitude more expensive than umbrellas of the same brand made in China. An umbrella for $ 50 will not be assembled by Europeans," the store director notes.

Vitaliy cites the iPhone as an example: "This is an American brand, and phones are assembled in China. Many global manufacturers open factories in this country, because it is cheaper," he explains.

What else you need to know about umbrellas

The price of an umbrella, like the price of a car, depends on its configuration. Handle material, fabric, mechanism are taken into account. “There is certainly a difference between an umbrella for 30 and 100 rubles. And the price is not a whim of the seller, it is justified by something. The cost of umbrellas is from 15 rubles for a child and up to 110 rubles for an adult,” the source says.

Another nuance regarding reliability: any engineer will say that the fewer mechanisms, the fewer parts that can break. “Naturally, an umbrella that opens with your hands is stronger. And the mechanisms weaken over time,” Vitaly comments.

The weight of an umbrella largely depends on the frame. Steel is heavier than aluminum. “Many people believe that aluminum is less reliable because it is a soft metal. However, aluminum umbrellas are often more expensive than steel ones, since their lighter weight allows them to be carried in women's handbags,” the expert shares.

Vitaly also stressed that the umbrella should not be touched from the inside. “Until you touch it, everything is dry. But if you touch it with your finger, moisture and condensation begin to appear there. Therefore, rust appears in some umbrellas over time,” he explained.

To avoid this, you should always dry your umbrellas well when open. “Only nylon umbrellas need to be dried closed, because the fabric stretches in them. And if the umbrella dome needs to be cleaned, then you need to do it with a soapy solution of water,” said the director of the umbrella store.

One of the most important nuances when choosing an umbrella is that the umbrella should be comfortable to hold. “Therefore, a person must definitely come to the store and hold it in his hands. Visually, you may like an umbrella, but live it may not be so attractive and not lie in your hand,” the interlocutor explained.

He said that when women come to his store for an umbrella, they are advised to first of all choose by design. “It is important that you like the umbrella visually. And only then bother with the fabric, the number of knitting needles and other things,” Vitaly Malinovsky concluded.

It will protect on a rainy day, and on a sunny day it will give shade! Of course, we are talking about an umbrella - an indispensable accessory for every season.

A women's umbrella is not just a beautiful accessory; once in a purse, it reliably protects from rain and wet snow, allowing you to keep your hair, makeup and clothes in a presentable form. How to choose an umbrella so that it combines practicality, reliability, originality, convenience, durability, lightness, and also highlights its mistress on a gray rainy day against the background of the crowd?

How to choose the right umbrella for several years

To choose the right umbrella, you need to pay attention not only to its appearance, you can not buy the first one that comes across just because it fits your autumn raincoat.

Overview and comparison of opening-closing mechanisms

All folding umbrellas are divided into three main types of mechanisms:

• mechanical;
• full automatic;
• semi-automatic.

mechanical umbrella is a mechanism that must be opened and closed manually. You should not immediately dismiss this option when buying, since these disadvantages are both advantages, because the absence of a mechanism implies ease of use and reliability. Unlike other umbrellas, mechanical options break much less often and last much longer.

Full automatic- this is an umbrella that differs from other mechanisms in the main quality - ease of use. The fully automatic umbrella opens and closes with just one push of a button, which is located on the handle.

automatic umbrella is the most popular among women, because it is very convenient, for example, when you need to quickly jump into a crowded transport with a dozen packages in your hands, you just need to press a button and you are no longer in danger of pricking your neighbors, as the dome turns into a compactly folded ladies' accessory.

semi-automatic umbrella It has a mechanism that opens with the push of a button and closes manually. Due to the fact that the button only folds the umbrella canopy, and the stem has to be folded manually, and sometimes it takes effort, semi-automatic umbrellas are becoming less and less popular.

Naturally, it is not quite correct to compare mechanical models with auto- and semi-automatic "brothers". Each customer, before choosing a quality umbrella, will have to make her own choice in accordance with her own lifestyle.

For those who love appearance and elegance, as well as lead a measured lifestyle and love long leisurely walks, it is better to take a mechanical option. Women who prefer activity, are always in the thick of things and appreciate convenience, will undoubtedly choose compact and easy-to-use automatic or semi-automatic women's umbrellas.

Rod and knitting needles - what you should pay attention to

If you are going to buy an umbrella, it is important to clarify what material the spokes and the core of the model you like are made of.

Aluminum- it is beautiful because umbrellas with knitting needles made of it are very light, and this is a plus for any woman, because no one wants a heavy rain umbrella to take up part of the space in a lady's handbag. Unfortunately, the aluminum spokes are fragile, with strong gusts of wind such a women's umbrella can turn inside out and a wet hostess is unlikely to be able to fold it quickly into its original form!

steel spokes say that it is a durable umbrella. A woman who decides to buy an umbrella with steel spokes can be sure that it will last a long time, will not turn out even with strong gusts of wind. However, steel is a rather heavy metal, so it must be borne in mind that such a rain protector will noticeably weigh down a handbag.

Fiberglass- the material looks like plastic, in itself is quite durable, but at the same time soft. Umbrellas with fiberglass ribs are lightweight and their canopy does not turn inside out when strong winds blow. There are no disadvantages of such umbrellas as such, except that the cost of them may be higher than that of other umbrellas.

To choose a durable umbrella, do simple arithmetic - count how many knitting needles your favorite model has, if their number less than eight, then such an accessory will be short-lived. The more mounts and spokes, the greater the likelihood that the umbrella will last longer!

It is also worth paying special attention to the rod; for folding models, it can consist of 2-5 sections. If you are planning to buy a folding umbrella, then do not be shy - open it right away in the store and shake it a little, pay attention to how the parts of the rod connected to each other behave in this case. If the rod at the junctions trembles, then such an umbrella will not be strong in use.

In addition, a metal cover should be installed in the place where the rod is attached to the dome, if it is made of plastic, then soon such a cover can easily break when it comes into contact with the floor.

"Antiveter" - advertising and reality

Many manufacturers indicate on the label the presence of an "anti-wind" system, promising that such an umbrella will withstand any storm. It is assumed that the anti-storm umbrella will bend in the opposite direction in the wind, but the spokes will remain intact.

The secret lies not in strength, but in flexibility - springs built into the curves of the spokes allow the parts to bend not in one, but in both directions. To return the dome to the desired shape, it is enough to close it and open it again. Important: do not try to bend the knitting needles with your hands!

The spokes in anti-wind models are made of steel or fiberglass. The aluminum frame is unable to withstand wind gusts of more than eight meters per second. The fastening of the spokes is done with a groove up in several places - the more often, the stronger the protector from bad weather will be.

Quality material - durable umbrella

A significant role in the question of how to choose a good umbrella is played by the fabric from which it is made:

• nylon gives a short-lived color, gets wet quickly, sometimes “shrinks” after a long walk in the rain, but this is a fairly cheap fabric;
• polyester with special impregnation - good to use, has a wide variety of colors, but if you “run into” an unscrupulous manufacturer, then such impregnation can easily be washed off and the umbrella will let water through;
• pongee- this is the same polyester, but with a cotton content, it is beautiful in that raindrops roll off the surface instantly and the dome remains almost dry;
• fabric with special Teflon impregnated- this is the best option if you choose a quality umbrella, the only negative of the material is that it is expensive.

Regardless of which fabric you choose, the material must be securely attached to the needles. In addition to high-quality firmware, the fabric, if it is, of course, the right umbrella, is fixed with special caps.

Variety and features of pens

What does a person do to use an umbrella? That's right - take it in hand. It will depend on how comfortable it is for a woman to hold an umbrella in her hand, and it will depend on whether it is worth considering the model she likes further or not. If the handle is uncomfortable in your hand, then it makes no sense to force yourself on this model, look at other options.

Umbrella handle can be made:

• from plastic, which unfortunately breaks easily when dropped or carelessly used;
• tree- it feels great in the hand, but it is immediately important to check such a pen for cracks and the quality of the paint, it is not uncommon that when wet, bad paint stains the palm and completely peels off;
• rubber- the most reliable option that a rain umbrella can have.

Size and shape matter

At first glance, it may seem that all umbrellas differ only in color, but each model has its own dome diameter and a different shape. Just the shape of the umbrella determines how many drops of rain will touch your clothes, and how many will fall into a puddle.

Distinguish:

• the traditional shape of a saucer, which is standard for almost all folding models;
• the domed version is wonderful because such an umbrella will surely save its owner and hide from all natural disasters, covering the face, shoulders and hair, but such models most often belong to not very compact canes;
• square, triangular and other figure-shaped varieties of ladies' umbrellas - differ from each other in the shape of the design of the edge of the dome, not all of them are convenient to use, but they can perfectly complement a certain outfit and look very original.

As for the diameter of the dome, it can vary from 52 cm and above, of course, you need to understand that the larger the size, the more space the accessory will take up when folded.

Types of umbrellas - which one suits you

By type, umbrellas are divided into:

• folding, these are models that can be folded several times, they can be of various sizes. Among them are compact, occupying only a small piece of space in a woman's handbag;
• cane umbrellas- elegant, but rather bulky options that are perfect for those women who like to walk slowly through the streets in the rain or carry a rain protector with them in the car.

The best option for a stylish woman is to buy a cane umbrella for leisurely pastime outside in rainy weather and a folding umbrella that takes up little space, but at the same time will be an indispensable assistant in case of a sudden rain!

How to choose an umbrella according to your appearance

Many women delve into how to choose a quality rain umbrella, but do not think about how the accessory will go with their appearance. In fact, as with a certain shade of an umbrella, its size and even shape can both emphasize the advantages of its owner and show everyone her shortcomings. Follow simple rules when choosing an umbrella and then you will surely be satisfied with it:

For tall slender women Umbrellas canes are a wonderful accessory, which emphasize the beauty of the figure. Tall ladies are not afraid of a wide and deep dome, if you are uncomfortable with cane umbrellas, then choose an automatic version with a large diameter.

Short girls, as well as owners of appetizing forms, it is better to avoid too large umbrellas, because, making their way through the crowd, a short lady with a wide dome will have to hook more than a dozen passers-by, which can cause a lot of inconvenience. How to choose an umbrella for short women? Yes, it’s very easy to opt for the model that, when opened, will not look huge, but at the same time will be able to protect you from bad weather with a deep dome.

To beautiful representatives of the weaker sex, possessing soft light skin it is better not to opt for women's umbrellas with green, blue or purple colors, as such colors will make the face painfully pale. It is better to pay attention to bright models or classic black.

Yes mom with big features you should not pay attention to umbrellas with a sweeping three-dimensional ornament, as this can only emphasize a large nose or a wide forehead.

1. When purchasing an umbrella, do not rush and grab the first one that comes to hand, ask the seller to tell you about the materials from which the accessory you like is made. You can also read all the necessary information yourself in the booklet or label, which must be at the product.
2. Open and close the mechanism at least five times, if the mechanism sticks, you see that some parts are hanging, threads are sticking out or there are suspicious spots, do not agree to the seller's offer - cut, tighten, fix everything in place and purchase this copy. Don't waste your money on a poor quality product!
3. Pay special attention dome to check it for damage - point the umbrella at the light, if there is a tiny hole there - you will immediately notice it. The needles must be fastened firmly, do not hang out and not be bent. Conduct an elementary test - wipe the surface of the umbrella with a snow-white paper handkerchief, if it remains white and does not stain - this is a good sign, otherwise there is a chance that the product may peel off after the first rainfall on it.
4. Think in advance how you plan to wear an umbrella from the rain, if on your hand, then it is necessary that the handle has a comfortable, preferably strong leather strap that neatly wraps around your wrist. When being in a purse in the car, it is important that it has a high-quality cover that will protect it from pollution.
5. When choosing an automatic or semi-automatic mechanism, it is better to pay special attention to the button with which the umbrella opens and closes, it should not jam or sink.

Umbrella manufacturers try to come up with some unusual design for women for each rainy season: rhinestones, fabric that changes color when wet, a variety of shapes - all this is done so that stylish women can pamper themselves in inclement weather.

It can be advised to choose a new umbrella for a certain style of clothing, eye color, mood, so that it matches with, and, however, the most important answer will be that this important accessory should please! Good luck choosing!

Helped me choose a good umbrella