Over the years, I’ve developed a strong appreciation for good, solid umbrellas. Living in a rain forest makes a strong umbrella – or at the very least a very thick hoodie – an absolute necessity. It’s a funny thing too, because I really don’t like umbrellas for the most part. I’ve always found them a nuisance to carry, and most of them are ugly, bulky, and end up breaking at even the slightest gust of wind. That all changed about 6 months ago when I found a company called Senz.
The Senz Mini AO, like it’s big brother the Senz XL Storm Umbrella, features a number of improvements and innovations over “regular” umbrellas that I’m going to outline in depth. In a nutshell, these umbrellas are better because Senz designed their umbrellas from the ground up to be strong, stylish, and lightweight.
What I like about the Senz Mini AO
- It provides a ton of coverage from the rain, especially for an umbrella that’s so compact. Unless you’re trying to keep a second person dry, the Mini AO will provide exceptional coverage – especially to your back.
- It’s incredibly strong, and all of the components feel durable. From the handle all the way to the ribs that hold the canopy up, each component seems well designed, and well constructed.
- The design is stylish, and the colour choices are great. This is by far the nicest looking umbrella I’ve ever seen, and I assure you that I’m extremely superficial when it comes to these kinds of things.
- The Mini AO is very light. It’s not the lightest umbrella I’ve ever held, but it’s pretty close. Given the huge canopy, I don’t mind the extra weight at all.
- The canopy on the darker models is slightly reflective, making it that much more visible at night. It’s a minor addition, but an extremely useful one. After a night of drinking, my wits aren’t always about me; the reflective pattern makes me a lot more visible to drivers.
- The entire thing is extremely compact, meaning I can carry it or toss it in a backpack and hardly notice it when I’m not using it.
As you can see, the Senz Mini AO is one handsome beast. I keep wanting to refer to its “massive wingspan”, but unfortunately it’s not a bird – only an umbrella. The canopy *is* quite large, though.
Here you can see the two handy open and close buttons. The one on the handle blasts the canopy open almost instantly, and the one at the base of the ribs (yes, those metal things are called ribs) allows you to pull down the canopy and lock it back into place.
If you didn’t quite understand how the opening mechanism works, this photo should help you get a handle on things.
See how solid the ribs look? None of these components look weak or flimsy.
If you’re in the market for an umbrella that’s well made, well designed, and compact, the Senz Mini AO is the only umbrella you’ll ever need. I’ve tried out dozens of umbrellas over the years, and none of them have even come close to the quality of Senz umbrellas. At a cost of around $65 USD, these umbrellas aren’t the least expensive on the market, but they’re definitely the best.
One last thing, which I hope you find useful. Thanks to the generosity of Umbrella World, they would like to offer you the following:
20% Discount on Senz° Mini, Senz Mini AO and Senz° Original at www.umbrellaworld.co.uk. To redeem this offer please enter voucher code UM20 at checkout.
