Awesome Umbrellas

Located in Saudi Arabia, Al Masjid an Nabawi, or the Prophet’s Mosque, sees tens of millions of visitors each year. On the hottest and sunniest days it protects pilgrims from the harsh conditions under an array of 250 giant motorized umbrellas that deploy over its massive 1.6 million square foot courtyard. The umbrellas were engineered by SL Rasch.

The tiny but mighty Weatherman Travel Umbrella was designed by an actual weatherman to be the strongest compact umbrella available. Weighing less than 1 lb, it fits in any small backpack. With a single click, it opens to battle rain and winds up to 45 mph. Reinforced fiberglass plastic defends against inverting or breaking when the weather turns bad.

Because umbrellas do their job pretty well, there hasn’t been much need for innovation in their design. I Build Stuff came up with a modern spin on the old umbrella by making one that flies and hovers above his head. The umbrella drone has lots of drawbacks like it doesn’t fold and has a built-in time limit, but it’s still a fun build.

Rain or shine, the game must go on. Weatherman Umbrella makes cloudy golf days less soggy with the Arnold Palmer Collection, paying tribute to one of golf’s greatest stars with two designs in 40” and 57” widths. Both styles have fiberglass shafts and water-repellant vented canopies that can withstand winds up to 55 mph.

If you stand under an umbrella-shaped fountain, you can stay dry from the water over your head. But the idea of an umbrella made out of water seems ridiculous. James from The Action Lab tested the idea to see if the laminar flow of water coming from the umbrella would deflect raindrops away, or if they’d still get wet.

Neither snow nor rain nor soggy uniforms keep a Formula 1 racing crew from the swift completion of their intense pit crew duties. After perfecting a rugged umbrella for the pro golfers, Weatherman teamed up with the McLaren Formula 1 Team to engineer a racetrack-worthy limited-edition McLaren Collection umbrellas.

Modern umbrellas are mass-produced from synthetic fabric and a metal frame. On the other hand, Wagasa umbrellas are painstakingly handmade from bamboo, string, tapioca glue, washi paper, and linseed oil. Business Insider visited artist Kotaro Nishibori to see how he carries this beautiful Japanese tradition.

Spinning a cheeseburger on an umbrella sounds like a ridiculous and unnecessary endeavor. But after watching juggler Michael Rayner balance one on edge, spin it around, and separate its pickles, we’re all for the concept. The only thing better than this video is watching it at 5x speed.

This compact umbrella weighs just 87 grams – or about 3 ounces, making it lighter than most smartphones. Despite its weight, it’s durable, using a carbon fiber rib structure, and it repels water faster than most with its AquaRepel canopy. It measures 8.1″ x 1.6″ when folded.

Keep dry on the course no matter how heavy the rain is falling with one of these massive golf umbrellas from Bagail. Made from high-quality micro-weave fabric, they come in 58″, 62″, and 68″ diameters, and offer a sturdy fiberglass shaft and dual-canopy design that prevents damage from wind gusts.

Hedgehog’s premium umbrella is equipped with ribs that pivot and adjust independently. This allows it to withstand winds up to 70 mph, outlasting other umbrellas with ease. It also has a carbon fiber frame, making it extremely durable, and an interchangeable canopy.

Umbrellas with sword handles are nothing new. So are brollies with Deadpool’s face on them. But this one is a stylish combo of both gimmicks. Its protective sleeve has an adjustable crossbody strap with a buckle, so you can wear it on your back.

The Suprella is an umbrella than opens upside-down, like a blooming flower. It’s easier to use and put away in tight spaces compared to regular umbrellas. It also stands on its own, has a C-shaped handle for hanging, and the outer canopy has a water-resistant coat.

Clothing brand Maharishi’s stock of Senz’ storm-proof umbrellas feature exclusive canopy graphics: a dark camo, a light camo and a satellite map. The stick umbrellas come with a much-needed carrying sleeve.

Beach umbrellas with anchors are nothing new, but the DrillBeach has a built-in electric motor for its auger. All you have to do is press a button and it will drill itself into or out of the sand. It also has a USB charging port.

An umbrella with a Bluetooth chip built-in. Pair it with your phone and the Kisha app will alert you if you leave the umbrella behind. You can set safe zones such as your house so the app won’t nag you if you leave the umbrella there.