Customer Reviews

Travel Accessories Samsonite Windguard Auto Open Umbrella

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I do a lot of walking to & from work in downtown Philly, and over the past year I've thrown away about a half dozen umbrellas. Either they violently blow inside out and the spanners snap, or they just fold-in and get mangled up when pushed into the wind. This Samsonite umbrella is heavy-duty grade compared with most. It is actually two umbrellas in one. There's a big canopy, then a smaller one on top of that. Wind can blow between them. It feels heavier, too, since the spanners are a thick metal. When the wind kicks-up I don't worry about it blowing inside out. It's got a good-size grip and still folds up pretty small (about 14 inches long). This is a serious umbrella built to handle some pretty nasty weather.

Dec 21, 2010 Update:
A few months ago, I had the umbrella hanging off the back of a chair by its hand strap. It slipped off the chair and crashed on the tile floor, landing on the top center canopy button. The button broke off, and the next time I opened the umbrella, the canopy flew off the handle. I wish the top canopy button were metal! I'm still going to replace it with the same model, since I was very happy with its performance while in tact - I'll just be more careful with where I hang it!

Since I lost my old Rainkist double canopy folding umbrella (a gift), I was looking for one with the same characteristics at an affordable price. It had to be a double canopy, because these are perfect in gusty conditions, and also it had to be a folding one, so I can carry it in my backpack (I like to go free-handed). This Samsonite Winguard Auto Open Umbrella was perfect. It is sturdy but at the same time, very light to carry on. The rubber handle is very comfortable. The fabric looks great and repels the water. The size was another plus: only 16 1/2 when folded, it fits perfectly in a backpack or even a briefcase. When open, its has a very ample canopy. In conclusion, a great umbrella at a very good price.

This umbrella isn't small or light, but it's sturdy and perfect for heavy wind and rain, and quite attractive.

I got this umbrella last week, and have had the chance to "break it in" the last couple days during a moderate weekend storm. It looks great, feels solid, and seems to be very well made. My only complaint would be that the folded-up size is a bit larger than expected, but I'm getting used to it. But here's what it's all about---the wind-resistant design really works! Walking across a parking lot today, the wind kicked up, and I watched another guy's umbrella turn inside-out right in front of me. Mine held strong, while his went into the garbage.

This is a really nice umbrella and feels very well put together but it's LONG. I have a ginormous purse/bag that I commute to work with and this umbrella has to be shoved in diagonally to make it in. Otherwise I'm very satisfied. I haven't yet been able to test it on a super windy day but it has handled normal windy/rainy days great.

Living in damp, windy New England, we were sick of getting soaked. Someone gave my husband the Samsonite Windquard Auto Open Umbrella for Christmas last year- and we smirked! What a pedestrian present! However, after using sub-standard umbrellas for decades, I took his umbrella "out for a spin". Well, there was no spin involved in this sturdy, smoothly-opening champion. It has an ergonomic, rubber grip and broad coverage, despite telescoping into a fat, short stick, making it easy to "park". I did the only sensible thing-I asked for my own umbrella for Christmas this year. No more broken spokes, neatsy-cutsy colorful designs - everted by the storm! It is the BMW of umbrellas, at a price you can afford. Understated, functional art! a great gift for the engineer or difficult-to-please perfectionist in your life-or new graduate, retiree and every one in between!

This umbrella really does work well in windy weather. On many occasions I've walked with no problem in the wind while watching others struggle with their umbrellas. I also find the green/tan color scheme tasteful/attractive. The auto-open mechanism still works perfectly after about 6-8 months of use, which cannot be said of cheaper umbrellas.

However, after about 3 months of use, the velcro on the parts which wrap around the umbrella to close it, started to unravel and become unglued from the flap itself. The velcro on the top flap/part will not attach at all, and the bottom one barely does. I have not used the umbrella heavily, otherwise.

So I'm left with an umbrella that does an excellent job for its size, but does not close/fold up.

I like the compact size and it does very well in the wind. The only time it turned inside out was when I opened it up sideways on a very windy night. The reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because it leaked one day during heavy rain; I think it was because I had put it back into its case wet a few times that morning.

I live in New York City and was tired of my umbrellas flipping over in the wind. I purchased this Samsonite for its sturdy, stylish look. It performs well but has one major problem: closing it is a pain. The glider is rough and irritates my fingers when grasped. It also requires a lot of force to bring down and lock in place, I often need to push the umbrella against a wall to secure.

This windproof umbrella is for those days you need protection from heavy rain and wind. Coverage is a bit wider than the typical carry in your bag umbrella, but not as large as a golf umbrella which would be too big to walk the streets of New York City without banging into people. I had used a Totes Stormbeater umbrella for years, but they discontinued manufacturing that size and now only offer huge windproof umbrellas which is not practical for NYC, or you can get a smaller size at the outlets which is great to leave in my bag, but the larger size 41 inch canopy is what I grab when there was serious wind and rain. The Samsonite handle is comfortable but could be a bit thicker for a sturdier hold. Other than that, I am very happy with this purchase.