Coolibar UPF 50+ 42 Inch Sodalis Travel Umbrella - Sun Protective

I have the larger umbrella and it’s amazing except it doesn’t fit in my bag, so I bought this to be more convenient - it’s windy where I live, it ended up flipping inside out 6x in 10 mins so I ended up walking back home to get the larger one. It’s pretty heavy too. I would return but I threw out the packaging already.

I love this umbrella. Works great in the rain and creates shade when Im at outdoor events. Im the kind of person who gets unfortunately burned despite a hat and sunblock so this is a must for me while living in sunny southern CA. Others have mentioned concerns about the weight and sturdiness of this umbrella. For me, this lives in my purse and only comes out during periods where Ill be in the sun for extended periods or when it rains. In the 2 months Ive had it it has stood up well so far, though Ive probably only used it on 10 occasions.

Nice umbrella

It is very solid, good size umbrella but also very heavy to carry in the handbag.

This is the first umbrella I have purchased for shade protection. It really does help! I live in Arizona, so I was skeptical that it would make much of a difference, but it does! I also love that the silver exterior makes it feel a bit less odd walking in the sunshine with it. :) The handle has a comfortable grip, and it closes small enough to stash in your purse or briefcase. I only wish that it was a bit easier to close, as it takes strength to compress the metal rod back to its smaller size (which is required to then activate the button to open it again). Even with that downside, I would purchase this again or recommend for friends and family, as it really does help counteract the intensity of the sun. Coolibar is one of the few companies endorsed by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Be wary of cheaper imitations, as they are often made of subpar materials that dont truly block UVA and UVB rays.

I have been using this umbrella for years, I wore mine and it is time to buy a new one. If you are not using this ladies...kiss your skin goodbye. Everyone who sees me asks me what is my secret to my beautiful skin, well... staying out of the sun is a big factor. By the way, I also ware the long sun sleeves. This umbrella is incredible, it has reversed hinges, so if it is too windy, it flips backwards & you flip it forward! I would not waste any money, trying to save money buying a cheaper umbrella...this is it :-)

This is a quality umbrella with good sun coverage. I live in Arizona and it feels cooler under this umbrella vs. a normal umbrella.

Bought this umbrella Oct 2012 for month-long India trip and used daily. Hate sunblock and can get away with less because this provides so much protection. Seems to lower outside temp by 10-15 degrees, so not only protected but also lot cooler. Taken it on multiple international trips since and, in fact, currently on 10-day Jordan trip (Dead Sea today) and lifesaver yet again, given constant sun/heat. But this has been my go-to umbrella since purchase. Live in New England and have used it for rain, snow, sleet, sun. Its beginning to show some wear/tear, partly because of the nature of the silver coating and also Im not careful with it at all. Rarely use protective cover, as I should. Im giving it 4 star, but 4.5 if I could, but not 5 stars because it isnt perfect. A bit heavy and does turn inside out in high winds, but I can live with both minuses. When this one wears out, will buy another and try to protect it more.

With 350 days of sunshine each year, I am thrilled to find something that will protect me from the Tucson desert rays, and keep me cooler on my walks to the campus shuttle bus. I have been using for 2 weeks Not recommended for our windy days, but other than that, I am glad to have this umbrella. Noticed another person with same umbrella the other day, walking across campus. We both agreed this is a great product!

I have admired the sun umbrellas that I have seen used by travelers in the tropics, so finally ordered one myself for our next trip to Thailand. The Coolibar travel umbrella arrived today - just in time for the trip. But unfortunately there are two problems. First, the umbrella does not open properly. Pressing the push button, only partially opens the umbrella. To get the umbrella to fully open and to stay open, you must force the center mechanism up and down several times pushing it firmly against the end stop. Once it stops sliding backward, you must then pull down the sides of the umbrella, so that it is not partially inverted. This process is too cumbersome to open an umbrella. Second, it is difficult to hold the open umbrella because it is very top heavy and poorly balanced. It requires an awkward force to hold it at any angle other than completely upright. While the concept of this umbrella is a fine one, the problems with not opening properly and the poor balance lead to my rating is only 1 star.