I Stopped My Neighbor To Ask About Her UV Cooling Umbrella, And Now I Need One ASAP

“I stopped my neighbor to ask her about her UV cooling umbrella, and now I need one ASAP,” Kristen shared. “Sandy is 80-plus years old and walks three miles every morning — she is a force to be reckoned with. But when I saw her coming in from a walk this morning in the midst of the heat dome’s sweltering heat, I couldn’t believe my eyes. She was breezily finishing up her walk and carrying a chic umbrella, looking cool as a cucumber. When I stopped to ask her about it, she told me it was a cooling UV umbrella, and that it truly works. And now I have to have one for myself.”

Never heard of a UV cooling umbrella? They are specially designed to protect against UV rays. The temperature underneath its protective shield is considerably cooler. Golf players often use them, but truly anyone who spends time outside in the summer can benefit from having one. And it still protects against rain too, just like a normal umbrella does. 

This umbrella is made of nylon, which is lightweight, yet durable enough to withstand moderate wind, rain and, of course, the sun’s harmful rays. It pops open with just the click of a button and shrinks to 11 inches when closed, making it easy to stash in your purse or bag.

Promising review: “I have an autoimmune condition that means I need to be very serious about sun protection, and I got this umbrella for days when I don't want to wear a hat. It's great! It's easy to use, sturdy, and copes well with wind. It's also compact enough to carry around easily and to not take up too much room when I'm walking down the sidewalk. It also works well for rain, making it a versatile addition to the stuff I carry with me daily. Coolibar products do tend to be a bit more expensive, but the extra money is worth it for the quality you get and the sun protection the products offer.” —Erika 

Get it from Amazon for $55 (available in three colors).

The wind turning your umbrella inside out is both embarrassing and annoying. Fortunately, that isn’t likely to happen with this umbrella, which has ribs made of flexible fiberglass. So whether you use it on sunny and windy days or during a downpour, you’ll be protected.

Promising review: “I live in the Tropics so I needed an umbrella that would be lightweight, compact enough to fit in my backpack, wide enough to offer protection to my head, shoulders and arms, and provide me with the strongest protection against harmful UV rays. This umbrella is definitely fit for purpose, and I have recommended it to quite a few friends and relatives.” —Kieron S.

Get it from Amazon for $22.94+ (available in two sizes and four colors).

Looking for a cooling umbrella big enough for both you and your partner? This one is 48 inches, making it big enough for two. It also comes with a shoulder strap, so you can be hands-free when you don’t need it.

Promising review: “I bought this umbrella when we were living in Arizona. It is very well-made. I hate the heat and really tried to protect my skin. When I took walks, this umbrella made it 10 degrees cooler. The umbrella is large and would protect my whole upper body. My dog liked to walk in its shadow.

If my husband was the same height we could have both been under it. Now we are in Seattle again and don’t use it as often but the summers here are getting hotter each year. I’m sure I’ll get lots more use out of it. This would also be a great umbrella for golfers.” —Susie Shea

Get it from Amazon for $65.

If you’re traveling somewhere you know you’ll need protection from the sun, a UV cooling umbrella small enough to stash in your suitcase is a must. This one folds down to less than a foot and only weighs 15 ounces. Even though it’s small, it’s sturdy and strong! 

Promising review:  “I've gone through so many travel umbrellas over the years that have broken in high winds, failed to retract or faded in a short amount of time. The Repel umbrella I purchased has solved all those problems! It's slightly more expensive than the cheapies I've bought in the past, but the extra $10 makes a big difference! It's very sturdy and has nine ribs (as opposed to the usual eight), and the bright yellow color is perfect for a dark, dreary, rainy day! It's a bit hard to close — I need to push hard from both ends to snap it shut — but it wraps up and goes back into its sleeve easily.”  —Mark R.

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in 14 styles).

Sun, rain and wind are no match for this umbrella, made with a waterproof teflon coating. It can withstand winds up to 70 miles per hour, which is the equivalent to a category one hurricane. Choose from 34 different prints.

Promising review: “I liked that this umbrella is very sturdy. I used this in Chicago during my trip and it protected me from the rain and wind. I also like that it has a thick strap that helps fold it. However, the only downside for this umbrella is that it is bulky and heavy which may make it not too ideal for traveling.” —Alfie

Get it from Amazon for $22.91+ (available in 34 colors).

Looking for an umbrella that will protect you from the sun and look cute with your outfit? This is it. The floral print sets it apart from other cooling UV umbrellas, which are typically solid-colored. 

Promising review: “I used the umbrella for eclipse viewing, so I was outside with little natural shade. The sun was hot, but under the umbrella, the air was cool and comfortable. It performed much better than an ordinary umbrella would have. One-handed opening was convenient, and the spring controlling its operation feels substantial, as it takes both hands to compress it back into its folded configuration. The light blue floral design is also attractive to me. The light color works to reflect UV radiation well, but I cannot speak to how much dirt will show or how easily it will clean. So far, so good. I am very happy with this purchase.” — TN Mockingbird

Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in eight styles).