Miscellany: Umbrella Reviews & Musings

The mini folding umbrellas are really pretty useful. I have one that readily fits into the flap on my backpack designed for a water bottle, yet opens into a 42" diameter canopy. It's light and unobtrusive, so I just keep it there all the time. It's useful whenever it's raining, of course, but also on those days when the sun is scorching the earth and you're standing there waiting for the bus out in the middle of the sidewalk (not all stops at UF have bus shelters).

The larger umbrellas are much better for anything more than a drizzle, however. Especially nice are the big golf umbrellas that can fit two or three people beneath their wide canopies. Even nicer are the windproof golf umbrellas with those handy flaps to let air through the top of the umbrella. Of course, once you've hit that point, it might be necessary to get a raincoat.

I used to have half a dozen umbrellas - they're so handy in Florida that it never hurts to have a few ready for guests, plus a backup in case you forget one on the bus or something. They're cheap; nearly all the umbrellas you can buy today are made in China, like most other consumer goods. I've never made my mind up whether this is good or bad - my gut says that competition is always best, but it's disheartening to see how people are treated back in the old country.