Overview
The bins and footpaths of Sydney have recently become the resting place for hundreds of abandoned umbrellas. As the city entered yet another day of apocalyptic wind and rain, the hashtag #umbrellageddon revealed the full extent of the damage, with many brave brollies mangled beyond repair.
In the face of such ruin, many citizens have found themselves searching for an umbrella made of sturdier stuff. As luck would have it, we think we’ve found the perfect one.
Dutch company Senz° Umbrellas market their product as a storm-proof umbrella, capable of withstanding winds of up to 100km/h. According to their website, "the senz° aerodynamic canopy acts as an aero-foil lifting the light but exceptionally strong umbrella to an upright position and effortlessly slices through the wind."
We're not too sure why you'd need to pelvic thrust your companion or deliberately lift your skirts in a high-wind situation, but we're hoping the product is better than its publicity shots. Prices start at $75, which is probably more than you’ve ever paid for an umbrella. But, as Senz° are quick to point out, "instead of buying lots of crappy umbrellas each year, it's wiser to invest in great products that last."
These guys aren’t the only innovators when it comes to umbrella technology. Chinese inventor Chuan Wang recently reached his Kickstarter goal to manufacture an invisible umbrella that uses airflow to shield user from the rain.
There's also a group of British designers are currently working on LeafXPro, an attachable windscreen for your bike.
Of course, whether either invention would actually have held up in Sydney this week is another question entirely.