But using your umbrella to clear spider webs is far superior to using a trekking pole.

Under my umbrella ella, ella, ella hey hey hey.
went umbrella for the first time in the smokies last week. I used the mont bell, and an xl driducks jacket that covered my pack. The umbrella was handy quite a few times like in heavy rain, sun, while cooking, etc. Jury's still out but I'm leaning towards mary poppins.

Helps your manhood go down...
I say pack it...

the umbrella...


that is.

Has anyone had much luck with any of the "hands free" methods of attaching an umbrella? I am so used to using 2 poles when I hike that I can't imagine having to hold the umbrella instead. The picture where it fits on your head...are there lightweight varieties and could you put a strap under your chin to hold it on in wind?

Dawn

http://www.dalehollowoutdoors.com/ul-trekking-umbrella.html

montbell UL trekking umbrella, $24 shipped
comes in dark green only

i used my brolly this past weekend at Aravaipa Canyon in temps pushing 95°, not a cloud in the sky. Highly satisfied with using it.
i did have an extra camelback clip so used it for holding the brolly hands-free, but this method surely requires 2 clips. here's a photo of the other brolly user, hands free by using the sternum strap and shirt pocket to hold it. it held very well for many hours. little wind, slight breeze if any.

I use the Golite version, but only for hikes of a few days. In light rain, I stick it right down between my pack and my back. In heavier rain, I duct tape my trekking poles together and use them as one pole so that I can hold the umbrella. In heavy winds, I switch to my $1.99 Walmart poncho or DriDucks. (The DD's I take only on longer hikes and leave the Golite behind. The DD pants are great to wear when you're washing your other pants.)

Main disadvantage: Umbrellas are more trouble than they're worth in high winds. You really need some sort of backup, and the UL philosophy implies that you should just carry the backup, especially on longer walks where every oz counts.

On the embarrassment issue: My old man used to say to me, "If I ever see you carrying an umbrella, you'd better be holding it over a woman's head."

I think it's about time we got over such sentiments. They reflect more on the giver than they do on the recipient. No hiking tool is silly if it serves the greater purpose of helping you enjoy the hike.

Stargazer

"Has anyone had much luck with any of the "hands free" methods of attaching an umbrella? I am so used to using 2 poles when I hike that I can't imagine having to hold the umbrella instead. The picture where it fits on your head...are there lightweight varieties and could you put a strap under your chin to hold it on in wind? "
dawn, did you see this post: http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/23881/index.html?skip_to_post=194012#194012

Emmet shows us how to use clips to hold his brolly hands-free. it works!

i got my montbell ul umbrella a couple days ago, and the quality is good. very taught, and packs small. 5.6oz total
only drawback: you have to snap all the ribs into place before opened (this takes bout 20 seconds)

Mike, don't you have to break it down the same way, first buckling all ribs before completing closure?

yes, its true. but i was mostly concerned that id be saying "oh great, its started to rain and now i have to fumble with these ribs.."

fwiw the SnowPeak has the same construction style. My Birdiepal is nice in that it's easy to "pitch" but one look and you'll see the construction is nowhere near the quality of Montbell's.

This blog site has an example.
http://packandpaddle.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-attach-umbrella-to-your-pack.html


Bill

Looks like the hands free model of the silver umbrella with longer shaft is finally out.

http://www.antigravitygear.com/swing-hands-free-umbrella-metallic.html

The Antigravity Gear umbrella looks great...but it weighs 13 oz. :(

For me if the rain and temp is too hot for a rain jacket and pants what's the point of rain gear at all anyway? It's not like I'm going to melt from rain. A hat with a brim to keep it out of my eyesis all I need. If you go with that idea then, the only time rain gear is even needed is when it's cold and you have to stay dry in which case I personally can't risk even a stray wind soaking me or worse my insulation. Although in really hot and sunny conditions I can totally see myself replacing any rain gear with the weight of an umbrella purely for sun protection.

"Emmet shows us how to use clips to hold his brolly hands-free. it works!"

Thanks Mike - I was trying to find that post to put up here. I've been using this method for 3 seasons now and I've only grown more convinced that it's a winning solution. One note - my father tried this with his GoLite Dome and found that it didn't work as well - the Dome might be just a little heavy to be stable with two clips - maybe better to try it with three.

Edited by ejl10 on 09/27/2011 06:25:08 MDT.

I own the sea to summit Umbrella it great if you overheat in rain gear it keeps the rain off of you. Windy Rain that is going diagonally or sideways in to your face or back. You can hold horizontally in front of your face to stop the sting of the rain. A strap is a must on the handle is nice to keep the umbrella from being taken from your hand in windy conditions.
I really don't know any cons to carrying a umbrella.
Terry

this is BPL, right ?

given that, its either rain gear and a sunhat ... or an umbrella.
I'll take the rain gear and sunhat.

all the arguments "pro" aside, it just seems like a step backwards in the area of ease of travel in the backcountry.

now if I was walking down the Promenade in my orange and red Salomon trail shoes ... an umbrella would fit in just fine :-)

But let me start by saying that if you are an umbrella user and you like them, you don't need my opinion.

On the PCT many people start out with umbrellas. Many find that when they want them for shade in the hot, open country of the desert, the wind can make them unusable. When they want them in the cold rain of Washington, they need rain gear anyway to keep wet vegetation from soaking them. For me, that makes umbrellas too specialized.

In my experience I tend to see many more umbrellas at the start of long trails than at the end.

My rain gear is multi purpose.

1. Rain
2. Wind block
3. Warmth
4. To wear whilst doing laundry

When I REALLY want and need rain gear is when it's wet, cold and windy. Conventional rain gear is much better under those conditions. Personally, I'm not going to carry both a rain parka and an umbrella, so a rain jacket (plus rain pants depending on where and when) wins easily. I leave unneeded gear at home, and for me that includes an umbrella every time.

Try to see everything as a kit that works together and not just separate pieces. Having an umbrella may condition the rest of your rain gear: for example, a non-breathable (silnylon or cuben) rain jacket may be extremely light but it may also be difficult (or very difficult, depending on conditions) to make it work. An umbrella allows extra ventilation when wearing the jacket so a non-breathable one may make sense. A cuben rain jacket and a lightweight umbrella may be not any heavier than many lightweight breathable rain jackets.