Comparison Art Rain Z3860 vs Doppler Fiber Magic Major

The folding features and dimensions of the umbrella primarily depend on the type.

— Cane. The classic variety of umbrellas, historically the first to appear. Its main distinguishing feature can be called an awkward central rod, which usually has a rather large length; due to its size, many umbrellas of this type can also be used as an additional support when folded (hence the name). In addition to the possibility of additional use (which, however, requires caution, because not all canes are strong enough), cane umbrellas have other advantages over folding ones. So, they are stronger and more reliable, and the dome shape provides better moisture repellency and reduces the drying time of the fabric. The main disadvantage of such models can be called large dimensions when folded — the umbrella will not even fit in every suitcase, not to mention smaller bags. Therefore, this type is more of an "urban" than a "road" option.

— Foldable. Such umbrellas can have different designs, but all of them are distinguished by a folding central stem with several telescopic sections (see below). The main advantage of this type over canes is obvious: folding models are much more compact and easier to transport, and some of them are “packed” so tightly that they can even fit in a small handbag. On the other hand, the design of such products is more complicated, which increases...the price and reduces reliability; in addition, they are more likely to absorb moisture (if the material of the dome allows it, see below) and dry longer.

The material from which the umbrella frame is made. The frame in this case means mainly the central rod, however, the spokes are often made of the same material — unless otherwise indicated in the characteristics (see "Spoke material").

— Steel. One of the most popular options among modern umbrellas. Steel allows you to provide good indicators of strength and elasticity. It is worth noting that different types and grades of this material can be used in umbrellas, so the actual characteristics of a particular steel frame are directly related to the price category of the product. However, steel is used even in high-end premium models. Of its "global" shortcomings, one can only note a rather large weight.

— Aluminium. Aluminium alloys used in umbrellas are noticeably lighter than steel, but less durable. They can also have different characteristics, usually directly related to the price category of the respective model, however, in general, this material is considered less reliable, and therefore is found mainly in entry-level and mid-level umbrellas.

— Fiberglass. Material based on glass drawn into thin threads. It has little in common with ordinary window glass: it is highly durable, does not break, and bends well without damage. Actually, flexibility is one of the main advantages of fiberglass — it is this material that is often used in storm umbrellas(see above), because. such knitting needles easily endure repeated turning inside out and back.

— Fiberglass. A polymeric material combining the fiberglass described above with a plastic base. It costs much less than pure fiberglass, but loses to it in terms of performance, which is why it is found mainly in inexpensive models of umbrellas.

— CFRP. A composite material that combines fine carbon fiber fabric and a plastic base. Differs in extreme durability — some grades surpass even steel — at the same time it weighs very little; on the other hand, the cost of CFRP is quite high. As a result of all this, this material is used quite rarely in umbrellas, mainly among luxury products.

— Tree. Wood has a pleasant appearance, but is inferior to metal in strength. Therefore, it is used mainly as a design material in some cane umbrellas (see "Type") — and even then in such models only the central rod is usually made of wood, the rest of the parts are made of metal.

— Plastic. Pure plastic is poorly suited for the manufacture of frames for umbrellas: it is not strong enough and resistant to stress for this. Therefore, this option can only be found in the most inexpensive models, as well as in children's umbrellas (see "Purpose"), for which light weight and the absence of sharp edges are more important than high strength.

Note that some models can be equipped with combined frames: for example, the central rod is made of steel, and the spokes are made of fiberglass. This is usually indicated in the specifications.

The diameter of the umbrella dome when unfolded. The larger the diameter of the dome, the more reliably it will protect you from rain and the easier it will be to place one more person under the umbrella. On the other hand, a wide umbrella can be uncomfortable in tight spaces — for example, in the flow of pedestrians on a busy street — and when folded it will take up more space. Therefore, it does not always make sense to choose the largest of the available options.

The minimum diameter for an "adult" umbrella (see "Destination") is considered to be about 80 cm. Most models are in the range of 90 – 110 cm — this provides a good degree of protection with ease of movement. And in the largest modern products, the diameter of the dome can reach 150 cm.

The length of the umbrella when folded. For the decomposed one, this parameter is not specified, because is not critical, but when transporting a closed umbrella, it is the length that is the most important dimension.

The length of cane umbrellas (see "Type") is, by definition, the same when open or closed; most often it is 60 – 90% of the dome diameter (see above). But folding models of the same diameter can vary markedly in length, and here the choice depends on the situation: on the one hand, more compact umbrellas are more convenient to carry, on the other hand, they are less reliable and more complex in design, and also cost more.

The material of the dome is a canopy stretched between the spokes of the umbrella.

— Polyester. Synthetic material, the most popular among modern umbrellas. It has good strength and density, as well as water-repellent properties (although in its pure form it still gets wet sooner or later); in addition, it is resistant to temperature extremes and ultraviolet radiation. It is also worth noting that various additives can be used in polyester domes, which can significantly change the appearance and properties of the fabric — for example, it can easily be given a resemblance to silk or satin, provide additional water-repellent properties, etc. Therefore, we can say that such umbrellas are very diverse, and the properties of the dome largely depend on the price category of the product.

— Nylon. Synthetic material, somewhat similar to polyester, but cheaper — and in every sense: it is inexpensive, but it loses in a number of characteristics. In particular, nylon is not so strong and reliable, besides it is less pleasant to the touch, and after drying it can “sit down”. It is used mainly in low-cost models of umbrellas.

— Eponge. Cotton or silk fabric, characterized by an original surface texture — it resembles a sponge (hence the name — from the French eponge). However, unlike a regular sponge, pongee practically does not absorb moisture — on the contrary, it has excellent water-repellent properties and dries quickly. At the same time, the fabric has a...n original appearance, is pleasant to the touch, and its price is low, which makes it possible to use this material even in relatively inexpensive umbrellas.

— Silk. Silk provides the product with a luxurious appearance, but loses to other materials in terms of strength, and also gets very wet. As a result, this material is usually used in umbrellas from the sun (see "Application"), and among the "rain" is almost never found.

— PVC film. Distinctive features of a film based on polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are complete imperviousness, as well as transparency. This allows you to create on its basis not only classic umbrellas, but also the so-called birdcage ("birdcage") — models with a high dome, covering not only the head, but also the shoulders.

— Jacquard. Waterproof fabric, usually synthetic, having a so-called jacquard weave. Due to this, a specific texture pattern is visible on the surface of the dome, giving it an original appearance. On the other hand, jacquard is quite difficult to manufacture, and therefore expensive.

— Satin. Cotton or silk fabric with an additional water-repellent impregnation, having a satin weave. This weave gives a rather dense surface with a characteristic sheen, giving it a pleasant appearance. Satin is used mainly in design models of umbrellas, on the domes of which various patterns are applied.

— Polyamide. Polyamides is the general name for a number of synthetic fibers, in particular, capron and nylon (see above). They have good water-repellent properties, but the performance characteristics (durability, resistance to stretching, etc.) can be different — depending on the price category of the umbrella.

— Plastic. As a material for umbrella handles, plastic is very practical: it has a low price, is resistant to moisture, and its strength, although lower than that of metals, is quite sufficient in this case, especially since there are many varieties of this material on the market, including number and are very durable. It is also worth noting the low thermal conductivity of plastic — it does not "cool" the hand in cool weather. Similar handles are used in umbrellas of all price categories.

— Tree. Wood, like plastic, does not conduct heat well and does not cool the hand, while many consider it more pleasant to the touch; Yes, and this material looks quite stylish. At the same time, wooden handles are somewhat more expensive, and their quality noticeably depends on the price category of the umbrella (although in a cheap product, the frame is more likely to break than the handle).

— Skin. In this case, of course, we are talking about a handle made of hard material (usually wood or plastic, see above), covered with genuine leather. Such a coating gives the pen a rich and solid appearance and well emphasizes the image of the owner — after all, leather is quite expensive. Of the practical disadvantages of this option, it is worth noting the exactingness of care — otherwise the material may lose its presentation.

— Metal....Metal handles are usually an integral extension of the central rod. They are very durable, besides they look stylish, but they tend to "cool" the hand and slip out of it — therefore they are rarely used, mainly in designer models.

— EVA foam. Handles in the form of a solid base (usually the same material as the frame), covered with a layer of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam. This coating is pleasant to the touch, does not slip in the hand and provides a secure hold. At the same time, for a number of reasons, this option is found mainly in premium models.

Total weight of the umbrella.

All other things being equal, lighter umbrellas are more convenient to carry (both in the open and closed positions). On the other hand, such products are less reliable and/or more expensive than relatively heavy models of similar design and size. We also note that in some cases, significant weight can be an advantage. For example, in a strong wind, a massive umbrella does not “tear from your hands” as much, and when released, it does not fly as far as a lighter one.