http://francistapon.com/Travels/Advi...th-an-Umbrella
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Interesting article.
Found myself having to try to keep an open mind even while reading it.
The author has covered enough trail miles with an umbrella to overcome any objections I might have made, even so, something inside me resists.
In the end, I did click a couple of the links.
Maybe because I hike shorter distances rather than long distance, I just don't feel the urge to try it. A couple days of rain has never bothered me and I've not hiked enough ground for the sun to bother me that much.
Still, an interesting, thought provoking read, thx Dos.
I think I am going to try this.
Suns hats are WAYY too hot and rain jackets make me sweat profusely.
I saw a couple of people who found a way to attach them to their packs and
thus able to use their hiking poles.
I have two of the Camel back tube traps on each shoulder strap to fasten it down. They work sweet with the umbrella for securing it hands free.
I read that article a month or two ago and decided to try one. The price point is not so outrageous that it will kill my wallet to try it and if it works there are a lot of benefits to it. So I received one for Christmas present. A Golite Crome. Haven't had a chance to use it or weigh it yet. I am hoping it works. My son and I will be on the trail for 2 weeks at Philmont Scout Ranch in July. So I am hoping the quick deploying factor helps for those sudden rain storms.
I've used umbrellas a few times on backpacking trips. They work well but in the end I'm not convinced I want to carry the extra weight. The only time i was REALLY glad to have mine was in a 2 hour grape size hail storm!!!
I enjoyed that article. Good find and thanks for sharing.
I am going to give it a try this year backpacking. I have mastered the art of navigating the woods with a huge golf umbrella on my daily, regardless of conditions, walk with my dogs. I hardly ever wear a rain jacket and return home only damp from the knees down after a couple of hours of steady rain or snow. I do dislike the weight of the golf umbrella so that Golite looks like my choice.
I have though of getting an umbrella but I am one of those that don't want to give up my trekking poles. Maybe I should just give it a try and see how I like it. The expense of the umbrella is negligible and if I decide not to use it backpacking, then I still have a nice umbrella for everyday use. I really like the GoLite and will probably pick up one soon and let you know what I think after I have had a chance to use it.
Not sure this guy is right in the head...he sleeps on the ground. :scared:
First Golite product I bought the year they started business....99 or 2000 ish....was their umbrella. At the time it was not the reflective chrome version, they had not come out with that one yet. I used it off and on for a few years and liked it reasonably well. Still have it but it's been a while since I have taken it hiking. The article was very well written, good find.
AT 2011: We were dropped off in the rain and it was cold out - forecast called for heavy rain all day. As we bundled up and put our packs on for the long haul, we were protected from the rain since we were under the lifted rear hatch of my fathers Explorer. He sat in the drivers seat and must have thought on some level "what kind of idiot did I raise." Looking at me through the rear view mirror, he simply said "why don't you take that umbrella right there". Something made me say OK. I can only guess I agreed to take it to keep him from going insane. We'd be picked up three days later and I knew he'd be expecting it back. So I used it that entire day and carried it the rest of the way. I still got soaked, but I was not as bad as my buddy. We were doing short stretches and sleeping at just about every shelter we came to. The extra weight wasn't too bad, and the look on other hikers faces was priceless. The article is correct -they politely ask about the umbrella but are secretly thinking ... what an idiot. Though the pic below may not look like it. It did help and made life a little better. Especially after we got dried and changed at the shelter, but then went out for water, to the 'privy', etc... That's when I appreciated it the most.
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/a...psbdd21965.jpg
Here we stopped to eat lunch. This is the only photo I could find and had to take a picture of the picture with my phone.
Was it worth the weight the other two days, maybe not, but we still talk about it and that's worth it right there. Good times, good stories, and good friends.
Happily use my little umbrella. Others may laugh and sneer...but if I get wet it's from rain, not more sticky stinky sweat. I use only one hiking stick when deploying umbrella, haven't regretted the decision yet.
Well I grew up in Western Oregon, it was frowned upon to use an umbrella. So I just never owned one. Then I moved to the south, it rained it was hot and humid, I bought my first umbrella.
So now I have been all over North America, back in Oregon, I really hate the rain and the gray days. I bought one of the Golite Chrome umbrella's I love it. I use it to keep the sun off, the rain. I figure I could use it as a signal device if I get in trouble on the trail.
I was reading one or Ray Jardine's books, he went into great detail about umbrella's and how great they are. He gave all sorts of info about getting rid of all excess weight. Interesting reading, he really was ahead of his time. I get sort of sick when I remember how beautiful he was in motion while climbing. Too bad we all get older, I tend to forget how experienced in life I am getting until I look at current images of old friends.
Let's face it. In some cases an umbrella can be a pain. try going up or down a hill that requires you to use your hands. Think of the picture of someone using an umbrella and a hiking pole at the same time. It might work, but it depends on the situation. I use my rain jacket for many other purposes, such as wind breaker, shell in cold weather and for keeping the bugs off when I'm in the hammock.
Great article! Thank you Dos. I'd like to try one with the little shock cord/cord lock DIY thing the author linked to: http://packandpaddle.blogspot.com/20...your-pack.html
I like the idea of windblock for cooking, closing off an end of your tarp, and a screen for peeing ! woo hoo!
I love having an umbrella on the trail. I would love to upgrade my little $6 Wal-mart umbrella for a Go Lite Chrome Dome, but until then...I'll keep on trucking. In the shade, and out of the rain.
I decided to give umbrellas a try this year. I just picked up one made by Frogg Toggs. Cost was $10 and weight is 8 1/2 ounces. It is listed as a travel umbrella and does look reasonably durable.
Crawlingroad on youtube advocates a wilderness umbrella... Nutn'fancy has a video on the Blunt Umbrellas which are real quality. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vgvZQohdFs
Umbrellas are the ultimate breathable rain gear and great for those humid drizzly days where the choice is get wet from drizzle or get wet from sweat in your rain gear. They can be handy in camp while cooking, etc.
I don't like the idea of fastening it to my pack and just use one pole when in umbrella mode. Use any medium size umbrella to test, but it's pretty hard to beat the Golite for weight/cost/function. Birdiepal makes some good ones. Montbell makes one that looks like a big cigar when stowed---- really small. Shedrain makes the Shedrays silvered sun umbrella with wind vents in it (works for rain too). Stows to 12" but it weighs 13oz. You can find them at places like Target and Walmart.
I carry the Golite in a side pocket and under a compression strap like a tent pole. In fact, I just swap the umbrella with my spare pole.
I have 2 of these Blunt umbrellas, a proud NZ brand they are.they're awesome but expensive. I have one of the discontinued brollies, the XL. It's pretty heavy duty. Their latest model metro seems lighter, but they ain't cheap at all.
Yeah those Blunt umbrellas look sweet. I like that they can be inverted without beig damaged.
Ken
This is the one I use Travel 1pd 2oz of UV protection with a vented canopy. Also a Compact 13oz UV protection folds 10".
http://www.uv-blocker.com/uv-protect...-umbrella.html
Stick from Stick's blog talks about it on his last hike
The hike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBhD...e_gdata_player
The post hike
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzCE...e_gdata_player
Not sure if it would work in Ohio with the narrow and thorny trails I seem to hike. I would also use this as an additional piece along with my rain jacket. I encounter to much blowing rain but after the storm when the forest is still dripping it would be nice.
The first time I did take an umbrella with me, was on my PCT hike and used it for the first 700 miles. I must say, that I voted it my number one favorite item through the desert section, you can actually feel the temperature difference it makes. I also carried one on my section hike on the AT last year and must admit, that it comes in very handy during a light shower. I do not carry a hat and the rain in the eyes always annoyed me - it is so much better with a small travel umbrella!
The only setback is the hand that becomes occupied and when it gets stuck in dense woods. I actually stopped carrying a rain jacket, so there is no weight penalty for me.
I own and used these two umbrellas with the silver coating for sun protection:
Large umbrella with non-collapsible shaft:
http://www.euroschirm.com/schirm/lit..._land=englisch
Small umbrella with collapsible shaft, but not as sturdy:
http://www.euroschirm.com/schirm/Dai..._land=englisch
I can recommend both of these. The Golite Chrome Dome is actually 99% similar to the first lnked umbrella...
Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions!!
Snapper how much where those shipped to the US. 34£ is a lot plus shipping. Did like the kits to hold it while hiking both in use and stored.
I saw several individuals on the AT with umbrella,s. The day we were out, I don't think that would have kept us dry. Monsoon!
I was thankful to have one on my last backpacking trip when I had to answer nature's call.
I think they are actually in the range of 45 USD with shipping. The issue is, that I ordered them back in germany, where there is no shipping charge. But at least the medium sized hiking umbrella is made by the same manufacturer as the golite one, which is 24.99 USD in their online store.
The issue is the non collapsible handle though, which actually sticks out from my ULA CDT pack - so depending on your pack you might rather want a collapsible one.
Of note is the diameter once opened up. The one with 39.4 in / 100 cm diameter is way better in keeping you and most of your pack dry. Any Diameter below that will keep part of the rain away, but your pack and your arms will get wet.
This is an interesting idea. I definitely like having my hands free for my trekking poles. I am sure it worked for them, I just don't know if it is the right fit for me.
I saw that article a while back and was amped on trying an umbrella for backpacking. Thank god I didn't buy one! This weekend the family and I went on a short day hike and we knew it was going to rain. I grabbed a cheap small travel umbrella and off we went. Well it poured and the umbrella worked, well like an umbrella. The problem i found was if you hike in the wood it's going to hit every tree limb hanging over the trail. Not worth it for the east coast IMO. I did notice in the article now he was hiking where there was no trees.
I see you and raise
http://img.tapatalk.com/d/14/03/05/qy6eru4a.jpg
so....I watched the video again today.
Definitely decided I didn't want a collapsible one.
Went to order one off of the Blunt site with the coupon from the video (nutnfancy).
I called customer service.
She generated a new code since that one expired.
Got $20 off plus free shipping.
Totally stoked!
caveat: have to agree with krshome about an umbrella hitting every branch on the East Coast.
but I am going to give it a go!
I have done two hikes with a golite Crome dome. I got to say I am digging it. We had on and off rain for a couple of hours. When it stopped raining everyone started overheating so the stopped took off the packs and then their rain jackets put their packs back on and started again. When it started to rain they reversed the process. I was able to reach back to my circuit pull out the umbrella and deploy it without stopping. I put the handle behind my sternum strap and the little grip tie out behind a shoulder strap and it stayed there as I continued to hike still using both trekking poles. When it stopped raining I was able to collapse and stow it away without missing a beat. I did have to worry about some branches but not much.
I won't sacrifice my rain gear, especially in cooler weather, pulls too much double duty, but on summer hikes the umbrella works better for me.
Saw this the other day: http://www.outdoor-show.com/od-en/pr...8&sMode=detail
Hikingboots and I climbed Mt San Jacinto (calif) the other weekend. Part of the trail overlaps with the PCT so we saw a lot of thru hikers that day. One guy flew past us, looked like he was carrying a go lite umbrella and a GG pack, maybe a kumo. Thought he was a trail runner he was so fast. I asked him how the umbrella was working for him, he said it was a life saver in the earlier desert stretch. Also saw some sunburnt thru hikers as well that day. We don't get a lot of rain here in California but I could see myself getting a golite for sun protection more than rain.
This will be my third season for using a 'brella. I like it alot. Mine is the Snow Peak (yea, you read that right) it weighs 4.7 as stated by Snow Peak. For hands free I have Camelback tube traps, one on each shoulder strap so I can switch sides as needed and a Nitize twist tie that locks it down. I have had little trouble hitting trees but I am mostly on established trails when I hike. Bushwacking with a 'brella would be problematic.
I'm taking a Chrome Dome on my AT SOBO in about three weeks. Love that thing to pieces.
Not sure if it was mentioned in the previous 5 pages, but I wonder about using one of those big "golf" umbrellas.
The one I have is pretty heavy duty and fairly long, maybe close to 3'. If there was a way to extend it a little more, maybe it could be used as one of your hiking poles? Totally overkill when opened, but trying to see it from a dual use position.
the thing you have to consider is that the wide the umbrella the wider the trail has to be as well. I have a golite Crome Dome and there have been some cases where I rubbed the ends on branches or squeezing in between two trees. So a larger umbrella would make that more likely depending on where you hike. I will be taking my cromedome to Philmont Scout ranch in July where I am sure I will not be worried about side obstacles as much.
I laughed at the idea when I first heard of it. But, then I thought and figured I'd give it a go. So, 2 years ago I got an umbrella from GoLite. I used it on a 70 mile hike and it payed off. I got caught in a good storm that produces a significant amount of hail.
That's when the quick retract/deploy option comes into play. See a tight squeeze up ahead? Retract the brella a little. Anything tight enough to snag you then would be tight enough to snag a poncho, jacket, pack, etc. Like hammocks, the umbrella has a slight learning curve.
My wife thought that I was insane for wanting one. She just took it on a 5/4 trip where it rained every day. She love the quick deploying and flexibility of it. I think that she is hooked.
I prefer a poncho for rain. Where I'm at, there's plenty of palm fronds for the umbrella if needed.