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

This umbrella made sunny, 90-degree days in a theme park completely bearable. It definitely felt significantly cooler under the umbrella, and it even kept us from getting burned at the beach. We encountered some windy weather, and though the umbrella blew inside-out a few times, it always slid easily back to the right way. It opened and closed easily dozens of times.

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.

The first time I used this umbrella it broke. It will not stay open and I cannot get the handle to collapse again. I have struggled to fix it as it looks very sturdy, but I cannot fix it. I didnt use it until passing the return date, so I doubt I can get a refund.

I love my Coolibar umbrella! I could not wait to get it out of the box and immediately use it on my long walk to the market. I started carrying an umbrella/parasol a couple of years ago, in addition to wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat Since then I have seen a few others pick up on this sensible idea. Most of the others were Asian woman. I was so glad to find this Coolibar titanium umbrella that had UV protection in a portable size. Not only is it convenient, it is not too heavy, and looks smart with every possible outfit. I also like the hunter green lining. Reminds me of the traditional dark green porch and beach umbrellas that I remember fondly from my childhood. This umbrella is chic, practical and makes a statement that you are an intelligent self-protective person. I love carrying it. It keeps me cool under a blazing hot southern sun. It stores easily it its own case and fits nicely into a tote bag when indoors.

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.

The fabric used in the umbrella is perfect, however, the ventilation of the umbrella is practically nonexistent. This umbrella cannot be used in the wind. It turns inside out very easily and is a hassle to use. It’s really only useful on a virtually windless day. You couldn’t use this at the beach at all. I used it on a walk in my hometown (not near the coast) on a spring day with mild winds and it turned inside out several times. I haven’t used it since, so it was a waste of money.

I’ve had this send umbrella for a year and a half, I live in Texas, so it is highly needed. The umbrella is very cheap and flimsy and folds at the slightest wind, making it completely useless and utterly frustrating.

Just what I needed. SPF COVERAGE

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.

The umbrella functions but is a bit bulky. It almost looks home made to tell you the truth. BUT it does keep you cooler watching the baseball, soccar games and running meets, so I do not mind it’s look that much. Some might like the look. Quite industrial looking.