Comparison Zest 42540 vs Zest 13940

The presence in the design of the umbrella of reinforced elements and additional parts that provide protection from strong winds. Note that the essence of such protection is not so much the prevention of eversion, but the ability to withstand bad weather without breaking. In other words, most storm umbrellas can easily turn inside out, but they endure this trouble without any consequences and easily return to normal working shape. And the wind directed from the outside, they resist much better than ordinary ones. Therefore, if you often have to be outside during heavy rains with strong winds, it makes sense to pay attention to models with this function.

The procedure for unfolding and folding the umbrella depends primarily on the type of mechanism.

— Mechanical. The simplest option, which involves unfolding and folding solely due to the efforts of the user himself — in other words, you will have to manually move the slider along the central rod every time. Such a scheme of operation is not as convenient as automated options, however, it provides simplicity and reliability of the design, and it is cheaper.

— Semi -automatic. The name of this option is due to the fact that only one of the two actions is automated in it — disclosure; you have to fold the umbrella manually. Usually, to open, it is enough to press a button — and a special spring will bring the product into working position. Such umbrellas are easier and more convenient to use than mechanical ones — in particular, they open somewhat faster, which is especially important when exposed to heavy rain; at the same time, they are cheaper and more reliable than full automatic machines (although they still lose to them in terms of convenience).

— Automatic. In such models, both basic actions are automated: at the touch of a button, both the unfolding and folding of the umbrella occur. However it is worth noting that folding is most often not fully automated — usually the frame is only folded, and the telescopic rod has to be “squeezed” manual...ly. However, this is the most user-friendly option, requiring the least amount of effort from the user. The downside of such a mechanism is its complexity, high cost, and less reliability than others.

The material from which the spokes of the umbrella are made. It may differ from the frame material (see the relevant paragraph), which is why this parameter is given separately.

— Steel. One of the most common knitting needle materials. In modern umbrellas, different grades of steel can be used, differing in price and quality; usually, this moment directly depends on the price category of the umbrella. However, anyway, this material is strong enough, resilient, reliable and durable, and is relatively inexpensive. The main disadvantage of steel can be called a relatively large weight.

— Aluminium. Compared to steel, aluminium is distinguished, on the one hand, by its lower weight, and, on the other hand, by its relatively low strength. As a result, it is relatively rare, mainly in children's umbrellas and low-cost "adult" models.

— Fibreglass. A material based on a fibre of thin glass threads. Differs in rather high durability and reliability. However, the main advantage of this material can be called the ability to bend well without damage, which allows such knitting needles to normally endure turning the dome inside out. This is especially important for storm umbrellas(see above), although it will be useful for a regular umbrella. However, such knitting needles are more expensive than the same steel ones.
...> — Fibreglass. Composite material made of glass fibre filled with plastic. It is similar in properties to the fibreglass described above, however, on the one hand, it is cheaper, on the other hand, it is somewhat inferior to it in terms of performance, including the same flexibility.

— CFRP. Composite carbon fibre material with plastic filler. With a small weight, carbon fibre is highly durable, however, it also costs accordingly, which is why it is relatively rare.

The number of spokes provided in the umbrella frame. Theoretically, the more spokes, the stiffer and more reliable the frame. At the same time, the actual properties of the product are largely determined by other factors — the material of the spokes and the dome, their design features, the general type of umbrella (see above), etc. Therefore, we can say that in most cases the number of spokes is a purely reference parameter that does not have a noticeable effect on performance.

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 type of clasp installed on the umbrella strap.

We are talking about a strap that tightly secures the dome in the closed position. Most often, Velcro or a button is used as a fastener, and in some models a button is used. Here is a description of each option:

- Velcro. The most popular type of fastener these days. Velcro is inexpensive, extremely compact (in particular, it does not protrude above the strap, unlike buttons), and is also easy to use - so they can be found in all price categories of umbrellas. The main disadvantage of such devices is that as they wear out, their effectiveness drops noticeably - to the point that at one point the Velcro stops holding it at all. However, the service life of such fasteners is still usually quite long, and worn-out Velcro can be replaced without any problems or costs in a workshop or even on your own.

- Button. The clasp is in the form of a characteristic metal button, like clothing buttons. Such devices are much more reliable and durable than Velcro, but they are more expensive and somewhat less convenient: unfastening the button requires a certain amount of force, and fastening it also requires greater precision. In addition, not all users like the part that noticeably protrudes from the strap when the umbrella is closed. In light of this, buttons are used much less often than Velcro, and mainly in models of the middle and to...p price categories (with rare exceptions).

- Button. An ordinary button that, when fastened, is threaded into a loop. From a practical point of view, such fasteners are noticeably inferior to Velcro and buttons - they are not as reliable, and they are not particularly convenient. Therefore, buttons can be found extremely rarely in our time - in individual cane umbrellas in the “retro” style, where such a fastener is used primarily as a characteristic design element.

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.