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

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.

Good sun protection. It does feel a little flimsy compared to the other top brand, but its not for busting the wind; its for protection against sun damage. The other brand doesnt consistently produce the 43 umbrella, and that one is only available through one vendor; so this meets that gap. I bought two and use one everyday.

This product has an unusually short handle, which makes it very awkward and uncomfortable to hold. You need to hold your arm in an 90° angle which begins to cramp after a while. Its also very difficult to close.

I really like this umbrella. It fits in my purse and its light enough to take with me on day trips. Its nice to have in case I find myself in a sunny spot. My only gripe is that its a bit difficult to close-I need to use both hands. But thats a minor complaint for a great product. Im really glad I bought it. I will be getting a lot of use from it this summer. I also purchased Coolibars large sun umbrella and Im very happy with that as well.

I love this umbrella. This is the second one Ive purchased. I still use the first one I purchased about 12 years ago, but it is silver and is starting to look a little tired . When I saw this umbrella in blue, I thought it was so pretty that I decided to treat myself to a new one. As a resident in San Diego, we have many sunny days, and the UV rating gets higher all the time. As a fair skinned person, I take UV protection very seriously. Ive tried UV rated clothing, but always felt so uncomfortable due to the type of material used to create the UV protection. They claim to be wicking but that doesnt reduce the warmth I feel. The same goes for wearing a hat. Its just too uncomfortable since all my heat escapes through my head, not to mention how it flattens my hair. Using this umbrella makes the heat and sun very bearable as I walk to the gym or run errands each day, and I can wear sleeveless tank tops without concern for the sun. Of course, Ive been doing this for years so Im used to the odd looks I get sometimes, but most people say, what a great idea. I noticed that some reviews complain about the weight of the umbrella since it is considered a travel umbrella. This weight is caused by the thickness of the spines, which is what makes it such a quality umbrella. But holding it in position has never felt uncomfortable to me at all. This sturdiness is really helpful on windy days. On very windy days I have had it turn inside out, but I just turned the umbrella to face the opposite direction and it reverted back to its original shape. I have since learned how to hold the umbrella so that the dome faces the wind, and it wont turn inside out. However, this happens only on extremely windy days. As far as comfort goes, I once went to a store opening event and upon arrival saw the the line to get in was long and shade was limited; most people were standing in the sun. I did not have my UV umbrella with me, so I grabbed the small black rain umbrella I keep in the car. As I stood in line, I felt the heat despite of the shade that the umbrella provided. It was stifling! That is the problem with regular umbrellas since they dont reflect the sun so you get heated while using them. The Coolibar umbrella stays cool underneath and is very comfortable. I think the $49 price of Coolibars umbrella is reasonable for the quality. I paid the same price 12 years ago, and in the case of umbrellas, you definitely get what you pay for. I highly recommend this umbrella for anyone who is concerned about UV rays and being comfortable in the sun.

My first impression is that it is of high quality and worth the money. I bought it for a gift. Very beautiful. Just a little on the heavy side.

I really love this umbrella. I have used it for sun protection, and its like having my own little tree shading me! It keeps me cooler and protects my arms and chest as well as my face. Every time I open it up, I think how awesome it is! It did take me some time to get used to how it opens and closes. In fact, the first day I used it, I was running to catch the bus, and I tripped as I was trying to close the umbrella. I did fall, but the umbrella was still okay. (And so was I.) So I can say that it is quite durable! I wish it were a little more compact, so it would be easier to carry around. I really only bring it with me when I know I will be out in the sun for long periods of time. If it were lighter and smaller, I could ust always have it with me, ust in case! I do think it was a great purchase and I am very happy with it.

For the price I expected something more sturdy. Kinda awkward length would have been better if it was a bit longer but I needed it to travel. Im going to look into the next size up thats longer and has a handle

The handle was a little wobbly from the day 1, but I figured it should be OK, and it was; it blocked the suns rays nicely. That is, until late summer this year. It literally collapsed one day while in use, with a big BANG! Now it wont open. Automatic umbrellas mechanism tend to go before the rest of the umbrella, but really, you would think it should last a little longer at this price. Ive had a rain umbrella (with automatic mechanism) given to me as a free-bee live much longer than this. I think this one is overpriced for the quality. UPDATE: I contacted Coolibar; it turns out the umbrella is guaranteed for life. They replaced it for free. I have my finger crossed that this one wont collapse like the last one. (It was difficult not to have my best sun protection for a while.)

Great little umbrella for keeping the sun off. Not a light little thing. Strong sturdy feel and well made. Not as light as I thought it would be. But, it works great.