If you’ve ever owned an umbrella, you’ve probably also had to buy a replacement for said umbrella at some point. Because umbrellas all too often fail. Digg reveals why — and how to spot an umbrella that sucks a little less than average.
Picture: Tyler J Clemens VIII/Flickr
Umbrellas break not only because they have to fight Mother Nature at her angriest, but also simply because of their design. There are about 150 different parts that make up an umbrella, each with the potential to snap, become inverted, fall off or otherwise succumb to stress. The pins that hold the rib sections together are particularly small and weak.
The best umbrellas, then, are ones that minimise the number of parts and reinforce those that receive the most stress. Among other things, Digg advises us to look for solid rivets:
Solid rivets: Rivets are used to connect ribs, stretchers and ligaments. Hollow rivets are cheap. Solid rivets last. If you can see through the pin holding a joint together, don’t buy that umbrella.
Check out their full guide for more umbrella considerations.
Comments
2 responses to “Why Umbrellas Break (And What To Look For In A Good One)”
Or you could find one that has been wind tunnel tested? http://senzumbrellas.com.au/pages/the-idea
Or you could go for the Rainshader, which Gizmodo have covered in the past (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/05/the-last-umbrella-youll-ever-buy-can-easily-survive-a-wind-tunnel/).
This one, too, has been wind tunnel tested, and, while it resembles the Dark Helmet, it is more practical than most umbrellas as it covers the shoulders (doming you in!) and better directs the rain to falll away from you. I certainly recommend it.
Thanks for sharing! San Francisco has been raining a lot recently, and I need to invest in some quality umbrellas.