Durable umbrellas

For any person, an umbrella is an absolutely necessary thing. And, of course, I want him, like any thing we buy, to be beautiful, stylish, comfortable and elegant. To attract the views and emphasize your individuality. But if you do not want to pay huge money for an umbrella that breaks in two days, then the first thing to think about is its strength and reliability.

How to choose a high-quality and reliable umbrella, what to look for first of all, how to properly care for your umbrella - let's talk about this in our article.

Any umbrella consists of a rod, knitting needles, a dome and a handle. Let us consider these important components in more detail.

The rod not only holds the entire structure of the umbrella, but is also responsible for its folding. Umbrellas are considered the strongest, in which the whole rod is umbrellas.

The core of the folding umbrella consists of several separate parts connected to each other. In a large folding umbrella the rod has 2-3 parts, in a small ladies' one - 4-5. The more parts and, correspondingly, the places of their connections, the less reliable is the rod design.

If you are uncomfortable to carry an umbrella cane, give preference to large folding umbrellas. And before you buy an umbrella, be sure to open it and shake well. Places where parts of the rod are connected to each other should not move or swing. If the connections are loose, the umbrella will last until the first strong wind.

The core can be made of plastic, aluminum or steel. The latter is certainly the most durable, but also the most difficult. But the junction of the rod with the dome is sure to choose only metal. Plastic is unacceptable here, as it can easily break from a strong impact.

In addition, the rods are round or ribbed. The finned rod with the largest number of faces is considered more reliable.

The number of spokes in the umbrella varies from 4-6 to 16 pieces. The more, the more reliable the design. Buying an umbrella with less than eight spokes is a waste of money.

Like the rod, the spokes are made of different materials - aluminum, steel and fiberglass.

• Aluminum spokes are soft, with a matte sheen. An umbrella with such knitting needles will be light, but completely fragile.
• Steel spokes are shiny, strong and heavy. Steel umbrella is not afraid of the strongest gusts of wind, but it will weigh significantly more aluminum.
• Fiberglass spokes are lightweight and durable. Fiberglass in appearance resembles plastic. In combination with a steel rod - this is the most successful version of the umbrella, but also the most expensive.

Speaking of the needles, it is necessary to mention a few points:

• It is important that the spokes are attached to the dome at least at two points each (the more attachment points, the better).
• The needle should fit snugly to the dome with a groove up.
• Choosing an umbrella for a child, look, so that the ends of the spokes are covered with rounded plastic caps.

Now many manufacturers equip their umbrellas with an anti-wind system. Its essence is that the spokes are supplemented with special springs that allow them to bend in both directions without breaking in strong winds. It is important to remember that in such zones it is impossible to bend the spokes back independently. It is necessary to close and reopen the umbrella so that they fit into place.

Umbrella dome sewn from different fabrics. The most common are nylon, polyester, pongee and satin with water-repellent impregnation.

• The nylon dome is the worst - it is not strong enough and will tear easily in strong winds. In addition, the brightly colored nylon quickly sheds and fades.The only advantage of this material is low price.

• Polyester dome is a budget option for a nice umbrella. It almost does not fade, dries quickly and does not shrink. However, it also lacks strength.

• Pongee is polyester with cotton added. It is much stronger and dries in five minutes. However, the price of such umbrellas starts from three thousand.

• Sateen dome sew for expensive umbrellas. This fabric is almost impossible to tear, it dries quickly and is pleasant to the touch.

• There are also umbrellas made of genuine leather. They are very heavy, very uncomfortable and prohibitively expensive.

Handles are made of plastic, wood or rubber.

• The plastic handle is the most fragile. Such handles easily break even with weak blows.

• The wooden handle is much stronger, more comfortable and more beautiful. But the tree is prone to chipping and does not tolerate water. If the paint or varnish peels off with a wooden handle, water, hitting an unprotected tree, easily ruin it.

• The rubber handle is of the highest quality and reliable. She is not afraid of water or shock.

Conventionally, umbrellas can be divided into several categories according to various criteria:

• Men's, women's, children's and beach.

It all depends on the size and appearance. Men's umbrellas are usually larger and with a simple pattern or just black. Since the weight of the umbrella for men does not matter much, men's umbrellas are often made with a steel rod and knitting needles, which makes them more durable and of higher quality.

In women's and especially children's umbrellas, weight is a significant value, therefore they are often made with aluminum parts, which makes them fragile and short-lived, or with fiberglass spokes, which greatly increases their value.

Beach umbrellas have the largest diameter of the dome and, as a rule, plastic or aluminum parts.

• Mechanical, with automatic opening system or semi-automatic.

The mechanical mechanism means that you will open the umbrella manually. This is certainly not as convenient as pressing a button, but the simplicity of such a mechanism ensures its strength and quality. According to statistics, such umbrellas are more durable and less likely to break.

A complete machine is a mechanism that allows you to close and open an umbrella by pressing a single button located on the handle of the umbrella. The main advantage of this umbrella is convenience. But in quality he loses to mechanical models.

A semiautomatic device, as the name implies, opens by pressing a button, and closes, like a mechanical one, by hand. It is not much stronger than the full automatic, but it is much less convenient. Perhaps not the best choice.

• In the form of a saucer, dome or a non-standard form.

The shape of the saucer is classic and the most common for an umbrella. Almost all folding models have this form. She is quite comfortable and well protects her face and most of her clothes from rain.

Dome-shaped - with more rounded and elongated ends. This form will protect your face and clothes much better, and in case of strong wind it will help to keep your hairstyle. But most often such a dome is made from a large mechanical umbrella-cane.

• Non-standard forms are different. Perhaps the most popular is the shape of the heart. Umbrellas are square and triangular, flower-shaped or multi-layered, umbrellas with ruffles or double umbrellas for lovers. They look cute and original, but most often they do not have the convenience and reliability.

The diameter of the dome also matters, but remember that the larger it is, the larger the umbrella itself will be in the folded state.

In order for the umbrella to serve you faithfully for many years, it is important not only to choose a quality model, but also to properly care for it.

Some tips on caring for an umbrella:

• After each use, it is important to dry the umbrella. It is best to do this in a half-open state, so as not to stretch and not deform the fabric of the dome.Silk umbrellas are dried only when closed.
• Do not pack the umbrella in a case until it is completely dry.
• In no case do not put on an umbrella of gravity - so you can damage the spokes.
• At least once a month, the umbrella should be cleaned with a mild detergent, soap, or wiped with liquid ammonia diluted in water.

So let's summarize.

• Going to the store for an umbrella, decide which model you need. If you can allow yourself slow walks, give preference to the cane umbrella as the most reliable. If you are constantly in a hurry and often move by public transport - get a folding umbrella machine with 2-3 additions. Ideally, it is worth having both models.

• Count the knitting needles. There should be at least eight of them, and they should be securely fastened to the dome in several places.
• Carefully inspect the dome. If small holes are visible against the lumen, strings of paint stick out or paint stains remain on the hands - a low-quality thing.
• If you plan to carry an umbrella in your purse, make sure that it has a quality case that will not allow the umbrella to spoil your belongings. If in the hands, then, in addition to a comfortable handle, it is not bad that the umbrella was equipped with a comfortable and practical strap that allows you to wear it on your wrist.
• And, of course, choose a color that you like - to please the eye, give a good mood and highlight your complexion.