Regardless of what camp you fall into, "It's the HEAT!" "No, It's the HUMIDITY!", there's no denying that relief from the direct rays of the sun is always a welcome, if not life-saving, treat. Same goes for a bit of help staying dry in wet, cooler environments where the risk of hypothermia increases the more saturated you get.

So, with your safety and madness-prevention in mind, we offer The Essential Backpacking Umbrella. It checks all your boxes regarding weight, protection, and strength in high winds. More and more, on just about any trail, you'll see that experienced backpackers have made umbrellas an indispensable part of their kits. We think ours will more than earn its place in yours.