Want to keep an umbrella on hand, but don’t want to deal with having to carry a bulky accessory everywhere you go? Get one of those multi-fold umbrellas that can collapse into a small size. As far as umbrellas go, though, we don’t think we’ve seen anything as compact as the Simprella 3.0, which collapses into a size small enough to fit into almost any pocket.
How small is it? Well, the darn thing is small enough to comfortably fit into the back pocket of your jeans. Heck, some people even put them in the chest pocket of their button-downs, where it manages to slide in surprisingly well. Sure, it adds a fair amount of bulk on whichever pocket you put it in, but it really is compact enough to fit nearly anywhere, including your EDC pouch.
The Simprella 3.0 is actually the third generation of this tiny umbrella. While it is slightly longer (15 cm compared to 14.3 cm) than the previous version, it is noticeably slimmer, allowing it to collapse to 2 cm thick, which makes it even easier to squeeze inside pant pockets and shirt pockets. It’s lightweight, too, coming in at just 173.9 grams (6.1 oz), so it can sit comfortably in that shirt pocket without threatening to rip the seams apart. No more carrying your umbrella in hand and accidentally leaving it at the coffee shop you got morning espresso from – this thing is small enough to stay in your pocket at all times. Even if you don’t want to keep it in a pocket, you can easily hang this thing on a D-ring or loop on your daily minimalist backpack due to how small it is.
The slimmer design comes courtesy of the new fold flat frame that remains stronger than ever. In this iteration, the frame is actually rated to handle winds up to 10 meters per second, allowing it to take on downpours with some heavy winds in tow.
The Simprella 3.0 doesn’t have a semi-round canopy like traditional umbrellas. Instead, it measures 90 x 52 cm (35.4 x 20.7 inches) when opened, so it will still protect you from the elements, although you might need to get used to the unusual shape. It has a frame made from a strengthened iron core with aluminum on the exterior, allowing it to maintain a slim profile while being very durable. The umbrella’s fabric is cut in a high-density, water-repellent woven plaid that’s both soft to the touch and tear-resistant, with proper UPF 50+ coating, so you can use it to shield you from the scorching sun as well. The handle is on the smaller side (that’s the side effect of being so compact), but it should be comfortable enough to grip, although it might be a tad too small for those with bigger hands.
A hook-and-loop wrap ensures the umbrella stays closed when collapsed. The wrap, by the way, comes with a four-inch Velcro patch on the exterior, which you can use to personalize the umbrella with your own patches if you’re into that.
A Kickstarter campaign is currently running for the Simprella 3.0. You can reserve a unit for pledges starting at $119.
