Bright Night Illuminated Umbrella

Gadgeteer Hands On Review by Judie Hughes

April 05, 2004

Product Requirements:
Four AA batteries

Living in dry West Texas, spring rains are definitely one of the things that I hope for every year. Unfortunately since about 1996, the spring rains have not been consistent and we have "enjoyed" hotter than usual weather and drier than usual conditions. This year, things seem to be looking up. If rainfall continues as it has been, 2004 may be the year in which we see an end to a long drought cycle. For once, our area seems to be experiencing normal rainfall. What this means is that people are actually carrying umbrellas around, almost in anticipation of the possible storms.

Y'all know that I wouldn't be caught dead carrying just any ol' boring umbrella, or one that just (gasp!) repels rain. This wonderfully wet spring I am carrying the Bright Night Illuminated Umbrella, available from Wishing Fish. Available in Red Stripe, Green Wave, Blue Ripple, Black Droplet and Blue-Brown Geo, there is an eye-catching design for almost everyone.

I was fortunate enough to be sent the green version, which as most of you know, is my favorite color.

Picture courtesy of Wishing Fish

Before I even begin to describe the umbrella, I want to tell you about the case in which it arrives. Composed of a heavy weight clear plastic with removable black plastic end-caps, this reusable 36" long x 4.75" wide tube features an adjustable shoulder strap which makes it convenient to tote around.

Buying the umbrella and getting this storage tube is like getting two items for the price of one. I tend to keep my umbrella by the front door or behind the rear passenger seat in my ranch truck. I don't want anything covering it that would hamper easy access, so I am free to use the tube to store large paper items in a rolled position. If you are an artist, draftsman, architect or anyone that carries large paper items around, you will immediately see possible ways to use this tube.

Now let's take a look at the umbrella, itself...

Including batteries, the umbrella weighs just over one pound. It measures three feet long and approximately 3" in diameter at it's thickest point when closed, this is a full size umbrella that opens to a generous 43" across. This is plenty of room for two people to comfortably share. The canopy of the umbrella is comprised of denier nylon and is securely attached to the spokes radiating from the central shaft.

  

The comfortable handle is 8" x 1.25". Four AA batteries (not included) fit inside behind a trap-door secured with a flathead screw. A rubberized button that controls the the light is installed in the middle of the grip. There is a 6.5" wrist-strap attached to the handle, ending in a silver bell-shaped fob.

The umbrella is kept closed with a metal and nylon branded strap which fastens with a patch of velcro.

At the top of the umbrella's inner shaft is a silver cylinder which holds one bright white krypton bulb. The umbrella comes with two, so you have a backup.

As you have no doubt figured by now, when carrying the umbrella you have the option of turning on the bright krypton bulb to illuminate your path. How awesome is that on a dark rainy night? The umbrellas canopy lights up, as well as the entire area beneath, all the way down to your toes.

This picture did not focus properly because it was taken in a very dark hallway with no flash. You can see by the light thrown that the umbrella's little light bulb is no slacker! According to the information at the Wishing Fish web site, the four AA batteries should provide four hours of light.

The Bright Night Illuminated Umbrella is a gorgeous display of color in a sea of otherwise boring umbrella canopies. The addition of the light-bulb makes it a convenient gadget for those that want the security of a lighted path while they are walking in the rain on a gloomy night. I can't tell you how much I have been enjoying mine. If I had to pick one con it would be that I wish there was a compact model available that could fit in my gear-bag.

Looking out of my window at the overcast conditions we are enjoying today (along with the cooler temperatures), I can only hope that I will have many more occasions to use this umbrella before another one of our notoriously hot and dry summers begins...

The Bright Night Illuminated Umbrella is available from The Wishing Fish and other retailers.

Price: $38.00

Pros:
Generously sized umbrella with comfortable grip
White krypton bulb lights your path
Eye-catching canopy that stands out in a crowd

Cons:
No compact version available