The Collapsible and The Modular

The umbrella has become a faithful companion for anyone on a rainy day. Their collapsibility is a necessary convenience for people to carry around when simply preparing for a day of showers. The first recorded collapsible umbrella originates from China in the first century CE, created for Wang Mang's ceremonial carriage. While some only fold, umbrellas with telescoping shafts enable their owners to easily store them while on the go, making them even more portable. Recently, umbrellas capable of being folded multiple times more than the typical fold have been designed. This notion of reducing the storage size challenges developers to design a product that not only adequately protects users from rainfall, but is also easy to carry and store.

While the basic folding umbrella has remained popular today, scores of modifications have been made, adding to the experience of shielding oneself from the rain. Sometimes this is purely aesthetic, including resembling a light saber, a wine bottle, or a raincloud.

Though some may view the Polite Umbrella as a goofy concept piece, its pullable handle at the bottom of the shaft shrinks how far the canopy extends, drawing it closer the user; thus, it is partially collapsible in use. This proves handy for people in crowded situations, where on the sidewalk the presence of numerous umbrellas on a rainy day increases the likelihood of collisions.

Some umbrellas have a design specifically for preventing the wind from catching it. The GustBuster's vents flow the air out to negate the suction that ruins many an umbrella by inversion. The maker also claims it to be lightning-proof by featuring a lightning-resistant fiberglass shaft.

SENZ also makes umbrellas that literally break the wind, but takes on an entirely different approach to solving the problem. By looking at the aerodynamic affects of wind on umbrellas, SENZ has developed a shape that not only supposedly withstands wind exceeding 60 miles per hour, but also is suitable for keeping your back dryer with its extended back side.

If you care for an ultra-portable umbrella, the Knirps X1 might be your solution. Though not ideal for windy weather, its small cup-shaped handle enables the umbrella to fit securely into a zippered, molded case about 6.5 inches long. The case can easily be attached to a belt loop or carabiner.

Using an umbrella usually limits a person to only one arm for interaction, but Tokyu Hands offers the Burera Coiling Umbrella Handle (site in Japanese) for a hands-free umbrella. This is done by removing the handle from the shaft of your umbrella, screwing on the umbrella holder, and wrapping the coil around the top of your arm or your shoulder.

After considering the numerous solutions for a better umbrella that are available, one may wonder if a higher-priced innovative umbrella would be worth choosing over a tried-and-true standard folding umbrella. But it ultimately is in the best interest of the user to choose what fulfills their needs. One thing is certain for the future of umbrellas: the need to keep dry in wet weather will ensure their popularity for years to come.