How to Choose the Perfect Umbrella for the Next Rainy Day

In reality, many of us forget to buy or even carry promotional umbrellas until the sky turns stormy or when there’s a sudden outpour of rain. But buying the first umbrella you see means it’ll likely end up broken, discarded, and thrown away.

Below are some features to consider when choosing the best umbrella for any rainy day. 

Finding the Perfect Umbrella for You

When looking for the right umbrella, you need to consider how and where you'll use it. Do you want an outdoor umbrella or an umbrella for the beach? You need to find an umbrella that has a durable base so that it will last a long time. You also need to make sure that the umbrella is the right size.

You should also think about what kind of weather you have where you live. This will help you decide how durable your umbrella needs to be. You should consider what kind of frame and features you need in an umbrella, like its cover and shape.

Meanwhile, if you’re looking to get a branded or promotional medium umbrellas for your business, then you’ll want to figure out which colour and style will fit your brand best. 

Pocket Umbrella or Full-length Umbrella?

The first factor to consider is whether your umbrella should be a pocket umbrella or a full-sized one. Below are the features of each umbrella: 

  • Pocket umbrellas are light and easy to use because of their compact size. This makes pocket umbrellas easy to carry and take anywhere.
  • Full-length umbrellas or regular umbrellas usually have a bigger canopy so they can protect you better from the rain. Plus, they are more durable and less likely to get lost because of their size.

Pocket umbrellas are very useful, but most people choose full-length umbrellas because they are more practical and seem to be made of higher-quality material.

Opening Systems

Umbrellas can come in manual, semi-automatic, and automatic variants. Each type of umbrella has its own advantage and disadvantage.

  • Manual: An umbrella with a manual opening system is the cheapest and lightest type of umbrella. If you choose a pocket umbrella that has a manual system, it can be much lighter and more compact. 
  • Semi-automatic: A semi-automatic umbrella works by pushing a button to instantly open it. Because of this, a semi-automatic umbrella is incredibly useful. The only downside is that you have to manually close this type of umbrella.  
  • Fully automatic: Only pocket umbrellas can open and close automatically with the push of a button. Fully automatic umbrellas typically require a little more energy to close since a spring needs to be tensioned in the mechanism. The disadvantage of this type of umbrella is it weighs a lot more than semi-automatic umbrellas.

Shape and Material

You should also choose the best shape and material for your umbrella.

Shape: The umbrella's fabric is spread out in the form of a round shape. However, some umbrellas can come in other unique shapes like squares or hearts. However, round umbrellas have the most surface area and provide the finest rain protection.

Material: Umbrellas are either made of polyester or nylon materials. Nylon is more glossy than polyester, giving the impression of a somewhat higher quality product. But in terms of how well they repel water, both materials are the same. 

Frame Material

The umbrella’s frame is one of the most important factors when it comes to the stability and weight of your umbrella. Umbrella frames usually come in four different variants, like:

  • Steel: Umbrella frames are often made of steel. This type of material is considered durable and not too expensive, but it is generally heavier than other type of materials.
  • Wood: Wooden umbrella frames give you a classic and traditional look. However, wooden frames are more sensitive than other materials.
  • Fibreglass: Umbrella frames made of fibreglass give you increased wind stability, as the material is wind resistant. These types of umbrellas are also lighter. 
  • Aluminium: Lightweight aluminium umbrella frames have excellent wind stability. Aluminium umbrellas also have a sleek, contemporary design.

Size

The bigger the umbrella’s canopy surface area, the better it will keep the rain off of you. If it's big enough, you can fit another person under your umbrella.

  • Diameter 100 to 105 cm = Standard umbrella size (for one person)
     
  • Diameter 110 to 120 cm = Mid-size umbrella size (for one person or two smaller people)
     
  • Diameter 130 to 140 cm = Large umbrella size (for two people)
     

Final Thoughts

It is best to choose the perfect promotional umbrellas that fit your needs and standards. Making sure that you get a high-quality umbrella ensures that it lasts for a long time and helps you be well-protected with any type of weather.