Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon Ultralight 6.8 oz UPF 50+ Sun Umbrella – Hiking, Trekking & Backpacking Shade Canopy with Carbon Fiber Frame for Thru-Hiking

I had bouth this for the Florida Trail. It performed amazingly in the sun and rain. And it RAINED a LOT in FL in 2024! Unfortunately, 3 days before finishing the FT, I smashed a truck's door shut and the umbrella was in the way. A small part broke. After contacting Six Moons Designs by mail asking if I'd purchase that part separately to fix it myself, they said they didn't have that available. However, they kindly sent me a brand new umbrella at no extra cost, and at a timely manner. I highly recommend this awesome ultralight umbrella and this amazing company! They deserve your business! After finishing the FT, I received my new umbrella, which is still like new, after almost 3,000 miles on the Continental Divide Trail! It survived the extreme heat, high winds, heavy rain, snow, and hail! This umbrella is a beast and sooo lightweight! I highly recommend! Thanks Six Moons Designs for this durable ultralight umbrella and for the outstanding costumer service. You guys rock! Mighty :) PCT '21, Uinta Highline Trail '22, FT '24, CDT '24.

Lightweight and small enough to have strapped to pack strap (bands for that sold separately). Blocks out overhead light very well. It's 10 degrees cooler under there! Not for use in wind, but durable enough to stand up to incidental wind gusts and not break when flipped inside out. Also I've brushed this umbrella on multiple bushes during hikes and the material stands up to mild abrasion. Small enough still to not be too awkward walking around with it on trail, but I do duck to the side to not hit people on trail or back it up (attach using same bands to my backpack strap) if it's a busy part of the trail and that's worked. Also great for increased privacy when going to the bathroom off trail. I open it and use it for some extra privacy. Everytime I go hiking with it at least one person comments how genius it is. I also have gotten multiple offers to buy it off my back XD Tested in multiple CA mountains and at Zion. I love this umbrella.

Needed some relief from the intense summer sun in the Grand Canyon. Was very effective and was very light weight as a bonus. Well built, sturdy, handles wind well. Even lent it to a couple folks who needed the help and they didn’t manage to break it so it’s tougher than it might appear for being so light.

Great mechanism, it's manual, very smooth, light to carry and fantastic quality. Seems a bit expensive but definitely worth it!

Lightweight and durable

This umbrella was one of the best purchases I made for my AT thru hike. At first, I considered it a luxury item like so many other hikers. After just a few days of rain, it very quickly moved from want to necessity. Many bedraggled and drenched hikers made their envy known on the coldest and rainiest of days. Yes, on pouring days, this will do nothing to keep you dry from the chest down. But it's a huge morale boost to keep the head and face out of the rain and the phone's touch screen still functional too. I still use it in conjunction with a rain jacket/wind breaker and pack cover for a more thorough seal. Twice it saved my skull in sudden hail storms. On warmer rainy days it's perfect rain protection with the jacket off so you won't sweat out. I even used it for extra cover in a close-to-trail "nature calls" emergency. But it really earned its keep value on an unexpectedly hot and sunny day in early spring before the Tennessee trees donned their leaves. For this, I've heard it called a "sunbrella". At a meager 6 oz it still boasts the structural integrity of a 3 lb golf umbrella. I crashed through many branches, even headbutting it into half-downed trees without a single break or tear. It's worth the extra cost and minimal weight to get the hardware for attaching it to your pack and going hands-free to keep using trekking poles. I might be in a minority, but this cool umbrella has become a permanent part of my long hike pack out.

Umbrella broke after a few weeks edit: UPDATE : The company thankfully sent me a new one, no charge. Much appreciated. Umbrella opens with a pleasing, springy pop and feels great in the hand. It's not completely impervious to wind, but I guess no umbrella is. Feels extremely light. Foam handle has a nice grip and the string goes around [some] wrists. It's pretty easy to velcro closed and I think it looks neat. Then again, I'm the weirdo walking around the desert with a face mask and an umbrella. The silver is cool. I don't know much about umbrellas, but I know I like this one. Definite 4/5 stars, but I'll round up because I'm thankful to have its protection in this dry climate. Oh glad I got the long one, too. 🏖️ 🌵 🍃