LifeTekWindproof Travel Umbrella, Automatic Open Close, Compact for Rain and Sun, Fits in Purse or Backpack, Strong Lightweight Durable Frame, UV Protection, Small and Portable

I'm not an umbrella connoisseur, mind you: I don't have a collection. In fact, quite the opposite--traditionally, I haven't been a big user of umbrellas, except when motivated by necessity, caught in a sudden downpour while out and about. And when I account for those situations, it feels like I consume umbrellas like most people consume paper towels or disposable cups. I've bought so many crappy $15 umbrellas from various tourist destinations or museum gift shops only to have them blown inside out within twenty minutes of purchase, and I've also bought a fair-share of decent $10 Walmart umbrellas that, while acceptable, were larger and more awkward to store than a small hot air balloon. So, I decided to get one that lasts and is compact, and that's how I stumbled onto the LifeTek Traveler.At first, I was worried about the price. However, taking into account all of those desperate, spur-of-the-moment, "crap, it's monsooning!" umbrella purchases, it's really easy to justify the purchase of a more expensive umbrella, like the LifeTek Traveler. And I really feel like I'm carrying a solid, premium umbrella. It's light and narrow (don't expect to fit more than one person under this umbrella), but not at all flimsy. This thing dries out very, *very* quickly, and that's due to two factors. One is the fabric: the material feels markedly different than any other umbrella I've owned (much lighter, "breathable" like high-end athletic clothes), and the Teflon coating keeps it from absorbing water (keeping it lighter in your hand, too). Second is the automatic closing action. When you hit the button to close the umbrella, it snaps closed violently, shaking off any of the water that remains on the fabric. I've gone from downpour to bone dry in my backpack in less than 5 minutes.The only downside that I find with this umbrella is in that automatic closure, and that's only a minor complaint. Once the umbrella close button has been pressed, there's no way to re-open the umbrella (that I've found, anyway) without compressing the umbrella stalk down to its locked state and hitting the automatic opening button again. It's not like cheaper umbrellas where you can just re-open the umbrella by pushing the assembly upward; you have to close it all the way and trigger the opening button. This is a minor, minor complaint, but it does make it a little inconvenient if you're, say, temporarily ducking under a bus stop overhang and want to be ready to re-open your umbrella in a moment's notice.The biggest advantage of this umbrella is the company that stands behind it. As I mentioned, I've gone through a lot of umbrellas, but I've also gone through a lot of umbrella *covers*. I lose them, frequently. And, of course, I lost the umbrella cover for the LifeTek, too. So, I contacted the manufacturer to ask about getting a replacement cover, and within 20 minutes, a representative told me he'd located my Amazon order and had sent me a free cover via Priority Mail! I suspect that if I ever find a defect in the umbrella (very unlikely), they'd be similarly committed to making sure I'm happy.The only disadvantage to purchasing this umbrella is that you won't have a cool Smithsonian sun or Union Jack on your tourist umbrella, but at least you'll look less tacky, and you'll be much drier.

Really solid, compact and keeps you dry in the hardest downpours. Has a nice professional look to it, highly recommend

Nicely made! Packs a big area for such a small package

So far pleased with umbrella. Opens and closes easily and reliably. Is light weight and very compact, when folded up. Can fit into just about any bag. Feels very sturdy, but I don't know how it would do in a real storm. Potential buyers should be aware that measurements of the breadth of umbrellas are apparently provided as the distance across the convex (i.e., upper) surface of the umbrella canopy, not the flat, left-to-right, distance across the bottom of the canopy. I suppose that is what they call the "arc", which was stated as being 42.5 inches. So, I found that the umbrella was actually smaller than desired. It measures about 37 inches wide using the flat measurement, and as such it is definitely a 1-person umbrella. I'm not sure I would have bought this umbrella if I had known in advance how wide it actually is. Regardless, I already have several umbrellas, but wanted something that could better protect my face and eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light while outdoors. This all black umbrella, with a tightly-woven fabric cuts out 90-95 percent of the UV light streaming directly down from above, and above 80 percent of light coming head on or from the sides. I measured this using a General Tools UV513AB Digital light meter, also purchased here on Amazon. So, in that regard, the umbrella is doing a great job of protecting my face and eyes. More people should consider an umbrella as an alternative to a wide-brimmed hat, though using an umbrella on a sunny day seems odd. I feel that it is much better than any wide-brimmed hat. Sunscreen is still necessary for times when outside light is very strong.Post-script: I've been using this compact, sturdy umbrella almost daily since purchased 3-1/2 months ago. Hasn't malfunctioned or turned inside out. However, it is definitely not much use in a heavy downpour, which occurred here three days ago. There was no wind or lightning, but the rain was very heavy. This umbrella didn't protect me well from the downpour. Because the umbrella is so small, I felt as if I had nowhere to hide. My legs were soaked from knees downward, and my back was completely wet. Only my head a chest were dry. I decided to buy and use a larger umbrella. The Lifetek Traveler is in my opinion useful only as a parasol.

Better quality than I found in stores at similar price point.smooth operation. Not too big, not too small. Cover easy to remove and put back on.

Great quality and build