Thursday, February 14, 2008

BUYING UMBRELLA

Buying an umbrella may seem a simple process, but selecting the correct one will save time and trouble when the rainy season starts. There are a few things to consider when purchasing an umbrella that can help you make the best choice for your personal needs.The first consideration is to assess how often the umbrella will be used. If you live in area with infrequent rain, then an inexpensive telescoping umbrella is probably the best choice. If you live in Seattle or other rainy climes, you will naturally want a very sturdy umbrella, and preferably one not easily blown away by high winds. beach umbrella,beach umbrellas,garden umbrella,golf umbrella,patio umbrella,rain umbrella For those who live in rainy climates, it is generally better to purchase larger and hardier umbrellas. It is harder to get away with smaller umbrellas when rain is particularly fierce or driving. Most who want a sturdy umbrella favor long umbrellas, as opposed to the telescoping type. Usually the handle is made of wood or hard plastic, and the overhead portion tends to be larger than telescoping varieties. The domed umbrella reaches farther down and may successfully provide coverage to the middle of the chest. They are often available in see through plastics, which help navigating congested areas easier.

Many favor umbrellas of Italian make, which are often bright in color, and generally have a water treated cotton canvas that is quite water resistant. As well, the cotton dries quickly. Some come with decorative handles since in rainy areas, the umbrella may well be considered a fashion accessory as well as a necessity.Choice between a c-curve and a straight handle is highly individual. You may want to try out several of each type to discover which feels best to the hand. Many find the curved handle to be a bit more manageable in keeping the umbrella straight during heavy winds. Others feel the curved handle is harder to manage when the umbrella or the hands are wet from rain.Larger umbrellas will be more expensive, and if you want to make a fashion statement by using a designer umbrella, you will pay even more. Generally, a good quality umbrella will cost about 40 US dollars (USD). Designer umbrellas can be significantly more expensive.

If you are selecting an umbrella for a child, there are a number of cute designs available, although function over fashion may be preferred. For very young children, don’t invest a lot of money. Chances are, abusive use of a small umbrella will result in breakage, or frequently, umbrellas are lost at school. Perhaps the best bet for young children is the Totes® umbrella, which is a compact, telescopic umbrella. They are sold with a cover and are easily fit into backpacks. They are also inexpensive, usually less than 10 USD. If you walk in the rain through busy areas, you may also want to observe a bit of umbrella courtesy. Very large umbrellas on a small crowded street may mean taking up a bit more space than is needed for coverage, and crashing one’s umbrella into others should be avoided. For those who really need the coverage, dome umbrellas are slightly narrower in diameter, and will help one avoid unnecessary collisions with others hurrying through the rain. Also, to avoid dripping, be sure to purchase an umbrella cover, so that you can conscientiously preserve the floor when you come in from the rain.

RAIN UMBRELLAS

RAIN UMBRELLAS

Still used to protect from the sun umbrellas are the only easy solution to traveling by not and staying dry on a rainy day Climate changes more wet weather as well as health risks due to overexposure to the elements has shored up business for umbrella manufacturers around the world

Brilliant colors unusual shapes myriad textures and intricate designer work have altered the drab umbrella image of the past Stark black accents bobbing along crowded streets are no longer the norm Today rain umbrellas make chic statements about you and your personality They double up as a great gift item for birthday parties showers or anniversaries especially when customized and emblazoned for the occasion

Children fall in love with umbrellas that have polka dots smiley faces or frisky kittens puppies or cartoon capers Little girls cling to that lilachearted splendor with ruffles to frame the beauty Rainbowhued umbrella alternatives fixed by elastic around the forehead allow young boys unhindered romps in the puddles

The variations of rain umbrellas are endless and you can find one to suit your needs according to budget size and temperament

Some newer variations include dome bubble umbrellas that are transparent and cover the person up to the shoulders enabling easy navigation on crowded streets Another ingeniously modified umbrella is the dog umbrella which enables a guiltfree walk in the park with your pet who stays comfortably dry too

A recent addition is a handsfree device that Velcros your umbrella frame on to you and encourages unhindered movement Perhaps the newest reinvention is the Lotus 23 invented by an Australian university design student who has taken the umbrella industry by storm Its dynamics and flexibility prevent buffeting from the wind It unfolds from and can retract completely into a slim handle The inventive mechanism helps squeeze out all the extra rainwater and permits easy storage Carrying an umbrella can become as simple as a pen in your pocket

PATIO UMBRELLA

PATIO UMBRELLA

Patio umbrellas are an ideal way to keep the sun away when enjoying the outdoors A patio umbrella will also compliment any outdoor setting Patio umbrellas are like large versions of average umbrellas and come in many different shapes sizes colors and fabrics There are many different types of patio umbrellas available and all of them have many benefits

Different types of umbrellas

Offset patio umbrellas These umbrellas are designed to create more space under the umbrella They have their pole off to the side of the umbrella instead of in the middle This is an ideal alternative if your outdoor table setting doesnt have an umbrella hole in the middle of it Or you wish to maximize space under the umbrella another useful thing that an offset umbrella can offer is shade when using just seating without a table as they are freestanding

Market patio umbrellas These umbrellas are ideal for outdoor setting tables that have a readymade hole in them for an umbrella Market umbrellas are lightweight and easy to handle They come in many different fabrics and sizes There are also freestanding umbrellas available

Patio umbrella gazebos This type of umbrella is much like a market umbrella although it has a cotton netting around it that makes it ideal to keep bugs and insects out of the way when outside Most of the netting is machine washable and the umbrella can fold down easily

What to look for in a market umbrella

Although there are many different types of patio umbrellas available there are some very important options available to be considered when choosing a patio umbrella Some of these are practical as well as enhancing

Sturdy design

Freestanding options

Strong pole

Stainless Steel or Aluminum base

Nylon hubs instead of plastic for durability

Easy to fold away and store

Not too heavy

Easy to open and close

Positional tilting

Nonfade quality material or fabric that is durable

A reasonable warranty

Depending on the price range that you have in mind and the intended purpose of your umbrella some or all of these features are ideal when making a choice

Where to buy a patio umbrellas

There are many online stores with very good reputations that will offer cheap or free postage to ship market umbrellas They also offer customers very reasonable prices Check the types of payment options that are available how long delivery will take and whether they offer insurance to replace damaged items When choosing an online store it is advisable to buy from stores that have a very good reputation with satisfied customers If the item you have chosen sounds too cheap or too good to be true then it may be

Other places to purchase patio umbrellas are at patio furniture stores Most of the stores have catalogues that allow you can browse through the different types of umbrellas available An ideal time to buy a patio umbrella is when there are sales going on That way you arent sacrificing quality for a cheaper price tag

GOLF UMBRELLA

GOLF UMBRELLA

If you are a golfer and play on a regular basis it is inevitable that you are going to get caught out in the rain The way to be prepared for this inevitability is by having a golf umbrella handy and ready to press into service In fact many seasoned golfers consider a golf umbrella to be essential equipment Their reasoning being that golfing when soaking wet from the rain is no fun at all

For this reason here is a short list of things to consider when selecting which golf umbrella you will add to your golfing tool box

Wind Resistance
You definitely want to make sure that the umbrella you choose can resist the strong winds you are likely to encounter out on the course To be sure see that it has what is known as a double canopy or some other form of open air slots This design is desired because it prevents the flow of air from reversing Which is what causes the annoying phenomenon in which the wind turns your umbrella inside out

Color and Imprinted Patterns
You should of course find and choose the umbrella that is in keeping with your own style and tastes but this should be as colorful and eye catching as you are comfortable with You may look for an imprinted golf umbrella with a favorite logo or your favorite sports team The reason for choosing an umbrella that it is brightly colored and easily noticed is that it ensures that it and you are visible to other golfers during dark overcast weather conditions

Shaft Flexibility
The material that the umbrellas shaft is made from is very important It is key to find one that allows a little flexibility or movement during windy weather If possible the umbrella you purchase should have a fiberglass shaft This is the safer alternative in case there is lightening in the area when you are forced to put your umbrella in to service

Size Matters
You should obtain the largest umbrella you can find and comfortably handle out on the golf course This is for obvious reasons The larger your umbrella the more area you have to shield yourself from the weather This is particularly important for those which carry their own bag while out on the course Youll want to also use your umbrella to shield your equipment from the weather keeping it dry as much as possible

BEACH UMBRELLA

BEACH UMBRELLA

With incidences of skin cancer on the increase a beach umbrella should be on everyones list of what to bring for a day of fun in the sun Even if you wear sunscreen sunglasses and a sun hat its still possible to get burned by those relentless rays from the sun and a nice patch of shady sand sure comes in handy on a hot sunny afternoon Purchasing the very first sun shade you find might just leave you with a flimsy shelter that blows over with the first strong breeze Better to do a bit of research first to find out what makes a really high quality beach umbrella one that will be worth the money you pay for it and give you years of service. Nylon and cotton canvas are the two main materials of choice for beach umbrella construction Heavy nylon can be just as durable as thick cotton canvas but it has the dual advantages of weighing less and drying faster after those summer showers that can pop up so quickly

Nylon is also more fade resistant so if bright colors and patterns are important to you a nylon beach umbrella has further advantage over canvas

Poles

Now lets talk about poles Poles or stakes as they are sometimes referred to are available in both wood and metal Wooden poles have been used for years but they can wear out with repeated use Today oneinch thick steel poles are the material of choice for greater durability

Sizes

Size matters Do you need a beach umbrella just for yourself or one you can share A six foot width umbrella is a decent size for one person especially if you like to have room to stretch out but if you plan on bringing a friend look for one with at least an eight foot spread

UV Protection

Not all beach umbrellas are created equal under the sun If you are especially prone to burning even when you wear sunscreen then youll want to purchase an umbrella made with UV protective material Some manufacturers offer shades with sun protection factors of 35

Never head to the beach without your Sand Blaster These tools are used to hammer your pole into the ground and make set up easier when you find yourself on compacted sand

A handy sand screw can also help you anchor your pole more securely keeping your shade right where you want it It works exactly like a cork screw Just twist the extended handle while applying a bit of pressure toward the ground Once you are in simply slide the pole into the base and you are finished

Smart Style

The basic shade and pole style is perfectly serviceable but if you want a bit more comfort try adding a clampon beach umbrella to your favorite beach chair or lounger So now you know what to look for when you go shopping Any umbrella that combines durability safety and convenience should be well worth the price tag it carrys so be choosey and pick the best model you can afford