ShedRain  43" Vortex Vented Compact Auto Open/Close Umbrella

Works really well but the inside mechanism rusted all over after only a few uses

I've run it through its paces enough now to render a review. Upsides: Beefy build and the vent keeps the wind from turning the umbrella inside out. Also very compact. The downsides, IMO, make this a cautionary buy. I think the umbrella is too flat when it's open. I think not having any arc is responsible for my getting wet from the shoulders down when it's raining in any kind of breeze. Which is ironic since it's designed to withstand a breeze. More on the picky side, a sleeve would have been nice to store after use and keep water from dripping everywhere. The Velcro strap that's used to secure it when folded is annoying when open. It flaps around everywhere. In the wind.

I use umbrellas often as I live in a rainy state and am walking outdoors for my work between buildings all day. I have gone through many different name brands that were not as quite costly as this one, but also not made as well. Most umbrellas that use a push button to open are difficult to press and eventual just fail altogether. So far, that has not been the case. I've used it a lot, and it was a snap to open. I only wish there had been better colors/ patterns to choose from. Extra plus, it has a lifetime warranty, no questions asked.

Decided to take a chance and use some of my member rebate cash on a decent umbrella since the description on the REI website made this sound like a solid choice. When it arrived the first thing that struck me was how heavy it is for its size - which I guess makes it sturdier, but much less pleasant to tote around. Second thing I noticed is that it doesn't come with a carrying sleeve, which you would expect a $40 umbrella to come with. (It does, however, come with a ridiculously oversized and intrusive velcro tab sewn on that flops around annoyingly when the umbrella is open.) The opening and closing mechanism is smooth, so I'll give it that. But it's a lot smaller than that 43" dome size indicates - It's barely enough to cover my upper body, and forget it if I'm wearing a backpack. The handle itself is too short, and as others have noted, the rubber part at the end is barely big enough to wrap three fingers around. So, back it goes, All in all, a big disappointment.

After less than 6 months the auto open/close feature broke and there is no way to manually open and close. I had used the umbrella 10 times or less. Before this happened, I like the umbrella, but I feel horrible now that this will probably just end up in a landfill after such a short time.

Nice size and holds it’s ground in high wind and rain.

I’m very happy with this umbrella. It is well built, opens and closes easily. It has a substantial Velcro closure that I expect to last for a very long time and the venting is important when you have rain and wind together.

Used on two week long trips with substantial rain. Worked fine on the first trip, but the second trip included walking for a couple of hours in a steady, windy downpour and by the second day water was dripping through the umbrella. As other reviewers have noted, it's also heavy (I did buy it at the store, so knew this but thought the windproofness might make it worth it), and it's coverage is small - before it started leaking my mid-back and front were getting wet because they weren't covered. I plan to return.

I’ve owned this for a year and a half, recently bought the larger version too. This small one just broke after not very many uses, and the larger version also just broke after two uses in the month I owned it. I’m at least able to return the large one. Disappointing quality for what I expected to be a nice product.