Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Before I made this purchase, I checked a pretty decent number of reviews and comparisons. Granted, I've had umbrellas in the past, but I'd never made an informed purchase when selecting one for myself. Generally, I just grabbed whatever was on sale at my local retailer and happened to be an acceptable color. I had accepted as fact that compact travel umbrellas would always have tiny, flimsy canopy coverage that required me to huddle beneath them while my arms and anything I was carrying got soaked and that the first noteworthy gust of wind would render them useless, if not destroy them. After my last umbrella experienced a catastrophic failure from a relatively normal breeze, I decided that there has to be a better product and that I was going to find it. My requirements were that it had to be compact enough to fit into my glove compartment, feature auto-open/close, and open with a large enough canopy for me to walk comfortably and remain dry with something in my arms. My search led me to the Repel Easy Touch, which had come out at or near the top of many comparison tests and had an endless list of stellar reviews. I can honestly say that the people were not wrong. I absolutely love this little umbrella. At 11.5" when compacted, it is amongst the smaller end of its class and easily fits in my glove compartment. However, it pops out to a generous 42" canopy that offers great coverage for all but the largest of individuals. Not only does it do these things, but it has a look and feel that imparts obvious quality and attention to design. Press that little button and the canopy deploys with very authoritative speed and power that is sure to impress the user, as well as any nearby witnesses. The main shaft appears to be thicker and more substantial than most. The 9 sturdy ribs hold the canopy quite taut and do incredibly well on windy days for a lightweight single-canopy design (there are heavier and larger dual-canopy umbrellas that are stronger, but they don't meet my needs here). And of course, it dries instantly when you're out of the rain, with the auto-close working every bit as well as the auto-open. The bottom line is that I love this umbrella and am extremely pleased that I decided to spend a little bit more to get a better value. The follow-up email from the company after purchase and the fact that they back their product with a lifetime warranty further evidence the quality of the product and sweeten the purchase experience. So if you need or want a compact travel umbrella, I highly recommend this product. It is definitely worth the few extra dollars.