Hiking with an Umbrella

**mrmike65** · 05-16-2014, 22:12

Saw this the other day: http://www.outdoor-show.com/od-en/pr...8&sMode=detail

**agent00111** · 05-16-2014, 22:26

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.

**Two Tents** · 05-16-2014, 23:04

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.

**Poedog** · 05-20-2014, 17:24

I'm taking a Chrome Dome on my AT SOBO in about three weeks. Love that thing to pieces.

**OneClick** · 05-22-2014, 12:24

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.

**Nighthauk** · 05-22-2014, 13:25

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.

**Apeman1470** · 05-28-2014, 16:46

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.

**Poedog** · 05-29-2014, 06:25

Originally Posted by Nighthauk

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.

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.

**Nighthauk** · 05-29-2014, 06:35

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.